Association between the long-term exposure to air pollution and depression

Abstract

Background. Air pollution has a negative influence on neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, findings concerning the impact of air pollution on depression remain inconclusive. A deeper insight into these associations is warranted. Objectives. To evaluate the impact of long-term exposure to air pollution on the incidence of depression among residents of 13 counties in the Lower Silesia region of Poland. Materials and methods. We used data on cases of depression from the National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia - NFZ) from 13 counties of Lower Silesia between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of depression were included. Data on air pollution levels were extracted from the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection (Główny Inspektorat Ochrony Srodowiska - GIOS), and demographic data were extracted from Statistics Poland (Główny Urzad Statystyczny - GUS). Results. The percentage of people diagnosed with depression over the 6-year study period depended on the group of counties homogeneous in terms of air pollution exposure (p < 0.001). We showed statistically significant correlations between different depression diagnoses and exposure to air pollutants. Elevated concentration of airborne fine particles with a diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO), and low benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and cadmium (Cd) levels were independent risk factors for major depressive episodes with psychotic symptoms (F32.3). There was a significant negative correlation between ozone (O3) levels and depression incidence. Conclusions. Regions with heavy air pollution had a higher incidence of depression. There is a significant association between the exposure to air pollutants and different depression diagnoses.