Scientists have found a link between common environmental toxins and symptoms of depression in the United States.
In a study of 3,427 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers analyzed blood and urine samples to measure levels of 27 toxins and found a significant correlation between higher exposure to pollutants and symptoms of depression.
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“This study adds to growing evidence of links between environmental toxins and mental health problems, including depression. Related evidence, including my own, links air pollutants, particularly nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, to mental health problems in adolescents and adults, including psychosis and depression,” said Joan Newbury, a Sir Henry Wellcome Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, who was not involved in the study. Newsweek.
“From a public health and policy perspective, our findings highlight the importance of considering the whole exposure when aiming to improve population mental health. Environmental toxins are a potentially major area for intervention to improve mental health, with a growing burden worldwide.”
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Of the 10 categories analyzed, six were identified that contained toxic substances that were positively correlated with depression.
These include acrylamide and glycidamide, ethylene oxide, two metals, three nicotine metabolites, six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 14 volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolites.
Specifically, they found that people with detectable levels of MHBMA had a 74% higher risk of depressive symptoms compared to those with undetectable levels. MHBMA is often measured as a biomarker to assess exposure to butadiene, a chemical commonly found in industrial emissions, cigarette smoke, and vehicle exhaust.
“We need better research and ways to measure and respond to toxicants to improve outdoor and indoor air quality and regulate known harmful toxins. It is essential to protect people during critical periods of development, adolescence, pregnancy and other health challenges,” said Kamaldeep Bhui, professor of psychiatry at the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study. Newsweek.
Additionally, higher levels of nicotine metabolites, substances produced when nicotine is broken down in the body, were also associated with an increased risk of depression.
Specifically, the chemicals TNE-2 and total hydroxycotinine were found to increase symptoms by 42 percent and 41 percent, respectively.
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Newberry points out that the study has several limitations, particularly its cross-sectional design and lack of genetic information.
“For example, the study doesn’t show whether previous depression led participants to engage in behaviors such as smoking that increased their exposure to toxins, or whether genes related to depression or inflammation affect how people metabolize toxins,” she said.
Men and younger people appear to be more susceptible to environmental toxins than women and older people, with 20 toxins associated with symptoms in men and 23 toxins associated with symptoms in people under 65. The associations were particularly strong for nicotine and VOC metabolites.
But Bhui cautioned that he would “approach any gender-specific findings with caution.”
“Rather than seeking biological explanations, we need to understand the specific mechanisms of specific toxicants within each category, and whether exposure is related to occupation, indoor and outdoor environments, or selection bias in the women who participated in the studies.”
“There may be an association, but it may be somewhat speculative because in this type of study (no matter how good it is) there remain confounding factors and other potential biases. The perinatal period is also a vulnerable period for babies and mothers, so research should focus on this.”
Importantly, this study also shows that elevated levels of systemic inflammation, as measured by total white blood cell count, may be the crucial link between toxin exposure and depressive symptoms.
“We are becoming more aware that air quality, pollution and airborne organic and inorganic particles can contribute to poorer overall health, including depression and other psychiatric disorders, as well as affecting neurodevelopment during critical periods of human development such as adolescence,” Booy added.
“One mechanism is inflammation directly caused by particles entering the body, but this process may interact with other adverse influences in the environment that can further cause inflammation.”
As Newberry points out, members of the public are often surprised to learn that pollutants and toxins can harm their mental health, and she stresses that raising public awareness is “absolutely necessary”.
In general, the public isn’t well informed about new research like this, except for efforts to reduce fuel emissions and carbon dioxide emissions through diesel and low-emission zones, Booy said.
“We need more information about indoor and outdoor pollution, about toxic substances, and how to protect people throughout their lives,” he said.
“This area of research has been largely ignored when trying to understand why places like urban areas, for example, lead to poorer health outcomes and why there are so many inequalities across locations and demographics.”
“We need to protect schools, hospitals, care homes and other facilities from COVID and bioaerosols, and also consider occupational exposure.”
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