Exposure to air pollution is associated with a higher risk of suicide.

Is it true that exposure to air pollution is associated with a higher risk of suicide?

Unclear. Three peer-reviewed sources report positive associations between air pollution exposure and suicide risk: a US study citing heightened risk from short-term particulate exposure in Korea and Taiwan, a UK national analysis finding a significant PM2.5-suicide mortality association it labels exploratory, and a systematic review of climate indicators noting air pollution contributes to suicidality. All are partial, covering specific pollutants, populations or periods rather than the general claim.

Verdict: PARTIAL LEAN · 3 sources for, 0 against · Last checked 2 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Acute Air Pollution Exposure and Risk of Suicide Completion - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwu341

S, D., A, A., H, D., & RJ, I. (2026). Air pollution and suicide mortality in the UK: implications for environmental and mental health policy.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-026-38089-w

DR, A., SK, K., M, A. D. A. A., & R, H. (2026). A systematic review of the association between climate change and suicidality reveals that climate indicators increase suicide rates.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2026.10176