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Review
. 2024 Jun;11(2):168-183.
doi: 10.1007/s40572-024-00437-8. Epub 2024 Mar 8.

Airborne Exposure to Pollutants and Mental Health: A Review with Implications for United States Veterans

Andrew J Hoisington  1   2   3   4 , Kelly A Stearns-Yoder  5   6   7 , Elizabeth J Kovacs  8   9 , Teodor T Postolache  5   6   10   11 , Lisa A Brenner  5   6   7   12
Affiliations
Review

Airborne Exposure to Pollutants and Mental Health: A Review with Implications for United States Veterans

Andrew J Hoisington et al. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Inhalation of airborne pollutants in the natural and built environment is ubiquitous; yet, exposures are different across a lifespan and unique to individuals. Here, we reviewed the connections between mental health outcomes from airborne pollutant exposures, the biological inflammatory mechanisms, and provide future directions for researchers and policy makers. The current state of knowledge is discussed on associations between mental health outcomes and Clean Air Act criteria pollutants, traffic-related air pollutants, pesticides, heavy metals, jet fuel, and burn pits.

Recent findings: Although associations between airborne pollutants and negative physical health outcomes have been a topic of previous investigations, work highlighting associations between exposures and psychological health is only starting to emerge. Research on criteria pollutants and mental health outcomes has the most robust results to date, followed by traffic-related air pollutants, and then pesticides. In contrast, scarce mental health research has been conducted on exposure to heavy metals, jet fuel, and burn pits. Specific cohorts of individuals, such as United States military members and in-turn, Veterans, often have unique histories of exposures, including service-related exposures to aircraft (e.g. jet fuels) and burn pits. Research focused on Veterans and other individuals with an increased likelihood of exposure and higher vulnerability to negative mental health outcomes is needed. Future research will facilitate knowledge aimed at both prevention and intervention to improve physical and mental health among military personnel, Veterans, and other at-risk individuals.

Keywords: Aeroallergens; Airborne exposure; Burn pit; Jet fuel; Mental health; Particulate matter; Pesticides; Pollutants.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Brenner reports grants from the VA, DOD, NIH, and the State of Colorado, editorial remuneration from Wolters Kluwer, and royalties from the American Psychological Association and Oxford University Press. In addition, she consults with sports leagues via her university affiliation. The other authors declare no competing interests in this work.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Working Model of airborne exposure and mental health (figure developed in Biorender)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Biological interactions to humans when exposed to airborne pollutants (ROS, reactive oxygen species; Th2, T helper lymphocyte 2; Th17, T helper lymphocyte 17; figure developed in Biorender)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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