Title : Joint exposures to volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Associations with depression in adults
Abstract:
Depression is a widespread but serious mood disorder that leads to reduced quality of life and functioning. Prior research has explored how the environment interacts with and contributes to certain health conditions. As such, it is vital to explore how exposure to environmental chemicals may be associated with depression, notably those that are present in the air that we breathe. Volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are two classes of compounds found in environmental media as a result of industrial activity. These compounds comprise the vast majority of compounds that make up particulate matter, which contributes to air pollution, leading to extensive health conditions. Depression is one of the conditions that has been associated with each of these compound classes individually, but never in combination. Using data from produced in the 2011-2012, 2013-2014, and 2015-2016 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, this study explores the individual and joint association between urinary PAH and VOC analytes and depression in U.S. adults aged 20 and over. This association is examined through individual exposures of each compound and depression, in addition to combined multiple exposures of each compound and depression. Most individual exposures of each compound were associated with greater odds of depression. Furthermore, when combining exposures, there is also an overall higher risk of depression.
