The Impact of Short-Term Exposure to Air Pollutants on Idaho Mental Hospital Intakes
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Nancy Johnston, Lewis-Clark State College
Presentation Date
7-16-2026
Abstract
Air pollution from wildfire smoke and other industrial causes is a significant public health concern in the Pacific Northwest. Emerging research has identified a link between exposure to air pollution and adverse mental health outcomes. Therefore, the effects of various air pollutants on mental hospital admissions have been investigated. Adult mental hospital intake data was obtained from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and CO data was obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency (2020-2024) for several Idaho cities. Temperature and relative humidity data was obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Time-series analyses using generalized linear models (GLMs) with a quasipoisson log-link function are utilized to assess the relationship between mental health hospital admissions and various air pollutants. Data analyses are stratified into summer (June, July, August) and winter (December, January, February). Long-term trends, temperature, and relative humidity are controlled using natural cubic splines (df= 5, df=3). Results reveal a significant positive correlation for winter and summer NO2 and summer PM10 and mental hospital admissions.
The Impact of Short-Term Exposure to Air Pollutants on Idaho Mental Hospital Intakes
Air pollution from wildfire smoke and other industrial causes is a significant public health concern in the Pacific Northwest. Emerging research has identified a link between exposure to air pollution and adverse mental health outcomes. Therefore, the effects of various air pollutants on mental hospital admissions have been investigated. Adult mental hospital intake data was obtained from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and CO data was obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency (2020-2024) for several Idaho cities. Temperature and relative humidity data was obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Time-series analyses using generalized linear models (GLMs) with a quasipoisson log-link function are utilized to assess the relationship between mental health hospital admissions and various air pollutants. Data analyses are stratified into summer (June, July, August) and winter (December, January, February). Long-term trends, temperature, and relative humidity are controlled using natural cubic splines (df= 5, df=3). Results reveal a significant positive correlation for winter and summer NO2 and summer PM10 and mental hospital admissions.