Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/25749
Title: Does air pollution trigger suicide? A case-crossover analysis of suicide deaths over the life span
Authors: CASAS RUIZ, Lidia 
COX, Bianca 
Bauwelinck, Mariska
Nemery, Benoit
Deboosere, Patrick
NAWROT, Tim 
Issue Date: 2017
Publisher: SPRINGER
Source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, 32(11), p. 973-981
Abstract: In addition to underlying health disorders and socio-economic or community factors, air pollution may trigger suicide mortality. This study evaluates the association between short-term variation in air pollution and 10 years of suicide mortality in Belgium. In a bidirectional time-stratified case-crossover design, 20,533 suicide deaths registered between January 1st 2002 and December 31st 2011 were matched by temperature with control days from the same month and year. We used municipality-level air pollution [particulate matter (PM10) and O-3 concentrations] data and meteorology data. We applied conditional logistic regression models adjusted for duration of sunshine and day of the week to obtain odds ratios (OR) and their 95% CI for an increase of 10 mu g/m(3) in pollutant concentrations over different lag periods (lag 0, 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4, 0-5, and 0-6 days). Effect modification by season and age was investigated by including interaction terms. We observed significant associations of PM10 and O-3 with suicide during summer (OR ranging from 1.02 to 1.07, p-values <0.05). For O-3, significant associations were also observed during spring and autumn. Age significantly modified the associations with PM10, with statistically significant associations observed only among 5-14 year old children (lag 0-6: OR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.03-2.04) and >= 85 years old (e.g. lag 0-4: OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 1.06-1.29). Recent increases in outdoor air pollutants such as PM10 or O-3 can trigger suicide, particularly during warm periods, even at concentrations below the European thresholds. Furthermore, PM10 may have strong trigger effects among children and elderly population.
Notes: [Casas, Lidia; Nemery, Benoit; Nawrot, Tim Steve] Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Publ Hlth & Primary Care, Ctr Environm & Hlth, O&N 1,Herestr 49,Bus 706, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. [Cox, Bianca; Nawrot, Tim Steve] Hasselt Univ, Ctr Environm Sci, Agoralaan Gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. [Bauwelinck, Mariska; Deboosere, Patrick] Vrije Univ Brussel, Sociol Dept, Interface Demog, Pl Laan 5, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. [Bauwelinck, Mariska] Sci Inst Publ Hlth, Unit Hlth & Environm, Rue Juliette Wytsman 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Keywords: Air pollution; Suicide; Case-crossover; Epidemiology;Air pollution; Suicide; Case-crossover; Epidemiology
Document URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/25749
ISSN: 0393-2990
e-ISSN: 1573-7284
DOI: 10.1007/s10654-017-0273-8
ISI #: 000415124400004
Category: A1
Type: Journal Contribution
Validations: ecoom 2018
Appears in Collections:Research publications

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