Ambient Air Pollution and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: Results from the MOBILIZE Boston Study

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1205909
• Publication Date: 2014-03-19T14:00:16Z
• Authors: Yi Wang; Melissa N. Eliot; Petros Koutrakis; Alexandros Gryparis; Joel D. Schwartz; Brent A. Coull; Murray A. Mittleman; William P. Milberg; Lewis A. Lipsitz; Gregory A. Wellenius
• Keywords: Interquartile range; Depression

Exposure to ambient air pollution, particularly from traffic, has been associated with adverse cognitive outcomes, but the association depressive symptoms remains unclear. We investigated between exposure and traffic pollution presence of among 732 Boston-area adults ≥ 65 years age (78.1 ± 5.5 years, mean SD). assessed during home interviews using Revised Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-R). estimated residential distance nearest major roadway as a marker long-term short-term fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulfates, black carbon (BC), ultrafine particles, gaseous pollutants, averaged over 2 weeks preceding each assessment. used generalized estimating equations estimate odds ratio (OR) CESD-R score 16 exposure, adjusting potential confounders. In sensitivity analyses, we considered continuous outcome annual BC an alternate pollution. found no evidence positive or changes in pollutant levels. For example, OR 0.67 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.98) per interquartile range (3.4 μg/m(3)) increase PM2.5 suggesting that is older living metropolitan area attainment current U.S. regulatory standards.