Traffic-Related Air Pollution Linked to Depression in Women, Study Finds
Exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) may contribute to depression in women, potentially through its impact on reproductive health, according to a new study published in Menopause.
The research, led by Anwesha Pan, Ph.D., from the University of Washington, Seattle, analyzed data from 688 healthy reproductive-age women participating in the Ovarian Aging Study. The study aimed to investigate whether exposure to TRAP is linked to depressive symptoms and how factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) and reproductive health influence this relationship.
Air Pollution, Mental Health, and Reproductive Health Connection
The findings revealed that higher exposure to TRAP was significantly associated with an increase in depressive symptoms. The researchers also identified additional contributing factors, including lower SES, longer menstrual cycles, and changes in cycle length.
The analysis showed that TRAP accounted for 1.2% of the variance in depressive symptoms, while demographics, SES, general health, and reproductive health contributed 1.0%, 1.4%, 0.3%, and 2.0%, respectively. The study also found that menstrual cycle length—a key marker of reproductive health—played a mediating role in the relationship between TRAP exposure and depression.
Call for Further Research on Air Pollution and Women's Health
The study’s authors emphasized that their findings suggest reproductive health may be a key pathway linking air pollution to mental health issues in women. They called for long-term studies with more detailed assessments to further explore this connection and determine the direction of these associations.
As concerns over air pollution's health impacts continue to grow, this study highlights the urgent need for policies that address environmental risk factors affecting both mental and reproductive health in women.