Work

Gaseous air pollutant exposure and its association with obesity and mental health in Korean adults

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Air pollution, particularly particulate matter (PM), has been linked to obesity and adverse mental health outcomes (MHO), yet evidence regarding gaseous pollutants remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the associations of exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), ozone (O 3 ), and carbon monoxide (CO) with obesity and MHO. This nationwide population-based study utilized data from the Korea Health Panel Survey (2019–2021), including 32,166 eligible adults aged 19 years or older. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m² according to the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity criteria. MHO included stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation. Associations between exposure to gaseous air pollutants and the study outcomes were evaluated using survey-weighted quadratic polynomial regression models, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and meteorological variables. Whether these associations differed by obesity status was also assessed using interaction terms. Of the three exposure pollutants evaluated, only CO exposure (per 100-ppb increment) was consistently associated with BMI (Model 3: β , 95% CI: 0.171, 0.104–0.243, p < 0.001) and obesity across all three models (Model 3: OR, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.07–1.15, p = 0.001). Moreover, CO exposure demonstrated a consistently strong association with MHO, significantly increasing the odds of all four conditions (OR, 95% CI: stress: 1.08, 1.03–1.14; depression: 1.14, 1.04–1.19; anxiety: 1.21, 1.02–1.32; suicide ideation: 1.42, 1.32–1.59, all p < 0.05). Associations with SO₂ were attenuated after multivariable adjustment, whereas no significant associations were observed for O 3 . Obesity modified the associations of CO with stress, depression, and suicide ideation, and of SO 2 with stress, with stronger associations among obese adults than non-obese adults ( p for interaction < 0.05). These findings suggest that ambient CO exposure may represent an important environmental correlate of both obesity and MHO, and that individuals with obesity may be more susceptible to the mental health impacts associated with gaseous air pollution. Not applicable.

Source: Journal of Health Population and Nutrition

DOI: 10.1186/s41043-026-01492-7

Authors: Shiva Raj Acharya, Shiva Raj Acharya, Bhupendra Regmi, Sabitri Acharya, Sabitri Acharya

Institutions: Yonsei University, College of Medical Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Air Quality and Health Impacts

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,790