Short-term exposure to air pollution is an emerging but neglected risk factor for schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 854; p. 158823
• Main Authors: Song, Rong, Liu, Li, Wei, Ning, Li, Xuanxuan, Liu, Jintao, Yuan, Jiajun, Yan, Shuangshuang, Sun, Xiaoni, Mei, Lu, Liang, Yunfeng, Li, Yuxuan, Jin, Xiaoyu, Wu, Yudong, Pan, Rubing, Yi, Weizhuo, Song, Jian, He, Yangyang, Tang, Chao, Liu, Xiangguo, Cheng, Jian, Su, Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Gaseous pollutants; Particulates; Schizophrenia; Particulates; Schizophrenia; Gaseous pollutants
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158823

This meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between short-term exposure to air pollution and schizophrenia (SCZ)11SCZ: schizophrenia., and investigate the susceptible population and the lag characteristics of different pollutants. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by searching PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Sciences, and CNKI for relevant literature published up to 28 Feb 2022. Meta-analysis was performed separately to investigate the association of ambient particulates (diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5)22PM2.5: particle with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm., 2.5 μm < diameter < 10 μm (PMC)33PMC: particle with 2.5 μm < diameter <10 μm., ≤10μm (PM10)44PM10: particle with aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm.) and gaseous pollutants (nitrogen dioxide (NO2)55NO2: nitrogen dioxide., sulfur dioxide (SO2)66SO2: sulfur dioxide., carbon monoxide (CO)77CO: carbon monoxide.) with SCZ. Relative risk (RR)88RR: relative risk. per 10 μg/m3 increase in air pollutants concentration was used as the effect estimate. Subgroup analyses were conducted by age, gender, country, median pollutant concentration, and median temperature. We identified 17 articles mainly conducted in Asia, of which 13 were included in the meta-analysis. Increased risk of SCZ was associated with short-term exposure to PM2.5 (RR: 1.0050, 95 % confidence interval (CI)99CI: confidence interval.: 1.0017, 1.0083), PMC (1.0117, 1.0023, 1.0211), PM10 (1.0047, 1.0025, 1.0070), NO2 (1.0275, 1.0132, 1.0420), and SO2 (1.0288, 1.0146, 1.0432) exposure. Subgroup analyses showed that females may be more susceptible to SO2 and NO2, and the young seem to be more sensitive to PM2.5 and PM10. Gaseous pollutants presented the immediate risk, and particulates showed the delayed risk. The present meta-analysis suggests that short-term exposure to PM2.5, PMC, PM10, SO2, and NO2 exposure may be associated with an elevated risk of SCZ. [Display omitted] •Short-term exposure to air pollution is associated with an elevated risk of SCZ.•The lag characteristics of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants might be different.•Female patients may be more susceptible to NO2 and SO2.•Young patients might be more sensitive to PM2.5 and PM10.•Significant synergistic interactions are found between air pollution and temperature.