Atmospheric carbon monoxide and hospitalization for mental and behavioral disorders: insights from a longitudinal study in Shijiazhuang

Background and aimCarbon monoxide (CO), a prevalent environmental pollutant, has been implicated in adverse mental health outcomes, but the mechanistic relationship between atmospheric CO levels and hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders remains unclear. This study investigates the...

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Main Authors: Peihua Hu, Wenting Lu, Xian Gao, Yating Li, Yanli Yang, Wanyi Yin, Liang Dong, Ruojia Ren, Xueyi Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1573556/full
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author Peihua Hu
Wenting Lu
Xian Gao
Yating Li
Yanli Yang
Wanyi Yin
Liang Dong
Ruojia Ren
Xueyi Wang
author_facet Peihua Hu
Wenting Lu
Xian Gao
Yating Li
Yanli Yang
Wanyi Yin
Liang Dong
Ruojia Ren
Xueyi Wang
author_sort Peihua Hu
collection DOAJ
description Background and aimCarbon monoxide (CO), a prevalent environmental pollutant, has been implicated in adverse mental health outcomes, but the mechanistic relationship between atmospheric CO levels and hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders remains unclear. This study investigates the epidemiological link between atmospheric CO and hospitalizations for mental health conditions in Shijiazhuang, China.MethodologyClinical data from patients hospitalized with mental and behavioral disorders at The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 2014 and December 2020 were analyzed. Daily atmospheric CO levels, temperature, and relative humidity were concurrently monitored. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to explore the correlation between CO levels and hospital admissions. Blood samples from patients with depressive disorders were analyzed for MAPK3 expression, and a mouse model of CO-induced depression was employed to further explore the molecular mechanisms.ResultsA total of 15,890 hospitalization records were included. A significant positive correlation was identified between CO levels and the number of daily hospitalizations, with the strongest effects observed when CO concentrations exceeded 40 μg/m3. This association was most pronounced in males and individuals aged over 45, as well as during both warm and cold seasons. A two-pollutant model confirmed CO as a major factor affecting hospitalizations, independent of other pollutants like nitric oxide and sulfur dioxide. Additionally, elevated MAPK3 expression was found in the blood samples of depressed patients, and treatment with the MAPK inhibitor PD98059 alleviated CO-induced depression in a mouse model.ConclusionThis study provides compelling evidence for a significant association between atmospheric CO and hospitalizations for mental and behavioral disorders. The findings suggest that CO exposure may exacerbate mental health conditions, particularly in vulnerable populations. These insights underline the importance of air quality management and highlight potential pathways for therapeutic interventions targeting CO-induced mental health disorders.
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spelling doaj-art-7f03552d0db845b5bdd34c9c13a04fbb2025-08-20T02:29:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-04-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15735561573556Atmospheric carbon monoxide and hospitalization for mental and behavioral disorders: insights from a longitudinal study in ShijiazhuangPeihua Hu0Wenting Lu1Xian Gao2Yating Li3Yanli Yang4Wanyi Yin5Liang Dong6Ruojia Ren7Xueyi Wang8Institute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, ChinaHebei Medical University and Hebei Technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Institute of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, ChinaDepartment of Nursing, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, ChinaDepartment of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, ChinaDepartment of Hematology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, ChinaDepartment of Hospital Infection Management, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, ChinaHebei Medical University and Hebei Technical Innovation Center for Mental Health Assessment and Intervention, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders and Institute of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, ChinaInstitute of Mental Health, First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, ChinaBackground and aimCarbon monoxide (CO), a prevalent environmental pollutant, has been implicated in adverse mental health outcomes, but the mechanistic relationship between atmospheric CO levels and hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders remains unclear. This study investigates the epidemiological link between atmospheric CO and hospitalizations for mental health conditions in Shijiazhuang, China.MethodologyClinical data from patients hospitalized with mental and behavioral disorders at The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 2014 and December 2020 were analyzed. Daily atmospheric CO levels, temperature, and relative humidity were concurrently monitored. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to explore the correlation between CO levels and hospital admissions. Blood samples from patients with depressive disorders were analyzed for MAPK3 expression, and a mouse model of CO-induced depression was employed to further explore the molecular mechanisms.ResultsA total of 15,890 hospitalization records were included. A significant positive correlation was identified between CO levels and the number of daily hospitalizations, with the strongest effects observed when CO concentrations exceeded 40 μg/m3. This association was most pronounced in males and individuals aged over 45, as well as during both warm and cold seasons. A two-pollutant model confirmed CO as a major factor affecting hospitalizations, independent of other pollutants like nitric oxide and sulfur dioxide. Additionally, elevated MAPK3 expression was found in the blood samples of depressed patients, and treatment with the MAPK inhibitor PD98059 alleviated CO-induced depression in a mouse model.ConclusionThis study provides compelling evidence for a significant association between atmospheric CO and hospitalizations for mental and behavioral disorders. The findings suggest that CO exposure may exacerbate mental health conditions, particularly in vulnerable populations. These insights underline the importance of air quality management and highlight potential pathways for therapeutic interventions targeting CO-induced mental health disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1573556/fullcarbon monoxideair pollutionmental healthhospitalizationMAPK3behavioral disorders
spellingShingle Peihua Hu
Wenting Lu
Xian Gao
Yating Li
Yanli Yang
Wanyi Yin
Liang Dong
Ruojia Ren
Xueyi Wang
Atmospheric carbon monoxide and hospitalization for mental and behavioral disorders: insights from a longitudinal study in Shijiazhuang
Frontiers in Psychology
carbon monoxide
air pollution
mental health
hospitalization
MAPK3
behavioral disorders
title Atmospheric carbon monoxide and hospitalization for mental and behavioral disorders: insights from a longitudinal study in Shijiazhuang
title_full Atmospheric carbon monoxide and hospitalization for mental and behavioral disorders: insights from a longitudinal study in Shijiazhuang
title_fullStr Atmospheric carbon monoxide and hospitalization for mental and behavioral disorders: insights from a longitudinal study in Shijiazhuang
title_full_unstemmed Atmospheric carbon monoxide and hospitalization for mental and behavioral disorders: insights from a longitudinal study in Shijiazhuang
title_short Atmospheric carbon monoxide and hospitalization for mental and behavioral disorders: insights from a longitudinal study in Shijiazhuang
title_sort atmospheric carbon monoxide and hospitalization for mental and behavioral disorders insights from a longitudinal study in shijiazhuang
topic carbon monoxide
air pollution
mental health
hospitalization
MAPK3
behavioral disorders
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1573556/full
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