(NaturalPath) A study curated by Natural Medicine Journal found that there might be link between suicide completion and air pollution exposure.
The researchers evaluated daily exposure to air pollutants among Salt Lake County residents for ten years, looking at nitrogen dioxide, different diameters of particulate matter and sulfur dioxide. They also looked at sunlight. The study included 1,546 case days and 4,297 control days.
For males, the largest percentage of suicides occurred in the spring (28 percent) for females it was in the fall (30 percent), while winter saw the lowest percentages for both genders (22 percent for each).
According to the results of the study, increased suicide risk was associated with single-day and cumulative exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide on and during the two to three days preceding a suicide. Suicide risk was higher in the spring and the spring/fall transition period after acute exposure to fine particulate matter. Risk was also higher in both the fall and the spring/fall transition period after acute exposure to nitrogen dioxide.
They note that “people with depression enhanced by air pollutants may be at increased risk for suicide.”
For more information, read the full study.
http://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2016-02/association-suicide-completion-air-pollution
Razi Berry, Founder and Publisher of Naturopathic Doctor News & Review (ndnr.com) and NaturalPath (thenatpath.com), has spent the last decade as a natural medicine advocate and marketing whiz. She has galvanized and supported the naturopathic community, bringing a higher quality of healthcare to millions of North Americans through her publications. A self-proclaimed health-food junkie and mother of two; she loves all things nature, is obsessed with organic gardening, growing fruit trees (not easy in Phoenix), laughing until she snorts, and homeschooling. She is a little bit crunchy and yes, that is her real name.
