Affective disorders among fishermen and women exposed to indoor air pollution

Introduction: Toxic effects of air pollution can lead to psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and changes in mood and behaviour. Objectives: To examine the relationship between anxiety and depression with exposure to indoor air pollution and respiratory symptoms. Methods: 521 fishermen and women from a fishing community in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria who were chronically exposed to firewood smoke completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a modified British Medical Research Council Questionnaire (BMRC) for other respiratory symptoms. Lung volumes were measured with a spirometer. Results: 71 (13.6%) subjects had symptoms of anxiety while 72 (13.8%) had depression and 53 (10.2%) had a combination of anxiety and depression. Anxiety symptoms was significantly more common among women. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were significantly more common among subjects with airway obstruction and subjects with chronic bronchitis. There was no significant association between symptoms of anxiety and depression and age. HADS scores correlated significantly with levels of exposure to indoor air pollution. Conclusion: Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common among people with long term exposure to indoor air pollution and they usually go undiagnosed due to low accessibility to proper health facilities. They should be routinely screened for psychiatric morbidities.