Acute Air Pollution Exposure and Risk of Suicide Completion

Abstract

Research into environmental factors associated with suicide has historically focused on meteorological variables. Recently, a heightened risk of suicide related to short-term exposure to airborne particulate matter was reported. Here, we examined the associations between short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide and completed suicide in Salt Lake County, Utah (n = 1,546) from 2000 to 2010. We used a time-stratified case-crossover design to estimate adjusted odds ratios for the relationship between suicide and exposure to air pollutants on the day of the suicide and during the days preceding the suicide. We observed maximum heightened odds of suicide associated with interquartile-range increases in nitrogen dioxide during cumulative lag 3 (average of the 3 days preceding suicide; odds ratio (OR) = 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 1.39) and fine particulate matter (diameter ≤2.5 μm) on lag day 2 (day 2 before suicide; OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.10). Following stratification by season, an increased suicide risk was associated with exposure to nitrogen dioxide during the spring/fall transition period (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.66) and fine particulate matter in the spring (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.61) during cumulative lag 3. Findings of positive associations between air pollution and suicide appear to be consistent across study locations with vastly different meteorological, geographical, and cultural characteristics.

Air pollution, aeroallergens and suicidality: a review of the effects of air pollution and aeroallergens on suicidal behavior and an exploration of possible mechanisms

“…age group and suicide method). Increased NO 2 showed increase risk for suicide in four out of five studies (28,56,59,60). Increased O 3 was associated with increased risk for suicide in three out of four studies (55,57,61).…”

“…When segregated by season, the effects of air pollutants on suicide risks were statistically significant in the cooler months, in contrast to no statistically significant trends seen in the hot months (56,58). There also appears to be a critical transition period between spring and fall, where there is increased suicide risk with PM 10 and PM 2.5 (53,59). This transition period may be reflective of the suicide trends seen in pollen as pollen levels demonstrate seasonal variation with increases in pollen counts occurring during their respective on-seasons which also vary spatially and temporally.…”

“…The effects of air pollution and aeroallergens on suicidality have been scarcely investigated; however, there is initial evidence suggesting a positive correlation between air pollution, aeroallergens and suicidality (53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65)(66). Herein, the overarching aim is to provide a succinct review of the available literature on changes in air pollution, aeroallergens and their relationships to suicidal behavior, exploring potential mechanisms by which air pollution may influence suicide rates.…”

“…In contrast, there is evidence that acute exposure, even in very brief durations, has an influence on the risk of suicide. In particular, Bakian et al (59) demonstrated that a single day of exposure to PM 2.5 and NO 2 on 2 days prior to suicide conferred an increased risk of suicidality [odd ratio (OR) = 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.10; OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.27]. A trend exists in that increased air pollution lag days show decreased suicide risk (56,60).…”

Role of Negative Mood on Turkish Stock Market: Suicides

“…Depression, drug addiction, some psychological disorders, family problems, lack of social support and migration cause a rise in suicides (Özgüven et al, 2003;Large et al, 2011;Eskin, Kaynak and Demir, 2005). Furthermore, some more natural and men made reasons are pointed as cause of suicides, such as; (i) seasons (Makris et al, 2013), (ii) full moon 3 , (iii) weather (Salib, 1997), (iv) suicide broadcasts (Chen, Chen and Yip, 2011), (v) air pollution (Bakian et al, 2015) and (vi) sports activities (Encrenaz et al, 2012) are also the factors thought to effect suicide behaviours in a positive or negative way 4 . The majority of people who commit suicide have a negative mood (Kaplan and Sadock, 2004), therefore the decrease or increase in suicides are accepted as a society's happiness barometers (Atasoy and Ertürk, 2014).…”