MedPage Today (12/22, Phend) reports a study found that “long-term exposure to pollution from fine particulate matter and its major components – soil dust, sulfate, and elemental carbon – correlated with a greater risk of depression among older adults.” According to Medicare data, “each quartile higher exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or smaller (PM2.5) – averaged over 5 years and measured in the ZIP code of residence – correlated with 7% higher risk of incident depression.” Researchers noted the “biggest contributors were soil dust, sulfate, and elemental carbon, which had hazard ratios of 1.03 to 1.05 per interquartile range increase.” They concluded, “Our findings underscore the necessity for stricter regulation of ambient PM2.5 emissions, particularly from fossil fuel combustion and traffic sources.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open. (SOURCE: APA Headlines)