--- title: "Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in Scotland: a…" description: "Long-term exposure to common air pollutants is linked to increased mortality from various physical and mental health conditions." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x17.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x17.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x17.html" type: "study" study_key: "x17" journal: "Environ Res" year: 2023 pmid: "37793592" doi: "10.1016/j.envres.2023.117223" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in Scotland: a register-based individual-level longitudinal study [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x17.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/x17 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Environ Res | | Year | 2023 | | PMID | [37793592](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37793592/) | | DOI | [10.1016/j.envres.2023.117223](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.117223) | | Study key | x17 | ## Takeaway Long-term exposure to common air pollutants is linked to increased mortality from various physical and mental health conditions. ## The question What is the association between long-term exposure to multiple ambient air pollutants and all-cause and cause-specific mortality from both physical and mental illnesses? ## Hypothesis The study implicitly hypothesizes that long-term exposure to air pollutants is associated with increased all-cause and cause-specific mortality, including mental/behavioral health outcomes. ## Methods This study used individual-level administrative data from the Scottish Longitudinal Study (SLS) for 202,237 individuals aged 17 and older, followed between 2002 and 2017. The SLS dataset was linked to annual concentrations of NO2, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5 pollution at 1 km2 spatial resolution using residential postcodes. Survival analysis was applied to assess the association between air pollution and all-cause, cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer, mental/behavioral disorders/suicides, and other-causes mortality. ## Results Higher all-cause mortality was associated with increasing concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2. NO2, PM10, and PM2.5 were also associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer, and other-causes mortality. Specifically, the mortality hazard from respiratory diseases increased by 1.062 per 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, 1.025 per 1 μg/m3 increase in PM10, and 1.013 per 1 μg/m3 increase in NO2. Mortality from mental and behavioral disorders was associated with a 1.042 higher hazard per 1 μg/m3 increase in SO2. ## Conclusion The study revealed an association between long-term (16-year) exposure to ambient air pollution and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The results suggest that policies and interventions to enhance air quality could reduce mortality from cardio-respiratory, cancer, and mental/behavioral disorders in the long term. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the study. ## Verbatim from the abstract > higher all-cause mortality was associated with increasing concentrations of PM2.5, NO2 and SO2 ## Increase in Respiratory Disease Mortality Hazard per 1 μg/m3 Increase in Pollutant | Measure | Hazard Ratio | | --- | --- | | PM2.5 | 1.062 | | PM10 | 1.025 | | NO2 | 1.013 | *This chart shows the hazard ratio for respiratory disease mortality per 1 μg/m3 increase in specific air pollutants.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Air Purification | Moderate evidence | [AllerAir Deep-Bed Carbon Purifier](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/41.md) | ## Reference 1. **Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in Scotland: a register-based individual-level longitudinal study** Environ Res 2023 · [PMID 37793592](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37793592/) · [DOI 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117223](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.117223) > higher all-cause mortality was associated with increasing concentrations of PM2.5, NO2 and SO2 ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x17.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x17.html","name":"Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in Scotland: a register-based individual-level…","description":"Long-term exposure to common air pollutants is linked to increased mortality from various physical and mental health conditions.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x17.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x17.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x17.html#study","name":"Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in Scotland: a register-based individual-level longitudinal study","headline":"Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in Scotland: a register-based individual-level…","datePublished":"2023","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Environ Res"},"identifier":"PMID:37793592","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37793592/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.117223","abstract":"Long-term exposure to common air pollutants is linked to increased mortality from various physical and mental health conditions."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [AllerAir Deep-Bed Carbon Purifier](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/41.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution is a risk factor for trajectory of…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/airpollution.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).