Short-term increases in air pollution linked to schizophrenia hospitalisations

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-10-03 01:00

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Increases in ambient air pollution, especially if sustained for several days, appear to correlate with higher risks of hospitalisation for schizophrenia. A study of more than 250 Chinese cities looked at over 800,000 hospitalisations for schizophrenia and short-term increases in a range of air pollutants. The link was strongest for nitrogen dioxide pollution, which could account for over 6% of hospitalisations. The authors say that these short-term relative increases, rather than only absolute concentrations of air pollutants, should be factored into targeted intervention strategies, and could have important implications for differentt parts of the world.