Background: In both animal and human studies, exposure to environmental pollutants has been associated to depressed symptoms. The health of mothers and children is significantly impacted by postpartum depression (PPD), which affects up to 1 in 5 mothers worldwide. Objective: Evaluated the relationship between prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants and postpartum depression. Methodology: We investigated the relationship between prenatal and postpartum depression exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) with symptoms of psychological dysfunction at 1 and 6 months postpartum in Lahore city, Raiwand Tehsil (2918 women with accessible data). A hybrid satellite based spatiotemporally resolved model was used to obtain daily PM2.5 estimates, which were then averaged during pregnancy and the first postpartum year. The relationship between PM2.5 exposure and probable PPD (EPDS score 13) was evaluated and the symptoms of anhedonia, depression, and anxiety (derived from EPDS subscales) were evaluated by using the spss software version 21. Results: A 5-g/m3 increase in average PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy was linked to an elevated risk of PPD at 6 months (95% CI. The 6-month EPDS subscale symptom scores for anhedonia (p = 0.03) and depression (p = 0.04) were likewise elevated in association with average PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy. An increased risk of depressive symptoms was linked to increases in PM2.5 and NO2 during the second trimester. A lower risk was linked to the IQR increase in O3 throughout the first trimester. At six months after giving birth, PPD and the signs of anhedonia and depression were strongly correlated. Conclusions: According to our research, pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing depression or anxiety when there are higher levels of NO2, and O3 in environment.
Keywords: Prenatal, Postpartum depression, Environmental pollutants, Anhedonia, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.