Environmental Impact on Psychiatric Disorders | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Source: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/health/psychiatric
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:14
Environmental Impact on Psychiatric Disorders | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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Environmental Impact on Psychiatric Disorders
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Program Description
Every year, an estimated one in five adults in the U.S. are affected by mental illness. The public health burden is immense, as
mental health disorders
represent the major cause of disability in the U.S. and account for over
$300 billion
in total national costs per year. Further, the societal burden of these conditions includes loss of work productivity, divorce, suicide, accidents, and accidental drug overdoses. While the exact cause of most mental illnesses is unknown, the interaction between genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures is likely a contributing factor.
Emerging evidence links toxicant exposure with central nervous system and behavior changes consistent with disorders ranging from schizophrenia to depression. These findings suggest that there is a need to broadly incorporate environmental exposures in psychiatric research. Additionally, the identification of environmental risk factors for psychiatric disorders may be a critical component for future effective intervention and prevention strategies.
What Is NIEHS Doing?
NIEHS supports innovative basic, epidemiological, and interdisciplinary research focused on understanding the role of and mechanisms by which environmental exposures disrupt normal brain and behavioral functioning to increase risk for psychiatric disorders. Areas of interest from NIEHS investigators include:
Assessment of developmental neurotoxicant exposure and mental disorder risk in adulthood
Investigation of multiple environmental factors (microbial pathogens such as viruses, diet substance use, exercise level, stress) in combination with toxicant exposures may protect or facilitate progression of a psychiatric condition
Identification of common neuronal mechanisms and circuits underlying mental disorder susceptibility following environmental exposure
Analysis of the interaction of environmental exposures, peripheral (e.g., gut) and central nervous system signaling on mood and mental health
Examples of the types of diseases studied by grant recipients include:
Anxiety disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Bipolar disorder
Major depression
Schizophrenia
Examples of environmental exposures studied by grant recipients include:
Air pollutants
Chlorinated compounds
Metals: lead, zinc, manganese
Metal mixtures
Organophosphates
Persistent organic pollutants
Pesticides
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Tobacco smoke
Resources
NIEHS request for applications (RFAs) supporting basic/fundamental research exploring the impact of environmental exposures on psychiatric-related outcomes
RFA-ES-22-008
(R01) and
RFA-ES-22-009
(R21)
NIEHS program announcements supporting environmental exposure and psychiatric research
PAR-19-385
(R21) and
PAR-19-386
(R01)
Beyond the looking glass: recent advances in understanding the impact of environmental exposures on neuropsychiatric disease. Neuropsychopharmacology 45:1086–1096.
doi.org/10.1038/s41386-020-0648-5
Environmental Risks for Psychiatric Disorders, Exploring Biological Mechanisms. Held March 21-22, 2017.
Program Leads
Jonathan A. Hollander, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Tel 984-287-3269
[email protected]
Kimberly A. Gray, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Tel 984-287-3262
[email protected]
Cindy P. Lawler, Ph.D.
Chief, Genes, Environment, and Health Branch
Tel 984-287-3280
[email protected]
Back
to Top
Last Reviewed: January 05, 2026
Skip Navigation
Environmental Impact on Psychiatric Disorders
Close the left navigation
Add
Program Description
Every year, an estimated one in five adults in the U.S. are affected by mental illness. The public health burden is immense, as
mental health disorders
represent the major cause of disability in the U.S. and account for over
$300 billion
in total national costs per year. Further, the societal burden of these conditions includes loss of work productivity, divorce, suicide, accidents, and accidental drug overdoses. While the exact cause of most mental illnesses is unknown, the interaction between genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures is likely a contributing factor.
Emerging evidence links toxicant exposure with central nervous system and behavior changes consistent with disorders ranging from schizophrenia to depression. These findings suggest that there is a need to broadly incorporate environmental exposures in psychiatric research. Additionally, the identification of environmental risk factors for psychiatric disorders may be a critical component for future effective intervention and prevention strategies.
What Is NIEHS Doing?
NIEHS supports innovative basic, epidemiological, and interdisciplinary research focused on understanding the role of and mechanisms by which environmental exposures disrupt normal brain and behavioral functioning to increase risk for psychiatric disorders. Areas of interest from NIEHS investigators include:
Assessment of developmental neurotoxicant exposure and mental disorder risk in adulthood
Investigation of multiple environmental factors (microbial pathogens such as viruses, diet substance use, exercise level, stress) in combination with toxicant exposures may protect or facilitate progression of a psychiatric condition
Identification of common neuronal mechanisms and circuits underlying mental disorder susceptibility following environmental exposure
Analysis of the interaction of environmental exposures, peripheral (e.g., gut) and central nervous system signaling on mood and mental health
Examples of the types of diseases studied by grant recipients include:
Anxiety disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Bipolar disorder
Major depression
Schizophrenia
Examples of environmental exposures studied by grant recipients include:
Air pollutants
Chlorinated compounds
Metals: lead, zinc, manganese
Metal mixtures
Organophosphates
Persistent organic pollutants
Pesticides
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Tobacco smoke
Resources
NIEHS request for applications (RFAs) supporting basic/fundamental research exploring the impact of environmental exposures on psychiatric-related outcomes
RFA-ES-22-008
(R01) and
RFA-ES-22-009
(R21)
NIEHS program announcements supporting environmental exposure and psychiatric research
PAR-19-385
(R21) and
PAR-19-386
(R01)
Beyond the looking glass: recent advances in understanding the impact of environmental exposures on neuropsychiatric disease. Neuropsychopharmacology 45:1086–1096.
doi.org/10.1038/s41386-020-0648-5
Environmental Risks for Psychiatric Disorders, Exploring Biological Mechanisms. Held March 21-22, 2017.
Program Leads
Jonathan A. Hollander, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Tel 984-287-3269
[email protected]
Kimberly A. Gray, Ph.D.
Health Scientist Administrator
Tel 984-287-3262
[email protected]
Cindy P. Lawler, Ph.D.
Chief, Genes, Environment, and Health Branch
Tel 984-287-3280
[email protected]
Back
to Top
Last Reviewed: January 05, 2026