1
|
Marchetti S, Colombo A, Saibene M, Bragato C, La Torretta T, Rizzi C, Gualtieri M, Mantecca P. Shedding light on the cellular mechanisms involved in the combined adverse effects of fine particulate matter and SARS-CoV-2 on human lung cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 952:175979. [PMID: 39233085 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Airborne pathogens represent a topic of scientific relevance, especially considering the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Air pollution, and particulate matter (PM) in particular, has been proposed as a possible risk factor for the onset and spread of pathogen-driven respiratory diseases. Regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection, exposure to fine PM (PM2.5, particles with an aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) has been associated with increased incidence of the COVID-19 disease. To provide useful insights into the mechanisms through which PM might be involved in infection, we exposed human lung cells (A549) to PM2.5 and SARS-CoV-2, to evaluate the toxicological properties and the molecular pathways activated when airborne particles are combined with viral particles. Winter PM2.5 was collected in a metropolitan urban area and its physico-chemical composition was analyzed. A549 cells were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 concomitantly or after pre-treatment with PM2.5. Inflammation, oxidative stress and xenobiotic metabolism were the main pathways investigated. Results showed that after 72 h of exposure PM2.5 significantly increased the expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which is one of the keys used by the virus to infect host cells. We also analyzed the endosomal route in the process of internalization, by studying the expression of RAB5 and RAB7. The results show that in cells pre-activated with PM and then exposed to SARS-CoV-2, RAB5 expression is significantly increased. The activation of the inflammatory process was then studied. Our findings show an increase of pro-inflammatory markers (NF-kB and IL-8) in cells pre-activated with PM for 72 h and subsequently exposed to the virus for a further 24 h, further demonstrating that the interaction between PM and SARS-CoV-2 determines the severity of the inflammatory responses in lung epithelial cells. In conclusion, the study provides mechanistic biological evidence of PM contribution to the onset and progression of viral respiratory diseases in exposed populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Marchetti
- POLARIS Research Centre, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy.
| | - Anita Colombo
- POLARIS Research Centre, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Melissa Saibene
- Platform of Microscopy, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Cinzia Bragato
- POLARIS Research Centre, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Teresa La Torretta
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Pollution, National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, ENEA, 40129 Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristiana Rizzi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Maurizio Gualtieri
- POLARIS Research Centre, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Paride Mantecca
- POLARIS Research Centre, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gong Z, Song T, Hu M, Che Q, Guo J, Zhang H, Li H, Wang Y, Liu B, Shi N. Natural and socio-environmental factors in the transmission of COVID-19: a comprehensive analysis of epidemiology and mechanisms. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:2196. [PMID: 39138466 PMCID: PMC11321203 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19749-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There are significant differences in the transmission rate and mortality rate of COVID-19 under environmental conditions such as seasons and climates. However, the impact of environmental factors on the role of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transmission mechanism of the SARS-CoV-2 is unclear. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the impact of environmental factors on COVID-19 can provide innovative insights for global epidemic prevention and control policies and COVID-19 related research. This review summarizes the evidence of the impact of different natural and social environmental factors on the transmission of COVID-19 through a comprehensive analysis of epidemiology and mechanism research. This will provide innovative inspiration for global epidemic prevention and control policies and provide reference for similar infectious diseases that may emerge in the future. RECENT FINDINGS Evidence reveals mechanisms by which natural environmental factors influence the transmission of COVID-19, including (i) virus survival and transport, (ii) immune system damage, (iii) inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death, and (iiii) increasing risk of complications. All of these measures appear to be effective in controlling the spread or mortality of COVID-19: (1) reducing air pollution levels, (2) rational use of ozone disinfection and medical ozone therapy, (3) rational exposure to sunlight, (4) scientific ventilation and maintenance of indoor temperature and humidity, (5) control of population density, and (6) control of population movement. Our review indicates that with the continuous mutation of SARS-CoV-2, high temperature, high humidity, low air pollution levels, and low population density more likely to slow down the spread of the virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyuan Gong
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Tian Song
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Mingzhi Hu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Qianzi Che
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Haili Zhang
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Huizhen Li
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Yanping Wang
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Bin Liu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Nannan Shi
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Squalli J. Deciphering the link between healthcare expenditure, corruption, and COVID-19 mortality. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12702. [PMID: 38830982 PMCID: PMC11148191 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63766-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper analyzes the determinants of COVID-19 mortality across over 140 countries in 2020, with a focus on healthcare expenditure and corruption. It finds a positive association between COVID-19 deaths and aging populations, obesity rates, and healthcare expenditure while noting a negative association with rural residency and corruption perception. The study further reveals that mortality is positively associated with aging populations in high-income countries and positively associated with obesity in upper-middle to high-income countries. Mortality is positively associated with healthcare expenditure, which likely reflects a country's preparedness and ability to better track, document, and report COVID-19 deaths. On the other hand, mortality is negatively associated with corruption perception in upper-middle-income countries. Further analyses based on 2021 data reveal COVID-19 deaths are positively associated with the proportion of the population aged 65 and older in low to lower-middle-income countries, with obesity in high-income countries, and with tobacco use across most countries. Interestingly, there is no evidence linking COVID-19 deaths to healthcare expenditure and corruption perception, suggesting a post-2020 convergence in preparedness likely due to proactive pandemic responses, which might have also mitigated corruption's impact. Policy recommendations are proposed to aid the elderly, address obesity, and combat tobacco use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jay Squalli
- Department of Economics, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
- Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang L, Wang G, Gao AS. Exploring heterogeneity and dynamics of meteorological influences on US PM 2.5: A distributed learning approach with spatiotemporal varying coefficient models. SPATIAL STATISTICS 2024; 61:100826. [PMID: 38779141 PMCID: PMC11108057 DOI: 10.1016/j.spasta.2024.100826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) has emerged as a primary air quality concern due to its substantial impact on human health. Many recent research works suggest that PM2.5 concentrations depend on meteorological conditions. Enhancing current pollution control strategies necessitates a more holistic comprehension of PM2.5 dynamics and the precise quantification of spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the relationship between meteorological factors and PM2.5 levels. The spatiotemporal varying coefficient model stands as a prominent spatial regression technique adept at addressing this heterogeneity. Amidst the challenges posed by the substantial scale of modern spatiotemporal datasets, we propose a pioneering distributed estimation method (DEM) founded on multivariate spline smoothing across a domain's triangulation. This DEM algorithm ensures an easily implementable, highly scalable, and communication-efficient strategy, demonstrating almost linear speedup potential. We validate the effectiveness of our proposed DEM through extensive simulation studies, demonstrating that it achieves coefficient estimations akin to those of global estimators derived from complete datasets. Applying the proposed model and method to the US daily PM2.5 and meteorological data, we investigate the influence of meteorological variables on PM2.5 concentrations, revealing both spatial and seasonal variations in this relationship.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lily Wang
- Department of Statistics, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 4A7, Fairfax, 22030, VA, USA
| | - Guannan Wang
- Department of Mathematics, William & Mary, 120 Jones Hall, Williamsburg, 23185, VA, USA
| | - Annie S. Gao
- McLean High School, 1633 Davidson Rd, McLean, 22101, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Haryanto B, Trihandini I, Nugraha F, Kurniasari F. Indirect Effects of PM 2.5 Exposure on COVID-19 Mortality in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia: An Ecological Study. Ann Glob Health 2024; 90:34. [PMID: 38827538 PMCID: PMC11141510 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Air pollution, including PM2.5, was suggested as one of the primary contributors to COVID-19 fatalities worldwide. Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, was recognized as one of the ten most polluted cities globally. Additionally, the incidence of COVID-19 in Jakarta surpasses that of all other provinces in Indonesia. However, no study has investigated the correlation between PM2.5 concentration and COVID-19 fatality in Jakarta. Objective To investigate the correlation between short-term and long-term exposure to PM2.5 and COVID-19 mortality in Greater Jakarta area. Methods An ecological time-trend study was implemented. The data of PM2.5 ambient concentration obtained from Nafas Indonesia and the National Institute for Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN)/National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). The daily COVID-19 death data obtained from the City's Health Office. Findings Our study unveiled an intriguing pattern: while short-term exposure to PM2.5 showed a negative correlation with COVID-19 mortality, suggesting it might not be the sole factor in causing fatalities, long-term exposure demonstrated a positive correlation. This suggests that COVID-19 mortality is more strongly influenced by prolonged PM2.5 exposure rather than short-term exposure alone. Specifically, our regression analysis estimate that a 50 µg/m3 increase in long-term average PM2.5 could lead to an 11.9% rise in the COVID-19 mortality rate. Conclusion Our research, conducted in one of the most polluted areas worldwide, offers compelling evidence regarding the influence of PM2.5 exposure on COVID-19 mortality rates. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing air pollution as a critical risk factor for the severity of viral respiratory infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Budi Haryanto
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
- Research Center for Climate Change, I-SER, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Indang Trihandini
- Department of Biostatistics and Population Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Fajar Nugraha
- Department of Biostatistics and Population Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Fitri Kurniasari
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hajmohammadi H, Talaei M, Fecht D, Wang W, Vivaldi G, Faustini SE, Richter AG, Shaheen SO, Martineau AR, Sheikh A, Mudway IS, Griffiths CJ. Long-term air pollution exposure and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A UK-wide cohort study. Respir Med 2024; 224:107567. [PMID: 38423343 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between air quality and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is poorly understood. We investigated this association using serological individual-level data adjusting for a wide range of confounders, in a large population-based cohort (COVIDENCE UK). METHODS We assessed the associations between long-term (2015-19) nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), exposures with SARS-CoV-2 infection, level of antibody response among those infected, and COVID-19 disease severity. We used serological data from 10,489 participants in the COVIDENCE UK cohort, and estimated annual average air pollution exposure at each participant's home postcode. RESULTS After controlling for potential confounders, we found a positive association between 5-year NO2 and PM2.5 exposures and the risk of seropositivity: 10 unit increase in NO2 (μg/m3) was associated with an increasing risk of seropositivity by 1.092 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.17; p-for-trend 0.012). For PM2.5, 10 unit increase (μg/m3) was associated with an increasing risk of seropositivity by 1.65 (95% CI 1.015-2.68; p-for-trend 0·049). In addition, we found that NO2 was positively associated with higher antibody titres (p-for-trend 0·013) among seropositive participants, with no evidence of an association for PM2.5. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the long-term burden of air pollution increased the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection and has important implications for future pandemic preparedness. This evidence strengthens the case for reducing long-term air pollution exposures to reduce the vulnerability of individuals to respiratory viruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hajar Hajmohammadi
- Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Centre for Primary Care, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
| | - Mohammad Talaei
- Centre for Prevention, Detection and Diagnosis, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Daniela Fecht
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Heath, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Weiyi Wang
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Heath, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Giulia Vivaldi
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - Sian E Faustini
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alex G Richter
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Seif O Shaheen
- Centre for Prevention, Detection and Diagnosis, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Adrian R Martineau
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - Aziz Sheikh
- Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian S Mudway
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Heath, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Christopher J Griffiths
- Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Centre for Primary Care, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Vandelli V, Palandri L, Coratza P, Rizzi C, Ghinoi A, Righi E, Soldati M. Conditioning factors in the spreading of Covid-19 - Does geography matter? Heliyon 2024; 10:e25810. [PMID: 38356610 PMCID: PMC10865316 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
There is evidence in literature that the spread of COVID-19 can be influenced by various geographic factors, including territorial features, climate, population density, socioeconomic conditions, and mobility. The objective of the paper is to provide an updated literature review on geographical studies analysing the factors which influenced COVID-19 spreading. This literature review took into account not only the geographical aspects but also the COVID-19-related outcomes (infections and deaths) allowing to discern the potential influencing role of the geographic factors per type of outcome. A total of 112 scientific articles were selected, reviewed and categorized according to subject area, aim, country/region of study, considered geographic and COVID-19 variables, spatial and temporal units of analysis, methodologies, and main findings. Our literature review showed that territorial features may have played a role in determining the uneven geography of COVID-19; for instance, a certain agreement was found regarding the direct relationship between urbanization degree and COVID-19 infections. For what concerns climatic factors, temperature was the variable that correlated the best with COVID-19 infections. Together with climatic factors, socio-demographic ones were extensively taken into account. Most of the analysed studies agreed that population density and human mobility had a significant and direct relationship with COVID-19 infections and deaths. The analysis of the different approaches used to investigate the role of geographic factors in the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that the significance/representativeness of the outputs is influenced by the scale considered due to the great spatial variability of geographic aspects. In fact, a more robust and significant association between geographic factors and COVID-19 was found by studies conducted at subnational or local scale rather than at country scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Vandelli
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Lucia Palandri
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Paola Coratza
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Cristiana Rizzi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ghinoi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Elena Righi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Mauro Soldati
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Yu K, Zhang Q, Wei Y, Chen R, Kan H. Global association between air pollution and COVID-19 mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167542. [PMID: 37797765 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenge for global public health systems and exacerbates existing health disparities. Epidemiological evidence suggested a potential linkage between particulate and gaseous pollutants and COVID-19 mortality. We aimed to summarize the overall risk of COVID-19 mortality associated with ambient air pollutants over the short- and long-term. METHODS For the systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched five databases for studies evaluating the risk of COVID-19 mortality from exposure to air pollution. Inclusion of articles was assessed independently on the basis of research topic and availability of effect estimates. The risk estimates (relative risk) for each pollutant were pooled with a random-effect model. Potential heterogeneity was explored by subgroup analysis. Funnel plots and trim-and-fill methods were employed to assess and adjust for publication bias. FINDINGS The systematic review retrieved 2059 records, and finally included 43 original studies. PM2.5 (RR: 1.71, 95 % CI: 1.40-2.08, per 10 μg/m3 increase), NO2 (RR: 1.33, 1.07-1.65, per 10 ppb increase) and O3 (RR: 1.61, 1.00-2.57, per 10 ppb increase) were positively associated with COVID-19 mortality for long-term exposures. Accordingly, a higher risk of COVID-19 mortality was associated with PM2.5 (1.05, 1.02-1.08), PM10 (1.05, 1.01-1.08), and NO2 (1.40, 1.04-1.90) for short-term exposures. There was some heterogeneity across subgroups of income level and geographical areas. CONCLUSION Both long-term and short-term exposures to ambient air pollution may increase the risk of COVID-19 mortality. Future studies utilizing individual-level information on demographics, exposures, outcome ascertainment and confounders are warranted to improve the accuracy of estimates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Yu
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingli Zhang
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhao Wei
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Renjie Chen
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Haidong Kan
- School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education and NHC Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Center for Children's Health, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Houweling L, Maitland-Van der Zee AH, Holtjer JCS, Bazdar S, Vermeulen RCH, Downward GS, Bloemsma LD. The effect of the urban exposome on COVID-19 health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 240:117351. [PMID: 37852458 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global severity of SARS-CoV-2 illness has been associated with various urban characteristics, including exposure to ambient air pollutants. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize findings from ecological and non-ecological studies to investigate the impact of multiple urban-related features on a variety of COVID-19 health outcomes. METHODS On December 5, 2022, PubMed was searched to identify all types of observational studies that examined one or more urban exposome characteristics in relation to various COVID-19 health outcomes such as infection severity, the need for hospitalization, ICU admission, COVID pneumonia, and mortality. RESULTS A total of 38 non-ecological and 241 ecological studies were included in this review. Non-ecological studies highlighted the significant effects of population density, urbanization, and exposure to ambient air pollutants, particularly PM2.5. The meta-analyses revealed that a 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a higher likelihood of COVID-19 hospitalization (pooled OR 1.08 (95% CI:1.02-1.14)) and death (pooled OR 1.06 (95% CI:1.03-1.09)). Ecological studies, in addition to confirming the findings of non-ecological studies, also indicated that higher exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO), as well as lower ambient temperature, humidity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and less green and blue space exposure, were associated with increased COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION This systematic review has identified several key vulnerability features related to urban areas in the context of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscore the importance of improving policies related to urban exposures and implementing measures to protect individuals from these harmful environmental stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Houweling
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Anke-Hilse Maitland-Van der Zee
- Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Judith C S Holtjer
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Somayeh Bazdar
- Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Roel C H Vermeulen
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - George S Downward
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lizan D Bloemsma
- Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Marchetti S, Gualtieri M, Pozzer A, Lelieveld J, Saliu F, Hansell AL, Colombo A, Mantecca P. On fine particulate matter and COVID-19 spread and severity: An in vitro toxicological plausible mechanism. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 179:108131. [PMID: 37586275 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on global public health. The spread of the disease was related to the high transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 virus but incidence and mortality rate suggested a possible relationship with environmental factors. Air pollution has been hypothesized to play a role in the transmission of the virus and the resulting severity of the disease. Here we report a plausible in vitro toxicological mode of action by which fine particulate matter (PM2.5) could promote a higher infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 and severity of COVID-19 disease. PM2.5 promotes a 1.5 fold over-expression of the angiotensin 2 converting enzyme (ACE2) which is exploited by viral particles to enter human lung alveolar cells (1.5 fold increase in RAB5 protein) and increases their inflammatory state (IL-8 and NF-kB protein expression). Our results provide a basis for further exploring the possible synergy between biological threats and air pollutants and ask for a deeper understanding of how air quality could influence new pandemics in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Marchetti
- POLARIS Research Centre, Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - M Gualtieri
- POLARIS Research Centre, Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
| | - A Pozzer
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry Department, Mainz, Germany
| | - J Lelieveld
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry Department, Mainz, Germany
| | - F Saliu
- POLARIS Research Centre, Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - A L Hansell
- Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Environmental Exposures and Health at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - A Colombo
- POLARIS Research Centre, Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - P Mantecca
- POLARIS Research Centre, Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sánchez-de Prada L, Eiros-Bachiller JM, Tamayo-Velasco Á, Martín-Fernández M, Álvarez FJ, Giner-Baixauli C, Tamayo E, Resino S, Alvaro-Meca A. Environmental factors are associated to hospital outcomes in COVID-19 patients during lockdown and post-lockdown in 2020: A nationwide study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 229:115904. [PMID: 37080281 PMCID: PMC10112945 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study analyzed, at a postcode detailed level, the relation-ship between short-term exposure to environmental factors and hospital ad-missions, in-hospital mortality, ICU admission, and ICU mortality due to COVID-19 during the lockdown and post-lockdown 2020 period in Spain. METHODS We performed a nationwide population-based retrospective study on 208,744 patients admitted to Spanish hospitals due to COVID-19 based on the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) during the first two waves of the pandemic in 2020. Environmental data were obtained from Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. The association was assessed by a generalized additive model. RESULTS PM2.5 was the most critical environmental factor related to hospital admissions and hospital mortality due to COVID-19 during the lockdown in Spain, PM10, NO2, and SO2and also showed associations. The effect was considerably reduced during the post-lockdown period. ICU admissions in COVID-19 patients were mainly associated with PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2 during the lockdown as well. During the lockdown, exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 were the most critical environmental factors related to ICU mortality in COVID-19. CONCLUSION Short-term exposure to air pollutants impacts COVID-19 out-comes during the lockdown, especially PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2. These pollutants are associated with hospital admission, hospital mortality and ICU admission, while ICU mortality is mainly associated with PM2.5 and PM10. Our findings reveal the importance of monitoring air pollutants in respiratory infectious diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sánchez-de Prada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain; Biomedicine Group in Critical Care (BioCritic), Spain
| | | | - Álvaro Tamayo-Velasco
- Biomedicine Group in Critical Care (BioCritic), Spain; Department of Haematology and Hemotherapy, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Martín-Fernández
- Biomedicine Group in Critical Care (BioCritic), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
| | - F Javier Álvarez
- Biomedicine Group in Critical Care (BioCritic), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Carlos Giner-Baixauli
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Faculty of Mathematics, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Tamayo
- Biomedicine Group in Critical Care (BioCritic), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Salvador Resino
- Biomedicine Group in Critical Care (BioCritic), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Unit of Viral Infection and Immunity, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Alvaro-Meca
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Vos S, De Waele E, Goeminne P, Bijnens EM, Bongaerts E, Martens DS, Malina R, Ameloot M, Dams K, De Weerdt A, Dewyspelaere G, Jacobs R, Mistiaen G, Jorens P, Nawrot TS. Pre-admission ambient air pollution and blood soot particles predict hospitalisation outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Eur Respir J 2023; 62:2300309. [PMID: 37343978 PMCID: PMC10288811 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00309-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollution exposure is one of the major risk factors for aggravation of respiratory diseases. We investigated whether exposure to air pollution and accumulated black carbon (BC) particles in blood were associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease severity, including the risk for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and duration of hospitalisation. METHODS From May 2020 until March 2021, 328 hospitalised COVID-19 patients (29% at intensive care) were recruited from two hospitals in Belgium. Daily exposure levels (from 2016 to 2019) for particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm and <10 µm (PM2.5 and PM10, respectively), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and BC were modelled using a high-resolution spatiotemporal model. Blood BC particles (internal exposure to nano-sized particles) were quantified using pulsed laser illumination. Primary clinical parameters and outcomes included duration of hospitalisation and risk of ICU admission. RESULTS Independent of potential confounders, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in exposure in the week before admission was associated with increased duration of hospitalisation (PM2.5 +4.13 (95% CI 0.74-7.53) days, PM10 +4.04 (95% CI 1.24-6.83) days and NO2 +4.54 (95% CI 1.53-7.54) days); similar effects were observed for long-term NO2 and BC exposure on hospitalisation duration. These effect sizes for an IQR increase in air pollution on hospitalisation duration were equivalent to the effect of a 10-year increase in age on hospitalisation duration. Furthermore, for an IQR higher blood BC load, the OR for ICU admission was 1.33 (95% CI 1.07-1.65). CONCLUSIONS In hospitalised COVID-19 patients, higher pre-admission ambient air pollution and blood BC levels predicted adverse outcomes. Our findings imply that air pollution exposure influences COVID-19 severity and therefore the burden on medical care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stijn Vos
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- S. Vos and E. De Waele contributed equally
| | - Elien De Waele
- Hospital VITAZ Sint-Niklaas, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
- S. Vos and E. De Waele contributed equally
| | | | - Esmée M Bijnens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Bongaerts
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Robert Malina
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Marcel Ameloot
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Karolien Dams
- Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp (LEMP), Edegem, Belgium
| | - Annick De Weerdt
- Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp (LEMP), Edegem, Belgium
| | | | - Rita Jacobs
- Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp (LEMP), Edegem, Belgium
| | | | - Philippe Jorens
- Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp (LEMP), Edegem, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sangkham S, Islam MA, Sarndhong K, Vongruang P, Hasan MN, Tiwari A, Bhattacharya P. Effects of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and meteorological factors on the daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bangkok during 2020-2021, Thailand. CASE STUDIES IN CHEMICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2023; 8:100410. [PMID: 38620170 PMCID: PMC10286573 DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The ongoing global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as COVID-19, has disrupted public health, businesses, and economies worldwide due to its widespread transmission. While previous research has suggested a possible link between environmental factors and increased COVID-19 cases, the evidence regarding this connection remains inconclusive. The purpose of this research is to determine whether or not there is a connection between the presence of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and meteorological conditions and COVID-19 infection rates in Bangkok, Thailand. The study employs a statistical method called Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to find a positive and non-linear association between RH, AH, and R and the number of verified COVID-19 cases. The impacts of the seasons (especially summer) and rainfall on the trajectory of COVID-19 cases were also highlighted, with an adjusted R-square of 0.852 and a deviance explained of 85.60%, both of which were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The study results assist in preventing the future seasonal spread of COVID-19, and public health authorities may use these findings to make informed decisions and assess their policies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarawut Sangkham
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
| | - Md Aminul Islam
- COVID-19 Diagnostic Lab, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh
- Advanced Molecular Lab, Department of Microbiology, President Abdul Hamid Medical College, Karimganj, Kishoreganj, Bangladesh
| | - Kritsada Sarndhong
- Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
| | - Patipat Vongruang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
- Atmospheric Pollution and Climate Change Research Unit, School of Energy and Environment, University of Phayao, Phayao, 56000, Thailand
| | - Mohammad Nayeem Hasan
- Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Ananda Tiwari
- Expert Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 70701, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Prosun Bhattacharya
- COVID-19 Research, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 10B, SE, 10044, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Castelli C, Castellini M, Comincioli N, Parisi ML, Pontarollo N, Vergalli S. Ecosystem degradation and the spread of Covid-19. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:836. [PMID: 37308607 PMCID: PMC10260383 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The linkages between the emergence of zoonotic diseases and ecosystem degradation have been widely acknowledged by the scientific community and policy makers. In this paper we investigate the relationship between human overexploitation of natural resources, represented by the Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production Index (HANPP) and the spread of Covid-19 cases during the first pandemic wave in 730 regions of 63 countries worldwide. Using a Bayesian estimation technique, we highlight the significant role of HANPP as a driver of Covid-19 diffusion, besides confirming the well-known impact of population size and the effects of other socio-economic variables. We believe that these findings could be relevant for policy makers in their effort towards a more sustainable intensive agriculture and responsible urbanisation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Castelli
- The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marta Castellini
- Department of Economics and Management "Marco Fanno", University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Comincioli
- Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Milan, Italy
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Parisi
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Nicola Pontarollo
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Sergio Vergalli
- Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Milan, Italy
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Garcia A, Santa-Helena E, De Falco A, de Paula Ribeiro J, Gioda A, Gioda CR. Toxicological Effects of Fine Particulate Matter (PM 2.5): Health Risks and Associated Systemic Injuries-Systematic Review. WATER, AIR, AND SOIL POLLUTION 2023; 234:346. [PMID: 37250231 PMCID: PMC10208206 DOI: 10.1007/s11270-023-06278-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies focused on investigating particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) have shown the risk of disease development, and association with increased morbidity and mortality rates. The current review investigate epidemiological and experimental findings from 2016 to 2021, which enabled the systemic overview of PM2.5's toxic impacts on human health. The Web of Science database search used descriptive terms to investigate the interaction among PM2.5 exposure, systemic effects, and COVID-19 disease. Analyzed studies have indicated that cardiovascular and respiratory systems have been extensively investigated and indicated as the main air pollution targets. Nevertheless, PM2.5 reaches other organic systems and harms the renal, neurological, gastrointestinal, and reproductive systems. Pathologies onset and/or get worse due to toxicological effects associated with the exposure to this particle type, since it can trigger several reactions, such as inflammatory responses, oxidative stress generation and genotoxicity. These cellular dysfunctions lead to organ malfunctions, as shown in the current review. In addition, the correlation between COVID-19/Sars-CoV-2 and PM2.5 exposure was also assessed to help better understand the role of atmospheric pollution in the pathophysiology of this disease. Despite the significant number of studies about PM2.5's effects on organic functions, available in the literature, there are still gaps in knowledge about how this particulate matter can hinder human health. The current review aimed to approach the main findings about the effect of PM2.5 exposure on different systems, and demonstrate the likely interaction of COVID-19/Sars-CoV-2 and PM2.5.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Garcia
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900 Brazil
| | - Eduarda Santa-Helena
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900 Brazil
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Departmento de Química, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anna De Falco
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Departmento de Química, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joaquim de Paula Ribeiro
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900 Brazil
| | - Adriana Gioda
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Departmento de Química, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina Rosa Gioda
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900 Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hu H, Laden F, Hart J, James P, Fishe J, Hogan W, Shenkman E, Bian J. A spatial and contextual exposome-wide association study and polyexposomic score of COVID-19 hospitalization. EXPOSOME 2023; 3:osad005. [PMID: 37089437 PMCID: PMC10118922 DOI: 10.1093/exposome/osad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposures have been linked to COVID-19 severity. Previous studies examined very few environmental factors, and often only separately without considering the totality of the environment, or the exposome. In addition, existing risk prediction models of severe COVID-19 predominantly rely on demographic and clinical factors. To address these gaps, we conducted a spatial and contextual exposome-wide association study (ExWAS) and developed polyexposomic scores (PES) of COVID-19 hospitalization leveraging rich information from individuals' spatial and contextual exposome. Individual-level electronic health records of 50 368 patients aged 18 years and older with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR/Antigen lab test or a COVID-19 diagnosis between March 2020 and October 2021 were obtained from the OneFlorida+ Clinical Research Network. A total of 194 spatial and contextual exposome factors from 10 data sources were spatiotemporally linked to each patient based on geocoded residential histories. We used a standard two-phase procedure in the ExWAS and developed and validated PES using gradient boosting decision trees models. Four exposome measures significantly associated with COVID-19 hospitalization were identified, including 2-chloroacetophenone, low food access, neighborhood deprivation, and reduced access to fitness centers. The initial prediction model in all patients without considering exposome factors had a testing-area under the curve (AUC) of 0.778. Incorporation of exposome data increased the testing-AUC to 0.787. Similar findings were observed in subgroup analyses focusing on populations without comorbidities and aged 18-24 years old. This spatial and contextual exposome study of COVID-19 hospitalization confirmed previously reported risk factor but also generated novel predictors that warrant more focused evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Hu
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francine Laden
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jaime Hart
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter James
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer Fishe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine—Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - William Hogan
- Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Elizabeth Shenkman
- Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jiang Bian
- Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bhaskar A, Chandra J, Hashemi H, Butler K, Bennett L, Cellini J, Braun D, Dominici F. A Literature Review of the Effects of Air Pollution on COVID-19 Health Outcomes Worldwide: Statistical Challenges and Data Visualization. Annu Rev Public Health 2023; 44:1-20. [PMID: 36542771 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-071521-120424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Several peer-reviewed papers and reviews have examined the relationship between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 spread and severity. However, many of the existing reviews on this topic do not extensively present the statistical challenges associated with this field, do not provide comprehensive guidelines for future researchers, and review only the results of a relatively small number of papers. We reviewed 139 papers, 127 of which reported a statistically significant positive association between air pollution and adverse COVID-19 health outcomes. Here, we summarize the evidence, describe the statistical challenges, and make recommendations for future research. To summarize the 139 papers with data from geographical locations around the world, we also present anopen-source data visualization tool that summarizes these studies and allows the research community to contribute evidence as new research papers are published.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Bhaskar
- Department of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - J Chandra
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - H Hashemi
- Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, California, USA
| | - K Butler
- Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, California, USA
| | - L Bennett
- Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, California, USA
| | - Jacqueline Cellini
- Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Danielle Braun
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Francesca Dominici
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Scapini V, Torres S, Rubilar-Torrealba R. Meteorological, PM2.5 and PM10 factors on SARS-COV-2 transmission: The case of southern regions in Chile. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 322:120961. [PMID: 36621713 PMCID: PMC9813498 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
There are several determinants of a population's health, including meteorological factors and air pollution. For example, it is well known that low temperatures and air pollution increase mortality rates in infant and elderly populations. With the emergence of SARS-COV-2, it is important to understand what factors contribute to its mitigation and control. There is some research in this area which shows scientific evidence on the virus's behavior in the face of these variables. This research aims to quantify the impact of climatic factors and environmental pollution on SARS-COV-2 specifically the effect on the number of new infections in different areas of Chile. At the local level, historical information available from the Department of Statistics and Health Information, the Chilean National Air Quality Information System, the Chilean Meteorological Directorate, and other databases will allow the generation of panel data suitable for the analysis. The results show the significant effect of pollution and climate variables measured in lags and will allow us to explain the behavior of the pandemic by identifying the relevant factors affecting health, using heteroskedastic models, which in turn will serve as a contribution to the generation of more effective and timely public policies for the control of the pandemic.
Collapse
|
19
|
Monoson A, Schott E, Ard K, Kilburg-Basnyat B, Tighe RM, Pannu S, Gowdy KM. Air pollution and respiratory infections: the past, present, and future. Toxicol Sci 2023; 192:3-14. [PMID: 36622042 PMCID: PMC10025881 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Air pollution levels across the globe continue to rise despite government regulations. The increase in global air pollution levels drives detrimental human health effects, including 7 million premature deaths every year. Many of these deaths are attributable to increased incidence of respiratory infections. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented public health crisis that has claimed the lives of over 6.5 million people globally, respiratory infections as a driver of human mortality is a pressing concern. Therefore, it is more important than ever to understand the relationship between air pollution and respiratory infections so that public health measures can be implemented to ameliorate further morbidity and mortality. This article aims to review the current epidemiologic and basic science research on interactions between air pollution exposure and respiratory infections. The first section will present epidemiologic studies organized by pathogen, followed by a review of basic science research investigating the mechanisms of infection, and then conclude with a discussion of areas that require future investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexys Monoson
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Evangeline Schott
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Kerry Ard
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Brita Kilburg-Basnyat
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27834, USA
| | - Robert M Tighe
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - Sonal Pannu
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Kymberly M Gowdy
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Joshua BW, Fuwape I, Rabiu B, Pires EES, Sa'id RS, Ogunro TT, Awe OF, Osunmakinwa OO, Ogunjo S. The Impact of the First and Second Waves of COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000722. [PMID: 36968154 PMCID: PMC10030272 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In recent times, the COVID-19 pandemic has been the subject of global concern. It has so far claimed over 5.4 million lives globally, with over 291 million cases recorded worldwide as of 5 January 2022. It is known to have different waves and variants, thus making it difficult to handle/manage. This study investigates the impact of the first and second waves of COVID-19 in Nigeria, West Africa. The data used is for the 36 states of Nigeria archived at the National Centre for Disease Control from February 2020 to April 2021. Results from the study reveal that the highest number of COVID-19 cases during the first/second wave was recorded at Lagos (23,238/34,616), followed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) (6,770/12,911) and alternates between Plateau (3,858/5,170) and Kaduna (3,064/5,908). Similarly, the highest number of deaths (during the first/second wave) was also recorded in Lagos (220/219), followed by Edo (112/73), and then FCT (83/81). The Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) was observed to be higher mostly in northern Nigeria during the first wave and the southeast during the second wave of the pandemic. On the average, the number of cases/deaths recorded during the second wave was higher than those of the first wave, but a decrease in the CFR values was observed during the second wave. Higher values of COVID-19 cases/death were mostly recorded in Nigeria during; maximum relative humidity (RH) (>70%) with minimum Temperatures (<25°C), Low temperatures, and low RH which is mostly observed during the cold/dusty periods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Wisdom Joshua
- Department of PhysicsKebbi State University of Science and Technology AlieroKauraNigeria
- Physics UnitDepartment of Physical and Natural SciencesUniversity of the GambiaSerrekundaNigeria
| | - Ibiyinka Fuwape
- Department of PhysicsMichael and Cecilia Ibru UniversityEriem FieldsNigeria
- Department of PhysicsFederal University of Technology AkureGagaNigeria
| | - Babatunde Rabiu
- African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education ‐ EnglishIle‐IfeNigeria
- Atmospheric & Space Weather Research LaboratoryARCSSTE‐ENASRDAOsun State UniversityOsogboNigeria
| | - Evanilton E. S. Pires
- Centro de Estudos e Pesquisa do TundavalaEngineering DepartmentISPTundavalaLubangoAngola
| | | | | | - Oluwayomi Funmilola Awe
- Atmospheric & Space Weather Research LaboratoryARCSSTE‐ENASRDAOsun State UniversityOsogboNigeria
| | | | - Samuel Ogunjo
- Department of PhysicsFederal University of Technology AkureGagaNigeria
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Podury S, Kwon S, Javed U, Farooqi MS, Li Y, Liu M, Grunig G, Nolan A. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Particulate Matter Exposure: A Systematic Review. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:538. [PMID: 36836898 PMCID: PMC9962044 DOI: 10.3390/life13020538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Particulate matter (PM) exposure is responsible for seven million deaths annually and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of respiratory infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Understanding modifiable risk factors of high mortality, resource burdensome C19 and exposure risks such as PM is key to mitigating their devastating effects. This systematic review focuses on the literature available, identifying the spatial and temporal variation in the role of quantified PM exposure in SARS disease outcome and planning our future experimental studies. METHODS The systematic review utilized keywords adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. We included original human research studies in English. RESULTS Initial search yielded N = 906, application of eligibility criteria yielded N = 46. Upon analysis of risk of bias N = 41 demonstrated high risk. Studies found a positive association between elevated PM2.5, PM10 and SARS-related outcomes. A geographic and temporal variation in both PM and C19's role was observed. CONCLUSION C19 is a high mortality and resource intensive disease which devastated the globe. PM exposure is also a global health crisis. Our systematic review focuses on the intersection of this impactful disease-exposure dyad and understanding the role of PM is important in the development of interventions to prevent future spread of viral infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanjiti Podury
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (S.P.); (S.K.); (U.J.); (M.S.F.)
| | - Sophia Kwon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (S.P.); (S.K.); (U.J.); (M.S.F.)
| | - Urooj Javed
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (S.P.); (S.K.); (U.J.); (M.S.F.)
| | - Muhammad S. Farooqi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (S.P.); (S.K.); (U.J.); (M.S.F.)
| | - Yiwei Li
- Department of Population Health, Division of Biostatistics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (Y.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Mengling Liu
- Department of Population Health, Division of Biostatistics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (Y.L.); (M.L.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA;
| | - Gabriele Grunig
- Department of Medicine, Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA;
| | - Anna Nolan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (S.P.); (S.K.); (U.J.); (M.S.F.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Bonilla JA, Lopez-Feldman A, Pereda PC, Rivera NM, Ruiz-Tagle JC. Association between long-term air pollution exposure and COVID-19 mortality in Latin America. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280355. [PMID: 36649353 PMCID: PMC9844883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown a relationship between air pollution and increased vulnerability and mortality due to COVID-19. Most of these studies have looked at developed countries. This study examines the relationship between long-term exposure to air pollution and COVID-19-related deaths in four countries of Latin America that have been highly affected by the pandemic: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. Our results suggest that an increase in long-term exposure of 1 μg/m3 of fine particles is associated with a 2.7 percent increase in the COVID-19 mortality rate. This relationship is found primarily in municipalities of metropolitan areas, where urban air pollution sources dominate, and air quality guidelines are usually exceeded. By focusing the analysis on Latin America, we provide a first glimpse on the role of air pollution as a risk factor for COVID-19 mortality within a context characterized by weak environmental institutions, limited health care capacity and high levels of inequality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A. Bonilla
- Department of Economics, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Alejandro Lopez-Feldman
- Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
- Department of Economics, Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Paula C. Pereda
- Department of Economics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - J. Cristobal Ruiz-Tagle
- Department of Geography & Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Jerrett M, Nau CL, Young DR, Butler RK, Batteate CM, Su J, Burnett RT, Kleeman MJ. Air pollution and meteorology as risk factors for COVID-19 death in a cohort from Southern California. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 171:107675. [PMID: 36565571 PMCID: PMC9715495 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent evidence links ambient air pollution to COVID-19 incidence, severity, and death, but few studies have analyzed individual-level mortality data with high quality exposure models. METHODS We sought to assess whether higher air pollution exposures led to greater risk of death during or after hospitalization in confirmed COVID-19 cases among patients who were members of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) healthcare system (N=21,415 between 06-01-2020 and 01-31-2022 of whom 99.85 % were unvaccinated during the study period). We used 1 km resolution chemical transport models to estimate ambient concentrations of several common air pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particle matter (PM2.5). We also derived estimates of pollutant exposures from ultra-fine particulate matter (PM0.1), PM chemical species, and PM sources. We employed Cox proportional hazards models to assess associations between air pollution exposures and death from COVID-19 among hospitalized patients. FINDINGS We found significant associations between COVID-19 death and several air pollution exposures, including: PM2.5 mass, PM0.1 mass, PM2.5 nitrates, PM2.5 elemental carbon, PM2.5 on-road diesel, and PM2.5 on-road gasoline. Based on the interquartile (IQR) exposure increment, effect sizes ranged from hazard ratios (HR) = 1.12 for PM2.5 mass and PM2.5 nitrate to HR ∼ 1.06-1.07 for other species or source markers. Humidity and temperature in the month of diagnosis were also significant negative predictors of COVID-19 death and negative modifiers of the air pollution effects. INTERPRETATION Air pollution exposures and meteorology were associated the risk of COVID-19 death in a cohort of patients from Southern California. These findings have implications for prevention of death from COVID-19 and for future pandemics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Jerrett
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles 650 Charles Young Dr. S., 56-070 CHS Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States.
| | - Claudia L Nau
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California 100 S. Los Robles Ave., 5th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States
| | - Deborah R Young
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California 100 S. Los Robles Ave., 5th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States
| | - Rebecca K Butler
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California 100 S. Los Robles Ave., 5th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States
| | - Christina M Batteate
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles 650 Charles Young Dr. S., 56-070 CHS Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
| | - Jason Su
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley 2121 Berkeley Way, Room 5302, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Richard T Burnett
- Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Directorate, Health Canada 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Michael J Kleeman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis 1 Sheilds Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Coker ES, Molitor J, Liverani S, Martin J, Maranzano P, Pontarollo N, Vergalli S. Bayesian profile regression to study the ecologic associations of correlated environmental exposures with excess mortality risk during the first year of the Covid-19 epidemic in lombardy, Italy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114484. [PMID: 36220446 PMCID: PMC9547389 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many countries, including Italy, have experienced significant social and spatial inequalities in mortality during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study applies a multiple exposures framework to investigate how joint place-based factors influence spatial inequalities of excess mortality during the first year of the Covid -19 pandemic in the Lombardy region of Italy. For the Lombardy region, we integrated municipality-level data on all-cause mortality between 2015 and 2020 with 13 spatial covariates, including 5-year average concentrations of six air pollutants, the average temperature in 2020, and multiple socio-demographic factors, and health facilities per capita. Using the clustering algorithm Bayesian profile regression, we fit spatial covariates jointly to identify clusters of municipalities with similar exposure profiles and estimated associations between clusters and excess mortality in 2020. Cluster analysis resulted in 13 clusters. Controlling for spatial autocorrelation of excess mortality and health-protective agency, two clusters had significantly elevated excess mortality than the rest of Lombardy. Municipalities in these highest-risk clusters are in Bergamo, Brescia, and Cremona provinces. The highest risk cluster (C11) had the highest long-term particulate matter air pollution levels (PM2.5 and PM10) and significantly elevated NO2 and CO air pollutants, temperature, proportion ≤18 years, and male-to-female ratio. This cluster is significantly lower for income and ≥65 years. The other high-risk cluster, Cluster 10 (C10), is elevated significantly for ozone but significantly lower for other air pollutants. Covariates with elevated levels for C10 include proportion 65 years or older and a male-to-female ratio. Cluster 10 is significantly lower for income, temperature, per capita health facilities, ≤18 years, and population density. Our results suggest that joint built, natural, and socio-demographic factors influenced spatial inequalities of excess mortality in Lombardy in 2020. Studies must apply a multiple exposures framework to guide policy decisions addressing the complex and multi-dimensional nature of spatial inequalities of Covid-19-related mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric S Coker
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, 1225 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, United States.
| | - John Molitor
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall 157, 2520 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, United States.
| | - Silvia Liverani
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road London E1 4NS, United Kingdom.
| | - James Martin
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of Florida, 1225 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL, 32610, United States
| | - Paolo Maranzano
- Department of Economics, Management and Statistics of the University of Milano-Bicocca (UniMiB), Piazza Dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1 - 20126, Milano, Italy.
| | - Nicola Pontarollo
- Department of Economics and Management, Università Degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Via S. Faustino 74/B, 25122, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Sergio Vergalli
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Via Emilia Parmense, 29122, Piacenza PC, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Sheraz M, Mir KA, Anus A, Le VCT, Kim S, Nguyen VQ, Lee WR. SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission: a review of risk factors and possible preventative measures using air purifiers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:2191-2216. [PMID: 36278886 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00333c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the resulting worldwide death toll have prompted worries regarding its transmission mechanisms. Direct, indirect, and droplet modes are the basic mechanisms of transmission. SARS-CoV-2 spreads by respiratory droplets (size range >10 μm size ranges), aerosols (5 μm), airborne, and particulate matter. The rapid transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is due to the involvement of tiny indoor air particulate matter (PM2.5), which functions as a vector. SARS-CoV-2 is more contagious in the indoor environment where particulate matter floats for a longer period and greater distances. Extended residence time in the environment raises the risk of SARS-CoV-2 entering the lower respiratory tract, which may cause serious infection and possibly death. To decrease viral transmission in the indoor environment, it is essential to catch and kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus and maintain virus-free air, which will significantly reduce viral exposure concerns. Therefore, effective air filters with anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-air-pollutant characteristics are gaining popularity recently. It is essential to develop cost-effective materials based on nanoparticles and metal-organic frameworks in order to lower the risk of airborne transmission in developing countries. A diverse range of materials play an important role in the manufacturing of effective air filters. We have summarized in this review article the basic concepts of the transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 virus and precautionary measures using air purifiers with efficient materials-based air filters for the indoor environment. The performance of air-filter materials, challenges and alternative approaches, and future perspectives are also presented. We believe that air purifiers fabricated with highly efficient materials can control various air pollutants and prevent upcoming pandemics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahshab Sheraz
- Research Centre for Climate Change and Energy, Department of Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon-si, 24252, Republic of Korea
- Nano-Innotek Corporation, 123, Digital-ro 26 Gil, Guro-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kaleem Anwar Mir
- Research Centre for Climate Change and Energy, Department of Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon-si, 24252, Republic of Korea
- Global Change Impact Studies Centre, Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Ali Anus
- Research Centre for Climate Change and Energy, Department of Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon-si, 24252, Republic of Korea
- Nano-Innotek Corporation, 123, Digital-ro 26 Gil, Guro-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Van Cam Thi Le
- Research Centre for Climate Change and Energy, Department of Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon-si, 24252, Republic of Korea
- Nano-Innotek Corporation, 123, Digital-ro 26 Gil, Guro-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA
| | - Seungdo Kim
- Research Centre for Climate Change and Energy, Department of Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon-si, 24252, Republic of Korea
- Nano-Innotek Corporation, 123, Digital-ro 26 Gil, Guro-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Environment Strategy Development Institute, Hallym University, Chuncheon-si 24252, South Korea
| | - Van Quyet Nguyen
- Nano-Innotek Corporation, 123, Digital-ro 26 Gil, Guro-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Woo Ram Lee
- Department of Chemistry, School of Future Convergence, Hallym University, Engineering Building# 1348, 1 Hallymdaehak-gil, Chuncheon-si 24252, Gangwon-do, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Choi SM, Choi H. Artificial Neural Network Modeling on PM 10, PM 2.5, and NO 2 Concentrations between Two Megacities without a Lockdown in Korea, for the COVID-19 Pandemic Period of 2020. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16338. [PMID: 36498408 PMCID: PMC9737941 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The mutual relationship among daily averaged PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 concentrations in two megacities (Seoul and Busan) connected by the busiest highway in Korea was investigated using an artificial neural network model (ANN)-sigmoid function, for a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic period from 1 January to 31 December 2020. Daily and weekly mean concentrations of NO2 in 2020 under neither locked down cities, nor limitation of the activities of vehicles and people by the Korean Government have decreased by about 15%, and 12% in Seoul, and Busan cities, than the ones in 2019, respectively. PM 10 (PM2.5) concentration has also decreased by 15% (10%), and 12% (10%) in Seoul, and Busan, with a similar decline of NO2, causing an improvement in air quality in each city. Multilayer perception (MLP), which has a back-propagation training algorithm for a feed-forward artificial neural network technique with a sigmoid activation function was adopted to predict daily averaged PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 concentrations in two cities with their interplay. Root mean square error (RMSE) with the coefficient of determination (R2) evaluates the performance of the model between the predicted and measured values of daily mean PM10, PM2.5, and NO2, in Seoul were 2.251 with 0.882 (1.909 with 0.896; 1.913 with 0.892), 0.717 with 0.925 (0.955 with 0.930; 0.955 with 0.922), and 3.502 with 0.729 (2.808 with 0.746; 3.481 with 0.734), in 2 (5; 7) nodes in a single hidden layer. Similarly, they in Busan were 2.155 with 0.853 (1.519 with 0.896; 1.649 with 0.869), 0.692 with 0.914 (0.891 with 0.910; 1.211 with 0.883), and 2.747 with 0.667 (2.277 with 0.669; 2.137 with 0.689), respectively. The closeness of the predicted values to the observed ones shows a very high Pearson r correlation coefficient of over 0.932, except for 0.818 of NO2 in Busan. Modeling performance using IBM SPSS-v27 software on daily averaged PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 concentrations in each city were compared by scatter plots and their daily distributions between predicted and observed values.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Min Choi
- Department of Computer Engineering, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Choi
- Atmospheric and Oceanic Disaster Research Institute, Gangneung 25563, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
STOIAN IM, PARVU S, NEAMTU A, CALOTA V, VOINOIU A, PISTOL A, CUCUIU R, MINCA DG. PM10 and NO2 Air Pollution and Evolution of COVID-19 Cases in Romania. MAEDICA 2022; 17:777-784. [PMID: 36818269 PMCID: PMC9923075 DOI: 10.26574/maedica.2022.17.4.777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Objectives:Based on the correlation between air pollution and COVID-19 incidence/mortality already existing in the literature, we aimed to develop a study to investigate the link between the average level of PM10 (particulate matter 10 - particulate matter 10 microns in diameter) and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) concentration over five years and the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 cases per 1000 people in Romania. Methods: To assess PM10 and NO2 exposure, we determined the average value of annual PM10 and NO2 concentration for each city over five years (2015-2019). For this purpose, the average of annual PM10 and NO2 concentrations collected from monitoring stations in selected cities was calculated. Then, the annual values over five years were averaged to finally obtain the average PM10 and NO2 concentration for each city. Data on the cumulative number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 up to the 28th of September 2020 were provided by the National Centre for Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases (CNSCBT) of the National Institute of Public Health (INSP). The study used the cumulative incidence/hour per 1000 population on 28.09.2020. Results:According to Law no. 104/2011, the annual permissible limit value of PM10 concentration of 40 μg/m³ was not exceeded in any of the 43 cities in our study. The average for all cities was 24.0±4.8 ìg/m³, with a minimum value of average PM10 concentration of 13.9 μg/m3 measured in Alba Iulia and a maximum value of 39.1 μg/m³ in Iasi. The regression model shows that, in Bucharest, 77.9% of the variation in case incidence is explained by the variation in PM10 concentration. In order to find the number of new cases that would correspond to a cumulative incidence of 0.166, taking as an example one of the districts with a population of 259,084, the above regression model shows that an increase in the average PM10 concentration by one unit is associated with 43 new cases. Conclusion:The study demonstrates that an exposure of the population to particulate matter in atmospheric air, at low values, below the permissible limit values but for a long time (the follow-up period in our study was five years, between 2015 and 2019), can have effects on the health status of the population, which becomes much more vulnerable to external agents, in our case pathogenic microorganisms (viruses).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irina Mihaela STOIAN
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,National Institute of Public Health, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Simona PARVU
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,National Institute of Public Health, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andra NEAMTU
- National Institute of Public Health, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | | | - Adriana PISTOL
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,National Institute of Public Health, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Radu CUCUIU
- National Institute of Public Health, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Dana Galieta MINCA
- “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania,National Institute of Public Health, Bucharest, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Hernandez Carballo I, Bakola M, Stuckler D. The impact of air pollution on COVID-19 incidence, severity, and mortality: A systematic review of studies in Europe and North America. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114155. [PMID: 36030916 PMCID: PMC9420033 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollution is speculated to increase the risks of COVID-19 spread, severity, and mortality. OBJECTIVES We systematically reviewed studies investigating the relationship between air pollution and COVID-19 cases, non-fatal severity, and mortality in North America and Europe. METHODS We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies investigating the effects of harmful pollutants, including particulate matter with diameter ≤2.5 or 10 μm (PM2.5 or PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO), on COVID-19 cases, severity, and deaths in Europe and North America through to June 19, 2021. Articles were included if they quantitatively measured the relationship between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 health outcomes. RESULTS From 2,482 articles screened, we included 116 studies reporting 355 separate pollutant-COVID-19 estimates. Approximately half of all evaluations on incidence were positive and significant associations (52.7%); for mortality the corresponding figure was similar (48.1%), while for non-fatal severity this figure was lower (41.2%). Longer-term exposure to pollutants appeared more likely to be positively associated with COVID-19 incidence (63.8%). PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, and CO were most strongly positively associated with COVID-19 incidence, while PM2.5 and NO2 with COVID-19 deaths. All studies were observational and most exhibited high risk of confounding and outcome measurement bias. DISCUSSION Air pollution may be associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes. Future research is needed to better test the air pollution-COVID-19 hypothesis, particularly using more robust study designs and COVID-19 measures that are less prone to measurement error and by considering co-pollutant interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ireri Hernandez Carballo
- Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, Milan, Lombardy, Italy; RFF-CMCC European Institute of Economics and the Environment, Centro Euro-Mediterraneo Sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Milan, Lombardy, Italy.
| | - Maria Bakola
- Research Unit for General Medicine and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Science, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - David Stuckler
- Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, Milan, Lombardy, Italy; DONDENA Centre for Research on Social Dynamics and Public Policy, Bocconi University, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Gupta N, Yadav VK, Gacem A, Al-Dossari M, Yadav KK, Abd El-Gawaad NS, Ben Khedher N, Choudhary N, Kumar P, Cavalu S. Deleterious Effect of Air Pollution on Human Microbial Community and Bacterial Flora: A Short Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192315494. [PMID: 36497569 PMCID: PMC9738139 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
A balanced microbiota composition is requisite for normal physiological functions of the human body. However, several environmental factors such as air pollutants may perturb the human microbiota composition. It is noticeable that currently around 99% of the world's population is breathing polluted air. Air pollution's debilitating health impacts have been studied scrupulously, including in the human gut microbiota. Nevertheless, air pollution's impact on other microbiotas of the human body is less understood so far. In the present review, the authors have summarized and discussed recent studies' outcomes related to air pollution-driven microbiotas' dysbiosis (including oral, nasal, respiratory, gut, skin, and thyroid microbiotas) and its potential multi-organ health risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nishant Gupta
- Department of Medical Research & Development, River Engineering, Toy City, Ecotech-III, Greater Noida 201305, India
| | - Virendra Kumar Yadav
- Department of Biosciences, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Mody University of Science & Technology, Lakshmangarh, Sikar 332311, India
- Correspondence: (V.K.Y.); (S.C.)
| | - Amel Gacem
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University 20 Août 1955, Skikda 21000, Algeria
| | - M. Al-Dossari
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Krishna Kumar Yadav
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Madhyanchal Professional University, Ratibad 462044, India
| | - N. S. Abd El-Gawaad
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nidhal Ben Khedher
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 81451, Saudi Arabia
- Laboratory of Thermal and Energy Systems Studies, National School of Engineering of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
| | - Nisha Choudhary
- Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Sciences, P P Savani University, Surat 394125, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- Department of Environmental Science, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara 391760, India
| | - Simona Cavalu
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, P-ta 1 Decembrie 10, 410087 Oradea, Romania
- Correspondence: (V.K.Y.); (S.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Nair AN, Anand P, George A, Mondal N. A review of strategies and their effectiveness in reducing indoor airborne transmission and improving indoor air quality. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 213:113579. [PMID: 35714688 PMCID: PMC9192357 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Airborne transmission arises through the inhalation of aerosol droplets exhaled by an infected person and is now thought to be the primary transmission route of COVID-19. Thus, maintaining adequate indoor air quality levels is vital in mitigating the spread of the airborne virus. The cause-and-effect flow of various agents involved in airborne transmission of viruses has been investigated through a systematic literature review. It has been identified that the airborne virus can stay infectious in the air for hours, and pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Carbon dioxide (CO2), and Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) and other air pollutants can enhance the incidence, spread and mortality rates of viral disease. Also, environmental quality parameters such as humidity and temperature have shown considerable influence in virus transmission in indoor spaces. The measures adopted in different research studies that can curb airborne transmission of viruses for an improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) have been collated for their effectiveness and limitations. A diverse set of building strategies, components, and operation techniques from the recent literature pertaining to the ongoing spread of COVID-19 disease has been systematically presented to understand the current state of techniques and building systems that can minimize the viral spread in built spaces This comprehensive review will help architects, builders, realtors, and other organizations improve or design a resilient building system to deal with COVID-19 or any such pandemic in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ajith N Nair
- Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, IIT, Kharagpur, India
| | - Prashant Anand
- Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, IIT, Kharagpur, India.
| | - Abraham George
- Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, IIT, Kharagpur, India
| | - Nilabhra Mondal
- Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, IIT, Kharagpur, India
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
English PB, Von Behren J, Balmes JR, Boscardin J, Carpenter C, Goldberg DE, Horiuchi S, Richardson M, Solomon G, Valle J, Reynolds P. Association between long-term exposure to particulate air pollution with SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 deaths in California, U.S.A. ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANCES 2022; 9:100270. [PMID: 35912397 PMCID: PMC9316717 DOI: 10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported associations between air pollution and COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, but most have limited their exposure assessment to a large area, have not used individual-level variables, nor studied infections. We examined 3.1 million SARS-CoV-2 infections and 49,691 COVID-19 deaths that occurred in California from February 2020 to February 2021 to evaluate risks associated with long-term neighborhood concentrations of particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5). We obtained individual address data on SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 deaths and assigned 2000-2018 1km-1km gridded PM2.5 surfaces to census block groups. We included individual covariate data on age and sex, and census block data on race/ethnicity, air basin, Area Deprivation Index, and relevant comorbidities. Our analyses were based on generalized linear mixed models utilizing a Poisson distribution. Those living in the highest quintile of long-term PM2.5 exposure had risks of SARS-CoV-2 infections 20% higher and risks of COVID-19 mortality 51% higher, compared to those living in the lowest quintile of long-term PM2.5 exposure. Those living in the areas of highest long-term PM2.5 exposure were more likely to be Hispanic and more vulnerable, based on the Area Deprivation Index. The increased risks for SARS-CoV-2 Infections and COVID-19 mortality associated with highest long-term PM2.5 concentrations at the neighborhood-level in California were consistent with a growing body of literature from studies worldwide, and further highlight the importance of reducing levels of air pollution to protect public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul B English
- Tracking California Public Health Institute, 555 12th St., Suite 290, Oakland, CA 94607, United States
| | - Julie Von Behren
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - John R Balmes
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - John Boscardin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Catherine Carpenter
- Tracking California Public Health Institute, 555 12th St., Suite 290, Oakland, CA 94607, United States
| | - Debbie E Goldberg
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Sophia Horiuchi
- Tracking California Public Health Institute, 555 12th St., Suite 290, Oakland, CA 94607, United States
| | - Maxwell Richardson
- Tracking California Public Health Institute, 555 12th St., Suite 290, Oakland, CA 94607, United States
| | - Gina Solomon
- Tracking California Public Health Institute, 555 12th St., Suite 290, Oakland, CA 94607, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jhaqueline Valle
- Tracking California Public Health Institute, 555 12th St., Suite 290, Oakland, CA 94607, United States
| | - Peggy Reynolds
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Alfaro T, Martinez-Folgar K, Vives A, Bilal U. Excess Mortality during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Cities of Chile: Magnitude, Inequalities, and Urban Determinants. J Urban Health 2022; 99:922-935. [PMID: 35688966 PMCID: PMC9187147 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-022-00658-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We estimated excess mortality in Chilean cities during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with city-level factors. We used mortality, and social and built environment data from the SALURBAL study for 21 Chilean cities, composed of 81 municipalities or "comunas", grouped in 4 macroregions. We estimated excess mortality by comparing deaths from January 2020 up to June 2021 vs 2016-2019, using a generalized additive model. We estimated a total of 21,699 (95%CI 21,693 to 21,704) excess deaths across the 21 cities. Overall relative excess mortality was highest in the Metropolitan (Santiago) and the North regions (28.9% and 22.2%, respectively), followed by the South and Center regions (17.6% and 14.1%). At the city-level, the highest relative excess mortality was found in the Northern cities of Calama and Iquique (around 40%). Cities with higher residential overcrowding had higher excess mortality. In Santiago, capital of Chile, municipalities with higher educational attainment had lower relative excess mortality. These results provide insight into the heterogeneous impact of COVID-19 in Chile, which has served as a magnifier of preexisting urban health inequalities, exhibiting different impacts between and within cities. Delving into these findings could help prioritize strategies addressed to prevent deaths in more vulnerable communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tania Alfaro
- Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 939, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Kevin Martinez-Folgar
- Urban Health Collaborative; and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alejandra Vives
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, CEDEUS, Santiago, Chile
| | - Usama Bilal
- Urban Health Collaborative; and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Taylor BM, Ash M, King LP. Initially High Correlation between Air Pollution and COVID-19 Mortality Declined to Zero as the Pandemic Progressed: There Is No Evidence for a Causal Link between Air Pollution and COVID-19 Vulnerability. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10000. [PMID: 36011633 PMCID: PMC9408300 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wu et al. found a strong positive association between cumulative daily county-level COVID-19 mortality and long-term average PM2.5 concentrations for data up until September 2020. We replicated the results of Wu et al. and extended the analysis up until May 2022. The association between PM2.5 concentration and cumulative COVID-19 mortality fell sharply after September 2020. Using the data available from Wu et al.'s "updated_data" branch up until May 2022, we found that the effect of a 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with only a +0.603% mortality difference. The 95% CI of this difference was between -0.560% and +1.78%, narrow bounds that include zero, with the upper bound far below the Wu et al. estimate. Short-term trends in the initial spread of COVID-19, not a long-term epidemiologic association, caused an early correlation between air pollution and COVID-19 mortality.
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhu P, Lin B. Vanishing Happiness: How Does Pollution Information Disclosure Affect Life Satisfaction? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159530. [PMID: 35954886 PMCID: PMC9368440 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The role of information in energy and environmental policies is receiving extensive attention. This paper examines the impact of pollution information on residents’ life satisfaction and its channels in China. A difference-in-difference (DID) approach is used to match China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data with information disclosure data to find the negative impact of PM2.5 information disclosure on residents’ life satisfaction. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the negative effects of information disclosure are more pronounced among young and middle-aged groups, residents with good physical conditions, higher education, higher income, and urban residents. The mechanism analysis indicates that the perception, avoidance, and envy effect are three important channels of influence. These findings provide some insights for public policy formulation aimed at enhancing the well-being of an entire population, such as paying attention to the psychological impact of policy implementation on different groups of people.
Collapse
|
35
|
Rzymski P, Poniedziałek B, Rosińska J, Rogalska M, Zarębska-Michaluk D, Rorat M, Moniuszko-Malinowska A, Lorenc B, Kozielewicz D, Piekarska A, Sikorska K, Dworzańska A, Bolewska B, Angielski G, Kowalska J, Podlasin R, Oczko-Grzesik B, Mazur W, Szymczak A, Flisiak R. The association of airborne particulate matter and benzo[a]pyrene with the clinical course of COVID-19 in patients hospitalized in Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119469. [PMID: 35580710 PMCID: PMC9106990 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution can adversely affect the immune response and increase the severity of the viral disease. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between symptomatology, clinical course, and inflammation markers of adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalized in Poland (n = 4432) and air pollution levels, i.e., mean 24 h and max 24 h level of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and particulate matter <10 μm (PM10) and <2.5 μm (PM2.5) during a week before their hospitalization. Exposures to PM2.5 and B(a)P exceeding the limits were associated with higher odds of early respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 and hyperinflammatory state: interleukin-6 > 100 pg/mL, procalcitonin >0.25 ng/mL, and white blood cells count >11 × 103/mL. Except for the mean 24 h PM10 level, the exceedance of other air pollution parameters was associated with increased odds for oxygen saturation <90%. Exposure to elevated PM2.5 and B(a)P levels increased the odds of oxygen therapy and death. This study evidences that worse air quality is related to increased severity of COVID-19 and worse outcome in hospitalized patients. Mitigating air pollution shall be an integral part of measures undertaken to decrease the disease burden during a pandemic of viral respiratory illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806, Poznań, Poland; Integrated Science Association (ISA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), 60-806, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Barbara Poniedziałek
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Joanna Rosińska
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Magdalena Rogalska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Białystok, 15-089, Białystok, Poland.
| | | | - Marta Rorat
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wrocław Medical University, 50-367, Wrocław, Poland; First Infectious Diseases Ward, Gromkowski Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, 51-149, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Białystok, 15-089, Białystok, Poland.
| | - Beata Lorenc
- Pomeranian Center of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Dorota Kozielewicz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100, Toruń, Poland.
| | - Anna Piekarska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Łódź, 90-549, Łódź, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Sikorska
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Anna Dworzańska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Beata Bolewska
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701, Poznań, Poland.
| | | | - Justyna Kowalska
- Department of Adults' Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Regina Podlasin
- Regional Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Barbara Oczko-Grzesik
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Włodzimierz Mazur
- Clinical Department of Infectious Diseases in Chorzów, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Szymczak
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Liver Diseases and Acquired Immune Deficiencies, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Robert Flisiak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Białystok, 15-089, Białystok, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Lee D, Robertson C, McRae C, Baker J. Quantifying the impact of air pollution on Covid-19 hospitalisation and death rates in Scotland. Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol 2022; 42:100523. [PMID: 35934329 PMCID: PMC9176207 DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2022.100523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Better understanding the risk factors that exacerbate Covid-19 symptoms and lead to worse health outcomes is vitally important in the public health fight against the virus. One such risk factor that is currently under investigation is air pollution concentrations, with some studies finding statistically significant effects while other studies have found no consistent associations. The aim of this paper is to add to this global evidence base on the potential association between air pollution concentrations and Covid-19 hospitalisations and deaths, by presenting the first study on this topic at the small-area scale in Scotland, United Kingdom. Our study is one of the most comprehensive to date in terms of its temporal coverage, as it includes all hospitalisations and deaths in Scotland between 1st March 2020 and 31st July 2021. We quantify the effects of air pollution on Covid-19 outcomes using a small-area spatial ecological study design, with inference using Bayesian hierarchical models that allow for the residual spatial correlation present in the data. A key advantage of our study is its extensive sensitivity analyses, which examines the robustness of the results to our modelling assumptions. We find clear evidence that PM2.5 concentrations are associated with hospital admissions, with a 1 μgm−3 increase in concentrations being associated with between a 7.4% and a 9.3% increase in hospitalisations. In addition, we find some evidence that PM2.5 concentrations are associated with deaths, with a 1 μgm−3 increase in concentrations being associated with between a 2.9% and a 10.3% increase in deaths.
Collapse
|
37
|
Data-Driven Prediction of COVID-19 Daily New Cases through a Hybrid Approach of Machine Learning Unsupervised and Deep Learning. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13081205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is associated with respiratory diseases and the transmission of infectious diseases. In this context, the association between meteorological factors and poor air quality possibly contributes to the transmission of COVID-19. Therefore, analyzing historical data of particulate matter (PM2.5, and PM10) and meteorological factors in indoor and outdoor environments to discover patterns that allow predicting future confirmed cases of COVID-19 is a challenge within a long pandemic. In this study, a hybrid approach based on machine learning and deep learning is proposed to predict confirmed cases of COVID-19. On the one hand, a clustering algorithm based on K-means allows the discovery of behavior patterns by forming groups with high cohesion. On the other hand, multivariate linear regression is implemented through a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network, building a reliable predictive model in the training stage. The LSTM prediction model is evaluated through error metrics, achieving the highest performance and accuracy in predicting confirmed cases of COVID-19, using data of PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations and meteorological factors of the outdoor environment. The predictive model obtains a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.0897, mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0837, and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.4229 in the testing stage. When using a dataset of PM2.5, PM10, and meteorological parameters collected inside 20 households from 27 May to 13 October 2021, the highest performance is obtained with an RMSE of 0.0892, MAE of 0.0592, and MAPE of 0.2061 in the testing stage. Moreover, in the validation stage, the predictive model obtains a very acceptable performance with values between 0.4152 and 3.9084 for RMSE, and a MAPE of less than 4.1%, using three different datasets with indoor environment values.
Collapse
|
38
|
Serio C, Masiello G, Cersosimo A. NO 2 pollution over selected cities in the Po Valley in 2018-2021 and its possible effects on boosting COVID-19 deaths. Heliyon 2022; 8:e09978. [PMID: 35873538 PMCID: PMC9297682 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This work analyzes nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution over a set of cities in the Po Valley in northern Italy, using satellite and in situ observations. The cities include Milan, Bergamo, and Brescia, the first area of the COVID-19 outbreak and diffusion in Italy, with a higher mortality rate than in other parts of Italy and Europe. The analysis was performed for three years, from May 2018 to April 2021, including the period of first-wave diffusion of COVID-19 over the Po Valley, that is, January 2020–April 2020. The study aimed at giving a more general picture of the NO2 temporal and spatial variation, possibly due to the lockdown adopted for the pandemic crisis containment and other factors, such as the meteorological conditions and the seasonal cycle. We have mainly investigated two effects: first, the correlation of NO2 pollution with atmospheric parameters such as air and dew point temperature, and second the possible correlation between air quality and COVID-19 deaths, which could explain the high mortality rate. We have found a good relationship between air quality and temperature. In light of this relationship, we can conclude that the air quality improvement in March 2020 was primarily because of the lockdown adopted to prevent and limit virus diffusion. We also report a good correlation between NO2 pollution and COVID-19 deaths, which is not seen when considering a reference city in the South of Italy. The critical factor in explaining the difference is the persistence of air pollution in the Po Valley in wintertime. We found that NO2 pollution shows a seasonal cycle, yielding a non-causal correlation with the COVID-19 deaths. However, causality comes in once we read the correlation in the context of current and recent epidemiological evidence and leads us to conclude that air pollution may have acted as a significant risk factor in boosting COVID-19 fatalities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Serio
- School of Engineering, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Guido Masiello
- School of Engineering, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Tateo F, Fiorino S, Peruzzo L, Zippi M, De Biase D, Lari F, Melucci D. Effects of environmental parameters and their interactions on the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 in North Italy under different social restrictions. A new approach based on multivariate analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 210:112921. [PMID: 35150709 PMCID: PMC8828377 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In 2020 North Italy suffered the SARS-CoV-2-related pandemic with a high number of deaths and hospitalization. The effect of atmospheric parameters on the amount of hospital admissions (temperature, solar radiation, particulate matter, relative humidity and wind speed) is studied through about 8 months (May-December). Two periods are considered depending on different conditions: a) low incidence of COVID-19 and very few regulations concerning personal mobility and protection ("free/summer period"); b) increasing incidence of disease, social restrictions and use of personal protections ("confined/autumn period"). The "hospitalized people in medical area wards/100000 residents" was used as a reliable measure of COVID-19 spreading and load on the sanitary system. We developed a chemometric approach (multiple linear regression analysis) using the daily incidence of hospitalizations as a function of the single independent variables and of their products (interactions). Eight administrative domains were considered (altogether 26 million inhabitants) to account for relatively homogeneous territorial and social conditions. The obtained models very significantly match the daily variation of hospitalizations, during the two periods. Under the confined/autumn period, the effect of non-pharmacologic measures (social distances, personal protection, etc.) possibly attenuates the virus diffusion despite environmental factors. On the contrary, in the free/summer conditions the effects of atmospheric parameters are very significant through all the areas. Particulate matter matches the growth of hospitalizations in areas with low chronic particulate pollution. Fewer hospitalizations strongly correspond to higher temperature and solar radiation. Relative humidity plays the same role, but with a lesser extent. The interaction between solar radiation and high temperature is also highly significant and represents surprising evidence. The solar radiation alone and combined with high temperature exert an anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect, via both the direct inactivation of virions and the stimulation of vitamin D synthesis, improving immune system function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Tateo
- Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. Gradenigo, 6, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Sirio Fiorino
- Internal Medicine Unit, Budrio Hospital, Azienda USL, Via Benni, 44, 40054, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Peruzzo
- Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via G. Gradenigo, 6, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| | - Maddalena Zippi
- Unit of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Sandro Pertini Hospital, Via dei Monti Tiburtini 385, 00157, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario De Biase
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico Lari
- Internal Medicine Unit, Budrio Hospital, Azienda USL, Via Benni, 44, 40054, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dora Melucci
- Department of Chemistry Ciamician, University of Bologna, Via Selmi, 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Afful AE, Osei Assibey Antwi ADD, Ayarkwa J, Acquah GKK. Impact of improved indoor environment on recovery from COVID-19 infections: a review of literature. FACILITIES 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/f-02-2022-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of the indoor environment on recovery from COVID-19 infections. Extant literature on the impact of the four key themes of the indoor environment (indoor air quality, indoor thermal quality, daylighting and visual comfort, and acoustic comfort) on COVID-19 infection and recovery rates were reviewed.
Design/methodology/approach
Data collection for this study was based on extant literature within the Scopus database and scoped to a time frame of 2020–2021 because the topical issue of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and its impact on COVID-19 arose in the wake of the pandemic. In total, 224 documents were systematically desk reviewed from various journals.
Findings
The study identified that air pollutants such as PM2.5 and PM10 as well as air-conditioned places, low ambient temperatures, poor ventilation and no views of the outdoor environment were deteriorating factors for COVID-19 patients. On the other hand, proper ventilation, the use of air cleaners, views of the outdoor environment and allowance for ample daylighting were improvement factors for COVID-19 patients. The inter-relationship of the various concepts was presented in an ontology chart.
Practical implications
As COVID-19 still exists and keeps evolving, this study provides suggestions to industry professionals, especially health-care Facility Managers, to create a post-pandemic environment focusing on the IEQ and finding long-term and reliable solutions for the well-being of occupants. Adaptability is crucial. New, creative technology solutions are being introduced daily, but it is up to the facility managers and health-care professionals to analyse and specify the most cost- and outcome-effective technologies for their facility.
Originality/value
The study brought to light the pivotal role of the indoor environment on the health and well-being of occupants, particularly in the contraction, spread, prevention and control of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
Collapse
|
41
|
Díaz Ramírez M, Veneri P, Lembcke AC. Where did it hit harder? Understanding the geography of excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF REGIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 62:889-908. [PMID: 35599965 PMCID: PMC9115119 DOI: 10.1111/jors.12595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and European regions has been strikingly uneven. In 2020, excess mortality rates in the hardest-hit regions were, on average, 17 percentage points higher than those in the least affected regions of the same country. This paper shows that low health system capacity, followed by population density, air pollution, the share of elderly people, and low institutional quality were associated with higher excess mortality during the first year of the pandemic. Finally, reduced home-to-work mobility, following governments' COVID-19 responses, was associated with lower excess mortality 2 months after implementation of the measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Paolo Veneri
- OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and CitiesParisFrance
| | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Wen C, Akram R, Irfan M, Iqbal W, Dagar V, Acevedo-Duqued Á, Saydaliev HB. The asymmetric nexus between air pollution and COVID-19: Evidence from a non-linear panel autoregressive distributed lag model. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 209:112848. [PMID: 35101402 PMCID: PMC8800540 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of a new coronavirus (COVID-19) has become a major global concern that has damaged human health and disturbing environmental quality. Some researchers have identified a positive relationship between air pollution (fine particulate matter PM2.5) and COVID-19. Nonetheless, no inclusive investigation has comprehensively examined this relationship for a tropical climate such as India. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by investigating the nexus between air pollution and COVID-19 in the ten most affected Indian states using daily observations from 9th March to September 20, 2020. The study has used the newly developed Hidden Panel Cointegration test and Nonlinear Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NPARDL) model for asymmetric analysis. Empirical results illustrate an asymmetric relationship between PM2.5 and COVID-19 cases. More precisely, a 1% change in the positive shocks of PM2.5 increases the COVID-19 cases by 0.439%. Besides, the estimates of individual states expose the heterogeneous effects of PM2.5 on COVID-19. The asymmetric causality test of Hatemi-J's (2011) also suggests that the positive shocks on PM2.5 Granger-cause positive shocks on COVID19 cases. Research findings indicate that air pollution is the root cause of this outbreak; thus, the government should recognize this channel and implement robust policy guidelines to control the spread of environmental pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wen
- Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Rabia Akram
- Business School, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, China.
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China; Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China; School of Business Administration, Ilma University, Karachi, 75190, Pakistan.
| | - Wasim Iqbal
- Department of Management Science, College of Management, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Vishal Dagar
- Department of Economics and Public Policy, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, 122413, Haryana, India
| | - Ángel Acevedo-Duqued
- Public Policy Observatory Faculty of Business and Administration, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, 7500912, Chile
| | - Hayot Berk Saydaliev
- Institute of Forecasting and Macroeconomic Research, Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Mathematical Methods in Economics, Tashkent State University of Economics, 100003, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
|
44
|
Pérez-Martínez PJ, Dunck JA, de Assunção JV, Connerton P, Slovic AD, Ribeiro H, Miranda RM. Long-term commuting times and air quality relationship to COVID-19 in São Paulo. JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT GEOGRAPHY 2022; 101:103349. [PMID: 35440861 PMCID: PMC9010305 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2022.103349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic is an unprecedented global health crisis and the effects may be related to environmental and socio-economic factors. In São Paulo, Brazil, the first death occurred in March 2020 and since then the numbers have grown to 175 new deaths per day in April 2021, positioning the city as the epicenter of the number of cases and deaths in Brazil. São Paulo is one of the largest cities in the world with more than 12 million inhabitants, a fleet of about 8 million vehicles and frequent pollutant concentrations above recommended values. Social inequalities are evident in the municipality, similarly to other cities in the world. This paper focuses on transportation activities related to air pollution and associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases especially on people who developed comorbidities during their whole life. This study relates travel trip data to air quality analysis and expanded to COVID-19 disease. This work studied the relationship of deaths in São Paulo due to COVID-19 with demographic density, with family income, with the use of public transport and with atmospheric pollution for the period between March 17th, 2020 and April 29th, 2021. The main results showed that generally passenger kilometers traveled, commuting times and air quality related diseases increase with residential distance from the city center, and thus, with decreasing residential density. PM2.5 concentrations are positively correlated with COVID-19 deaths, regions with high urban densities have higher numbers of deaths and long-distance frequent trips can contribute to spread of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P J Pérez-Martínez
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Design, University of Campinas, Rua Saturnino de Brito, 224, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13083-889 Campinas, Brazil
| | - J A Dunck
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Design, University of Campinas, Rua Saturnino de Brito, 224, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, 13083-889 Campinas, Brazil
| | - J V de Assunção
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo-USP, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
| | - P Connerton
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo-USP, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
| | - A D Slovic
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo-USP, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
| | - H Ribeiro
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo-USP, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil
| | - R M Miranda
- School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, University of São Paulo, Rua Arlindo Béttio, 1000, Ermelino Matarazzo, 03828-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Contiero P, Borgini A, Bertoldi M, Abita A, Cuffari G, Tomao P, D’Ovidio MC, Reale S, Scibetta S, Tagliabue G, Boffi R, Krogh V, Tramuto F, Maida CM, Mazzucco W. An Epidemiological Study to Investigate Links between Atmospheric Pollution from Farming and SARS-CoV-2 Mortality. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19084637. [PMID: 35457503 PMCID: PMC9029287 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to atmospheric particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide has been linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection and death. We hypothesized that long-term exposure to farming-related air pollutants might predispose to an increased risk of COVID-19-related death. To test this hypothesis, we performed an ecological study of five Italian Regions (Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna and Sicily), linking all-cause mortality by province (administrative entities within regions) to data on atmospheric concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and ammonia (NH3), which are mainly produced by agricultural activities. The study outcome was change in all-cause mortality during March-April 2020 compared with March-April 2015-2019 (period). We estimated all-cause mortality rate ratios (MRRs) by multivariate negative binomial regression models adjusting for air temperature, humidity, international import-export, gross domestic product and population density. We documented a 6.9% excess in MRR (proxy for COVID-19 mortality) for each tonne/km2 increase in NH3 emissions, explained by the interaction of the period variable with NH3 exposure, considering all pollutants together. Despite the limitations of the ecological design of the study, following the precautionary principle, we recommend the implementation of public health measures to limit environmental NH3 exposure, particularly while the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Future studies are needed to investigate any causal link between COVID-19 and farming-related pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Contiero
- Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Alessandro Borgini
- Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.C.); (M.B.)
- International Society of Doctors for Environment (ISDE), 52100 Arezzo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0223903536
| | - Martina Bertoldi
- Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Anna Abita
- UOC Qualità dell’Aria, ARPA Sicilia, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Cuffari
- Reporting Ambientale, Salute e Ambiente, ARPA Sicilia, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Paola Tomao
- Inail-Dipartimento di Medicina, Epidemiologia, Igiene del Lavoro ed Ambientale, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (M.C.D.)
| | - Maria Concetta D’Ovidio
- Inail-Dipartimento di Medicina, Epidemiologia, Igiene del Lavoro ed Ambientale, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (M.C.D.)
| | - Stefano Reale
- Laboratorio Tecnologie Diagnostiche Innovative Area Biologia Molecolare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Rocco Dicillo 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Silvia Scibetta
- Laboratorio Tecnologie Diagnostiche Innovative Area Biologia Molecolare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Rocco Dicillo 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Giovanna Tagliabue
- Cancer Registry Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Roberto Boffi
- Respiratory Disease Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Vittorio Krogh
- Epidemiology and Prevention Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Fabio Tramuto
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) “G. D’Alessandro”—University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.T.); (C.M.M.); (W.M.)
- Regional Reference Laboratory of West Sicily for the Emergency of COVID-19, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Carmelo Massimo Maida
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) “G. D’Alessandro”—University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.T.); (C.M.M.); (W.M.)
- Regional Reference Laboratory of West Sicily for the Emergency of COVID-19, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Walter Mazzucco
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) “G. D’Alessandro”—University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.T.); (C.M.M.); (W.M.)
- Regional Reference Laboratory of West Sicily for the Emergency of COVID-19, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Weaver AK, Head JR, Gould CF, Carlton EJ, Remais JV. Environmental Factors Influencing COVID-19 Incidence and Severity. Annu Rev Public Health 2022; 43:271-291. [PMID: 34982587 PMCID: PMC10044492 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052120-101420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence supports a link between environmental factors-including air pollution and chemical exposures, climate, and the built environment-and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) susceptibility and severity. Climate, air pollution, and the built environment have long been recognized to influence viral respiratory infections, and studies have established similar associations with COVID-19 outcomes. More limited evidence links chemical exposures to COVID-19. Environmental factors were found to influence COVID-19 through four major interlinking mechanisms: increased risk of preexisting conditions associated with disease severity; immune system impairment; viral survival and transport; and behaviors that increase viral exposure. Both data and methodologic issues complicate the investigation of these relationships, including reliance on coarse COVID-19 surveillance data; gaps in mechanistic studies; and the predominance of ecological designs. We evaluate the strength of evidence for environment-COVID-19 relationships and discuss environmental actions that might simultaneously address the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental determinants of health, and health disparities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Weaver
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA; ,
| | - Jennifer R Head
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA;
| | - Carlos F Gould
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA;
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Carlton
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz, Aurora, Colorado, USA;
| | - Justin V Remais
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA; ,
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Becchetti L, Beccari G, Conzo G, Conzo P, De Santis D, Salustri F. Particulate matter and COVID-19 excess deaths: Decomposing long-term exposure and short-term effects. ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS 2022; 194:107340. [PMID: 35017790 PMCID: PMC8739034 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the time-varying effect of particulate matter (PM) on COVID-19 deaths in Italian municipalities. We find that the lagged moving averages of PM2.5 and PM10 are significantly related to higher excess deceases during the first wave of the disease, after controlling, among other factors, for time-varying mobility, regional and municipality fixed effects, the nonlinear contagion trend, and lockdown effects. Our findings are confirmed after accounting for potential endogeneity, heterogeneous pandemic dynamics, and spatial correlation through pooled and fixed-effect instrumental variable estimates using municipal and provincial data. In addition, we decompose the overall PM effect and find that both pre-COVID long-term exposure and short-term variation during the pandemic matter. In terms of magnitude, we observe that a 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 can lead to up to 20% more deaths in Italian municipalities, which is equivalent to a 5.9% increase in mortality rate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Becchetti
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Economics and Finance, Italy
| | - Gabriele Beccari
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Economics and Finance, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Conzo
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Economics and Finance, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Conzo
- University of Turin, Department of Economics and Statistics "Cognetti de Martiis" & Collegio Carlo Alberto, Italy
| | - Davide De Santis
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science Engineering, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Yu Z, Bellander T, Bergström A, Dillner J, Eneroth K, Engardt M, Georgelis A, Kull I, Ljungman P, Pershagen G, Stafoggia M, Melén E, Gruzieva O. Association of Short-term Air Pollution Exposure With SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Young Adults in Sweden. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e228109. [PMID: 35442452 PMCID: PMC9021914 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.8109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Mounting ecological evidence shows an association between short-term air pollution exposure and COVID-19, yet no study has examined this association on an individual level. OBJECTIVE To estimate the association between short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and SARS-CoV-2 infection among Swedish young adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This time-stratified case-crossover study linked the prospective BAMSE (Children, Allergy Milieu, Stockholm, Epidemiology [in Swedish]) birth cohort to the Swedish national infectious disease registry to identify cases with positive results for SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing from May 5, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Case day was defined as the date of the PCR test, whereas the dates with the same day of the week within the same calendar month and year were selected as control days. Data analysis was conducted from September 1 to December 31, 2021. EXPOSURES Daily air pollutant levels (particulate matter with diameter ≤2.5 μm [PM2.5], particulate matter with diameter ≤10 μm [PM10], black carbon [BC], and nitrogen oxides [NOx]) at residential addresses were estimated using dispersion models with high spatiotemporal resolution. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection among participants within the BAMSE cohort. Distributed-lag models combined with conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the association. RESULTS A total of 425 cases were identified, of whom 229 (53.9%) were women, and the median age was 25.6 (IQR, 24.9-26.3) years. The median exposure level for PM2.5 was 4.4 [IQR, 2.6-6.8] μg/m3 on case days; for PM10, 7.7 [IQR, 4.6-11.3] μg/m3 on case days; for BC, 0.3 [IQR, 0.2-0.5] μg/m3 on case days; and for NOx, 8.2 [5.6-14.1] μg/m3 on case days. Median exposure levels on control days were 3.8 [IQR, 2.4-5.9] μg/m3 for PM2.5, 6.6 [IQR, 4.5-10.4] μg/m3 for PM10, 0.2 [IQR, 0.2-0.4] μg/m3 for BC, and 7.7 [IQR, 5.3-12.8] μg/m3 for NOx. Each IQR increase in short-term exposure to PM2.5 on lag 2 was associated with a relative increase in positive results of SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing of 6.8% (95% CI, 2.1%-11.8%); exposure to PM10 on lag 2, 6.9% (95% CI, 2.0%-12.1%); and exposure to BC on lag 1, 5.8% (95% CI, 0.3%-11.6%). These findings were not associated with NOx, nor were they modified by sex, smoking, or having asthma, overweight, or self-reported COVID-19 respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The findings of this case-crossover study of Swedish young adults suggest that short-term exposure to particulate matter and BC was associated with increased risk of positive PRC test results for SARS-CoV-2, supporting the broad public health benefits of reducing ambient air pollution levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhebin Yu
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tom Bellander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Bergström
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joakim Dillner
- Medical Diagnostics Karolinska, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristina Eneroth
- SLB-analys, Environment and Health Administration, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magnuz Engardt
- SLB-analys, Environment and Health Administration, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonios Georgelis
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Inger Kull
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Pediatrics, Sachs Children’s Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petter Ljungman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran Pershagen
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Erik Melén
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Pediatrics, Sachs Children’s Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olena Gruzieva
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Nag I. Development of a combinatory filtration system for pollution and virus abatement by optimized nanoparticle deposition. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264991. [PMID: 35358232 PMCID: PMC8970518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PM2.5, particulate matter less than 2.5 microns, is the leading contributor to air pollution which results in cardio-vascular and respiratory diseases. Recent studies also indicate a strong correlation between ambient air pollution and COVID-19 cases, which have affected the lives of billions of people globally. Abatement technologies such as ionic and other high efficiency filtration systems are expensive and unaffordable in communities with limited resources. The goal of this study was to develop a mask with an optimized nanoparticle coating which has a dual capability of particulate matter and virus filtration, while being affordable and safe for human use. The nanoparticles were selected for their filtration and virucidal capabilities. Particle filtration efficiency, tested with a wind tunnel and PM2.5 from incense sticks measured by laser particle detectors, improved by ~60% with nanoparticle coatings on KN95 and surgical masks. Virus filtration efficiency, tested using nebulized NaCl particles as a virus surrogate, improved by 95% with coated masks. The nanoparticle retention efficacy, tested by simulating a normal 8-hour workday, was well within the permissible exposure limits. This technology has several applications such as in personal protective equipment for virus protection, and in air-conditioning and car cabin filters for pollution abatement. In conclusion, the chosen combination of nanoparticles provides an effective and safe solution for both particulate matter and viral particle filtration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ishika Nag
- Seminole State College, Sanford, FL, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Government Intervention, Human Mobility, and COVID-19: A Causal Pathway Analysis from 121 Countries. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14063694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Based on data from 121 countries, the study assesses the dynamic effect and causality path of the government epidemic prevention policies and human mobility behaviors on the growth rates of COVID-19 new cases and deaths. Our results find that both policies and behaviors influenced COVID-19 cases and deaths. The direct effect of policies on COVID-19 was more than the indirect effect. Policies influence behaviors, and behaviors react spontaneously to information. Further, masks give people a false sense of security and increase mobility. The close public transport policy increased COVID-19 new cases. We also conducted sensitivity analysis and found that some policies hold robustly, such as the policies of school closing, restrictions on gatherings, stay-at-home requirements, international travel controls, facial coverings, and vaccination. The counterfactual tests suggest that, as of early March 2021, if governments had mandated masking policies early in the epidemic, the cases and deaths would have been reduced by 18% and 14% separately. If governments had implemented vaccination policies early in the pandemic, the cases and deaths would have been reduced by 93% and 62%, respectively. Without public transportation closures, cases and deaths would have been reduced by 40% and 10%, respectively.
Collapse
|