Effects of short- and long-term exposures to multiple air pollutants on depression among the labor force: A nationwide longitudinal study in China

Background: Depression prevalence has surged within the labor force population in recent years. While links between air pollutants and depression were explored, there was a notable scarcity of research focusing on the workforce. Methods: This nationwide longitudinal study analyzed 27,457 workers aged 15 - 64. We estimated monthly mean concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), its primary components, and Ozone (O 3 ) at participants ' residences using spatiotemporal models. To assess the relationship between short- (1 to 3 months) and long-term (1 to 2 years) exposure to various air pollutants and depressive levels and occurrences, we employed linear mixed - effects models and mixed - effects logistic regression. We considered potential occupational moderators, such as labor contracts, overtime compensation, and total annual income. Results: We found significant increases in depression risks within the workforce linked to both short- and longterm air pollution exposure. A 10 mu g/m 3 rise in 2-year average PM 2.5 , black carbon (BC), and O 3 concentrations correlated with increments in depressive scores of 0.009, 0.173, and 0.010, and a higher likelihood of depression prevalence by 0.5 %, 12.6 %, and 0.7 %. The impacts of air pollutants and depression were more prominent in people without labor contracts, overtime compensation, and lower total incomes.