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Pietrodangelo A, Bove MC, Forello AC, Crova F, Bigi A, Brattich E, Riccio A, Becagli S, Bertinetti S, Calzolai G, Canepari S, Cappelletti D, Catrambone M, Cesari D, Colombi C, Contini D, Cuccia E, De Gennaro G, Genga A, Ielpo P, Lucarelli F, Malandrino M, Masiol M, Massabò D, Perrino C, Prati P, Siciliano T, Tositti L, Venturini E, Vecchi R. A PM10 chemically characterized nation-wide dataset for Italy. Geographical influence on urban air pollution and source apportionment. Sci Total Environ 2024; 908:167891. [PMID: 37852492 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Urban textures of the Italian cities are peculiarly shaped by the local geography generating similarities among cities placed in different regions but comparable topographical districts. This suggested the following scientific question: can different topographies generate significant differences on the PM10 chemical composition at Italian urban sites that share similar geography despite being in different regions? To investigate whether such communalities can be found and are applicable at Country-scale, we propose here a novel methodological approach. A dataset comprising season-averages of PM10 mass concentration and chemical composition data was built, covering the decade 2005-2016 and referring to urban sites only (21 cities). Statistical analyses, estimation of missing data, identification of latent clusters and source apportionment modeling by Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) were performed on this unique dataset. The first original result is the demonstration that a dataset with atypical time resolution can be successfully exploited as an input matrix for PMF obtaining Country-scale representative chemical profiles, whose physical consistency has been assessed by different tests of modeling performance. Secondly, this dataset can be considered a reference repository of season averages of chemical species over the Italian territory and the chemical profiles obtained by PMF for urban Italian agglomerations could contribute to emission repositories. These findings indicate that our approach is powerful, and it could be further employed with datasets typically available in the air pollution monitoring networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Pietrodangelo
- C.N.R. Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Monterotondo St., Rome 00015, Italy.
| | - Maria Chiara Bove
- Ligurian Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (ARPAL), Genoa 16149, Italy
| | | | - Federica Crova
- Department of Physics, University of Milan and INFN-Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bigi
- Department of Engineering "Enzo Ferrari", University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Erika Brattich
- Department of Physics and Astronomy "Augusto Righi", University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Angelo Riccio
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples Parthenope, Naples 80143, Italy
| | - Silvia Becagli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence 50019, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Calzolai
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Sesto Fiorentino, Florence 50019, Italy
| | - Silvia Canepari
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - David Cappelletti
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Cesari
- C.N.R. Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, ISAC-CNR, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Cristina Colombi
- Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Lombardy (ARPA Lombardia), Milan 20124, Italy
| | - Daniele Contini
- C.N.R. Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, ISAC-CNR, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cuccia
- Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Lombardy (ARPA Lombardia), Milan 20124, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Genga
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies DISTeBA, University of Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Pierina Ielpo
- C.N.R. Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, ISAC-CNR, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Franco Lucarelli
- Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Florence and INFN-Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, 50019, Italy
| | - Mery Malandrino
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Mauro Masiol
- Department of Environmental Science, Informatics and Statistics, University Ca' Foscari, 30172 Mestre-Venezia, Italy
| | - Dario Massabò
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa and INFN-Genoa, 16146 Genoa, Italy
| | - Cinzia Perrino
- C.N.R. Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Monterotondo St., Rome 00015, Italy
| | - Paolo Prati
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa and INFN-Genoa, 16146 Genoa, Italy
| | - Tiziana Siciliano
- Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Laura Tositti
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Elisa Venturini
- Department of Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Roberta Vecchi
- Department of Physics, University of Milan and INFN-Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
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2
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Piscitelli P, Miani A, Setti L, De Gennaro G, Rodo X, Artinano B, Vara E, Rancan L, Arias J, Passarini F, Barbieri P, Pallavicini A, Parente A, D'Oro EC, De Maio C, Saladino F, Borelli M, Colicino E, Gonçalves LMG, Di Tanna G, Colao A, Leonardi GS, Baccarelli A, Dominici F, Ioannidis JPA, Domingo JL. The role of outdoor and indoor air quality in the spread of SARS-CoV-2: Overview and recommendations by the research group on COVID-19 and particulate matter (RESCOP commission). Environ Res 2022; 211:113038. [PMID: 35231456 PMCID: PMC8881809 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
There are important questions surrounding the potential contribution of outdoor and indoor air quality in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and perpetuation of COVID-19 epidemic waves. Environmental health may be a critical component of COVID-19 prevention. The public health community and health agencies should consider the evolving evidence in their recommendations and statements, and work to issue occupational guidelines. Evidence coming from the current epidemiological and experimental research is expected to add knowledge about virus diffusion, COVID-19 severity in most polluted areas, inter-personal distance requirements and need for wearing face masks in indoor or outdoor environments. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for maintaining particulate matter concentrations at low levels for multiple health-related reasons, which may also include the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Indoor environments represent even a more crucial challenge to cope with, as it is easier for the SARS-COV2 to spread, remain vital and infect other subjects in closed spaces in the presence of already infected asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic people. The potential merits of preventive measures, such as CO2 monitoring associated with natural or controlled mechanical ventilation and air purification, for schools, indoor public places (restaurants, offices, hotels, museums, theatres/cinemas etc.) and transportations need to be carefully considered. Hospital settings and nursing/retirement homes as well as emergency rooms, infectious diseases divisions and ambulances represent higher risk indoor environments and may require additional monitoring and specific decontamination strategies based on mechanical ventilation or air purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prisco Piscitelli
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Leonardo Setti
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Gianluigi De Gennaro
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
| | - Xavier Rodo
- ICREA and Climate & Health Program, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Begona Artinano
- Unit Atmospheric Pollution and POP Characterization, CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Elena Vara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Lisa Rancan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Javier Arias
- School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Parente
- Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Département d'Aéro-Thermo-Mécanique, Brussels, Belgium; Brussels Institute for Thermal-fluid systems and clean Energy (BRITE), Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Edoardo Cavalieri D'Oro
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit (NBCRE), Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, Milan, Italy.
| | - Claudio De Maio
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit (NBCRE), Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesco Saladino
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit (NBCRE), Italian National Fire and Rescue Service, Milan, Italy.
| | - Massimo Borelli
- UMG School of PhD Programmes, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
| | | | - Gianluca Di Tanna
- BioStatistics & Data Science Division, Meta-Research and Evidence Synthesis Unit, The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Annamaria Colao
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Giovanni S Leonardi
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTP), London, UK.
| | - Andrea Baccarelli
- Chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA.
| | | | - John P A Ioannidis
- Departments of Medicine, of Epidemiology and Population Health, of Biomedical Data Science and of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Josè L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, School of Medicine, Reus, Spain.
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3
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Miani A, Piscitelli P, Setti L, De Gennaro G. Air quality and COVID-19: Much more than six feet. Evidence about SARS-COV-2 airborne transmission in indoor environments and polluted areas. Environ Res 2022; 210:112949. [PMID: 35181308 PMCID: PMC8843809 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Dept. of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | | | - Leonardo Setti
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Dept. of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Gianluigi De Gennaro
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Dept. of Biology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
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Gennaro V, Cervellera S, Cusatelli C, Miani A, Pesce F, De Gennaro G, Distante A, Vimercati L, Gesualdo L, Piscitelli P. Use of official municipal demographics for the estimation of mortality in cities suffering from heavy environmental pollution: Results of the first study on all the neighborhoods of Taranto from 2011 to 2020. Environ Res 2022; 204:112007. [PMID: 34509482 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In cities suffering from heavy environmental pressure or pollution, it is extremely important to rapidly access municipal demographics that can be used as indicators of population health status. Among those, mortality rates represent the most reliable data as they are officially retained and available to municipality with high level of details, thus allowing epidemiological comparison between different neighborhoods of the city across several years. Our study was aimed at validating and propose as universally applicable approach the use of municipal demographics as first-line tool to rapidly assess population health and drive health policies or urban planning in cities characterized by heavy environmental pressure. The case study of Taranto has been chosen due to the presence of the biggest European steel plant since 1960s resulting in heavy burden on environment and population health. METHODS We have performed an ecological study on general mortality data due to all causes, specific by gender, age groups and disaggregated at sub-municipal level (highest data granularity) into neighborhoods from 2011 to 2020 by using official demographics related to all people living in Taranto available at General Registry Office of the municipality. A preliminary analysis comparing data available at Municipality and those provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) was performed and confirmed the high level of reliability of the municipal source of data. For comparative analyses, we used Regional demographics and mortality from ISTAT. Indirect age-standardized mortality ratios (SMR; CI 90% and 95%), specific for gender and neighborhoods, were calculated in reference to the city of Taranto and Apulia Region; direct age-standardized and neighborhoods mortality rates were computed on city population. RESULTS The city of Taranto shows relevant inequalities in terms of mortality between the northern neighborhoods, closest to the industrial area (Paolo VI, Tamburi and Città Vecchia-Borgo), with excess mortality highlighted across 10 years described by SMRs always higher than those of the entire Apulia region, with peaks exceeding 50% between 2015 and 2017 both in women and men. The significant excesses of mortality have increased from 2011 to 2020 and progressively extended across several neighborhoods of Taranto city. Compared to the Apulia region, in the 3 Northern neighborhoods of the city (Paolo VI, Tamburi and Città Vecchia-Borgo) a total of 1020 excess deaths were recorded from 2011 to 2019 in both males and females (showing statistical significance), with a peak of 68% mortality excess in 2019 for men living in Paolo VI district. CONCLUSION The use of official mortality data allows a timely, reliable and costless assessment of population health in cities heavily impacted by environmental pollution like Taranto.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Gennaro
- Former Director of Liguria Region Mesothelioma Registry, IRCCS San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefano Cervellera
- City Hall Bureau of Demographic Statistics, Municipality of Taranto, Taranto, Italy.
| | - Carlo Cusatelli
- Ionian Department, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Taranto, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Pesce
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Gianluigi De Gennaro
- Department of Biology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Ionian Hub, Taranto, Italy
| | - Alessandro Distante
- Division of Occupational Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Luigi Vimercati
- Division of Occupational Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Loreto Gesualdo
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Milan, Italy; Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute (ISBEM), Brindisi, Italy
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5
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Fermo P, Artíñano B, De Gennaro G, Pantaleo AM, Parente A, Battaglia F, Colicino E, Di Tanna G, Goncalves da Silva Junior A, Pereira IG, Garcia GS, Garcia Goncalves LM, Comite V, Miani A. Improving indoor air quality through an air purifier able to reduce aerosol particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Experimental results. Environ Res 2021; 197:111131. [PMID: 33865819 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The adverse effects of fine particulate matter (PM) and many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on human health are well known. Fine particles are, in fact, those most capable of penetrating in depth into the respiratory system. People spend most of their time indoors where concentrations of some pollutants are sometimes higher than outdoors. Therefore, there is the need to ensure a healthy indoor environment and for this purpose the use of an air purifier can be a valuable aid especially now since it was demonstrated that indoor air quality has a high impact on spreading of viral infections such as that due to SARS-COVID19. In this study, we tested a commercial system that can be used as an air purifier. In particular it was verified its efficiency in reducing concentrations of PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm), PM2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm), PM1 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 1 μm), and particles number in the range 0.3 μm-10 μm. Furthermore, its capacity in reducing VOCs concentration was also checked. PM measurements were carried out by means of a portable optical particle counter (OPC) instrument simulating the working conditions typical of a household environment. In particular we showed that the tested air purifier significantly reduced both PM10 and PM2.5 by 16.8 and 7.25 times respectively that corresponds to a reduction of about 90% and 80%. A clear reduction of VOCs concentrations was also observed since a decrease of over 50% of these gaseous substances was achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Fermo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy; Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, (SIMA), Milan, 20123, Italy.
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Centre for Energy, Environment and Technologies (CIEMAT), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gianluigi De Gennaro
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, (SIMA), Milan, 20123, Italy; Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Parente
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | | | | | - Gianluca Di Tanna
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Valeria Comite
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, (SIMA), Milan, 20123, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Licen S, Perrone MG, Piazzalunga A, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Rizzo E, Colao A, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Potential role of particulate matter in the spreading of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: first observational study based on initial epidemic diffusion. BMJ Open 2020. [PMID: 32973066 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.11.20061713v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A number of studies have shown that the airborne transmission route could spread some viruses over a distance of 2 meters from an infected person. An epidemic model based only on respiratory droplets and close contact could not fully explain the regional differences in the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. On March 16th 2020, we presented a position paper proposing a research hypothesis concerning the association between higher mortality rates due to COVID-19 observed in Northern Italy and average concentrations of PM10 exceeding a daily limit of 50 µg/m3. METHODS To monitor the spreading of COVID-19 in Italy from February 24th to March 13th (the date of the Italian lockdown), official daily data for PM10 levels were collected from all Italian provinces between February 9th and February 29th, taking into account the maximum lag period (14 days) between the infection and diagnosis. In addition to the number of exceedances of the daily limit value of PM10, we also considered population data and daily travelling information for each province. RESULTS Exceedance of the daily limit value of PM10 appears to be a significant predictor of infection in univariate analyses (p<0.001). Less polluted provinces had a median of 0.03 infections over 1000 residents, while the most polluted provinces showed a median of 0.26 cases. Thirty-nine out of 41 Northern Italian provinces resulted in the category with the highest PM10 levels, while 62 out of 66 Southern provinces presented low PM10 concentrations (p<0.001). In Milan, the average growth rate before the lockdown was significantly higher than in Rome (0.34 vs 0.27 per day, with a doubling time of 2.0 days vs 2.6, respectively), thus suggesting a basic reproductive number R0>6.0, comparable with the highest values estimated for China. CONCLUSION A significant association has been found between the geographical distribution of daily PM10 exceedances and the initial spreading of COVID-19 in the 110 Italian provinces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | - Sabina Licen
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Emanuele Rizzo
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Campania, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
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7
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Licen S, Perrone MG, Piazzalunga A, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Rizzo E, Colao A, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Potential role of particulate matter in the spreading of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: first observational study based on initial epidemic diffusion. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e039338. [PMID: 32973066 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.11.20061713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A number of studies have shown that the airborne transmission route could spread some viruses over a distance of 2 meters from an infected person. An epidemic model based only on respiratory droplets and close contact could not fully explain the regional differences in the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. On March 16th 2020, we presented a position paper proposing a research hypothesis concerning the association between higher mortality rates due to COVID-19 observed in Northern Italy and average concentrations of PM10 exceeding a daily limit of 50 µg/m3. METHODS To monitor the spreading of COVID-19 in Italy from February 24th to March 13th (the date of the Italian lockdown), official daily data for PM10 levels were collected from all Italian provinces between February 9th and February 29th, taking into account the maximum lag period (14 days) between the infection and diagnosis. In addition to the number of exceedances of the daily limit value of PM10, we also considered population data and daily travelling information for each province. RESULTS Exceedance of the daily limit value of PM10 appears to be a significant predictor of infection in univariate analyses (p<0.001). Less polluted provinces had a median of 0.03 infections over 1000 residents, while the most polluted provinces showed a median of 0.26 cases. Thirty-nine out of 41 Northern Italian provinces resulted in the category with the highest PM10 levels, while 62 out of 66 Southern provinces presented low PM10 concentrations (p<0.001). In Milan, the average growth rate before the lockdown was significantly higher than in Rome (0.34 vs 0.27 per day, with a doubling time of 2.0 days vs 2.6, respectively), thus suggesting a basic reproductive number R0>6.0, comparable with the highest values estimated for China. CONCLUSION A significant association has been found between the geographical distribution of daily PM10 exceedances and the initial spreading of COVID-19 in the 110 Italian provinces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | - Sabina Licen
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Emanuele Rizzo
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Campania, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
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8
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Licen S, Perrone MG, Piazzalunga A, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Rizzo E, Colao A, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Potential role of particulate matter in the spreading of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: first observational study based on initial epidemic diffusion. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e039338. [PMID: 32973066 PMCID: PMC7517216 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A number of studies have shown that the airborne transmission route could spread some viruses over a distance of 2 meters from an infected person. An epidemic model based only on respiratory droplets and close contact could not fully explain the regional differences in the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. On March 16th 2020, we presented a position paper proposing a research hypothesis concerning the association between higher mortality rates due to COVID-19 observed in Northern Italy and average concentrations of PM10 exceeding a daily limit of 50 µg/m3. METHODS To monitor the spreading of COVID-19 in Italy from February 24th to March 13th (the date of the Italian lockdown), official daily data for PM10 levels were collected from all Italian provinces between February 9th and February 29th, taking into account the maximum lag period (14 days) between the infection and diagnosis. In addition to the number of exceedances of the daily limit value of PM10, we also considered population data and daily travelling information for each province. RESULTS Exceedance of the daily limit value of PM10 appears to be a significant predictor of infection in univariate analyses (p<0.001). Less polluted provinces had a median of 0.03 infections over 1000 residents, while the most polluted provinces showed a median of 0.26 cases. Thirty-nine out of 41 Northern Italian provinces resulted in the category with the highest PM10 levels, while 62 out of 66 Southern provinces presented low PM10 concentrations (p<0.001). In Milan, the average growth rate before the lockdown was significantly higher than in Rome (0.34 vs 0.27 per day, with a doubling time of 2.0 days vs 2.6, respectively), thus suggesting a basic reproductive number R0>6.0, comparable with the highest values estimated for China. CONCLUSION A significant association has been found between the geographical distribution of daily PM10 exceedances and the initial spreading of COVID-19 in the 110 Italian provinces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Industrial Chemistry "Toso Montanari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | - Sabina Licen
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
| | | | | | - Emanuele Rizzo
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Campania, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, University of Milan, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Torboli V, Fontana F, Clemente L, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Piscitelli P, Miani A. SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence. Environ Res 2020; 188:109754. [PMID: 32526492 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.15.20065995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys. METHODS We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter. RESULTS The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Dept. Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale Del Risorgimento - 4, I-40136, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Dept. of Life Sciences - University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Francesco Fontana
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Libera Clemente
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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10
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Torboli V, Fontana F, Clemente L, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Piscitelli P, Miani A. SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence. Environ Res 2020; 188:109754. [PMID: 32526492 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109754.b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys. METHODS We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter. RESULTS The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Dept. Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale Del Risorgimento - 4, I-40136, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Dept. of Life Sciences - University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Francesco Fontana
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Libera Clemente
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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11
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Torboli V, Fontana F, Clemente L, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Piscitelli P, Miani A. SARS-Cov-2RNA found on particulate matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First evidence. Environ Res 2020; 188:109754. [PMID: 32526492 PMCID: PMC7260575 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 281] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of COVID-19 was extremely severe in Northern Italy, an area characterized by high concentrations of particulate matter (PM), which is known to negatively affect human health. Consistently with evidence already available for other viruses, we initially hypothesized the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 presence on PM, and we performed a first experiment specifically aimed at confirming or excluding this research hyphotesys. METHODS We have collected 34 PM10 samples in Bergamo area (the epicenter of the Italian COVID-19 epidemic) by using two air samplers over a continuous 3-weeks period. Filters were properly stored and underwent RNA extraction and amplification according to WHO protocols in two parallel blind analyses performed by two different authorized laboratories. Up to three highly specific molecular marker genes (E, N, and RdRP) were used to test the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on particulate matter. RESULTS The first test showed positive results for gene E in 15 out of 16 samples, simultaneously displaying positivity also for RdRP gene in 4 samples. The second blind test got 5 additional positive results for at least one of the three marker genes. Overall, we tested 34 RNA extractions for the E, N and RdRP genes, reporting 20 positive results for at least one of the three marker genes, with positivity separately confirmed for all the three markers. Control tests to exclude false positivities were successfully accomplished. CONCLUSION This is the first evidence that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be present on PM, thus suggesting a possible use as indicator of epidemic recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Dept. Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale Del Risorgimento - 4, I-40136, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Dept. of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Dept. of Life Sciences - University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Francesco Fontana
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Libera Clemente
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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12
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Pallavicini A, Ruscio M, Piscitelli P, Colao A, Miani A. Searching for SARS-COV-2 on Particulate Matter: A Possible Early Indicator of COVID-19 Epidemic Recurrence. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:E2986. [PMID: 32344853 PMCID: PMC7246840 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17092986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A number of nations were forced to declare a total shutdown due to COVID-19 infection, as extreme measure to cope with dramatic impact of the pandemic, with remarkable consequences both in terms of negative health outcomes and economic loses. However, in many countries a "Phase-2" is approaching and many activities will re-open soon, although with some differences depending on the severity of the outbreak experienced and SARS-COV-2 estimated diffusion in the general population. At the present, possible relapses of the epidemic cannot be excluded until effective vaccines or immunoprophylaxis with human recombinant antibodies will be properly set up and commercialized. COVD-19-related quarantines have triggered serious social challenges, so that decision makers are concerned about the risk of wasting all the sacrifices imposed to the people in these months of quarantine. The availability of possible early predictive indicators of future epidemic relapses would be very useful for public health purposes, and could potentially prevent the suspension of entire national economic systems. On 16 March, a Position Paper launched by the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA) hypothesized for the first time a possible link between the dramatic impact of COVID-19 outbreak in Northern Italy and the high concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) that characterize this area, along with its well-known specific climatic conditions. Thereafter, a survey carried out in the U.S. by the Harvard School of Public Health suggested a strong association between increases in particulate matter concentration and mortality rates due to COVID-19. The presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA on the particulate matter of Bergamo, which is not far from Milan and represents the epicenter of the Italian epidemic, seems to confirm (at least in case of atmospheric stability and high PM concentrations, as it usually occurs in Northern Italy) that the virus can create clusters with the particles and be carried and detected on PM10. Although no assumptions can be made concerning the link between this first experimental finding and COVID-19 outbreak progression or severity, the presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA on PM10 of outdoor air samples in any city of the world could represent a potential early indicator of COVID-19 diffusion. Searching for the viral genome on particulate matter could therefore be explored among the possible strategies for adopting all the necessary preventive measures before future epidemics start.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research “Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy”, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy;
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Annamaria Colao
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy;
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
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13
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Airborne Transmission Route of COVID-19: Why 2 Meters/6 Feet of Inter-Personal Distance Could Not Be Enough. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020. [PMID: 32340347 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082932.pmid:32340347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the shutdown of entire nations all over the world. In addition to mobility restrictions of people, the World Health Organization and the Governments have prescribed maintaining an inter-personal distance of 1.5 or 2 m (about 6 feet) from each other in order to minimize the risk of contagion through the droplets that we usually disseminate around us from nose and mouth. However, recently published studies support the hypothesis of virus transmission over a distance of 2 m from an infected person. Researchers have proved the higher aerosol and surface stability of SARS-COV-2 as compared with SARS-COV-1 (with the virus remaining viable and infectious in aerosol for hours) and that airborne transmission of SARS-CoV can occur besides close-distance contacts. Indeed, there is reasonable evidence about the possibility of SARS-COV-2 airborne transmission due to its persistence into aerosol droplets in a viable and infectious form. Based on the available knowledge and epidemiological observations, it is plausible that small particles containing the virus may diffuse in indoor environments covering distances up to 10 m from the emission sources, thus representing a kind of aerosol transmission. On-field studies carried out inside Wuhan Hospitals showed the presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA in air samples collected in the hospitals and also in the surroundings, leading to the conclusion that the airborne route has to be considered an important pathway for viral diffusion. Similar findings are reported in analyses concerning air samples collected at the Nebraska University Hospital. On March 16th, we have released a Position Paper emphasizing the airborne route as a possible additional factor for interpreting the anomalous COVID-19 outbreaks in northern Italy, ranked as one of the most polluted areas in Europe and characterized by high particulate matter (PM) concentrations. The available information on the SARS-COV-2 spreading supports the hypothesis of airborne diffusion of infected droplets from person to person at a distance greater than two meters (6 feet). The inter-personal distance of 2 m can be reasonably considered as an effective protection only if everybody wears face masks in daily life activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
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14
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Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Airborne Transmission Route of COVID-19: Why 2 Meters/6 Feet of Inter-Personal Distance Could Not Be Enough. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17082932. [PMID: 32340347 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082932.e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the shutdown of entire nations all over the world. In addition to mobility restrictions of people, the World Health Organization and the Governments have prescribed maintaining an inter-personal distance of 1.5 or 2 m (about 6 feet) from each other in order to minimize the risk of contagion through the droplets that we usually disseminate around us from nose and mouth. However, recently published studies support the hypothesis of virus transmission over a distance of 2 m from an infected person. Researchers have proved the higher aerosol and surface stability of SARS-COV-2 as compared with SARS-COV-1 (with the virus remaining viable and infectious in aerosol for hours) and that airborne transmission of SARS-CoV can occur besides close-distance contacts. Indeed, there is reasonable evidence about the possibility of SARS-COV-2 airborne transmission due to its persistence into aerosol droplets in a viable and infectious form. Based on the available knowledge and epidemiological observations, it is plausible that small particles containing the virus may diffuse in indoor environments covering distances up to 10 m from the emission sources, thus representing a kind of aerosol transmission. On-field studies carried out inside Wuhan Hospitals showed the presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA in air samples collected in the hospitals and also in the surroundings, leading to the conclusion that the airborne route has to be considered an important pathway for viral diffusion. Similar findings are reported in analyses concerning air samples collected at the Nebraska University Hospital. On March 16th, we have released a Position Paper emphasizing the airborne route as a possible additional factor for interpreting the anomalous COVID-19 outbreaks in northern Italy, ranked as one of the most polluted areas in Europe and characterized by high particulate matter (PM) concentrations. The available information on the SARS-COV-2 spreading supports the hypothesis of airborne diffusion of infected droplets from person to person at a distance greater than two meters (6 feet). The inter-personal distance of 2 m can be reasonably considered as an effective protection only if everybody wears face masks in daily life activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Setti
- Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Passarini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research "Renewable Sources, Environment, Blue Growth, Energy", University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Borelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), 20149 Milan, Italy
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Linzalone N, Bianchi F, Cervino M, Cori L, De Gennaro G, Mangia C, Bustaffa E. [Recommendations from a health impact assessment in Viggiano and Grumento Nova (Basilicata Region, Southern Italy)]. Epidemiol Prev 2019; 42:15-19. [PMID: 29506357 DOI: 10.19191/ep18.1.p015.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In Europe, Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a consolidated practice aimed at predicting health impacts supporting the predisposition of plans and projects subjected to authorization procedures. In Italy, further developments are needed to harmonize the practice and consolidate methodologies in order to extend the HIA application in different fields. The recent HIA conducted in Val d'Agri (Basilicata) on the impacts of a first crude oil treatment plant represents an opportunity to illustrate its tools, methods and fields of application. In this experience, participation methods in impact assessment have been adapted to the context, emphasizing aspects of ethics, equity and democracy. Environmental and epidemiological studies were included in the HIA Val d'Agri in order to characterize the environment and assess the health status of the resident population. On the basis of the results public health recommendations have been elaborated, shared with the stakeholders and shared with local and regional administrators. The experience in Val d'Agri introduces elements of reflection on the potential of HIA at local level in order to support the public health and the environmental control systems in the area, as well as planning based on preventive environment and HIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nunzia Linzalone
- Istituto di fisiologia clinica, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, Pisa
| | - Fabrizio Bianchi
- Istituto di fisiologia clinica, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, Pisa
| | - Marco Cervino
- Istituto di scienze dell'atmosfera e del clima, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche
| | - Liliana Cori
- Istituto di scienze dell'atmosfera e del clima, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche
| | | | - Cristina Mangia
- Istituto di scienze dell'atmosfera e del clima, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche
| | - Elisa Bustaffa
- Istituto di fisiologia clinica, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, Pisa;
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16
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Minichilli F, Bianchi F, Ancona C, Cervino M, De Gennaro G, Mangia C, Santoro M, Bustaffa E. [Residential cohort study on mortality and hospitalization in Viggiano and Grumento Nova Municipalities in the framework of HIA in Val d'Agri (Basilicata Region, Southern Italy)]. Epidemiol Prev 2019; 42:20-33. [PMID: 29506358 DOI: 10.19191/ep18.1.p020.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES to evaluate the associations among the emissions produced by "Centro olio Val d'Agri" (COVA), with mortality and hospitalization of residents in the Viggiano and Grumento Nova Municipalities, located in Val d'Agri (Basilicata Region, Southern Italy). DESIGN residential cohort study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS Lagrangians dispersion models to estimate the level of exposure at the address of residence to NOX concentrations as tracers of COVA emissions. Based on the tertile of NOX distribution, individual exposure was classified and a Cox model analysis was performed (hazard ratio, HR, trend with relative 95%CI). The association among exposure to NOX and the cohort mortality/hospitalization was evaluated considering age, socioeconomic status, and distance from the high traffic density road. The cohort included 6,795 residents (73,270 person-years) in the period 2000-2014. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES causes of mortality and hospitalization due to cardio-respiratory diseases, recognised as associated to air pollution, with medium-short latency induction period, consistent with the period of operation at the COVA. RESULTS increasing trends were observed on three exposure classes for mortality due to circulatory system diseases (HR trend: 1.19; 95%CI 1.02-1.39), stronger considering women (HR trend: 1.19; 95%CI 1.02-1.39). From hospitalizations results, an increased risk emerges for respiratory diseases (HR trend: 1.12; 95%CI 1.01-1.25) and, for women, for diseases of the circulatory system (HR trend: 1.19; 95%CI 1.03-1.38), for ischemic diseases (HR trend: 1.33; 95%CI 1.02-1.74) and respiratory diseases (HR trend: 1.22; 95%CI 1.03-1.46). CONCLUSIONS the excesses of mortality and hospitalization emerged in areas most exposed to pollutants of industrial origin are relevant for preventive actions. It is recommended to define and implement a surveillance system for the entire resident population based on indicators of environmental pollution and related health outcomes on the basis of the scientific literature and the results achieved by the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Minichilli
- Istituto di fisiologia clinica, Unità di epidemiologia ambientale e registri di patologia, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, Pisa
| | - Fabrizio Bianchi
- Istituto di fisiologia clinica, Unità di epidemiologia ambientale e registri di patologia, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, Pisa.
| | - Carla Ancona
- Dipartimento di epidemiologia del Servizio sanitario regionale del Lazio, ASL Roma 1
| | - Marco Cervino
- Istituto di scienze dell'atmosfera e del clima, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche
| | | | - Cristina Mangia
- Istituto di scienze dell'atmosfera e del clima, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche
| | - Michele Santoro
- Istituto di fisiologia clinica, Unità di epidemiologia ambientale e registri di patologia, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, Pisa
| | - Elisa Bustaffa
- Istituto di fisiologia clinica, Unità di epidemiologia ambientale e registri di patologia, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, Pisa
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Bustaffa E, De Marinis Loiotile A, Farella G, Petraccone S, De Gennaro G, Bianchi F. [Atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons near plants of crude oil first treatment]. Epidemiol Prev 2018; 40:290-306. [PMID: 27764926 DOI: 10.19191/ep16.5.p290.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
La continua espansione delle attività di perforazione ai fini dell'estrazione petrolifera in prossimità di aree abitate ha fatto sì che negli ultimi anni l'attenzione si focalizzasse sull'impatto di questo processo fortemente industrializzato sulla salute pubblica. Le comunità che vivono nei dintorni di impianti di questo tipo devono, infatti, fronteggiare diversi problemi, quali l'inquinamento atmosferico e acustico, la contaminazione del suolo e delle acque sotterranee, il traffico dei camion da e verso il sito, incidenti e malfunzionamenti all'interno dell'impianto. In questo contesto, la valutazione del rischio per la salute è ostacolata dal fatto che l'esposizione alle sostanze chimiche presenti non può essere valutata in via definitiva, poiché non sempre si è a conoscenza di tutti i composti immessi nell'ambiente né delle loro concentrazioni, per non parlare del problema delle coesposizioni ad altri inquinanti. Nonostante l'oramai conclamato e vasto interesse generato da questo argomento, ad oggi esistono pochi studi basati su popolazioni riguardanti gli effetti sulla salute delle comunità che vivono in prossimità dei siti di perforazione ed estrazione; ciò genera la necessità di condurre campagne di monitoraggio mirate e studi epidemiologici che verifichino l'eventuale esistenza e natura di pattern di malattie associati a tali attività. La presente rassegna bibliografica individua, quindi, i principali inquinanti atmosferici presenti in prossimità di un impianto di primo trattamento del greggio e cerca di fornire un quadro generale delle loro potenziali sorgenti e caratteristiche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Bustaffa
- Unità di epidemiologia ambientale e registri di patologia, Istituto di fisiologia clinica, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, Pisa.
| | | | - Genoveffa Farella
- Lenviros S.r.l., spin off dell'Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Molfetta (BA)
| | | | | | - Fabrizio Bianchi
- Unità di epidemiologia ambientale e registri di patologia, Istituto di fisiologia clinica, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche, Pisa
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Vione D, Barra S, De Gennaro G, De Rienzo M, Gilardoni S, Perrone MG, Pozzoli L. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere: monitoring, sources, sinks and fate. II: Sinks and fate. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 94:257-68. [PMID: 15242091 DOI: 10.1002/adic.200490031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This paper reviews the transformation processes that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) undergo in the atmosphere. These processes can take place both in the gas phase and in the particulate/aerosol one. Among the gas-phase processes, the most important ones are the daytime reaction with *OH and the nighttime reaction with *NO3. The relative importance of the two processes depends on the particular PAH molecule. For instance, gaseous naphthalene is mainly removed from the atmosphere upon reaction with *OH, while gaseous phenanthrene is mainly removed by reaction with *NO3. Oxy-, hydroxy-, and nitro-PAHs are the main transformation intermediates. Reaction with ozone and photolysis play a secondary role in the transformation of gaseous PAHs. The particle-associated processes are usually slower than the gas-phase ones, thus the gas-phase PAHs usually have shorter atmospheric lifetimes than those found on particulate. Due to the higher residence time on particulate when compared with the gas phase, direct or assisted photolysis plays a relevant role in the transformation of particle-associated PAHs. Among the other processes taking place in the condensed phase, nitration plays a very important role due to the health impact of nitro-PAHs, some of them being the most powerful mutagens found so far in atmospheric particulate extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Vione
- Dipartimento di Chimica Analitica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 5, 10125 Torino, Italy.
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Pozzoli L, Gilardoni S, Perrone MG, De Gennaro G, De Rienzo M, Vione D. POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN THE ATMOSPHERE: MONITORING, SOURCES, SINKS AND FATE. I: MONITORING AND SOURCES. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 94:17-32. [PMID: 15141462 DOI: 10.1002/adic.200490002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This is the first of a series of two papers intended to review the state-of-the-art knowledge on atmospheric PAHs, concerning their monitoring, sources and transformation processes in the atmosphere. The monitoring section briefly introduces this class of compounds, mainly focusing on the 16 PAHs indicated by the US-EPA as priority pollutants. These compounds undergo partitioning between the gas phase and particulate, which has to be considered in the choice of the sampling methodology. Furthermore, sampling artifacts may arise from further phase transfers inside the sampling device. After sampling, extraction, clean up and detection/quantification procedures will follow. They are closely related since the choice of the extraction technique will heavily condition the clean-up step, and both procedures will place demands on the performance of the detection technique (usually GC-MS or HPLC). This is particularly true in the case of complex samples such as those arising from atmospheric sampling. The sources of atmospheric PAHs are then discussed with a particular focus on receptor models, which can allow the apportionment of PAH sources based on concentration data that can be routinely obtained by pollution control networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Pozzoli
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), EPFL-ENAC-LMCA, Batiment Chimie, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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