PM(2.5) and PM(10) air pollution peaks are associated with emergency department visits for psychotic and mood disorders

Particulate matters with a diameter of less than 10 µm (PM(10)) or less than 2.5 µm (PM(2.5)) are major air pollutants. Their relationship to psychiatric disorders has not yet been extensively studied. We aimed to explore the relationship between PM(10) and PM(2.5) air pollution peaks and the daily number of emergency visits for psychotic and mood disorders. Clinical data were collected from the Emergency Department of a Paris suburb (Créteil, France) from 2008 to 2018. Air pollution data were measured by the Paris region air quality network (Airparif) and collected from public databases. Pollution peak periods were defined as days for which the daily mean level of PM was above nationally predefined warning thresholds (20 µg/m(3) for PM(2.5), and 50 µg/m(3) for PM(10)), and the 6 following days. Multivariable analyses compared the number of daily visits for psychotic and mood (unipolar and bipolar) disorders according to pollution peak, using negative binomial regression. After adjustment on meteorological variables (temperature, humidity, amount of sunshine in minutes), the daily number of emergency visits for psychotic disorders was significantly higher during PM(2.5) and PM(10) air pollution peak periods; while the number of visits for unipolar depressive disorders was higher only during PM(10) peak periods (β = 0.059, p-value = 0.034). There were no significant differences between peak and non-peak periods for bipolar disorders. Differences in the effects of PM air pollution on psychotic and mood disorders should be analyzed in further studies. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-022-21964-7.