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Gao P, Huang G, Zhao L, Ma S. Identification of biological indicators for human exposure toxicology in smart cities based on public health data and deep learning. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1361901. [PMID: 38873314 PMCID: PMC11171719 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1361901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
With the acceleration of urbanization, the risk of urban population exposure to environmental pollutants is increasing. Protecting public health is the top priority in the construction of smart cities. The purpose of this study is to propose a method for identifying toxicological biological indicators of human exposure in smart cities based on public health data and deep learning to achieve accurate assessment and management of exposure risks. Initially, the study used a network of sensors within the smart city infrastructure to collect environmental monitoring data, including indicators such as air quality, water quality, and soil pollution. Using public health data, a database containing information on types and concentrations of environmental pollutants has been established. Convolutional neural network was used to recognize the pattern of environmental monitoring data, identify the relationship between different indicators, and build the correlation model between health indicators and environmental indicators. Identify biological indicators associated with environmental pollution exposure through training optimization. Experimental analysis showed that the prediction accuracy of the model reached 93.45%, which could provide decision support for the government and the health sector. In the recognition of the association pattern between respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and environmental exposure factors such as PM2.5 and SO2, the fitting degree between the model and the simulation value reached more than 0.90. The research design model can play a positive role in public health and provide new decision-making ideas for protecting public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peimao Gao
- Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Guowu Huang
- School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lu Zhao
- Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Sen Ma
- People’s Hospital of Fengjie, Chongqing, China
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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.
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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
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Shahbaz MA, Kuivanen S, Mussalo L, Afonin AM, Kumari K, Behzadpour D, Kalapudas J, Koivisto AM, Penttilä E, Löppönen H, Jalava P, Vapalahti O, Balistreri G, Lampinen R, Kanninen KM. Exposure to urban particulate matter alters responses of olfactory mucosal cells to SARS-CoV-2 infection. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 249:118451. [PMID: 38341073 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118451] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Respiratory viruses have a significant impact on health, as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Exposure to air pollution can contribute to viral susceptibility and be associated with severe outcomes, as suggested by recent epidemiological studies. Furthermore, exposure to particulate matter (PM), an important constituent of air pollution, is linked to adverse effects on the brain, including cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The olfactory mucosa (OM), a tissue located at the rooftop of the nasal cavity, is directly exposed to inhaled air and in direct contact with the brain. Increasing evidence of OM dysfunction related to neuropathogenesis and viral infection demonstrates the importance of elucidating the interplay between viruses and air pollutants at the OM. This study examined the effects of subacute exposure to urban PM 0.2 and PM 10-2.5 on SARS-CoV-2 infection using primary human OM cells obtained from cognitively healthy individuals and individuals diagnosed with AD. OM cells were exposed to PM and subsequently infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the presence of pollutants. SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors and replication, toxicological endpoints, cytokine release, oxidative stress markers, and amyloid beta levels were measured. Exposure to PM did not enhance the expression of viral entry receptors or cellular viral load in human OM cells. However, PM-exposed and SARS-CoV-2-infected cells showed alterations in cellular and immune responses when compared to cells infected only with the virus or pollutants. These changes are highly pronounced in AD OM cells. These results suggest that exposure of human OM cells to PM does not increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro, but it can alter cellular immune responses to the virus, particularly in AD. Understanding the interplay of air pollutants and COVID-19 can provide important insight for the development of public health policies and interventions to reduce the negative influences of air pollution exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ali Shahbaz
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Suvi Kuivanen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki, Finland; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura Mussalo
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Alexey M Afonin
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kajal Kumari
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Donya Behzadpour
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Juho Kalapudas
- University of Eastern Finland, Brain Research Unit, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anne M Koivisto
- University of Eastern Finland, Brain Research Unit, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kuopio, Finland; Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Neurology, Neuro Centre, Kuopio, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Helsinki University Hospital and Neurosciences, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elina Penttilä
- University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heikki Löppönen
- University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pasi Jalava
- University of Eastern Finland, Inhalation Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Giuseppe Balistreri
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Lampinen
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Katja M Kanninen
- University of Eastern Finland, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Kuopio, Finland.
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Nakhjirgan P, Kashani H, Kermani M. Exposure to outdoor particulate matter and risk of respiratory diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 46:20. [PMID: 38153542 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01807-1] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
According to epidemiological studies, particulate matter (PM) is an important air pollutant that poses a significant threat to human health. The relationship between particulate matter and respiratory diseases has been the subject of numerous studies, but these studies have produced inconsistent findings. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the connection between outdoor particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) exposure and respiratory disorders (COPD, lung cancer, LRIs, and COVID-19). For this purpose, we conducted a literature search between 2012 and 2022 in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Out of the 58 studies that were part of the systematic review, meta-analyses were conducted on 53 of them. A random effect model was applied separately for each category of study design to assess the pooled association between exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 and respiratory diseases. Based on time-series and cohort studies, which are the priorities of the strength of evidence, a significant relationship between the risk of respiratory diseases (COPD, lung cancer, and COVID-19) was observed (COPD: pooled HR = 1.032, 95% CI: 1.004-1.061; lung cancer: pooled HR = 1.017, 95% CI: 1.015-1.020; and COVID-19: pooled RR = 1.004, 95% CI: 1.002-1.006 per 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5). Also, a significant relationship was observed between PM10 and respiratory diseases (COPD, LRIs, and COVID-19) based on time-series and cohort studies. Although the number of studies in this field is limited, which requires more investigations, it can be concluded that outdoor particulate matter can increase the risk of respiratory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pegah Nakhjirgan
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Homa Kashani
- Department of Research Methodology and Data Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Kermani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Research Center for Environmental Health Technology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Chen S, Huang L, Cai D, Li B, Yang J. Association between meteorological factors and COVID-19: a systematic review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:1254-1268. [PMID: 35674116 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2022.2083090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus disease in 2019 has become a serious threat to human health. Whether meteorological conditions could influence the transmission and virulence of COVID-19 remains controversial. In this study, we systematically reviewed the impact of temperature and humidity on the replication, morbidity, and mortality of COVID-19. We also discussed the main factors underlying the inconsistency across studies. Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus were used to identify papers published up to 7 December 2020. We initially identified 3515 papers, and 28 articles met the inclusion criteria after screening. Most studies showed high temperature and high humidity can partly reduce the reproduction, morbidity, and mortality of COVID-19. But the rest papers failed to identify a significant association. The discrepant results may be related to the difference in the climate context, study design, exposure assessment, policy intervention, socioeconomic status, and public health service.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujuan Chen
- Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Huang
- Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongjie Cai
- Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bixia Li
- College of Computer, Guangdong University of Science & Technology, Dongguan, China
| | - Jun Yang
- School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Song X, Guo X, Hu X, Zhang Y, Wei D, Hu Y, Jiang L, Zhang Y. Human exposure risk assessment for infectious diseases due to temperature and air pollution: an overview of reviews. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:88272-88280. [PMID: 37440140 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28453-5] [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: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution and global temperature change are expected to affect infectious diseases. Air pollution usually causes inflammatory response and disrupts immune defense system, while temperature mainly exacerbates the effect of vectors on humans. Yet to date overview of systematic reviews assessing the exposure risk of air pollutants and temperature on infectious diseases is unavailable. This article aims to fill this research gap. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigated the exposure risk of pollutants or temperature on infectious diseases were included. Two investigators screened literature, extracted data and performed the risk of bias assessments independently. A total of 23 articles met the inclusion criteria, which 3 (13%) were "low" quality and 20 (87%) were "critically low" quality. COVID-19 morbidity was associated with long-term exposure PM2.5 (RR = 1.056 per 1 [Formula: see text], 95% CI: 1.039-1.072) and NO2 (RR = 1.042 per 1 [Formula: see text], 95% CI: 1.017-1.068). In addition, for each 1 °C increase in temperature, the morbidity risk of dengue increased 13% (RR = 1.130 per 1 °C, 95% CI: 1.120-1.150), infectious diarrhea increased 8% (RR = 1.080 per 1 °C, 95% CI: 1.050-1.200), and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) increased 5% (RR = 1.050 per 1 °C, 95% CI: 1.020-1.080). In conclusion, PM2.5 and NO2 increased the risk of COVID-19 and temperatures were associated with dengue, infectious diarrhoea and HFMD morbidity. Moreover, the exposure risk of temperature on COVID-19 was recommended to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuping Song
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- McMaster Health Forum, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S4L8, Canada
| | - Xinye Guo
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xiaopeng Hu
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yajie Zhang
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Dandan Wei
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yue Hu
- School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | | | - Yan Zhang
- Gansu Province Hospital Rehabilitation Center, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China.
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Torres-Anguiano E, Sánchez-López I, Garduno-Robles A, Rivas-Carrillo JD, Rivera-León EA, Sánchez-Enríquez S, Ornelas-Hernández LF, Zazueta León-Quintero F, Salazar León-Quintero EN, Juárez-López GE, Sánchez-Zubieta FA, Ochoa-Bru M, Zepeda-Moreno A. SARS-CoV-2: Air pollution highly correlated to the increase in mortality. The case of Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Infect Dis Model 2023; 8:445-457. [PMID: 37131453 PMCID: PMC10116164 DOI: 10.1016/j.idm.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To determine whether air pollution or changes in SARS-CoV-2 lineages lead to an increase in mortality. Methods Descriptive statistics were used to calculate rates of infection (2020-2021). RT-PCR was used to compare viral loads from October 2020 to February 2021. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) (n = 92) was used to examine and phylogenetically map SARS-CoV-2 lineages. A correlative "air pollution/temperature" index (I) was developed using regression analysis. PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO concentrations were analyzed and compared to the mortality. Results The mortality rate during the last year was ∼32%. Relative SARS-CoV-2 viral loads increased in December 2020 and January 2021. NGS revealed that approximately 80% of SARS-CoV-2 linages were B.1.243 (33.7%), B1.1.222 (11.2%), B.1.1 (9%), B.1 (7%), B.1.1.159 (7%), and B.1.2 (7%). Two periods were analyzed, the prehigh- and high-mortality periods and no significant lineage differences or new lineages were found. Positive correlations of air pollution/temperature index values with mortality were found for IPM2.5 and IPM10. INO2. ISO2, and ICO but not for O3. Using ICO, we developed a model to predict mortality with an estimated variation of ∼±5 deaths per day. Conclusion The mortality rate in the MZG was highly correlated with air pollution indices and not with SARS-CoV-2 lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Torres-Anguiano
- Onkogenetik/Mexicana de Investigación y Biotectogía S.A. de C.V, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Investigación y Diagnóstico, Hospital San Javier, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Itzel Sánchez-López
- Onkogenetik/Mexicana de Investigación y Biotectogía S.A. de C.V, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Investigación y Diagnóstico, Hospital San Javier, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Angeles Garduno-Robles
- Onkogenetik/Mexicana de Investigación y Biotectogía S.A. de C.V, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Jorge David Rivas-Carrillo
- Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Edgar Alfonso Rivera-León
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Genómica, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Sergio Sánchez-Enríquez
- Departamento de Clínicas, Centro Universitario de los Altos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, Mexico
| | | | - Fernando Zazueta León-Quintero
- Onkogenetik/Mexicana de Investigación y Biotectogía S.A. de C.V, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Investigación y Diagnóstico, Hospital San Javier, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | | | - Guillermo Enrique Juárez-López
- Onkogenetik/Mexicana de Investigación y Biotectogía S.A. de C.V, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Investigación y Diagnóstico, Hospital San Javier, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Fernando Antonio Sánchez-Zubieta
- Departamento de Clínicas Médicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
- Servicio de Hemato-Oncología Pediátrica, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara “Dr. Juan I. Menchaca”, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Mariana Ochoa-Bru
- Onkogenetik/Mexicana de Investigación y Biotectogía S.A. de C.V, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Investigación y Diagnóstico, Hospital San Javier, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Abraham Zepeda-Moreno
- Onkogenetik/Mexicana de Investigación y Biotectogía S.A. de C.V, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Investigación y Diagnóstico, Hospital San Javier, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
- Departamento de Clínicas Médicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
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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.
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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.
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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
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Pramanik P. Path integral control of a stochastic multi-risk SIR pandemic model. Theory Biosci 2023; 142:107-142. [PMID: 36899154 PMCID: PMC10005926 DOI: 10.1007/s12064-023-00388-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
In this paper a Feynman-type path integral control approach is used for a recursive formulation of a health objective function subject to a fatigue dynamics, a forward-looking stochastic multi-risk susceptible-infective-recovered (SIR) model with risk-group's Bayesian opinion dynamics toward vaccination against COVID-19. My main interest lies in solving a minimization of a policy-maker's social cost which depends on some deterministic weight. I obtain an optimal lock-down intensity from a Wick-rotated Schrödinger-type equation which is analogous to a Hamiltonian-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation. My formulation is based on path integral control and dynamic programming tools facilitates the analysis and permits the application of algorithm to obtain numerical solution for pandemic control model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paramahansa Pramanik
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of South Alabama, 411 University Boulevard North, Mobile, AL, 36688-0002, USA.
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Rawat N, Kumar P. Interventions for improving indoor and outdoor air quality in and around schools. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159813. [PMID: 36411671 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159813] [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: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Students spend nearly one third of their typical day in the school environment, where they may be exposed to harmful air pollutants. A consolidated knowledge base of interventions to reduce this exposure is required for making informed decisions on their implementation and wider uptake. We attempt to fill this knowledge gap by synthesising the existing scientific literature on different school-based air pollution exposure interventions, their efficiency, suitability, and limitations. We assessed technological (air purifiers, HVAC - Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning etc.), behavioural, physical barriers, structural, school-commute and policy and regulatory interventions. Studies suggest that the removal efficiency of air purifiers for PM2.5, PM10, PM1 and BC can be up to 57 %, 34 %, 70 % and 58 %, respectively, depending on the air purification technology compared with control levels in classroom. The HVAC system combined with high efficiency filters has BC, PM10 and PM2.5 removal efficiency up to 97 %, 34 % and 30 %, respectively. Citizen science campaigns are effective in reducing the indoor air pollutants' exposure up to 94 %. The concentration of PM10, NO2, O3, BC and PNC can be reduced by up to 60 %, 59 %, 16 %, 63 % and 77 %, respectively as compared to control conditions, by installing green infrastructure (GI) as a physical barrier. School commute interventions can reduce NO2 concentration by up to 23 %. The in-cabin concentration reduction of up to 77 % for PM2.5, 43 % for PNC, 89 % for BC, 74 % for PM10 and 75 % for NO2, along with 94 % reduction in tailpipe emission of total particles, can be achieved using clean fuels and retrofits. No stand-alone method is found as the absolute solution for controlling pollutants exposure, their combined application can be effective in most of the scenarios. More research is needed on assessing combined interventions, and their operational synchronisation for getting the optimum results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Rawat
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
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12
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Moazeni M, Rahimi M, Ebrahimi A. What are the Effects of Climate Variables on COVID-19 Pandemic? A Systematic Review and Current Update. Adv Biomed Res 2023; 12:33. [PMID: 37057247 PMCID: PMC10086649 DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_145_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The climatological parameters can be different in various geographical locations. Moreover, they have possible impacts on COVID-19 incidence. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review article was to describe the effects of climatic variables on COVID-19 pandemic in different countries. Systematic literature search was performed in Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and PubMed databases using ("Climate" OR "Climate Change" OR "Global Warming" OR "Global Climate Change" OR "Meteorological Parameters" OR "Temperature" OR "Precipitation" OR "Relative Humidity" OR "Wind Speed" OR "Sunshine" OR "Climate Extremes" OR "Weather Extremes") AND ("COVID" OR "Coronavirus disease 2019" OR "COVID-19" OR "SARS-CoV-2" OR "Novel Coronavirus") keywords. From 5229 articles, 424 were screened and 149 were selected for further analysis. The relationship between meteorological parameters is variable in different geographical locations. The results indicate that among the climatic indicators, the temperature is the most significant factor that influences on COVID-19 pandemic in most countries. Some studies were proved that warm and wet climates can decrease COVID-19 incidence; however, the other studies represented that warm location can be a high risk of COVID-19 incidence. It could be suggested that all climate variables such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, precipitation, solar radiation, ultraviolet index, and wind speed could cause spread of COVID-19. Thus, it is recommended that future studies will survey the role of all meteorological variables and interaction between them on COVID-19 spread in specific small areas such as cities of each country and comparison between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Moazeni
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rahimi
- Department of Combat Desertification, Faculty of Desert Studies, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - Afshin Ebrahimi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Address for correspondence: Dr. Afshin Ebrahimi, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Hezar-Jerib Ave., Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 81676 − 36954, Iran. E-mail:
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13
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Singh T, Sharma N, Satakshi, Kumar M. Analysis and forecasting of air quality index based on satellite data. Inhal Toxicol 2023; 35:24-39. [PMID: 36602767 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2022.2164388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The air quality index (AQI) forecasts are one of the most important aspects of improving urban public health and enabling society to remain sustainable despite the effects of air pollution. Pollution control organizations deploy ground stations to collect information about air pollutants. Establishing a ground station all-around is not feasible due to the cost involved. As an alternative, satellite-captured data can be utilized for AQI assessment. This study explores the changes in AQI during various COVID-19 lockdowns in India utilizing satellite data. Furthermore, it addresses the effectiveness of state-of-the-art deep learning and statistical approaches for forecasting short-term AQI. MATERIALS AND METHODS Google Earth Engine (GEE) has been utilized to capture the data for the study. The satellite data has been authenticated against ground station data utilizing the beta distribution test before being incorporated into the study. The AQI forecasting has been explored using state-of-the-art statistical and deep learning approaches like VAR, Holt-Winter, and LSTM variants (stacked, bi-directional, and vanilla). RESULTS AQI ranged from 100 to 300, from moderately polluted to very poor during the study period. The maximum reduction was recorded during the complete lockdown period in the year 2020. Short-term AQI forecasting with Holt-Winter was more accurate than other models with the lowest MAPE scores. CONCLUSIONS Based on our findings, air pollution is clearly a threat in the studied locations, and it is important for all stakeholders to work together to reduce it. The level of air pollutants dropped substantially during the different lockdowns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tinku Singh
- Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, India
| | - Nikhil Sharma
- Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, India
| | | | - Manish Kumar
- Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, India
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14
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Beloconi A, Vounatsou P. Long-term air pollution exposure and COVID-19 case-severity: An analysis of individual-level data from Switzerland. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114481. [PMID: 36206929 PMCID: PMC9531360 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Several studies are pointing out that exposure to elevated air pollutants could contribute to increased COVID-19 mortality. However, literature on the associations between air pollution exposure and COVID-19 severe morbidity is rather sparse. In addition, the majority of the studies used an ecological study design and were applied in regions with rather high air pollution levels. Here, we study the differential effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on severe morbidity and mortality risks from COVID-19 in various population subgroups in Switzerland, a country known for clean air. We perform individual-level analyses using data covering the first two major waves of COVID-19 between February 2020 and May 2021. High-resolution maps of particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations were produced for the 6 years preceding the pandemic using Bayesian geostatistical models. Air pollution exposure for each patient was measured by the long-term average concentration across the municipality of residence. The models were adjusted for the effects of individual characteristics, socio-economic, health-system, and climatic factors. The variables with an important association to COVID-19 case-severity were identified using Bayesian spatial variable selection. The results have shown that the individual-level characteristics are important factors related to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in all the models. Long-term exposure to air pollution appears to influence the severity of the disease only when analyzing data during the first wave; this effect is attenuated upon adjustment for health-system related factors during the entire study period. Our findings suggest that the burden of air pollution increased the risks of COVID-19 in Switzerland during the first wave of the pandemic, but not during the second wave, when the national health system was better prepared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Beloconi
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Penelope Vounatsou
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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15
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Allouche J, Cremoni M, Brglez V, Graça D, Benzaken S, Zorzi K, Fernandez C, Esnault V, Levraut M, Oppo S, Jacquinot M, Armengaud A, Pradier C, Bailly L, Seitz-Polski B. Air pollution exposure induces a decrease in type II interferon response: A paired cohort study. EBioMedicine 2022; 85:104291. [PMID: 36183487 PMCID: PMC9525814 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104291] [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: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While air pollution is a major issue due to its harmful effects on human health, few studies focus on its impact on the immune system and vulnerability to viral infections. The lockdown declared following the COVID-19 pandemic represents a unique opportunity to study the large-scale impact of variations in air pollutants in real life. We hypothesized that variations in air pollutants modify Th1 response represented by interferon (IFN) γ production. Methods We conducted a single center paired pilot cohort study of 58 participants, and a confirmation cohort of 320 participants in Nice (France), with for each cohort two samplings at six months intervals. We correlated the variations in the production of IFNγ after non-specific stimulation of participants’ immune cells with variations in key regulated pollutants: NO2, O3, PM2.5, and PM10 and climate variables. Using linear regression, we studied the effects of variations of each pollutant on the immune response. Findings In the pilot cohort, IFNγ production significantly decreased by 25.7% post-lockdown compared to during lockdown, while NO2 increased significantly by 46.0%. After the adjustment for climate variations during the study period (sunshine and temperature), we observed a significant effect of NO2 variation on IFNγ production (P=0.03). In the confirmation cohort IFNγ decreased significantly by 47.8% and after adjustment for environmental factors and intrinsic characteristics we observed a significant effect of environmental factors: NO2, PM10, O3, climatic conditions (sunshine exposure, relative humidity) on variation in IFNγ production (P=0.005, P<0.001, P=0.001, P=0.002 and P<0.001 respectively) but not independently from the BMI at inclusion and the workplace P=0.007 and P<0.001 respectively). Interpretation We show a weakening of the antiviral cellular response in correlation with an increase of pollutants exposition. Funding Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Conseil Départemental des Alpes-Maritimes and Region Sud.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Allouche
- Department of Public Health, University Hospital of Nice, University Côte, France; Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Marion Cremoni
- Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Immunology Department, University Hospital of Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Vesna Brglez
- Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Immunology Department, University Hospital of Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Daisy Graça
- Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Immunology Department, University Hospital of Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Sylvia Benzaken
- Immunology Department, University Hospital of Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Kévin Zorzi
- Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Céline Fernandez
- Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Immunology Department, University Hospital of Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Vincent Esnault
- Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Michaël Levraut
- Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Sonia Oppo
- AtmoSud, Air Quality Observatory for Southern Region, Marseille, France
| | - Morgan Jacquinot
- AtmoSud, Air Quality Observatory for Southern Region, Marseille, France
| | | | - Christian Pradier
- Department of Public Health, University Hospital of Nice, University Côte, France; Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Laurent Bailly
- Department of Public Health, University Hospital of Nice, University Côte, France; Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Barbara Seitz-Polski
- Clinical Research Unit of the Côte d'Azur (UR2CA), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Immunology Department, University Hospital of Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.
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Hassan MA, Mehmood T, Lodhi E, Bilal M, Dar AA, Liu J. Lockdown Amid COVID-19 Ascendancy over Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution Anomaly. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13540. [PMID: 36294120 PMCID: PMC9603700 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013540] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Air is a diverse mixture of gaseous and suspended solid particles. Several new substances are being added to the air daily, polluting it and causing human health effects. Particulate matter (PM) is the primary health concern among these air toxins. The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed the fact that particulate pollution affects human health more severely than other air pollutants. The spread of air pollution and viruses, two of our millennium's most serious concerns, have been linked closely. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can spread through the air, and PM could act as a host to spread the virus beyond those in close contact. Studies on COVID-19 cover diverse environmental segments and become complicated with time. As PM pollution is related to everyday life, an essential awareness regarding PM-impacted COVID-19 among the masses is required, which can help researchers understand the various features of ambient particulate pollution, particularly in the era of COVID-19. Given this, the present work provides an overview of the recent developments in COVID-19 research linked to ambient particulate studies. This review summarizes the effect of the lockdown on the characteristics of ambient particulate matter pollution, the transmission mechanism of COVID-19, and the combined health repercussions of PM pollution. In addition to a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the lockdown, its rationales-based on topographic and socioeconomic dynamics-are also discussed in detail. The current review is expected to encourage and motivate academics to concentrate on improving air quality management and COVID-19 control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Azher Hassan
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Tariq Mehmood
- College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ehtisham Lodhi
- The SKL for Management and Control of Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Surveying and Land Information Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Afzal Ahmed Dar
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710000, China
| | - Junjie Liu
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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Liu X, Kortoçi P, Motlagh NH, Nurmi P, Tarkoma S. A survey of COVID-19 in public transportation: Transmission risk, mitigation and prevention. MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION 2022. [PMCID: PMC9174338 DOI: 10.1016/j.multra.2022.100030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is posing significant challenges to public transport operators by drastically reducing demand while also requiring them to implement measures that minimize risks to the health of the passengers. While the collective scientific understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 pandemic are rapidly increasing, currently there is a lack of understanding of how the COVID-19 relates to public transport operations. This article presents a comprehensive survey of the current research on COVID-19 transmission mechanisms and how they relate to public transport. We critically assess literature through a lens of disaster management and survey the main transmission mechanisms, forecasting, risks, mitigation, and prevention mechanisms. Social distancing and control on passenger density are found to be the most effective mechanisms. Computing and digital technology can support risk control. Based on our survey, we draw guidelines for public transport operators and highlight open research challenges to establish a research roadmap for the path forward.
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Al Huraimel K, Alhosani M, Gopalani H, Kunhabdulla S, Stietiya MH. Elucidating the role of environmental management of forests, air quality, solid waste and wastewater on the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2. HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADVANCES 2022; 3:100006. [PMID: 37519421 PMCID: PMC9095661 DOI: 10.1016/j.heha.2022.100006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The increasing frequency of zoonotic diseases is amongst several catastrophic repercussions of inadequate environmental management. Emergence, prevalence, and lethality of zoonotic diseases is intrinsically linked to environmental management which are currently at a destructive level globally. The effects of these links are complicated and interdependent, creating an urgent need of elucidating the role of environmental mismanagement to improve our resilience to future pandemics. This review focused on the pertinent role of forests, outdoor air, indoor air, solid waste and wastewater management in COVID-19 dissemination to analyze the opportunities prevailing to control infectious diseases considering relevant data from previous disease outbreaks. Global forest management is currently detrimental and hotspots of forest fragmentation have demonstrated to result in zoonotic disease emergences. Deforestation is reported to increase susceptibility to COVID-19 due to wildfire induced pollution and loss of forest ecosystem services. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 like viruses in multiple animal species also point to the impacts of biodiversity loss and forest fragmentation in relation to COVID-19. Available literature on air quality and COVID-19 have provided insights into the potential of air pollutants acting as plausible virus carrier and aggravating immune responses and expression of ACE2 receptors. SARS-CoV-2 is detected in outdoor air, indoor air, solid waste, wastewater and shown to prevail on solid surfaces and aerosols for prolonged hours. Furthermore, lack of protection measures and safe disposal options in waste management are evoking concerns especially in underdeveloped countries due to high infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. Inadequate legal framework and non-adherence to environmental regulations were observed to aggravate the postulated risks and vulnerability to future waves of pandemics. Our understanding underlines the urgent need to reinforce the fragile status of global environmental management systems through the development of strict legislative frameworks and enforcement by providing institutional, financial and technical supports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Al Huraimel
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed Alhosani
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hetasha Gopalani
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shabana Kunhabdulla
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Hashem Stietiya
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company - Bee'ah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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19
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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.
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20
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Effects of Meteorological Factors and Air Pollutants on COVID-19 Transmission under the Action of Control Measures. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159323. [PMID: 35954676 PMCID: PMC9368642 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
At present, COVID-19 is still spreading, and its transmission patterns and the main factors that affect transmission behavior still need to be thoroughly explored. To this end, this study collected the cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 in China by 8 April 2020. Firstly, the spatial characteristics of the COVID-19 transmission were investigated by the spatial autocorrelation method. Then, the factors affecting the COVID-19 incidence rates were analyzed by the generalized linear mixed effect model (GLMMs) and geographically weighted regression model (GWR). Finally, the geological detector (GeoDetector) was introduced to explore the influence of interactive effects between factors on the COVID-19 incidence rates. The results showed that: (1) COVID-19 had obvious spatial aggregation. (2) The control measures had the largest impact on the COVID-19 incidence rates, which can explain the difference of 34.2% in the COVID-19 incidence rates, while meteorological factors and pollutant factors can only explain the difference of 1% in the COVID-19 incidence rates. It explains that some of the literature overestimates the impact of meteorological factors on the spread of the epidemic. (3) The influence of meteorological factors was stronger than that of air pollution factors, and the interactive effects between factors were stronger than their individual effects. The interaction between relative humidity and NO2 was stronger. The results of this study will provide a reference for further prevention and control of COVID-19.
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21
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Karimi B, Moradzadeh R, Samadi S. Air pollution and COVID-19 mortality and hospitalization: An ecological study in Iran. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; 13:101463. [PMID: 35664828 PMCID: PMC9154086 DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2022.101463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to air pollution can exacerbate the severe COVID-19 conditions, subsequently causing an increase in the death rate. In this study, we investigated the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and risks of COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality in Arak, Iran. Air pollution data was obtained from air quality monitoring stations located in Arak, including particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO). Daily numbers of Covid-19 cases including hospital admissions (hospitalization) and deaths (mortality) were obtained from a national data registry recorded by Arak University of Medical Sciences. A Poisson regression model with natural spline functions was applied to set the effects of air pollution on COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality. The percent change of COVID-19 hospitalization per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM10 were 8.5% (95% CI 7.6 to 11.5) and 4.8% (95% CI 3 to 6.5), respectively. An increase of 10 μg/m3 in PM2.5 resulting in 5.6% (95% CI: 3.1-8.3%) increase in COVID-19 mortality. The percent change of hospitalization (7.7%, 95% CI 2.2 to 13.3) and mortality (4.5%, 95% CI 0.3 to 9.5) were positively significant per one ppb increment in SO2, while NO2, O3 and CO were inversely associated with hospitalization and mortality. Our findings strongly suggesting that a small increase in long-term exposure to PM2.5, PM10 and SO2 elevating risks of hospitalization and mortality related to COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrooz Karimi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Health Faculty, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Rahmatollah Moradzadeh
- Department of Epidemiology, Health Faculty, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Sadegh Samadi
- Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, Health Faculty, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
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22
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Culqui DR, Díaz J, Blanco A, Lopez JA, Navas MA, Sánchez-Martínez G, Luna MY, Hervella B, Belda F, Linares C. Short-term influence of environmental factors and social variables COVID-19 disease in Spain during first wave (Feb-May 2020). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:50392-50406. [PMID: 35230631 PMCID: PMC8886199 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19232-9] [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: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to identify the combined role of environmental pollutants and atmospheric variables at short term on the rate of incidence (TIC) and on the hospital admission rate (TIHC) due to COVID-19 disease in Spain. This study used information from 41 of the 52 provinces of Spain (from Feb. 1, 2021 to May 31, 2021). Using TIC and TIHC as dependent variables, and average daily concentrations of PM10 and NO2 as independent variables. Meteorological variables included maximum daily temperature (Tmax) and average daily absolute humidity (HA). Generalized linear models (GLM) with Poisson link were carried out for each provinces The GLM model controlled for trend, seasonalities, and the autoregressive character of the series. Days with lags were established. The relative risk (RR) was calculated by increases of 10 μg/m3 in PM10 and NO2 and by 1 °C in the case of Tmax and 1 g/m3 in the case of HA. Later, a linear regression was carried out that included the social determinants of health. Statistically significant associations were found between PM10, NO2, and the rate of COVID-19 incidence. NO2 was the variable that showed greater association, both for TIC as well as for TIHC in the majority of provinces. Temperature and HA do not seem to have played an important role. The geographic distribution of RR in the studied provinces was very much heterogeneous. Some of the health determinants considered, including income per capita, presence of airports, average number of diesel cars per inhabitant, average number of nursing personnel, and homes under 30 m2 could explain the differential geographic behavior. As findings indicates, environmental factors only could modulate the incidence and severity of COVID-19. Moreover, the social determinants and public health measures could explain some patterns of geographically distribution founded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante R. Culqui
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5 (Aveniu), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Díaz
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5 (Aveniu), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Blanco
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5 (Aveniu), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A. Lopez
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5 (Aveniu), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Navas
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5 (Aveniu), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Cristina Linares
- Reference Unit on Climate Change, Health and Urban Environment National School of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Monforte de Lemos, 5 (Aveniu), 28029, Madrid, Spain
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Fang ZG, Yang SQ, Lv CX, An SY, Guan P, Huang DS, Zhou BS, Wu W. The correlation between temperature and the incidence of COVID-19 in four first-tier cities of China: a time series study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:41534-41543. [PMID: 35094276 PMCID: PMC8800824 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18382-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak emerged in Wuhan, China, and was declared a global pandemic in March 2020. This study aimed to explore the association of daily mean temperature with the daily counts of COVID-19 cases in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, China. Data on daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 and daily mean temperatures were retrieved from the 4 first-tier cities in China. Distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNMs) were used to assess the association between daily mean temperature and the daily cases of COVID-19 during the study period. After controlling for the imported risk index and long-term trends, the distributed lag nonlinear model showed that there were nonlinear and lag relationships. The daily cumulative relative risk decreased for every 1.0 °C change in temperature in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. However, the cumulative relative risk increased with a daily mean temperature below - 3 °C in Beijing and then decreased. Moreover, the delayed effects of lower temperatures mostly occurred within 6-7 days of exposure. There was a negative correlation between the cumulative relative risk of COVID-19 incidence and temperature, especially when the temperature was higher than - 3 °C. The conclusions from this paper will help government and health regulators in these cities take prevention and protection measures to address the COVID-19 crisis and the possible collapse of the health system in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-gang Fang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning China
| | - Shu-qin Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning China
| | - Cai-xia Lv
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning China
| | - Shu-yi An
- Liaoning Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, Liaoning China
| | - Peng Guan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning China
| | - De-sheng Huang
- Department of Mathematics, School of Fundamental Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning China
| | - Bao-sen Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning China
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning China
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Akan AP. Transmission of COVID-19 pandemic (Turkey) associated with short-term exposure of air quality and climatological parameters. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:41695-41712. [PMID: 35098452 PMCID: PMC8801283 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18403-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The study aims to investigate associations between air pollution, climate parameters, and the diffusion of COVID-19-confirmed cases in Turkey using Spearman's correlation test as an empirical methodology by Statgraphics Centurion XVI (version 16.1) and to determine the risk factors accelerating the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. The present study demonstrates the strong impacts of air pollutants and weather conditions on the transmission of COVID-19 morbidity. Particularly, O3 and PM10 from air quality parameters exhibited the strongest correlation with the number of daily cases in Kütahya (rs = -0.62; p < 0.05) and Sivas (rs = -0.62; p < 0.05) provinces, respectively. In meteorological parameters, rainfall showed the highest impact (rs = 0.76; p < 0.05) on the number of daily COVID-19 cases in Denizli distinct. Moreover, this study suggested that the diffusion of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in regions with high levels of air pollution and low wind speed is dominant. To prevent the negative effects of the future pandemic crisis on public health and economic systems, manifold implications to encourage strategies to reduce air pollution in the polluted region such as being prevalent the usage of renewable energy technologies in particular electricity generation and sustainable policies such as improving the health system should be implemented by decision-makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aytac Perihan Akan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Hacettepe University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
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25
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Sidell MA, Chen Z, Huang BZ, Chow T, Eckel SP, Martinez MP, Lurmann F, Thomas DC, Gilliland FD, Xiang AH. Ambient air pollution and COVID-19 incidence during four 2020-2021 case surges. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 208:112758. [PMID: 35063430 PMCID: PMC8767981 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollution exposure may make people more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. However, previous studies in this area mostly focused on infection before May 2020 and long-term exposure. OBJECTIVE To assess both long-term and short-term exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 incidence across four case surges from 03/1/2020 to 02/28/2021. METHODS The cohort included 4.6 million members from a large integrated health care system in southern California with comprehensive electronic medical records (EMR). COVID-19 cases were identified from EMR. Incidence of COVID-19 was computed at the census tract-level among members. Prior 1-month and 1-year averaged air pollutant levels (PM2.5, NO2, and O3) at the census tract-level were estimated based on hourly and daily air quality data. Data analyses were conducted by each wave: 3/1/2020-5/31/2020, 6/1/202-9/30/2020, 10/1/2020-12/31/2020, and 1/1/2021-2/28/2021 and pooled across waves using meta-analysis. Generalized linear mixed effects models with Poisson distribution and spatial autocorrelation were used with adjustment for meteorological factors and census tract-level social and health characteristics. Results were expressed as relative risk (RR) per 1 standard deviation. RESULTS The cohort included 446,440 COVID-19 cases covering 4609 census tracts. The pooled RRs (95% CI) of COVID-19 incidence associated with 1-year exposures to PM2.5, NO2, and O3 were 1.11 (1.04, 1.18) per 2.3 μg/m3,1.09 (1.02, 1.17) per 3.2 ppb, and 1.06 (1.00, 1.12) per 5.5 ppb respectively. The corresponding RRs (95% CI) associated with prior 1-month exposures were 1.11 (1.03, 1.20) per 5.2 μg/m3 for PM2.5, 1.09 (1.01, 1.17) per 6.0 ppb for NO2 and 0.96 (0.85, 1.08) per 12.0 ppb for O3. CONCLUSION Long-term PM2.5 and NO2 exposures were associated with increased risk of COVID-19 incidence across all case surges before February 2021. Short-term PM2.5 and NO2 exposures were also associated. Our findings suggest that air pollution may play a role in increasing the risk of COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margo A Sidell
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Zhanghua Chen
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brian Z Huang
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA; Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ting Chow
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Sandrah P Eckel
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mayra P Martinez
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | - Duncan C Thomas
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Frank D Gilliland
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anny H Xiang
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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Nepomuceno TCC, Garcez TV, Silva LCE, Coutinho AP. Measuring the mobility impact on the COVID-19 pandemic. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2022; 19:7032-7054. [PMID: 35730295 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2022332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This assessment aims at measuring the impact of different location mobility on the COVID-19 pandemic. Data over time and over the 27 Brazilian federations in 5 regions provided by Google's COVID-19 community mobility reports and classified by place categories (retail and recreation, grocery and pharmacy, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residences) are autoregressed on the COVID-19 incidence in Brazil using generalized linear regressions to measure the aggregate dynamic impact of mobility on each socioeconomic category. The work provides a novel multicriteria approach for selecting the most appropriate estimation model in the context of this application. Estimations for the time gap between contagion and data disclosure for public authorities' decision-making, estimations regarding the propagation rate, and the marginal mobility contribution for each place category are also provided. We report the pandemic evolution on the dimensions of cases and a geostatistical analysis evaluating the most critical cities in Brazil based on optimized hotspots with a brief discussion on the effects of population density and the carnival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thyago Celso C Nepomuceno
- Núcleo de Tecnologia, Federal University of Pernambuco, Km 59, s/n, Nova Caruaru, Caruaru, PE, Brazil
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Informatica Automatica e Gestionale Antonio Ruberti, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Ariosto, 25, Roma, Italy
| | - Thalles Vitelli Garcez
- Núcleo de Tecnologia, Federal University of Pernambuco, Km 59, s/n, Nova Caruaru, Caruaru, PE, Brazil
| | - Lúcio Camara E Silva
- Núcleo de Tecnologia, Federal University of Pernambuco, Km 59, s/n, Nova Caruaru, Caruaru, PE, Brazil
| | - Artur Paiva Coutinho
- Núcleo de Tecnologia, Federal University of Pernambuco, Km 59, s/n, Nova Caruaru, Caruaru, PE, Brazil
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Aloisi V, Gatto A, Accarino G, Donato F, Aloisio G. The effect of known and unknown confounders on the relationship between air pollution and Covid-19 mortality in Italy: A sensitivity analysis of an ecological study based on the E-value. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 207:112131. [PMID: 34619131 PMCID: PMC8487852 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Back in December 2019, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) started rapidly spreading worldwide, especially in Italy that was among the most affected countries. The geographical distribution of air pollution and Covid-19 mortality in Italy suggested atmospheric pollution as a worsening factor of severe Covid-19 health outcomes. The present nationwide ecological study focused on all 107 Italian territorial areas, aiming to assess the potential association between Particulate Matter concentration, less than 2.5 μm in diameter (exposure), and Covid-19 mortality rate (outcome) throughout 2020, by looking at 28 potential confounders. A potential positive association between exposure and outcome was observed when performing a multivariate regression analysis with a Negative Binomial model, suggesting that an increase of 1 μg/m3 in the exposure is associated with an increase of 9.0% (95% CI: 6.5%-11.6%) in the average Covid-19 mortality rate, conditional on all 28 potential confounders. A sensitivity analysis, based on the E-value, shows that a hypothetical unmeasured confounder would have to be associated with both PM2.5 concentration and Covid-19 mortality rate by a rate ratio of at least 1.40-fold each to explain away the exposure-outcome association, conditional on all 28 covariates included in the main analysis model. Moreover, the Observed Covariate E-value (OCE) was reported to provide a contextualization of the E-value on the observed covariates included in the study. The OCE sensitivity analysis shows that a set of unknown confounders similar in size and magnitude to the set of the considered climatic factors could potentially explain away the estimated exposure-outcome association. Consequently, the role of climatic factors in the Covid-19 pandemic is worth of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Aloisi
- Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Via Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni, Lecce, Italy; Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC) Foundation, Via Augusto Imperatore, 16, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Andrea Gatto
- Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Via Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni, Lecce, Italy; Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC) Foundation, Via Augusto Imperatore, 16, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Accarino
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Via Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni, Lecce, Italy; Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC) Foundation, Via Augusto Imperatore, 16, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Francesco Donato
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Aloisio
- Department of Innovation Engineering, University of Salento, Via Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni, Lecce, Italy; Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC) Foundation, Via Augusto Imperatore, 16, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
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Relationship between Meteorological and Air Quality Parameters and COVID-19 in Casablanca Region, Morocco. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19094989. [PMID: 35564384 PMCID: PMC9100265 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19094989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between meteorological parameters, air quality and daily COVID-19 transmission in Morocco. We collected daily data of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Casablanca region, as well as meteorological parameters (average temperature, wind, relative humidity, precipitation, duration of insolation) and air quality parameters (CO, NO2, 03, SO2, PM10) during the period of 2 March 2020, to 31 December 2020. The General Additive Model (GAM) was used to assess the impact of these parameters on daily cases of COVID-19. A total of 172,746 confirmed cases were reported in the study period. Positive associations were observed between COVID-19 and wind above 20 m/s and humidity above 80%. However, temperatures above 25° were negatively associated with daily cases of COVID-19. PM10 and O3 had a positive effect on the increase in the number of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases, while precipitation had a borderline effect below 25 mm and a negative effect above this value. The findings in this study suggest that significant associations exist between meteorological factors, air quality pollution (PM10) and the transmission of COVID-19. Our findings may help public health authorities better control the spread of COVID-19.
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29
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Santurtún A, Colom ML, Fdez-Arroyabe P, Real ÁD, Fernández-Olmo I, Zarrabeitia MT. Exposure to particulate matter: Direct and indirect role in the COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 206:112261. [PMID: 34687752 PMCID: PMC8527737 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Knowing the transmission factors and the natural environment that favor the spread of a viral infection is crucial to stop outbreaks and develop effective preventive strategies. This work aims to evaluate the role of Particulate Matter (PM) in the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing especially on that of PM as a vector for SARS-CoV-2. Exposure to PM has been related to new cases and to the clinical severity of people infected by SARS-CoV-2, which can be explained by the oxidative stress and the inflammatory response generated by these particles when entering the respiratory system, as well as by the role of PM in the expression of ACE-2 in respiratory cells in human hosts. In addition, different authors have detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in PM sampled both in outdoor and indoor environments. The results of various studies lead to the hypothesis that the aerosols emitted by an infected person could be deposited in other suspended particles, sometimes of natural but especially of anthropogenic origin, that form the basal PM. However, the viability of the virus in PM has not yet been demonstrated. Should PM be confirmed as a vector of transmission, prevention strategies ought to be adapted, and PM sampling in outdoor environments could become an indicator of viral load in a specific area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Santurtún
- Legal Medicine and Toxicology Area, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. Faculty of Medicine. University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
| | - Marina L Colom
- Legal Medicine and Toxicology Area, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. Faculty of Medicine. University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Pablo Fdez-Arroyabe
- Geography and Planning Department, Geobiomet Research Group. University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Álvaro Del Real
- Medicine and Psychiatry Department. University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Ignacio Fernández-Olmo
- Chemical and Molecular Engineering Department. University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - María T Zarrabeitia
- Legal Medicine and Toxicology Area, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. Faculty of Medicine. University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
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30
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Moazeni M, Maracy MR, Dehdashti B, Ebrahimi A. Spatiotemporal analysis of COVID-19, air pollution, climate, and meteorological conditions in a metropolitan region of Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:24911-24924. [PMID: 34826084 PMCID: PMC8619654 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17535-x] [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: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has a close relationship with local environmental conditions. This study explores the effects of climate characteristics and air pollution on COVID-19 in Isfahan province, Iran. A number of COVID-19 positive cases, main air pollutants, air quality index (AQI), and climatic variables were received from March 1, 2020, to January 19, 2021. Moreover, CO, NO2, and O3 tropospheric levels were collected using Sentinel-5P satellite data. The spatial distribution of variables was estimated by the ordinary Kriging and inverse weighted distance (IDW) models. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to analyze the relationship between environmental variables and COVID-19. The seasonal trend of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), wind speed, solar energy, and rainfall like COVID-19 was upward in spring and summer. The high and low temperatures increased from April to August. All variables had a spatial autocorrelation and clustered pattern except AQI. Furthermore, COVID-19 showed a significant association with month, climate, solar energy, and NO2. Suitable policy implications are recommended to be performed for improving people's healthcare and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study could survey the local spread of COVID-19, with consideration of the effect of environmental variables, and provides helpful information to health ministry decisions for mitigating harmful effects of environmental change. By means of the proposed approach, probably the COVID-19 spread can be recognized by knowing the regional climate in major cities. The present study also finds that COVID-19 may have an effect on climatic condition and air pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Moazeni
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Maracy
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Bahare Dehdashti
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Afshin Ebrahimi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Sun W, Hu X, Hu Y, Zhang G, Guo Z, Lin J, Huang J, Cai X, Dai J, Wang X, Zhang X, Bi X, Zhong N. 大气环境对SARS-CoV-2传播的影响研究进展. CHINESE SCIENCE BULLETIN-CHINESE 2022. [DOI: 10.1360/tb-2021-1228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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32
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Leirião LFL, Debone D, Miraglia SGEK. Does air pollution explain COVID-19 fatality and mortality rates? A multi-city study in São Paulo state, Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:275. [PMID: 35286482 PMCID: PMC8918908 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-09924-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Since air pollution compromise the respiratory system and COVID-19 disease is caused by a respiratory virus, it is expected that air pollution plays an important role in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Exploratory studies have observed positive associations between air pollution and COVID-19 cases, deaths, fatality, and mortality rate. However, no study focused on Brazil, one of the most affected countries by the pandemic. Thus, this study aimed to understand how long-term exposure to PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 contributed to COVID-19 fatality and mortality rates in São Paulo state in 2020. Air quality data between 2015 and 2019 in 64 monitoring stations within 36 municipalities were considered. The COVID-19 fatality was calculated considering cases and deaths from the government's official data and the mortality rate was calculated considering the 2020 population. Linear regression models were well-fitted for PM2.5 concentration and fatality (R2 = 0.416; p = 0.003), NO2 concentration and fatality (R2 = 0.232; p = 0.005), and NO2 concentration and mortality (R2 = 0.273; p = 0.002). This study corroborates other authors' findings and enriches the discussion for having considered a longer time series to represent long-term exposure to the pollutants and for having considered one of the regions with the highest incidence of COVID-19 in the world. Thus, it reinforces measures to reduce the concentration of air pollutants which are essential for public health and will increase the chance to survive in future respiratory disease epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Ferreira Leite Leirião
- Laboratory of Economics, Health and Environmental Pollution, Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, R São Nicolau, 210, Cep 09913-030, SP, Diadema, Brazil.
| | - Daniela Debone
- Laboratory of Economics, Health and Environmental Pollution, Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, R São Nicolau, 210, Cep 09913-030, SP, Diadema, Brazil
| | - Simone Georges El Khouri Miraglia
- Laboratory of Economics, Health and Environmental Pollution, Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, R São Nicolau, 210, Cep 09913-030, SP, Diadema, Brazil
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33
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Zang ST, Luan J, Li L, Yu HX, Wu QJ, Chang Q, Zhao YH. Ambient air pollution and COVID-19 risk: Evidence from 35 observational studies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112065. [PMID: 34534520 PMCID: PMC8440008 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is severely threatening and challenging public health worldwide. Epidemiological studies focused on the influence of outdoor air pollution (AP) on COVID-19 risk have produced inconsistent conclusions. We aimed to quantitatively explore this association using a meta-analysis. METHODS We searched for studies related to outdoor AP and COVID-19 risk in the Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. No language restriction was utilized. The search date entries were up to August 13, 2021. Pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained with random-/fixed-effects models. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021244656. RESULTS A total of 35 articles were eligible for the meta-analysis. For long-term exposure to AP, COVID-19 incidence was positively associated with 1 μg/m3 increase in nitrogen dioxide (NO2; effect size = 1.042, 95% CI 1.017-1.068), particulate matter with diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5; effect size = 1.056, 95% CI 1.039-1.072), and sulfur dioxide (SO2; effect size = 1.071, 95% CI 1.002-1.145). The COVID-19 mortality was positively associated with 1 μg/m3 increase in nitrogen dioxide (NO2; effect size = 1.034, 95% CI 1.006-1.063), PM2.5 (effect size = 1.047, 95% CI 1.025-1.1071). For short-term exposure to air pollutants, COVID-19 incidence was positively associated with 1 unit increase in air quality index (effect size = 1.001, 95% CI 1.001-1.002), 1 μg/m3 increase NO2 (effect size = 1.014, 95% CI 1.011-1.016), particulate matter with diameter <10 μm (PM10; effect size = 1.005, 95% CI 1.003-1.008), PM2.5 (effect size = 1.003, 95% CI 1.002-1.004), and SO2 (effect size = 1.015, 95% CI 1.007-1.023). CONCLUSIONS Outdoor air pollutants are detrimental factors to COVID-19 outcomes. Measurements beneficial to reducing pollutant levels might also reduce the burden of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Tian Zang
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China; Clinical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 39 Huaxiang Road, Tiexi District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110022, China.
| | - Jie Luan
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China; Clinical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 39 Huaxiang Road, Tiexi District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110022, China.
| | - Ling Li
- Center for Precision Medicine Research and Training, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade Taipa, Macau, 999078, China.
| | - Hui-Xin Yu
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China; Clinical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 39 Huaxiang Road, Tiexi District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110022, China.
| | - Qi-Jun Wu
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China; Clinical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 39 Huaxiang Road, Tiexi District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110022, China.
| | - Qing Chang
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China; Clinical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 39 Huaxiang Road, Tiexi District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110022, China.
| | - Yu-Hong Zhao
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China.
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Anser MK, Nassani AA, Zaman K, Abro MMQ. Environmental and natural resource degradation in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic: a wake-up call. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:10456-10466. [PMID: 34519987 PMCID: PMC8438285 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16259-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The study's objective is to examine the relationship between COVID-19 cases, environmental sustainability ratings, and mineral resource rents in a large cross section of 97 countries. The emergence of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) enlarges its magnitude across the international borders and damages social, economic, and environmental infrastructure with a high rate of human death tolls. The mineral resources are also devastated, which served as a primary raw input into the production system. The adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment and mineral resources are studied in a large panel of countries and found that mineral resource rents and population growth improve environmental sustainability rating (ESR). In contrast, an increase in coronavirus cases decreases the rating scale across countries. Further, mineral resources first decrease along with increased COVID-19 cases due to strict government policies, including the mandatory shutdown of economic institutions. Further, mineral resource rents increase later because of resuming economic activities in many parts of the world. The high rate of population growth is another important factor that negatively affects mineral resources across countries. Through impulse response and variance decomposition estimates, an exacerbated coronavirus cases and population growth would likely negatively affect ESR and mineral resources. In contrast, COVID-19 recovered cases will likely play a more significant role in securing mineral resources over time. Therefore, the global mineral resource conservation policies and improving ESR are highly needed during the COVID-19 to keep the significant economic gains in unprecedented times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Khalid Anser
- School of Public Administration, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, 710000 China
| | - Abdelmohsen A. Nassani
- Department of Management, College of Business Administration, King Saud University, P.O. Box 71115, Riyadh, 11587 Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Zaman
- Department of Economics, University of Haripur, Haripur Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Moinuddin Qazi Abro
- Department of Management, College of Business Administration, King Saud University, P.O. Box 71115, Riyadh, 11587 Saudi Arabia
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Yang SQ, Fang ZG, Lv CX, An SY, Guan P, Huang DS, Wu W. Spatiotemporal cluster analysis of COVID-19 and its relationship with environmental factors at the city level in mainland China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:13386-13395. [PMID: 34595708 PMCID: PMC8483427 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16600-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
This study sought to identify the spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal clusters of COVID-19 cases in 366 cities in mainland China with the highest risks and to explore the possible influencing factors of imported risks and environmental factors on the spatiotemporal aggregation, which would be useful to the design and implementation of critical preventative measures. The retrospective analysis of temporal, spatial, and spatiotemporal clustering of COVID-19 during the period (January 15 to February 25, 2020) was based on Kulldorff's time-space scanning statistics using the discrete Poisson probability model, and then the logistic regression model was used to evaluate the impact of imported risk and environmental factors on spatiotemporal aggregation. We found that the spatial distribution of COVID-19 cases was nonrandom; the Moran's I value ranged from 0.017 to 0.453 (P < 0.001). One most likely cluster and three secondary likely clusters were discovered in spatial cluster analysis. The period from February 2 to February 9, 2020, was identified as the most likely cluster in the temporal cluster analysis. One most likely cluster and seven secondary likely clusters were discovered in spatiotemporal cluster analysis. Imported risk, humidity, and inhalable particulate matter PM2.5 had a significant impact on temporal and spatial accumulation, and temperature and PM10 had a low correlation with the spatiotemporal aggregation of COVID-19. The information is useful for health departments to develop a better prevention strategy and potentially increase the effectiveness of public health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Qin Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Zheng-Gang Fang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Cai-Xia Lv
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Shu-Yi An
- Liaoning Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Peng Guan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - De-Sheng Huang
- Department of Mathematics, School of Fundamental Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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Assessing the Impacts of Human Activities on Air Quality during the COVID-19 Pandemic through Case Analysis. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 is the latest of many pandemic affecting the world in the past few decades, and it has had a significant impact on the global environment. Some research has analysed the effects of the pandemic on air quality; however, very few studies have employed relationship analytics. In order to analyse the potential relationship between pandemic-related information and air quality data from a more holistic and detailed point of view, we propose a methodology based on pure data analysis. Three types of data were collected, namely air quality index, pandemic-related events, and number of COVID cases. Data were collected from five cities—Wuhan, New York, Seoul, Melbourne, and Singapore—to further analyse the response of air quality index to COVID events, thus revealing how human activity influences air quality from a pandemic perspective. The results show that a potential connection does exist in most cases and provide more evidence showing that air pollution declined during the pandemic. However, the strength of this relationship may also be related to other factors, such as geography, politics, population density, and measures imposed by local authorities, etc. This study provides another perspective to assist stakeholders in improving environmental decision making.
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Air quality during COVID-19 lockdown and its implication toward sustainable development goals. COVID-19 AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2022. [PMCID: PMC9335066 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-91307-2.00008-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution is directly as well as indirectly linked with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hence, focused efforts and strategies toward improving the air quality can lead to direct reduction in the adverse impacts on human health and our cities and setting climate mitigation targets. The worldwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has forced various governments around the world to suspend nonessential activities due to the unavailability of the vaccine. This unprecedented lockdown led to significant decline in major criteria air pollutants—PM2.5, PM10, CO, and NO2—with more than 50% decline in several cities across the world. However, SO2 did not change much over some regions, while O3 has shown some increase. The majority of these changes are well supported by the reduced pollutant emissions, primarily from vehicular sources in urban areas. A slight decline has also been observed in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the lockdowns. The lockdown illustrates the need for a potential shift of anthropogenic activities toward a more sustainable lifestyle for ameliorating air quality and thus paving the pathway to achieve SDGs. The COVID-19-induced lockdown scenario should be exploited to understand future measures to improve air quality and mitigate the adverse health and climate effects. This chapter explores the impact of the national lockdowns on urban air quality across the globe. Learnings from this natural intervention and future policy implications toward improving air quality are further discussed.
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The effects of air pollution, meteorological parameters, and climate change on COVID-19 comorbidity and health disparities: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY AND ECOTOXICOLOGY 2022; 4. [PMCID: PMC9568272 DOI: 10.1016/j.enceco.2022.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Air pollutants, especially particulate matter, and other meteorological factors serve as important carriers of infectious microbes and play a critical role in the spread of disease. However, there remains uncertainty about the relationship among particulate matter, other air pollutants, meteorological conditions and climate change and the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), hereafter referred to as COVID-19. A systematic review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines to identify the relationship between air quality, meteorological conditions and climate change, and COVID-19 risk and outcomes, host related factors, co-morbidities and disparities. Out of a total of 170,296 scientific publications screened, 63 studies were identified that focused on the relationship between air pollutants and COVID-19. Additionally, the contribution of host related-factors, co-morbidities, and health disparities was discussed. This review found a preponderance of evidence of a positive relationship between PM2.5, other air pollutants, and meteorological conditions and climate change on COVID-19 risk and outcomes. The effects of PM2.5, air pollutants, and meteorological conditions on COVID-19 mortalities were most commonly experienced by socially disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Results however, were not entirely consistent, and varied by geographic region and study. Opportunities for using data to guide local response to COVID-19 are identified.
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39
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN, Baschir LA, Tenciu DV. Assessing the impact of air pollution and climate seasonality on COVID-19 multiwaves in Madrid, Spain. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 203:111849. [PMID: 34370990 PMCID: PMC8343379 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
While the COVID-19 pandemic is still in progress, being under the fifth COVID-19 wave in Madrid, over more than one year, Spain experienced a four wave pattern. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 pathogens in Madrid metropolitan region was investigated from an urban context associated with seasonal variability of climate and air pollution drivers. Based on descriptive statistics and regression methods of in-situ and geospatial daily time series data, this study provides a comparative analysis between COVID-19 waves incidence and mortality cases in Madrid under different air quality and climate conditions. During analyzed period 1 January 2020-1 July 2021, for each of the four COVID-19 waves in Madrid were recorded anomalous anticyclonic synoptic meteorological patterns in the mid-troposphere and favorable stability conditions for COVID-19 disease fast spreading. As airborne microbial temporal pattern is most affected by seasonal changes, this paper found: 1) a significant negative correlation of air temperature, Planetary Boundary Layer height, and surface solar irradiance with daily new COVID-19 incidence and deaths; 2) a similar mutual seasonality with climate variables of the first and the fourth COVID-waves from spring seasons of 2020 and 2021 years. Such information may help the health decision makers and public plan for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania.
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Laurentiu A Baschir
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Daniel V Tenciu
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
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40
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Huang H, Lin C, Liu X, Zhu L, Avellán-Llaguno RD, Lazo MML, Ai X, Huang Q. The impact of air pollution on COVID-19 pandemic varied within different cities in South America using different models. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:543-552. [PMID: 34331646 PMCID: PMC8325399 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15508-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
There is a rising concern that air pollution plays an important role in the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the results were not consistent on the association between air pollution and the spread of COVID-19. In the study, air pollution data and the confirmed cases of COVID-19 were both gathered from five severe cities across three countries in South America. Daily real-time population regeneration (Rt) was calculated to assess the spread of COVID-19. Two frequently used models, generalized additive models (GAM) and multiple linear regression, were both used to explore the impact of environmental pollutants on the epidemic. Wide ranges of all six air pollutants were detected across the five cities. Spearman's correlation analysis confirmed the positive correlation within six pollutants. Rt value showed a gradual decline in all the five cities. Further analysis showed that the association between air pollution and COVID-19 varied across five cities. According to our research results, even for the same region, varied models gave inconsistent results. For example, in Sao Paulo, both models show SO2 and O3 are significant independent variables, however, the GAM model shows that PM10 has a nonlinear negative correlation with Rt, while PM10 has no significant correlation in the multiple linear model. Moreover, in the case of multiple regions, currently used models should be selected according to local conditions. Our results indicate that there is a significant relationship between air pollution and COVID-19 infection, which will help states, health practitioners, and policy makers in combating the COVID-19 pandemic in South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haining Huang
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Congtian Lin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservational Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, PR China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Xiaobo Liu
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Liting Zhu
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Ricardo David Avellán-Llaguno
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | | | - Xiaoyan Ai
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Birth Defect for Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital, 318 Bayi Avenue, Nanchang, 330006, PR China.
| | - Qiansheng Huang
- Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China.
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41
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Marquès M, Domingo JL. Positive association between outdoor air pollution and the incidence and severity of COVID-19. A review of the recent scientific evidences. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 203:111930. [PMID: 34425111 PMCID: PMC8378989 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In June 2020, we published a review focused on assessing the influence of various air pollutants on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and the severity of COVID-19 in patients infected by the coronavirus. The results of most of those reviewed studies suggested that chronic exposure to certain air pollutants might lead to more severe and lethal forms of COVID-19, as well as delays/complications in the recovery of the patients. Since then, a notable number of studies on this topic have been published, including also various reviews. Given the importance of this issue, we have updated the information published since our previous review. Taking together the previous results and those of most investigations now reviewed, we have concluded that there is a significant association between chronic exposure to various outdoor air pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, SO2 and CO, and the incidence/risk of COVID-19 cases, as well as the severity/mortality of the disease. Unfortunately, studies on the potential influence of other important air pollutants such as VOCs, dioxins and furans, or metals, are not available in the scientific literature. In relation to the influence of outdoor air pollutants on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, although the scientific evidence is much more limited, some studies point to PM2.5 and PM10 as potential airborne transmitters of the virus. Anyhow, it is clear that environmental air pollution plays an important negative role in COVID-19, increasing its incidence and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montse Marquès
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, School of Medicine, Sant Llorens 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - José L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, School of Medicine, Sant Llorens 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
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42
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Roviello V, Roviello GN. Less COVID-19 deaths in southern and insular Italy explained by forest bathing, Mediterranean environment, and antiviral plant volatile organic compounds. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2022; 20:7-17. [PMID: 34483793 PMCID: PMC8408569 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-021-01309-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is causing major sanitary and socioeconomic issues, yet some locations are less impacted than others. While densely populated areas are likely to favor viral transmission, we hypothesize that other environmental factors could explain lower cases in some areas. We studied COVID-19 impact and population statistics in highly forested Mediterranean Italian regions versus some northern regions where the amount of trees per capita is much lower. We also evaluated the affinity of Mediterranean plant-emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) isoprene, α-pinene, linalool and limonene for COVID-19 protein targets by molecular docking modeling. Results show that while mean death number increased about 4 times from 2020 to 2021, the percentage of deaths per population (0.06-0.10%) was lower in the greener Mediterranean regions such as Sardinia, Calabria and Basilica versus northern regions with low forest coverage, such as Lombardy (0.33%) and Emilia Romagna (0.29%). Data also show that the pandemic severity cannot be explained solely by population density. Modeling reveals that plant organic compounds could bind and interfere with the complex formed by the receptor binding domain of the coronavirus spike protein with the human cell receptor. Overall, our findings are likely explained by sea proximity and mild climate, Mediterranean diet and the abundance of non-deciduous Mediterranean plants which emit immunomodulatory and antiviral compounds. Potential implications include 'forest bathing' as a therapeutic practice, designing nasal sprays containing plant volatile organic compounds, and preserving and increasing forest coverage. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10311-021-01309-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Roviello
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, Piazzale V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni N. Roviello
- Istituto Di Biostrutture E Bioimmagini, IBB–CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy
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Xie Z, Zhao R, Ding M, Zhang Z. A Review of Influencing Factors on Spatial Spread of COVID-19 Based on Geographical Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:12182. [PMID: 34831938 PMCID: PMC8620996 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak is a manifestation of the contradiction between man and land. Geography plays an important role in epidemic prevention and control with its cross-sectional characteristics and spatial perspective. Based on a systematic review of previous studies, this paper summarizes the research progress on factors influencing the spatial spread of COVID-19 from the research content and method and proposes the main development direction of geography in epidemic prevention and control research in the future. Overall, current studies have explored the factors influencing the epidemic spread on different scales, including global, national, regional and urban. Research methods are mainly composed of quantitative analysis. In addition to the traditional regression analysis and correlation analysis, the spatial lag model, the spatial error model, the geographically weighted regression model and the geographic detector have been widely used. The impact of natural environment and economic and social factors on the epidemic spread is mainly reflected in temperature, humidity, wind speed, air pollutants, population movement, economic development level and medical and health facilities. In the future, new technologies, new methods and new means should be used to reveal the driving mechanism of the epidemic spread in a specific geographical space, which is refined, multi-scale and systematic, with emphasis on exploring the factors influencing the epidemic spread from the perspective of spatial and behavioral interaction, and establish a spatial database platform that combines the information of residents' cases, the natural environment and economic society. This is of great significance to further play the role of geography in epidemic prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixiang Xie
- College of Surveying and Geo-Informatics, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (Z.X.); (M.D.); (Z.Z.)
- Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China
| | - Rongqin Zhao
- College of Surveying and Geo-Informatics, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (Z.X.); (M.D.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Minglei Ding
- College of Surveying and Geo-Informatics, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (Z.X.); (M.D.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Zhiqiang Zhang
- College of Surveying and Geo-Informatics, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China; (Z.X.); (M.D.); (Z.Z.)
- Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for Middle and Lower Yellow River Regions, Henan University, Ministry of Education, Kaifeng 475004, China
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Aggarwal S, Balaji S, Singh T, Menon GR, Mandal S, Madhumathi J, Mahajan N, Kohli S, Kaur J, Singh H, Rade K, Panda S. Association between ambient air pollutants and meteorological factors with SARS-CoV-2 transmission and mortality in India: an exploratory study. Environ Health 2021; 20:120. [PMID: 34794454 PMCID: PMC8601781 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00804-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a serious public health concern worldwide. Certain regions of the globe were severely affected in terms of prevalence and mortality than other. Although the cause for this pattern is not clearly understood, lessons learned from previous epidemics and emerging evidences suggest the major role of ecological factors like ambient air pollutants (AAP) and meteorological parameters in increased COVID-19 incidence. The present study aimed to understand the impact of these factors on SARS-CoV-2 transmission and their associated mortality in major cities of India. METHODS This study used secondary AAP, meteorological and COVID-19 data from official websites for the period January-November 2020, which were divided into Pre-lockdown (January-March 2020), Phase I (April to June 2020) and Phase II (July to November 2020) in India. After comprehensive screening, five major cities that includes 48 CPCB monitoring stations collecting daily data of ambient temperature, particulate matter PM2.5 and 10 were analysed. Spearman and Kendall's rank correlation test was performed to understand the association between SARS-CoV-2 transmission and AAP and, meteorological variables. Similarly, case fatality rate (CFR) was determined to compute the correlation between AAP and COVID-19 related morality. RESULTS The level of air pollutants in major cities were significantly reduced during Phase I compared to Pre-lock down and increased upon Phase II in all the cities. During the Phase II in Delhi, the strong significant positive correlation was observed between the AAP and SARS-CoV-2 transmission. However, in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai AAP levels were moderate and no correlation was noticed. The relation between AT and SARS-CoV-2 transmission was inconclusive as both positive and negative correlation observed. In addition, Delhi and Kolkata showed a positive association between long-term exposure to the AAP and COVID-19 CFR. CONCLUSION Our findings support the hypothesis that the particulate matter upon exceeding the satisfactory level serves as an important cofactor in increasing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and related mortality. These findings would help public health experts to understand the SARS-CoV-2 transmission against ecological variables in India and provides supporting evidence to healthcare policymakers and government agencies for formulating strategies to combat the COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Aggarwal
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Headquarters, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Sivaraman Balaji
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Headquarters, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Tanvi Singh
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Headquarters, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Geetha R Menon
- Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Medical Statistics, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Sandip Mandal
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Headquarters, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Jayaprakasam Madhumathi
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Headquarters, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Nupur Mahajan
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Headquarters, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Simran Kohli
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Headquarters, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Jasmine Kaur
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Headquarters, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Harpreet Singh
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Headquarters, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Kiran Rade
- World Health Organization, New Delhi, 110002, India
| | - Samiran Panda
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Headquarters, New Delhi, 110029, India.
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Sera F, Armstrong B, Abbott S, Meakin S, O'Reilly K, von Borries R, Schneider R, Royé D, Hashizume M, Pascal M, Tobias A, Vicedo-Cabrera AM, Gasparrini A, Lowe R. A cross-sectional analysis of meteorological factors and SARS-CoV-2 transmission in 409 cities across 26 countries. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5968. [PMID: 34645794 PMCID: PMC8514574 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25914-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is conflicting evidence on the influence of weather on COVID-19 transmission. Our aim is to estimate weather-dependent signatures in the early phase of the pandemic, while controlling for socio-economic factors and non-pharmaceutical interventions. We identify a modest non-linear association between mean temperature and the effective reproduction number (Re) in 409 cities in 26 countries, with a decrease of 0.087 (95% CI: 0.025; 0.148) for a 10 °C increase. Early interventions have a greater effect on Re with a decrease of 0.285 (95% CI 0.223; 0.347) for a 5th - 95th percentile increase in the government response index. The variation in the effective reproduction number explained by government interventions is 6 times greater than for mean temperature. We find little evidence of meteorological conditions having influenced the early stages of local epidemics and conclude that population behaviour and government interventions are more important drivers of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Sera
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
- Department of Statistics, Computer Science and Applications "G. Parenti", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Ben Armstrong
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sam Abbott
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sophie Meakin
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kathleen O'Reilly
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Rochelle Schneider
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Forecast Department, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF), Reading, UK
- Φ-Lab, European Space Agency, Frascati, Italy
| | - Dominic Royé
- Department of Geography, CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Masahiro Hashizume
- Department of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mathilde Pascal
- Santé Publique France, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, French National Public Health Agency, Saint Maurice, France
| | - Aurelio Tobias
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Antonio Gasparrini
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Centre for Statistical Modelling, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Rachel Lowe
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Spain.
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46
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Zheng HL, Guo ZL, Wang ML, Yang C, An SY, Wu W. Effects of climate variables on the transmission of COVID-19: a systematic review of 62 ecological studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:54299-54316. [PMID: 34398375 PMCID: PMC8364942 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15929-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was initially discovered at the end of 2019 in Wuhan City in China and has caused one of the most serious global public health crises. A collection and analysis of studies related to the association between COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) transmission and meteorological factors, such as humidity, is vital and indispensable for disease prevention and control. A comprehensive literature search using various databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, was systematically performed to identify eligible studies from Dec 2019 to Feb 1, 2021. We also established six criteria to screen the literature to obtain high-quality literature with consistent research purposes. This systematic review included a total of 62 publications. The study period ranged from 1 to 8 months, with 6 papers considering incubation, and the lag effect of climate factors on COVID-19 activity being taken into account in 22 studies. After quality assessment, no study was found to have a high risk of bias, 30 studies were scored as having moderate risks of bias, and 32 studies were classified as having low risks of bias. The certainty of evidence was also graded as being low. When considering the existing scientific evidence, higher temperatures may slow the progression of the COVID-19 epidemic. However, during the course of the epidemic, these climate variables alone could not account for most of the variability. Therefore, countries should focus more on health policies while also taking into account the influence of weather.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu-Li Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ze-Li Guo
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Mei-Ling Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Chuan Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Shu-Yi An
- Liaoning Provincial Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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Linares C, Culqui D, Belda F, López-Bueno JA, Luna Y, Sánchez-Martínez G, Hervella B, Díaz J. Impact of environmental factors and Sahara dust intrusions on incidence and severity of COVID-19 disease in Spain. Effect in the first and second pandemic waves. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:51948-51960. [PMID: 33993402 PMCID: PMC8124022 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14228-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Scientific evidence suggests that Saharan dust intrusions in Southern Europe contribute to the worsening of multiple pathologies and increase the concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and other pollutants. However, few studies have examined whether Saharan dust intrusions influence the incidence and severity of COVID-19 cases. To address this question, in this study we carried out generalized linear models with Poisson link between incidence rates and daily hospital admissions and average daily concentrations of PM10, NO2, and O3 in nine Spanish regions for the period from February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The models were adjusted by maximum daily temperature and average daily absolute humidity. Furthermore, we controlled for trend, seasonality, and the autoregressive nature of the series. The variable relating to Saharan dust intrusions was introduced using a dichotomous variable, NAF, averaged across daily lags in ranges of 0-7 days, 8-14 days, 14-21 days, and 22-28 days. The results obtained in this study suggest that chemical air pollutants, and especially NO2, are related to the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in Spain. Furthermore, Saharan dust intrusions have an additional effect beyond what is attributable to the variation in air pollution; they are related, in different lags, to both the incidence and hospital admissions rates for COVID-19. These results serve to support public health measures that minimize population exposure on days with particulate matter advection from the Sahara.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Linares
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dante Culqui
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - José Antonio López-Bueno
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda Luna
- State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Julio Díaz
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
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48
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Mendy A, Wu X, Keller JL, Fassler CS, Apewokin S, Mersha TB, Xie C, Pinney SM. Air pollution and the pandemic: Long-term PM 2.5 exposure and disease severity in COVID-19 patients. Respirology 2021; 26:1181-1187. [PMID: 34459069 PMCID: PMC8662216 DOI: 10.1111/resp.14140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background and objective Ecological studies have suggested an association between exposure to particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) severity. However, these findings are yet to be validated in individual‐level studies. We aimed to determine the association of long‐term PM2.5 exposure with hospitalization among individual patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Methods We estimated the 10‐year (2009–2018) PM2.5 exposure at the residential zip code of COVID‐19 patients diagnosed at the University of Cincinnati healthcare system between 13 March 2020 and 30 September 2020. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI for COVID‐19 hospitalizations associated with PM2.5, adjusting for socioeconomic characteristics and comorbidities. Results Among the 14,783 COVID‐19 patients included in our study, 13.6% were hospitalized; the geometric mean (SD) PM2.5 was 10.48 (1.12) μg/m3. In adjusted analysis, 1 μg/m3 increase in 10‐year annual average PM2.5 was associated with 18% higher hospitalization (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.11–1.26). Likewise, 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 estimated for the year 2018 was associated with 14% higher hospitalization (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.08–1.21). Conclusion Long‐term PM2.5 exposure is associated with increased hospitalization in COVID‐19. Therefore, more stringent COVID‐19 prevention measures may be needed in areas with higher PM2.5 exposure to reduce the disease morbidity and healthcare burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelico Mendy
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Xiao Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jason L Keller
- Center for Health Informatics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Cecily S Fassler
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Senu Apewokin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Tesfaye B Mersha
- Division of Asthma Research, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Changchun Xie
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Susan M Pinney
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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49
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Yang S, Pan X, Yuan D, Zeng P, Jia P. Cross-disciplinary approaches to assist with nucleic acid testing for SARS-CoV-2. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:6291-6299. [PMID: 34423408 PMCID: PMC8380513 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11498-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Improving the capacity of detecting positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is critical for identifying the infection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) precisely and thereby curbing the pandemic. Cross-disciplinary approaches may improve the efficiency of COVID-19 diagnosis by compensating to some extent the limitations encountered by traditional test methods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Combining computed tomography (CT), serum-specific antibody detection, and nanopore sequencing with nucleic acid testing for individual testing may improve the accuracy of identifying COVID-19 patients. At community or even regional/national levels, the combination of pooled screening and spatial epidemiological strategies may enable the detection of early transmission of epidemics in a cost-effective way, which is also less affected by restricted access to diagnostic tests and kit supplies. This would significantly advance our capacity of curbing epidemics as soon as possible, and better prepare us for entering a new era of high-impact and high-frequency epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujuan Yang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Epidemiology (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiongfeng Pan
- International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Epidemiology (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dan Yuan
- Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Peibin Zeng
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Peng Jia
- International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Epidemiology (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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50
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN, Baschir LA, Tenciu DV. Exploring the linkage between seasonality of environmental factors and COVID-19 waves in Madrid, Spain. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION : TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, PART B 2021; 152:583-600. [PMID: 36285289 PMCID: PMC9584827 DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2021.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Like several countries, Spain experienced a multi wave pattern of COVID-19 pandemic over more than one year period, between spring 2020 and spring 2021. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 pandemics is a multi-factorial process involving among other factors outdoor environmental variables and viral inactivation.This study aims to quantify the impact of climate and air pollution factors seasonality on incidence and severity of COVID-19 disease waves in Madrid metropolitan region in Spain. We employed descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation tests for analysis of daily in-situ and geospatial time-series of air quality and climate data to investigate the associations with COVID-19 incidence and lethality in Madrid under different synoptic meteorological patterns. During the analyzed period (1 January 2020-28 February 2021), with one month before each of three COVID-19 waves were recorded anomalous anticyclonic circulations in the mid-troposphere, with positive anomalies of geopotential heights at 500 mb and favorable stability conditions for SARS-CoV-2 fast diffusion. In addition, the results reveal that air temperature, Planetary Boundary Layer height, ground level ozone have a significant negative relationship with daily new COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths. The findings of this study provide useful information to the public health authorities and policymakers for optimizing interventions during pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Laurentiu A Baschir
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Daniel V Tenciu
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
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