Particulate air pollution exposure during pregnancy and postpartum depression symptoms in women in Mexico City

• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105325
• Publication Date: 2019-11-22T00:45:32Z
• Authors: Megan M. Niedzwiecki; Maria José Rosa; Maritsa Solano-Go...; Itai Kloog; Allan C. Just; Sandra Martínez-M...; Lourdes Schnaas; Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz; Robert O. Wright; Martha M. Téllez-...; Rosalind J. Wright
• Keywords: Depression

Postpartum depression (PPD), which affects up to 1 in 5 mothers globally, negatively impacts the health of both and children. Exposure ambient air pollution has been linked depressive symptoms animal models human studies, but relationship between PPD not widely studied. In a birth cohort Mexico City (509 with available data), we examined association exposure particulate matter ≤2.5 μm diameter (PM2.5) psychological dysfunction at 6 months postpartum. Daily PM2.5 estimates were derived from hybrid satellite-based spatio-temporally resolved model averaged over pregnancy first year Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores used assess probable (EPDS score ≥13) using relative risk regression anhedonia, depression, anxiety (derived EPDS subscales) negative binomial regression. A 5-μg/m3 increase average during was associated an increased (RR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.11 2.28) late-onset (no month, months) 2.58; 1.40 4.73) covariate-adjusted models. No observed postpartum PPD. Average also 6-month subscale symptom for anhedonia (p 0.03) 0.04). Our results suggest that women City, is positively Future studies should examine mechanisms linking other environmental exposures functioning.