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Preclinical studies suggest that inflammation, including cytokines, reactive proteins, and lipid mediators, may explain the link between PM<jats:sub>2.5<\/jats:sub> and psychiatric risk. However, growing evidence suggests that these relationships may differ by sex, with females potentially more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution on psychiatric symptoms, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>This study examined the relationships among recent (past-month) PM2.5 exposure, peripheral inflammatory markers, and anxiety and depressive symptoms in 78 adolescents (M \u00b1 SD = 13.3 \u00b1 2.3 years, 48.7% female) from the Detroit, MI area.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Higher PM<jats:sub>2.5<\/jats:sub> concentrations were significantly associated with elevated levels of inflammatory lipid mediators: PGE2, 12(S)-HETE, 12(S)-HEPE, and 15(S)-HETE. A significant PM<jats:sub>2.5<\/jats:sub>-by-sex interaction was observed for IL-6, with higher PM<jats:sub>2.5<\/jats:sub> exposure associated with higher IL-6 concentrations in females but not males. Additionally, higher PM<jats:sub>2.5<\/jats:sub> concentrations were significantly associated with greater total anxiety, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety symptoms, but only in females. Higher IL-8 concentrations were associated with greater depressive symptoms, and a significant TNF-\u03b1-by-sex interaction was observed for total and social anxiety symptoms, with higher TNF-\u03b1 concentrations linked to greater symptoms in females but not males.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>These findings suggest that PM<jats:sub>2.5<\/jats:sub> exposure is associated with inflammation and anxiety symptoms in adolescence, with notable sex differences. As a modifiable risk factor, reducing outdoor air pollution exposure may help mitigate psychiatric symptoms in youth.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1588964","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,23]],"date-time":"2025-05-23T16:25:42Z","timestamp":1748017542000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Outdoor air pollution and psychiatric symptoms in adolescents: a study of peripheral inflammatory marker associations"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Clara G.","family":"Zundel","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"MacKenna M.","family":"Shampine","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexander","family":"Jakubiec","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christine","family":"Lewis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cole","family":"Brokamp","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jeffrey R.","family":"Strawn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tanja","family":"Jovanovic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patrick H.","family":"Ryan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eric","family":"Woodcock","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhao","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Petriello","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hilary","family":"Marusak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","volume-title":"State of Global Air 2024. 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