Association between particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, benzo[a]pyrene air concentrations, suicide and suicide attempts in Poland

Background and objectives

Certain air pollutants are associated with mental health conditions, like cognitive decline, depression and suicide. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between long-term exposure to airborne concentrations of particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and suicide rates, suicide attempts and suicide attempts among people with mental disorder.

Methods

The data used covered the years 2013–2016 of 27 regions in Poland, came from the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, the Provincial Police Headquarters and the Central Statistical Office. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses had been performed.

Results

Results of the study indicate that ozone is correlated with the rate of suicide attempts, the rate of total suicides and attempts at suicide attempts among people with mental disorder (r = 0.548, p < 0.001; r = 0.371, p < 0.01; r = 0.422, p < 0.01, respectively). Independent predictors of suicide attempts were high ozone concentration (β = 0.00216, p < 0.001), high feminisation and a small number of beneficiaries of environmental social welfare per 10,000 population. Completed suicide rate was associated with increased air concentrations of PM₁₀ particulate matter (b = 0.0003, p = 0.001; β = 0.003, p < 0.001), a high number of employees and a high level of total pollutant emissions (β = 0.00027, p = 0.031). Finally, suicide attempts among people with psychiatric disorder were linked to high ozone concentration (b = 0.0005; p < 0.001; β = 0.0003; p = 0.004) and low SO₂ concentration (b = − 0.0011; p < 0.001; β = − 0.0008; p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Air pollutions' impact on suicidality is comparable to some adverse demographic factors and it should be considered as a strong predictor for suicidal behaviour.