Medical Report: Could environmental toxins contribute to depression?

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It is estimated that as many as 1 in 8 Americans will be diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives. At any one time, it is estimated that 4% of the population suffers from depression.

As a result, numerous studies are looking at potential causes. A new report links certain environmental toxins with depression. Researchers examined 26 toxins, and a wide variety of them — ranging from nicotine to heavy metals — lead to inflammation in those exposed and are associated with depression.

This particular report does not make a direct cause-and-effect connection, but the association is important because future studies will look at specific toxins.

Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough .

​​KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.