Acute effects of ambient particulate matter pollution on hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders: A time-series study in Shijiazhuang, China.

Until now, few epidemiological studies have focused on the association between ambient particulate matter pollution and mental and behavioral disorders, especially in developing countries. Thus, a time-series study on the short-term association between both fine and inhalable particles (PM2.5 and PM10) and daily hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders in Shijiazhuang, China was conducted, from 2014 to 2016. An over-dispersed, generalized additive model was used to analyze the associations after controlling for time trend, weather conditions, day of the week, and holidays. In addition, the modification effects of age, sex, and season were estimated. A total of 9156 cases of hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders were identified. A 10 μg/m3 increase in a 3-day average concentration (lag02) of PM2.5 and PM10 correspond to an increase of 0.48% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18-0.79%) and 0.32% (95% CI: 0.03-0.62%) in daily hospital admission for mental and behavioral disorders, respectively. We found stronger associations of PM2.5 and PM10 with mental and behavioral disorders in male and elder individuals (≥45 years) than in female and younger individuals (<45 years). Further, results indicated a generally stronger association of PM2.5 with mental and behavioral disorders in the cool season than in the warm season. This research found a significant association between ambient PM2.5 and PM10 and hospital admission for mental and behavioral disorders in Shijiazhuang, China.