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Tung NT, Cheng PC, Chi KH, Hsiao TC, Jones T, BéruBé K, Ho KF, Chuang HC. Particulate matter and SARS-CoV-2: A possible model of COVID-19 transmission. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 750:141532. [PMID: 32858292 PMCID: PMC7403850 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an acute respiratory disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly developed into a pandemic throughout the world. This disease is a highly infectious novel coronavirus and can affect people of all ages. Previous reports observed that particulate matter (PM) provided a platform for intermixing with viruses (i.e., influenza). However, the role of PM in SARS-CoV-2 transmission remains unclear. In this paper, we propose that PM plays a direct role as a "carrier" of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 is reported to have a high affinity for the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Indirectly, exposure to PM increases ACE2 expression in the lungs which facilitates SARS-CoV-2 viral adhesion. Thus, the high risk of SARS-CoV-2 in heavily polluted regions can be explained by upregulation of ACE2 caused by PM. PM could be both a direct and indirect transmission model for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Thanh Tung
- International PhD Program in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Otorhinolaryngology Department, Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| | - Po-Ching Cheng
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Center for International Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Kai-Hsien Chi
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Ta-Chi Hsiao
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Timothy Jones
- School of Earth and Oceanic Sciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3US, UK.
| | - Kelly BéruBé
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3US, UK.
| | - Kin-Fai Ho
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Hsiao-Chi Chuang
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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152
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Aydin N, Yurdakul G. Assessing countries' performances against COVID-19 via WSIDEA and machine learning algorithms. Appl Soft Comput 2020; 97:106792. [PMID: 33071686 PMCID: PMC7556230 DOI: 10.1016/j.asoc.2020.106792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, which first spread to the People of Republic of China and then to other countries in a short time, affected the whole world by infecting millions of people and have been increasing its impact day by day. Hundreds of researchers in many countries are in search of a solution to end up this pandemic. This study aims to contribute to the literature by performing detailed analyses via a new three-staged framework constructed based on data envelopment analysis and machine learning algorithms to assess the performances of 142 countries against the COVID-19 outbreak. Particularly, clustering analyses were made using k-means and hierarchic clustering methods. Subsequently, efficiency analysis of countries were performed by a novel model, the weighted stochastic imprecise data envelopment analysis. Finally, parameters were analyzed with decision tree and random forest algorithms. Results have been analyzed in detail, and the classification of countries are determined by providing the most influential parameters. The analysis showed that the optimum number of clusters for 142 countries is three. In addition, while 20 countries out of 142 countries were fully effective, 36% of them were found to be effective at a rate of 90%. Finally, it has been observed that the data such as GDP, smoking rates, and the rate of diabetes patients do not affect the effectiveness level of the countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nezir Aydin
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Besiktas, 34349 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gökhan Yurdakul
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Besiktas, 34349 Istanbul, Turkey
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153
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Huang H, Liang X, Huang J, Yuan Z, Ouyang H, Wei Y, Bai X. Correlations between Meteorological Indicators, Air Quality and the COVID-19 Pandemic in 12 Cities across China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2020; 18:1491-1498. [PMID: 33082960 PMCID: PMC7561282 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-020-00564-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 is a global pandemic. The purpose of this study is to explore correlations between the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and meteorological indicators from cities across China. METHODS We collected daily data of the cumulative number of infected, recovered and death cases, and the meteorological indicators including average temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, precipitation and air quality index (AQI) from 12 cities in China during the period of Jan 23 to Feb 22, 2020. Correlation tests were chosen for data analysis. RESULTS The average temperature and AQI showed significant association with the mortality rate of COVID-19. The mortality rate was not correlated with wind speed, relative humidity or precipitation. Meanwhile, higher average temperatures and more precipitation were beneficial for the recovery rate of COVID-19, but the recovery rate was not correlated with wind speed, relative humidity or AQI. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides a new basis for correlations between COVID-19, meteorological indicators and air quality index, which can help authorities to combat COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiying Huang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510180 Guangdong China
| | - Xiuji Liang
- Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044 Jiangsu China
| | - Jingxiu Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaohu Yuan
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510180 Guangdong China
| | - Handong Ouyang
- Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaming Wei
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510180 Guangdong China
| | - Xiaohui Bai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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154
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Saez M, Tobias A, Barceló MA. Effects of long-term exposure to air pollutants on the spatial spread of COVID-19 in Catalonia, Spain. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 191:110177. [PMID: 32931792 PMCID: PMC7486876 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk of infection and death by COVID-19 could be associated with a heterogeneous distribution at a small area level of environmental, socioeconomic and demographic factors. Our objective was to investigate, at a small area level, whether long-term exposure to air pollutants increased the risk of COVID-19 incidence and death in Catalonia, Spain, controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors. METHODS We used a mixed longitudinal ecological design with the study population consisting of small areas in Catalonia for the period February 25 to May 16, 2020. We estimated Generalized Linear Mixed models in which we controlled for a wide range of observed and unobserved confounders as well as spatial and temporal dependence. RESULTS We have found that long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and, to a lesser extent, to coarse particles (PM10) have been independent predictors of the spatial spread of COVID-19. For every 1 μm/m3 above the mean the risk of a positive test case increased by 2.7% (95% credibility interval, ICr: 0.8%, 4.7%) for NO2 and 3.0% (95% ICr: -1.4%,7.44%) for PM10. Regions with levels of NO2 exposure in the third and fourth quartile had 28.8% and 35.7% greater risk of a death, respectively, than regions located in the first two quartiles. CONCLUSION Although it is possible that there are biological mechanisms that explain, at least partially, the association between long-term exposure to air pollutants and COVID-19, we hypothesize that the spatial spread of COVID-19 in Catalonia is attributed to the different ease with which some people, the hosts of the virus, have infected others. That facility depends on the heterogeneous distribution at a small area level of variables such as population density, poor housing and the mobility of its residents, for which exposure to pollutants has been a surrogate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Saez
- Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of Girona, Girona, Spain; CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Aurelio Tobias
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria A Barceló
- Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of Girona, Girona, Spain; CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain. http://www.udg.edu/grecs.htm
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155
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Brant LCC, Nascimento BR, Teixeira RA, Lopes MACQ, Malta DC, Oliveira GMM, Ribeiro ALP. Excess of cardiovascular deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazilian capital cities. Heart 2020; 106:1898-1905. [PMID: 33060261 PMCID: PMC7565269 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2020-317663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the COVID-19 pandemic, excess mortality has been reported, while hospitalisations for acute cardiovascular events reduced. Brazil is the second country with more deaths due to COVID-19. We aimed to evaluate excess cardiovascular mortality during COVID-19 pandemic in 6 Brazilian capital cities. METHODS Using the Civil Registry public database, we evaluated total and cardiovascular excess deaths, further stratified in specified cardiovascular deaths (acute coronary syndromes and stroke) and unspecified cardiovascular deaths in the 6 Brazilian cities with greater number of COVID-19 deaths (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, Recife, Belém, Manaus). We compared observed with expected deaths from epidemiological weeks 12-22 of 2020. We also compared the number of hospital and home deaths during the period. RESULTS There were 65 449 deaths and 17 877 COVID-19 deaths in the studied period and cities for 2020. Cardiovascular mortality increased in most cities, with greater magnitude in the Northern capitals. However, while there was a reduction in specified cardiovascular deaths in the most cities, the Northern capitals showed an increase of these events. For unspecified cardiovascular deaths, there was a marked increase in all cities, which strongly correlated to the rise in home deaths (r=0.86, p=0.01). CONCLUSION Excess cardiovascular mortality was greater in the less developed cities, possibly associated with healthcare collapse. Specified cardiovascular deaths decreased in the most developed cities, in parallel with an increase in unspecified cardiovascular and home deaths, presumably as a result of misdiagnosis. Conversely, specified cardiovascular deaths increased in cities with a healthcare collapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Campos Caldeira Brant
- Serviço de Cardiologia e Cirurgia Cardiovascular, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bruno Ramos Nascimento
- Serviço de Cardiologia e Cirurgia Cardiovascular, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Renato Azeredo Teixeira
- Pós-graduação em Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Antônio Cartaxo Queiroga Lopes
- Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Cardiologia Intervencionista, Hospital Alberto Urquiza Wanderley, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Deborah Carvalho Malta
- Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Glaucia Maria Moraes Oliveira
- Faculdade de Medicina e Instituto do Coração Edson Saad, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Antonio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro
- Serviço de Cardiologia e Cirurgia Cardiovascular, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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156
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Copat C, Cristaldi A, Fiore M, Grasso A, Zuccarello P, Signorelli SS, Conti GO, Ferrante M. The role of air pollution (PM and NO 2) in COVID-19 spread and lethality: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 191:110129. [PMID: 32853663 PMCID: PMC7444490 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has determined a pneumonia outbreak in China (Wuhan, Hubei Province) in December 2019, called COVID-19 disease. In addition to the person-to person transmission dynamic of the novel respiratory virus, it has been recently studied the role of environmental factors in accelerate SARS-CoV-2 spread and its lethality. The time being, air pollution has been identified as the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world. It affects body's immunity, making people more vulnerable to pathogens. The hypothesis that air pollution, resulting from a combination of factors such as meteorological data, level of industrialization as well as regional topography, can acts both as a carrier of the infection and as a worsening factor of the health impact of COVID-19 disease, has been raised recently. With this review, we want to provide an update state of art relating the role of air pollution, in particular PM2.5, PM10 and NO2, in COVID-19 spread and lethality. The Authors, who first investigated this association, often used different research methods or not all include confounding factors whenever possible. In addition, to date incidence data are underestimated in all countries and to a lesser extent also mortality data. For this reason, the cases included in the reviewed studies cannot be considered conclusive. Although it determines important limitations for direct comparison of results, and more studies are needed to strengthen scientific evidences and support firm conclusions, major findings are consistent, highlighting the important contribution of PM2.5 and NO2 as triggering of the COVID-19 spread and lethality, and with a less extent also PM10, although the potential effect of airborne virus exposure it has not been still demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Copat
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania, 95123, Italy.
| | - Antonio Cristaldi
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania, 95123, Italy
| | - Maria Fiore
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania, 95123, Italy
| | - Alfina Grasso
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania, 95123, Italy
| | - Pietro Zuccarello
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania, 95123, Italy
| | - Salvatore Santo Signorelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 78, Catania, 95123, Italy
| | - Gea Oliveri Conti
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania, 95123, Italy
| | - Margherita Ferrante
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania, 95123, Italy
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157
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Ali N, Islam F. The Effects of Air Pollution on COVID-19 Infection and Mortality-A Review on Recent Evidence. Front Public Health 2020; 8:580057. [PMID: 33324598 PMCID: PMC7725793 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.580057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 has created a serious public health concern worldwide. Although, most of the regions around the globe have been affected by COVID-19 infections; some regions are more badly affected in terms of infections and fatality rates than others. The exact reasons for such variations are not clear yet. This review discussed the possible effects of air pollution on COVID-19 infections and mortality based on some recent evidence. The findings of most studies reviewed here demonstrate that both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution especially PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) may contribute significantly to higher rates of COVID-19 infections and mortalities with a lesser extent also PM10. A significant correlation has been found between air pollution and COVID-19 infections and mortality in some countries in the world. The available data also indicate that exposure to air pollution may influence COVID-19 transmission. Moreover, exposure to air pollution may increase vulnerability and have harmful effects on the prognosis of patients affected by COVID-19 infections. Further research should be conducted considering some potential confounders such as age and pre-existing medical conditions along with exposure to NO2, PM2.5 and other air pollutants to confirm their detrimental effects on mortalities from COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurshad Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
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158
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Azuma K, Kagi N, Kim H, Hayashi M. Impact of climate and ambient air pollution on the epidemic growth during COVID-19 outbreak in Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 190:110042. [PMID: 32800895 PMCID: PMC7420955 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide in the first quarter of 2020 and resulted in a global crisis. Investigation of the potential association of the spread of the COVID-19 infection with climate or ambient air pollution could lead to the development of preventive strategies for disease control. To examine this association, we conducted a longitudinal cohort study of 28 geographical areas of Japan with documented outbreaks of COVID-19. We analyzed data obtained from March 13 to April 6, 2020, before the Japanese government declared a state of emergency. The results revealed that the epidemic growth of COVID-19 was significantly associated with increase in daily temperature or sunshine hours. This suggests that an increase in person-to-person contact due to increased outing activities on a warm and/or sunny day might promote the transmission of COVID-19. Our results also suggested that short-term exposure to suspended particles might influence respiratory infections caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Further research by well-designed or well-controlled study models is required to ascertain this effect. Our findings suggest that weather has an indirect role in the transmission of COVID-19 and that daily adequate preventive behavior decreases the transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Azuma
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Behavioral Science, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osakasayama, 589-8511, Japan.
| | - Naoki Kagi
- Department of Architecture and Building Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan.
| | - Hoon Kim
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, Wako, 351-0197, Japan.
| | - Motoya Hayashi
- Laboratory of Environmental Space Design, Division of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-6826, Japan.
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159
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Filippini T, Rothman KJ, Goffi A, Ferrari F, Maffeis G, Orsini N, Vinceti M. Satellite-detected tropospheric nitrogen dioxide and spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Northern Italy. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 739:140278. [PMID: 32758963 PMCID: PMC7297152 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Following the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) last December 2019 in China, Italy was the first European country to be severely affected, with the first local case diagnosed on 20 February 2020. The virus spread quickly, particularly in the North of Italy, with three regions (Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna) being the most severely affected. These three regions accounted for >80% of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases when the tight lockdown was established (March 8). These regions include one of Europe's areas of heaviest air pollution, the Po valley. Air pollution has been recently proposed as a possible risk factor of SARS-CoV-2 infection, due to its adverse effect on immunity and to the possibility that polluted air may even carry the virus. We investigated the association between air pollution and subsequent spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection within these regions. We collected NO2 tropospheric levels using satellite data available at the European Space Agency before the lockdown. Using a multivariable restricted cubic spline regression model, we compared NO2 levels with SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence rate at different time points after the lockdown, namely March 8, 22 and April 5, in the 28 provinces of Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna. We found little association of NO2 levels with SARS-CoV-2 prevalence up to about 130 μmol/m2, while a positive association was evident at higher levels at each time point. Notwithstanding the limitations of the use of aggregated data, these findings lend some support to the hypothesis that high levels of air pollution may favor the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Filippini
- Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Kenneth J Rothman
- RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Nicola Orsini
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marco Vinceti
- Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Section of Public Health, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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160
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ACE polymorphisms and COVID-19-related mortality in Europe. J Mol Med (Berl) 2020; 98:1505-1509. [PMID: 32935155 PMCID: PMC7491982 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-020-01981-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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161
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Domingo JL, Marquès M, Rovira J. Influence of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on COVID-19 pandemic. A review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 188:109861. [PMID: 32718835 PMCID: PMC7309850 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, a number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated that exposure to air pollution is associated with several adverse outcomes, such as acute lower respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and lung cancer among other serious diseases. Air pollutants such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and dioxide, particulate matter (PM), ozone and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are commonly found at high levels in big cities and/or in the vicinity of different chemical industries. An association between air concentrations of these pollutants and human respiratory viruses interacting to adversely affect the respiratory system has been also reported. The present review was aimed at assessing the potential relationship between the concentrations of air pollutants on the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the severity of COVID-19 in patients infected by this coronavirus. The results of most studies here reviewed suggest that chronic exposure to certain air pollutants leads to more severe and lethal forms of COVID-19 and delays/complicates the recovery of patients of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Sant Llorens 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Montse Marquès
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Sant Llorens 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joaquim Rovira
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Sant Llorens 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament D'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
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