New Delhi: Toxins such as nicotine and metals commonly present in the environment have been linked to depressive symptoms such as feeling hopeless or taking less interest in daily activities, according to a study conducted on American adults.
Researchers found that inflammation caused by these environmental toxins may be one of the possible underlying causes.
The team of researchers, including researchers from Peking University, China, analyzed toxin levels in blood and urine samples of more than 3,400 adults. The data were taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination and Survey (NHANES), which tracks the health and nutrition of Americans.
Depression in participants was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), which can establish diagnosis along with severity of symptoms.
The researchers found that toxins, including heavy metals, nicotine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in paint and varnish increased the risk of depressive symptoms in participants.
The authors found that people with detectable levels of MHBMA2, a VOC, had a 74 percent higher risk of experiencing depression-like symptoms than those with undetectable levels.
Furthermore, men were found to be more sensitive to the depressive effects of environmental toxins than women.
The authors found that inflammation, measured through white blood cell (WBC) counts, was one of the processes driving these relationships between toxins and depression-like symptoms.
Researchers found that inflammation caused by these environmental toxins may be one of the possible underlying causes.
The team of researchers, including researchers from Peking University, China, analyzed toxin levels in blood and urine samples of more than 3,400 adults. The data were taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination and Survey (NHANES), which tracks the health and nutrition of Americans.
Depression in participants was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), which can establish diagnosis along with severity of symptoms.
The researchers found that toxins, including heavy metals, nicotine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in paint and varnish increased the risk of depressive symptoms in participants.
The authors found that people with detectable levels of MHBMA2, a VOC, had a 74 percent higher risk of experiencing depression-like symptoms than those with undetectable levels.
Furthermore, men were found to be more sensitive to the depressive effects of environmental toxins than women.
The authors found that inflammation, measured through white blood cell (WBC) counts, was one of the processes driving these relationships between toxins and depression-like symptoms.
