Associations between residential segregation, ambient air pollution, and hippocampal features in recent trauma survivors.
Recommended Citation
Liang SS, Roeckner AR, Ely TD, Lebois LAM, van Rooij SJH, Bruce SE, Jovanovic T, House SL, Beaudoin FL, An X, Neylan TC, Clifford GD, Linnstaedt SD, Germine LT, Rauch SL, Haran JP, Storrow AB, Lewandowski C, Musey PI, Jr., Hendry PL, Sheikh S, Pascual JL, Seamon MJ, Harris E, Pearson C, Peak DA, Merchant RC, Domeier RM, Rathlev NK, O’Neil BJ, Sergot P, Sanchez LD, Sheridan JF, Harte SE, Kessler RC, Koenen KC, McLean SA, Ressler KJ, Stevens JS, Webb EK, Harnett NG. Associations between residential segregation, ambient air pollution, and hippocampal features in recent trauma survivors. Transl Psychiatry. 2026;16(1).
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-18-2026
Publication Title
Transl Psychiatry
Keywords
Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Air Pollutants, Air Pollution, Black or African American, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Hippocampus, Hispanic or Latino, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Particulate Matter, Residential Segregation, Socioeconomic Disparities in Health, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Survivors, White
Abstract
Residential segregation is associated with differential exposure to air pollution. Hippocampus structure and function are highly susceptible to pollutants and associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development. Therefore, we investigated associations between residential segregation, air pollutants, hippocampal neurobiology, and PTSD in recent trauma survivors. Participants (N = 278; 34% non-Hispanic white, 46% Non-Hispanic Black, 16% Hispanic) completed multimodal neuroimaging two weeks after trauma. Yearly averages of air pollutants (PM(2.5) and NO(2)) and racial/economic segregation (Index of Concentration at the Extremes) were derived from each participant’s address. Linear models assessed if air pollutants mediated associations between segregation and hippocampal volume, threat reactivity, or parahippocampal cingulum fractional anisotropy (FA) after covarying for age, sex, income, and 2-week PTSD symptoms. Further models evaluated if pollutants or segregation prospectively predicted PTSD symptoms six months post-trauma. We found that non-Hispanic Black participants lived in neighborhoods with significantly greater segregation and air pollution compared to Hispanic and non-Hispanic white participants (ps < 0.001). PM(2.5) concentration was positively correlated with threat reactivity (r(276) = 0.16, p < 0.006), while NO(2) concentration was positively correlated with hippocampus volume (r(276) = 0.17, p < 0.005) and negatively correlated with white matter tract FA (r(276) = -0.18, p < 0.003). There was a significant indirect effect of NO(2) between segregation and FA values (β = 0.08, 95% CI[0.01, 0.15]), and an indirect effect of PM(2.5) between segregation and threat reactivity (β = -0.08, 95% CI[-0.14, -0.01]). There was no direct effect of segregation on hippocampal features. Pollutants and segregation were not associated with PTSD symptoms. In conclusion, residential segregation is associated with greater air pollution exposure, which is in turn associated with variability in hippocampal features among recent trauma survivors. Further research is needed to assess relationships between other environmental factors and trauma and stress-related disorders.
Medical Subject Headings
Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Black or African American; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Hippocampus; Hispanic or Latino; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Particulate Matter; Residential Segregation; Socioeconomic Disparities in Health; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Survivors; White
PubMed ID
42151109
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
Volume
16
Issue
1
