Air pollution linked to increased risk of depression, suicide.

ISLAMABAD -- People exposed to higher levels of air pollution are more likely to experience depression or commit suicide, researchers have found.

The systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence connecting air pollution and a range of mental health problems, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, reviewed study data from 16 countries.

"Our findings correspond with other studies that have come out this year, with further evidence in young people and in other mental health conditions," said the study's senior author, Joseph Hayes from the University College London.

"While we cannot yet say that this relationship is causal, the evidence is highly suggestive that air pollution itself increases the risk of adverse mental health outcomes," Hayes said.

The World Health Organization guidelines recommend that fine particulate matter pollution - small airborne particles that can include dust and soot - should be kept under 10Aug/m3.

For the findings, the research team searched for studies that had investigated the association between particulate matter pollution and five different adverse mental health outcomes in...