Zundel Clara G, Shampine MacKenna M, Jakubiec Alexander, Lewis Christine, Brokamp Cole, Strawn Jeffrey R, Jovanovic Tanja, Ryan Patrick H, Woodcock Eric, Yang Zhao, Petriello Michael, Marusak Hilary
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States.
Front Psychiatry. 2025 May 23;16:1588964. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1588964. eCollection 2025.
Fine particulate matter (PM) air pollution is associated with increased internalizing symptoms (e.g. depressive and anxiety symptoms), particularly during adolescence-a critical period for the emergence of anxiety disorders and vulnerability to neurotoxicants. Preclinical studies suggest that inflammation, including cytokines, reactive proteins, and lipid mediators, may explain the link between PM and psychiatric risk. However, growing evidence suggests that these relationships may differ by sex, with females potentially more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution on psychiatric symptoms, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
This study examined the relationships among recent (past-month) PM2.5 exposure, peripheral inflammatory markers, and anxiety and depressive symptoms in 78 adolescents (M ± SD = 13.3 ± 2.3 years, 48.7% female) from the Detroit, MI area.
Higher PM concentrations were significantly associated with elevated levels of inflammatory lipid mediators: PGE2, 12(S)-HETE, 12(S)-HEPE, and 15(S)-HETE. A significant PM-by-sex interaction was observed for IL-6, with higher PM exposure associated with higher IL-6 concentrations in females but not males. Additionally, higher PM concentrations were significantly associated with greater total anxiety, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety symptoms, but only in females. Higher IL-8 concentrations were associated with greater depressive symptoms, and a significant TNF-α-by-sex interaction was observed for total and social anxiety symptoms, with higher TNF-α concentrations linked to greater symptoms in females but not males.
These findings suggest that PM exposure is associated with inflammation and anxiety symptoms in adolescence, with notable sex differences. As a modifiable risk factor, reducing outdoor air pollution exposure may help mitigate psychiatric symptoms in youth.
细颗粒物（PM）空气污染与内化症状（如抑郁和焦虑症状）增加有关，尤其是在青春期——这是焦虑症出现和对神经毒物易感性的关键时期。临床前研究表明，包括细胞因子、反应蛋白和脂质介质在内的炎症可能解释了PM与精神疾病风险之间的联系。然而，越来越多的证据表明，这些关系可能因性别而异，女性可能更容易受到空气污染对精神症状的影响，但其潜在机制仍不清楚。
本研究调查了密歇根州底特律地区78名青少年（平均年龄±标准差=13.3±2.3岁，48.7%为女性）近期（过去一个月）PM2.5暴露、外周炎症标志物与焦虑和抑郁症状之间的关系。
较高的PM浓度与炎症脂质介质水平升高显著相关：前列腺素E2、12（S）-羟基二十碳四烯酸、12（S）-羟基二十碳五烯酸和15（S）-羟基二十碳四烯酸。观察到白细胞介素-6存在显著的PM与性别的交互作用，较高的PM暴露与女性而非男性的白细胞介素-6浓度升高相关。此外，较高的PM浓度与更大的总焦虑、广泛性焦虑和社交焦虑症状显著相关，但仅在女性中如此。较高的白细胞介素-8浓度与更大的抑郁症状相关，并且在总焦虑和社交焦虑症状方面观察到肿瘤坏死因子-α存在显著的性别交互作用，较高的肿瘤坏死因子-α浓度与女性而非男性的更大症状相关。
这些发现表明，PM暴露与青少年的炎症和焦虑症状相关，存在显著的性别差异。作为一个可改变的风险因素，减少室外空气污染暴露可能有助于减轻青少年的精神症状。
