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Myung H, Joung YS. Contribution of Particulates to Airborne Disease Transmission and Severity: A Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6846-6867. [PMID: 38568611 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/24/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has catalyzed great interest in the spread of airborne pathogens. Airborne infectious diseases are classified into viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Environmental factors can elevate their transmission and lethality. Air pollution has been reported as the leading environmental cause of disease and premature death worldwide. Notably, ambient particulates of various components and sizes are harmful pollutants. There are two prominent health effects of particles in the atmosphere: (1) particulate matter (PM) penetrates the respiratory tract and adversely affects health, such as heart and respiratory diseases; and (2) bioaerosols of particles act as a medium for the spread of pathogens in the air. Particulates contribute to the occurrence of infectious diseases by increasing vulnerability to infection through inhalation and spreading disease through interactions with airborne pathogens. Here, we focus on the synergistic effects of airborne particulates on infectious disease. We outline the concepts and characteristics of bioaerosols, from their generation to transformation and circulation on Earth. Considering that microorganisms coexist with other particulates as bioaerosols, we investigate studies examining respiratory infections associated with airborne PM. Furthermore, we discuss four factors (meteorological, biological, physical, and chemical) that may impact the influence of PM on the survival of contagious pathogens in the atmosphere. Our review highlights the significant role of particulates in supporting the transmission of infectious aerosols and emphasizes the need for further research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunji Myung
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Sookmyung Women's University, 100, Cheongpa-ro 47-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Soo Joung
- Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Sookmyung Women's University, 100, Cheongpa-ro 47-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
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Goparaju L, Pillutla RCP, Venkata SBK. Assessment of forest fire emissions in Uttarakhand State, India, using Open Geospatial data and Google Earth Engine. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:100873-100891. [PMID: 37642912 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29311-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
In the recent past, forest fires have increased due to the changing climate pattern. It is necessary to analyse and quantify various gaseous emissions so as to mitigate their harmful effects on air pollution. Satellite remote sensing data provides an opportunity to study the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The multispectral sensor of the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (Sentinel-5) is capable of recording the reflectance of wavelengths vital for measuring the atmospheric concentrations of methane, formaldehyde, aerosol, carbon monoxide, etc., at a spatial resolution of 0.01°. The present study utilized the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to study the emissions caused by forest fires in four districts of Uttarakhand State of India, which witnessed unprecedented fires in April-May 2021. All the datasets were ingested in GEE, which has the capability to analyse large datasets without the need to download them. The pre-fire period chosen was September 2020; the fire period was February-May 2021, and the post-fire period was June 2021. The variables chosen were aerosol absorbing index (AAI), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The climate parameter temperature (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Land Surface Temperature) and precipitation (from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation (CHIRPS) Pentad) were also studied for the period mentioned. The results indicate a different trend for emissions in each district. For AAI, maximum emissions were noted in district Nainital followed by Almora, Tehri Garhwal and Garhwal. For CO emissions, the most affected district was Almora followed by Nainital, Garhwal and Tehri Garhwal. For NO2 emissions, the most affected district was Garhwal, followed by Nainital, Tehri Garhwal and Almora. Delta Normalized Burn Ratio was computed from Sentinel data (difference of pre-fire and post-fire images) to assess the burnt area severity. The Delta Normalized Burn Ratio values observed that the district with the most burnt area is Garhwal, followed by Nainital, Almora and Tehri Garhwal. The elevated temperatures and scanty rainfall patterns regulated the intensity and duration of forest fire. Monitoring the gaseous emissions as a consequence of forest fire in the GEE platform is much easier and more convenient at a regional level. Such data is much needed for mitigation measures to be implemented in time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laxmi Goparaju
- Vindhyan Ecology and Natural History Foundation, 36/30, Shivpuri Colony, Station Road, Mirzapur-231001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Jia Y, Xu Q, Zhu Y, Li C, Qi C, She K, Liu T, Zhang Y, Li X. Estimation of the relationship between meteorological factors and measles using spatiotemporal Bayesian model in Shandong Province, China. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1422. [PMID: 37491220 PMCID: PMC10369697 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16350-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Measles-containing vaccine (MCV) has been effective in controlling the spread of measles. Some countries have declared measles elimination. But recently years, the number of cases worldwide has increased, posing a challenge to the global goal of measles eradication. This study estimated the relationship between meteorological factors and measles using spatiotemporal Bayesian model, aiming to provide scientific evidence for public health policy to eliminate measles. METHODS Descriptive statistical analysis was performed on monthly data of measles and meteorological variables in 136 counties of Shandong Province from 2009 to 2017. Spatiotemporal Bayesian model was used to estimate the effects of meteorological factors on measles, and to evaluate measles risk areas at county level. Case population was divided into multiple subgroups according to gender, age and occupation. The effects of meteorological factors on measles in subgroups were compared. RESULTS Specific meteorological conditions increased the risk of measles, including lower relative humidity, temperature, and atmospheric pressure; higher wind velocity, sunshine duration, and diurnal temperature variation. Taking lowest value (Q1) as reference, RR (95%CI) for higher temperatures (Q2-Q4) were 0.79 (0.69-0.91), 0.54 (0.44-0.65), and 0.48 (0.38-0.61), respectively; RR (95%CI) for higher relative humidity (Q2-Q4) were 0.76 (0.66-0.88), 0.56 (0.47-0.67), and 0.49 (0.38-0.63), respectively; RR (95%CI) for higher wind velocity (Q2-Q4) were 1.43 (1.25-1.64), 1.85 (1.57-2.18), 2.00 (1.59-2.52), respectively. 22 medium-to-high risk counties were identified, mainly in northwestern, southwestern and central Shandong Province. The trend was basically same in the effects of meteorological factors on measles in subgroups, but the magnitude of the effects was different. CONCLUSIONS Meteorological factors have an important impact on measles. It is crucial to integrate these factors into public health policies for measles prevention and control in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Jia
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Qing Xu
- Institute of Immunization and Preventive Management, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Yuchen Zhu
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Chunyu Li
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Chang Qi
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Kaili She
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Tingxuan Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Xiujun Li
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
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Zhou Q, Xu X, Zhang Q. Dynamics and calculation of the basic reproduction number for a nonlocal dispersal epidemic model with air pollution. JOURNAL OF APPLIED MATHEMATICS & COMPUTING 2023; 69:1-25. [PMID: 37361054 PMCID: PMC10214371 DOI: 10.1007/s12190-023-01867-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
In order to reflect the dispersal of pollutants in non-adjacent areas and the large-scale movement of individuals, this paper proposes an epidemic model of nonlocal dispersal with air pollution, where the transmission rate is related to the concentration of pollutants. This paper checks the uniqueness and existence of the global positive solution and defines the basic reproduction number, R 0 . We simultaneously explore the global dynamics: when R 0 < 1 , the disease-free stable point is global asymptotic stability; when R 0 > 1 , the disease is uniformly persistent. Additionally, in order to approximate R 0 , a numerical method has been introduced. Illustrative examples are used to verify the theoretical outcomes and show the effect of the dispersal rate on the basic reproduction number R 0 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhou
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinzhong Xu
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021 People’s Republic of China
| | - Qimin Zhang
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021 People’s Republic of China
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Garcia A, Santa-Helena E, De Falco A, de Paula Ribeiro J, Gioda A, Gioda CR. Toxicological Effects of Fine Particulate Matter (PM 2.5): Health Risks and Associated Systemic Injuries-Systematic Review. WATER, AIR, AND SOIL POLLUTION 2023; 234:346. [PMID: 37250231 PMCID: PMC10208206 DOI: 10.1007/s11270-023-06278-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies focused on investigating particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) have shown the risk of disease development, and association with increased morbidity and mortality rates. The current review investigate epidemiological and experimental findings from 2016 to 2021, which enabled the systemic overview of PM2.5's toxic impacts on human health. The Web of Science database search used descriptive terms to investigate the interaction among PM2.5 exposure, systemic effects, and COVID-19 disease. Analyzed studies have indicated that cardiovascular and respiratory systems have been extensively investigated and indicated as the main air pollution targets. Nevertheless, PM2.5 reaches other organic systems and harms the renal, neurological, gastrointestinal, and reproductive systems. Pathologies onset and/or get worse due to toxicological effects associated with the exposure to this particle type, since it can trigger several reactions, such as inflammatory responses, oxidative stress generation and genotoxicity. These cellular dysfunctions lead to organ malfunctions, as shown in the current review. In addition, the correlation between COVID-19/Sars-CoV-2 and PM2.5 exposure was also assessed to help better understand the role of atmospheric pollution in the pathophysiology of this disease. Despite the significant number of studies about PM2.5's effects on organic functions, available in the literature, there are still gaps in knowledge about how this particulate matter can hinder human health. The current review aimed to approach the main findings about the effect of PM2.5 exposure on different systems, and demonstrate the likely interaction of COVID-19/Sars-CoV-2 and PM2.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Garcia
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900 Brazil
| | - Eduarda Santa-Helena
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900 Brazil
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Departmento de Química, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anna De Falco
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Departmento de Química, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joaquim de Paula Ribeiro
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900 Brazil
| | - Adriana Gioda
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Departmento de Química, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina Rosa Gioda
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação Em Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900 Brazil
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Associations between ambient air pollutants and childhood hand, foot, and mouth disease in Sichuan, China: a spatiotemporal study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3993. [PMID: 36899026 PMCID: PMC10006415 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31035-7] [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: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a major public health concern in the Asia-Pacific region. Previous studies have implied that ambient air pollution may affect the incidence of HFMD, but the results among different regions are inconsistent. We aimed to deepen the understanding of the associations between air pollutants and HFMD by conducting a multicity study. Daily data on childhood HFMD counts and meteorological and ambient air pollution (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO, O3, and SO2) concentrations in 21 cities in Sichuan Province from 2015 to 2017 were collected. A spatiotemporal Bayesian hierarchical model framework was established, and then a distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNMs) was constructed to reveal exposure-lag-response relationships between air pollutants and HFMD while controlling for spatiotemporal effects. Furthermore, given the differences in the levels and seasonal trends of air pollutants between the basin region and plateau region, we explored whether these associations varied between different areas (basin and plateau). The associations between air pollutants and HFMD were nonlinear, with different lag responses. Low NO2 concentrations and both low and high PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were associated with a decreased risk of HFMD. No significant associations between CO, O3, and SO2 and HFMD were found. The associations between air pollutant concentrations and HFMD were different between the basin and plateau regions. Our study revealed associations between PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 concentrations and HFMD, deepening the understanding of the relationships between air pollutants and HFMD. These findings provide evidence to support the formulation of relevant prevention measures and the establishment of an early warning system.
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Podury S, Kwon S, Javed U, Farooqi MS, Li Y, Liu M, Grunig G, Nolan A. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Particulate Matter Exposure: A Systematic Review. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:538. [PMID: 36836898 PMCID: PMC9962044 DOI: 10.3390/life13020538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Particulate matter (PM) exposure is responsible for seven million deaths annually and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of respiratory infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Understanding modifiable risk factors of high mortality, resource burdensome C19 and exposure risks such as PM is key to mitigating their devastating effects. This systematic review focuses on the literature available, identifying the spatial and temporal variation in the role of quantified PM exposure in SARS disease outcome and planning our future experimental studies. METHODS The systematic review utilized keywords adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. We included original human research studies in English. RESULTS Initial search yielded N = 906, application of eligibility criteria yielded N = 46. Upon analysis of risk of bias N = 41 demonstrated high risk. Studies found a positive association between elevated PM2.5, PM10 and SARS-related outcomes. A geographic and temporal variation in both PM and C19's role was observed. CONCLUSION C19 is a high mortality and resource intensive disease which devastated the globe. PM exposure is also a global health crisis. Our systematic review focuses on the intersection of this impactful disease-exposure dyad and understanding the role of PM is important in the development of interventions to prevent future spread of viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjiti Podury
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (S.P.); (S.K.); (U.J.); (M.S.F.)
| | - Sophia Kwon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (S.P.); (S.K.); (U.J.); (M.S.F.)
| | - Urooj Javed
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (S.P.); (S.K.); (U.J.); (M.S.F.)
| | - Muhammad S. Farooqi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (S.P.); (S.K.); (U.J.); (M.S.F.)
| | - Yiwei Li
- Department of Population Health, Division of Biostatistics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (Y.L.); (M.L.)
| | - Mengling Liu
- Department of Population Health, Division of Biostatistics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (Y.L.); (M.L.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA;
| | - Gabriele Grunig
- Department of Medicine, Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA;
| | - Anna Nolan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA; (S.P.); (S.K.); (U.J.); (M.S.F.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYUGSoM), New York, NY 10016, USA;
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Mathys T, Souza FTD, Barcellos DDS, Molderez I. The relationship among air pollution, meteorological factors and COVID-19 in the Brussels Capital Region. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:158933. [PMID: 36179850 PMCID: PMC9514957 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158933] [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: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In great metropoles, there is a need for a better understanding of the spread of COVID-19 in an outdoor context with environmental parameters. Many studies on this topic have been carried out worldwide. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the influence of environmental variables on the transmission, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19, even though there are plausible scientific explanations that support this, especially air quality and meteorological factors. Different urban contexts, methodological approaches and even the limitations of ecological studies are some possible explanations for this issue. That is why methodological experimentations in different regions of the world are important so that scientific knowledge can advance in this aspect. This research analyses the relationship between air pollution, meteorological factors and COVID-19 in the Brussels Capital Region. We use a data mining approach that is capable of extracting patterns in large databases with diverse taxonomies. Data on air pollution, meteorological, and epidemiological variables were processed in time series for the multivariate analysis and the classification based on association. The environmental variables associated with COVID-19-related deaths, cases and hospitalization were PM2.5, O3, NO2, black carbon, radiation, air pressure, wind speed, dew point, temperature and precipitation. These environmental variables combined with epidemiological factors were able to predict intervals of hospitalization, cases and deaths from COVID-19. These findings confirm the influence of meteorological and air quality variables in the Brussels region on deaths and cases of COVID-19 and can guide public policies and provide useful insights for high-level governmental decision-making concerning COVID-19. However, it is necessary to consider intrinsic elements of this study that may have influenced our results, such as the use of air quality aggregated data, ecological fallacy, focus on acute effects in the time-series study, the underreporting of COVID-19, and the lack of behavioral factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Mathys
- Centre for Economics and Corporate Sustainability (CEDON), KU Leuven, Warmoesberg 26, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Fábio Teodoro de Souza
- Centre for Economics and Corporate Sustainability (CEDON), KU Leuven, Warmoesberg 26, Brussels, Belgium; Graduate Program in Urban Management (PPGTU), Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), 1155 Imaculada Conceição St, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
| | - Demian da Silveira Barcellos
- Graduate Program in Urban Management (PPGTU), Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), 1155 Imaculada Conceição St, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil.
| | - Ingrid Molderez
- Centre for Economics and Corporate Sustainability (CEDON), KU Leuven, Warmoesberg 26, Brussels, Belgium.
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Effects on Health of Passive Smoking and Vape on Terraces in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review. OPEN RESPIRATORY ARCHIVES 2022. [PMID: 37496956 PMCID: PMC9467932 DOI: 10.1016/j.opresp.2022.100204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The health damage caused by passive smoking is well known in closed public spaces such as workplaces, inside homes and restaurants. However, at present, the number of smokers in open public spaces such as terraces has increased and consequently a loss of the quality of the air breathed, increasing the concentration of particles and other contaminating agents, affecting the health of workers and customers, of these spaces. Multiple studies show that high exposure to tobacco smoke in these environments augments the risk of developing cardiorespiratory diseases, especially in the vulnerable population, but also respiratory infections. Tobacco smoke can be an excellent vehicle for transmitting viral particles, favoring coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
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Peng H, Chen Z, Cai L, Liao J, Zheng K, Li S, Ren X, Duan X, Tang X, Wang X, Long L, Yang C. Relationship between meteorological factors, air pollutants and hand, foot and mouth disease from 2014 to 2020. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:998. [PMID: 35581574 PMCID: PMC9112249 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13365-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Meteorological factors and air pollutants have been reported to be associated with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) epidemics before the introduction of vaccine. However, there is limited evidence for studies with long-term dimensions. Methods We collected the daily HFMD counts, weather and air pollution data from 2014 to 2020 in Chengdu. Distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM) were used to assess the associations of meteorological factors and air pollutants on HFMD cases. Results From 2014–2020, high relative humidity and precipitation and extremely high and low levels of PM10, O3, SO2 and CO increased the risk of HFMD. In pre-vaccination period, extreme high and low temperatures, PM10 and NO2, low precipitation and high concentrations of PM2.5 and O3 significantly increase the risk of HFMD; In post-vaccination period, high relative humidity and low level of CO can significantly increase the incidence of HFMD; During the period of COVID-19, only low temperature will significantly increase the risk of HFMD; Low concentration of air pollutants has the greatest impact on the 6–14 age group, while the high concentration of air pollutants has the greatest impact on the 0–1 age group. Conclusions Our study suggest that high relative humidity and precipitation and extremely high and low levels of PM10, O3, SO2 and CO increased the risk of HFMD from 2014 to 2020. The results of this study provide a reference for local authorities to formulate intervention measures and establish an environment-based disease early warning system. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13365-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Peng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, No.16, Section 3, Renmin south road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhenhua Chen
- Department of Microbiology Laboratory, Chengdu Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Cai
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China School of Public Health and West China Forth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Juan Liao
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China School of Public Health and West China Forth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, West China-PUMC C.C. Chen Institute of Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ke Zheng
- Department of Immunization Planning, Chengdu Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuo Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, No.16, Section 3, Renmin south road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xueling Ren
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, No.16, Section 3, Renmin south road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoxia Duan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, No.16, Section 3, Renmin south road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xueqin Tang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, No.16, Section 3, Renmin south road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, No.16, Section 3, Renmin south road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lu Long
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, No.16, Section 3, Renmin south road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Chunxia Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, No.16, Section 3, Renmin south road, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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Broomandi P, Crape B, Jahanbakhshi A, Janatian N, Nikfal A, Tamjidi M, Kim JR, Middleton N, Karaca F. Assessment of the association between dust storms and COVID-19 infection rate in southwest Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:36392-36411. [PMID: 35060047 PMCID: PMC8776378 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18195-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
This study assesses a plausible correlation between a dust intrusion episode and a daily increase in COVID-19 cases. A surge in COVID-19 cases was observed a few days after a Middle East Dust (MED) event that peaked on 25th April 2020 in southwest Iran. To investigate potential causal factors for the spike in number of cases, cross-correlations between daily combined aerosol optical depths (AODs) and confirmed cases were computed for Khuzestan, Iran. Additionally, atmospheric stability data time series were assessed by covering before, during, and after dust intrusion, producing four statistically clustered distinct city groups. Groups 1 and 2 had different peak lag times of 10 and 4-5 days, respectively. Since there were statistically significant associations between AOD levels and confirmed cases in both groups, dust incursion may have increased population susceptibility to COVID-19 disease. Group 3 was utilized as a control group with neither a significant level of dust incursion during the episodic period nor any significant associations. Group 4 cities, which experienced high dust incursion levels, showed no significant correlation with confirmed case count increases. Random Forest Analysis assessed the influence of wind speed and AOD, showing relative importance of 0.31 and 0.23 on the daily increase percent of confirmed cases, respectively. This study may serve as a reference for better understanding and predicting factors affecting COVID-19 transmission and diffusion routes, focusing on the role of MED intrusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parya Broomandi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Masjed-Soleiman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Masjed-Soleiman, Iran
| | - Byron Crape
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
| | - Ali Jahanbakhshi
- Environmental Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Nasime Janatian
- Chair of Hydrobiology and Fishery, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Mahsa Tamjidi
- Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jong R Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000.
| | - Nick Middleton
- St Anne's College, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6HS, UK
| | - Ferhat Karaca
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
- The Environment and Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 010000
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12
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Rizzo E. Vitality of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, in airborne particulate matter: the "micellar model" hypothesis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:30791-30792. [PMID: 35290583 PMCID: PMC8922064 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14963-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Rizzo
- Department of Prevention, Local Health Authority of Lecce (ASL Lecce), Lecce, Italy.
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13
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Contiero P, Borgini A, Bertoldi M, Abita A, Cuffari G, Tomao P, D’Ovidio MC, Reale S, Scibetta S, Tagliabue G, Boffi R, Krogh V, Tramuto F, Maida CM, Mazzucco W. An Epidemiological Study to Investigate Links between Atmospheric Pollution from Farming and SARS-CoV-2 Mortality. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19084637. [PMID: 35457503 PMCID: PMC9029287 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to atmospheric particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide has been linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection and death. We hypothesized that long-term exposure to farming-related air pollutants might predispose to an increased risk of COVID-19-related death. To test this hypothesis, we performed an ecological study of five Italian Regions (Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna and Sicily), linking all-cause mortality by province (administrative entities within regions) to data on atmospheric concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and ammonia (NH3), which are mainly produced by agricultural activities. The study outcome was change in all-cause mortality during March-April 2020 compared with March-April 2015-2019 (period). We estimated all-cause mortality rate ratios (MRRs) by multivariate negative binomial regression models adjusting for air temperature, humidity, international import-export, gross domestic product and population density. We documented a 6.9% excess in MRR (proxy for COVID-19 mortality) for each tonne/km2 increase in NH3 emissions, explained by the interaction of the period variable with NH3 exposure, considering all pollutants together. Despite the limitations of the ecological design of the study, following the precautionary principle, we recommend the implementation of public health measures to limit environmental NH3 exposure, particularly while the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Future studies are needed to investigate any causal link between COVID-19 and farming-related pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Contiero
- Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Alessandro Borgini
- Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.C.); (M.B.)
- International Society of Doctors for Environment (ISDE), 52100 Arezzo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0223903536
| | - Martina Bertoldi
- Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Anna Abita
- UOC Qualità dell’Aria, ARPA Sicilia, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Cuffari
- Reporting Ambientale, Salute e Ambiente, ARPA Sicilia, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Paola Tomao
- Inail-Dipartimento di Medicina, Epidemiologia, Igiene del Lavoro ed Ambientale, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (M.C.D.)
| | - Maria Concetta D’Ovidio
- Inail-Dipartimento di Medicina, Epidemiologia, Igiene del Lavoro ed Ambientale, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (M.C.D.)
| | - Stefano Reale
- Laboratorio Tecnologie Diagnostiche Innovative Area Biologia Molecolare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Rocco Dicillo 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Silvia Scibetta
- Laboratorio Tecnologie Diagnostiche Innovative Area Biologia Molecolare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Rocco Dicillo 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.S.)
| | - Giovanna Tagliabue
- Cancer Registry Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Roberto Boffi
- Respiratory Disease Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Vittorio Krogh
- Epidemiology and Prevention Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Fabio Tramuto
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) “G. D’Alessandro”—University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.T.); (C.M.M.); (W.M.)
- Regional Reference Laboratory of West Sicily for the Emergency of COVID-19, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Carmelo Massimo Maida
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) “G. D’Alessandro”—University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.T.); (C.M.M.); (W.M.)
- Regional Reference Laboratory of West Sicily for the Emergency of COVID-19, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Walter Mazzucco
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) “G. D’Alessandro”—University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (F.T.); (C.M.M.); (W.M.)
- Regional Reference Laboratory of West Sicily for the Emergency of COVID-19, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone”, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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Liu R, Cai J, Guo W, Guo W, Wang W, Yan L, Ma N, Zhang X, Zhang S. Effects of temperature and PM 2.5 on the incidence of hand, foot, and mouth in a heavily polluted area, Shijiazhuang, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:11801-11814. [PMID: 34550518 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16397-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The influence of weather and air pollution factors on hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has received widespread attention. However, most of the existing studies came from lightly polluted areas and the results were inconsistent. There was a lack of relevant evidence of heavily polluted areas. This study aims to quantify the relationship between weather factors and air pollution with HFMD in heavily polluted areas. We collected the daily number of hand, foot, and mouth disease in Shijiazhuang, China from 2014 to 2018, as well as meteorological and air pollutant data over the same period. The generalized linear model combined with the distributed lag model was used to study the effect of meteorological factors and air pollutants on the daily cases of HFMD and its hysteresis effect. We found that the dose-response relationship between temperature, PM2.5, and the risk of hand-foot-mouth disease was non-linear. Both low temperature and high temperature increased the risk of hand-foot-mouth disease. The cumulative effect of high temperature reached the maximum at 0-10 lag days, and the cumulative effect of low temperature reached the maximum at 0-3 lag days. The concentration of PM2.5 between 76 and 200 μg/m3 has a certain risk of the onset of hand, foot, and mouth disease, but the extreme PM2.5 concentration has a certain protective effect. In addition, low humidity, low wind speed, and low-O3 can increase the risk of HFMD. Risks of humidity and low concentration of O3 increased as lag days extended. In conclusion, our study found that climate factors and air pollutants exert varying degrees of impact on HFMD. Our research provided the scientific basis for establishing an early warning system so that medical staff and parents can take corresponding measures to prevent HFMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Jianning Cai
- The Department of Epidemic Treating and Preventing, Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Shijiazhuang City, Likang Road 3#, Shijiazhuang, 050011, China
| | - Weiheng Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Lina Yan
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Ning Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China.
| | - Shiyong Zhang
- The Department of Epidemic Treating and Preventing, Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Shijiazhuang City, Likang Road 3#, Shijiazhuang, 050011, China.
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15
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Cucciniello R, Raia L, Vasca E. Air quality evaluation during COVID-19 in Southern Italy: the case study of Avellino city. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 203:111803. [PMID: 34363800 PMCID: PMC8479540 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The present study relies on the air quality evaluation during COVID-19 pandemic in Avellino, described in the last years and for several consecutive years, among the worst Italian cities in this context. The main purpose of this manuscript was to investigate the effects of quarantine and lockdown measures on air pollution. The concentrations of the main atmospheric pollutants (Carbon monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Fine Particulate (PM2.5 and PM10), Benzene (C6H6) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were recorded during the period January-December 2020 using two stationary monitoring stations (AV1 and AV2) of the Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPAC). During the lockdown period (March 9-May 18, 2020), results indicated significant reductions only in the levels of CO, benzene and NO2, while for PM10 the limit of 50 μg m-3 was passed 8 times for AV1 and 13 times for AV2. The results showed the not predominant role of traffic on air quality in Avellino regards to PM levels and make it necessary a serious reflection about important and not extendable decisions to improve the air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Cucciniello
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy.
| | - Letizia Raia
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Ermanno Vasca
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy
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16
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Nastasi N, Renninger N, Bope A, Cochran SJ, Greaves J, Haines SR, Balasubrahmaniam N, Stuart K, Panescu J, Bibby K, Hull NM, Dannemiller KC. Persistence of viable MS2 and Phi6 bacteriophages on carpet and dust. INDOOR AIR 2022; 32:e12969. [PMID: 34882845 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12969] [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: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Resuspension of dust from flooring is a major source of human exposure to microbial contaminants, but the persistence of viruses on dust and carpet and the contribution to human exposure are often unknown. The goal of this work is to determine viability of MS2 and Phi6 bacteriophages on cut carpet, looped carpet, and house dust both over time and after cleaning. Bacteriophages were nebulized onto carpet or dust in artificial saliva. Viability was measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 24, and 48 h and after cleaning by vacuum, steam, hot water extraction, and disinfection. MS2 bacteriophages showed slower viability decay rates in dust (-0.11 hr-1 ), cut carpet (-0.20 hr-1 ), and looped carpet (-0.09 hr-1 ) compared to Phi6 (-3.36 hr-1 , -1.57 hr-1 , and -0.20 hr-1 , respectively). Viable viral concentrations were reduced to below the detection limit for steam and disinfection for both MS2 and Phi6 (p < 0.05), while vacuuming and hot water extraction showed no significant changes in concentration from uncleaned carpet (p > 0.05). These results demonstrate that MS2 and Phi6 bacteriophages can remain viable in carpet and dust for several hours to days, and cleaning with heat and disinfectants may be more effective than standard vacuuming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Nastasi
- Environmental Sciences Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geodetic Engineering, College of Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Nicole Renninger
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geodetic Engineering, College of Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Ashleigh Bope
- Environmental Sciences Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geodetic Engineering, College of Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Samuel J Cochran
- Environmental Sciences Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geodetic Engineering, College of Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Justin Greaves
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - Sarah R Haines
- Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Neeraja Balasubrahmaniam
- Environmental Sciences Graduate Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geodetic Engineering, College of Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Katelyn Stuart
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jenny Panescu
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geodetic Engineering, College of Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, College of Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - Natalie M Hull
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geodetic Engineering, College of Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Sustainability Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Karen C Dannemiller
- Department of Civil, Environmental & Geodetic Engineering, College of Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Sustainability Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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17
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Wang Z, Li X, Hu P, Li S, Guan J, Wang B, Yang F, Zhang D. Influence of air pollutants on varicella among adults. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21020. [PMID: 34697367 PMCID: PMC8546085 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00507-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Little attention has been paid to the relationship between air pollutants and varicella among adults. We used data collected in Qingdao, China from 2014 to 2019. A combination of quasi-Poisson generalized linear model (GLM) and distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was applied to evaluate the association between exposure to air pollutants and varicella. And the effects of exposure to extremely high concentration (at 97.5th percentile) and low concentration (at 2.5th percentile) of air pollutants on varicella were also calculated. The level II of GB3095-2012 was used as the reference. A 10 μg/m3 increase of PM2.5 was significantly associated with an increased risk of varicella (lag day: 4, 5 and 6). The negative associations were found for NO2 per 10 μg/m3 increase from lag 15 to 19 day. The high PM2.5 concentration (135 μg/m3) was significantly associated with the increased risk of varicella (lag day: 6, 7). For NO2, the negative association was found at high concentration (75 μg/m3) on lag 15 to 20 day; and the positive relationship was shown at low concentration (10 μg/m3) on lag 15 to 20 day. Exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 were significantly associated with the risk of varicella among adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, The School of Public Health, Qingdao University, No. 308 Ningxia Road, QingdaoShandong, 266021, China
| | - Xiaofan Li
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Qingdao, Qingdao, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Qingdao, 266034, Shandong, China
| | - Ping Hu
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Qingdao, Qingdao, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Qingdao, 266034, Shandong, China
| | - Shanpeng Li
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Qingdao, Qingdao, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Qingdao, 266034, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Guan
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Qingdao, Qingdao, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Qingdao, 266034, Shandong, China
| | - Bingling Wang
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Qingdao, Qingdao, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Qingdao, 266034, Shandong, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Qingdao Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Qingdao, Qingdao, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Qingdao, 266034, Shandong, China.
| | - Dongfeng Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, The School of Public Health, Qingdao University, No. 308 Ningxia Road, QingdaoShandong, 266021, China.
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18
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Tong L, Ji L, Li D, Xu H. The occurrence of COVID-19 is associated with air quality and relative humidity. J Med Virol 2021; 94:965-970. [PMID: 34647628 PMCID: PMC8661927 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The association between meteorological factors and COVID‐19 is important for the prevention and control of COVID‐19. However, similar studies are relatively rare in China. This study aims to investigate the association between COVID‐19 and meteorological factors, such as average temperature, relative humidity, and air quality index (AQI), and average wind speed. We collected the daily confirmed cases of COVID‐19 and meteorological factors in Shanghai China from January 10, 2020 to March 31, 2020. A generalized additive model was fitted to quantify the associations between meteorological factors and COVID‐19 during the study period. A negative association between average temperature and daily confirmed cases of COVID‐19 was found on lag 13 days. In addition, we observed a significant positive correlation between meteorological factors (AQI, relative humidity) and daily confirmed cases of COVID‐19. A 10 increase in AQI (lag1/7/8/9/10 days) was correlated with a 4.2%–9.0% increase in the daily confirmed cases of COVID‐19. A 1% increase in relative humidity (lag1/4/7/8/9/10 days) was correlated with 1.7%–3.7% increase in the daily confirmed cases of COVID‐19. However, the associations between average wind speed and the daily confirmed cases of COVID‐19 is complex in different lag days. In summary, meteorological factors could affect the occurrence of COVID‐19. Reducing the effects of meteorological factors on COVID‐19 may be an important public health action for the prevention and control of COVID‐19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Tong
- Division of Health Risk Factors Monitoring and Control, Department of Environmental Health, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention/Shanghai Institutes of Preventive Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Ji
- Department of Infectious Diseases Monitoring and Control, Shanghai Yangpu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Li
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Surveillance and Ear-warning, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Huihui Xu
- Division of Health Risk Factors Monitoring and Control, Department of Environmental Health, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention/Shanghai Institutes of Preventive Medicine, Shanghai, China
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19
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Cao R, Wang Y, Pan X, Jin X, Huang J, Li G. Estimating Short- and Long-Term Associations Between Air Quality Index and COVID-19 Transmission: Evidence From 257 Chinese Cities. Int J Public Health 2021; 66:1604215. [PMID: 34366765 PMCID: PMC8333027 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2021.1604215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the long- and short-term effects of air pollution on COVID-19 transmission simultaneously, especially in high air pollution level countries. Methods: Quasi-Poisson regression was applied to estimate the association between exposure to air pollution and daily new confirmed cases of COVID-19, with mutual adjustment for long- and short-term air quality index (AQI). The independent effects were also estimated and compared. We further assessed the modification effect of within-city migration (WM) index to the associations. Results: We found a significant 1.61% (95%CI: 0.51%, 2.72%) and 0.35% (95%CI: 0.24%, 0.46%) increase in daily confirmed cases per 1 unit increase in long- and short-term AQI. Higher estimates were observed for long-term impact. The stratifying result showed that the association was significant when the within-city migration index was low. A 1.25% (95%CI: 0.0.04%, 2.47%) and 0.41% (95%CI: 0.30%, 0.52%) increase for long- and short-term effect respectively in low within-city migration index was observed. Conclusions: There existed positive associations between long- and short-term AQI and COVID-19 transmission, and within-city migration index modified the association. Our findings will be of strategic significance for long-run COVID-19 control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Cao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxin Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaochuan Pan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobin Jin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Guoxing Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
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20
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The Challenge of Indoor Air Quality Management: A Case Study in the Hospitality Industry at the Time of the Pandemic. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12070880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Air quality management represents a reason for concern in indoor environments, especially now that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown how microbial aerosols pose a threat to human health, requiring proper monitoring. This is particularly true in public and working environments, where the turnover of occupants is high. The hospitality sector, in particular, has been severely affected by limitations related to emergency containment, and it needs to redefine its operations in the perspective of a “new normal” in the post-COVID-19 era. Considering the necessity to provide consistent information about indoor air quality, promote adequate management and increase safety, we developed a case study in cooperation with a major hotel in Turin. A sensing network has been implemented based on corporate-grade monitoring devices, compliant with the RESET standards, recently proposed and applied here to the hospitality sector for the first time. The network is able to detect the concentration of gaseous contaminants and fine particulate matter in semi-continuous mode. The study involved areas of the hotel with different purposes, such as guestrooms, hall, kitchen, restaurant and fitness center. Several valuable insights emerged in support of air quality management and pathways for future research can be outlined, based on the innovative dataset developed.
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21
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Early Spread of COVID-19 in the Air-Polluted Regions of Eight Severely Affected Countries. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12060795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 escalated into a pandemic posing several humanitarian as well as scientific challenges. We here investigated the geographical character of the early spread of the infection and correlated it with several annual satellite and ground indexes of air quality in China, the United States, Italy, Iran, France, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The time of the analysis corresponded with the end of the first wave infection in China, namely June 2020. We found more viral infections in those areas afflicted by high PM 2.5 and nitrogen dioxide values. Higher mortality was also correlated with relatively poor air quality. In Italy, the correspondence between the Po Valley pollution and SARS-CoV-2 infections and induced mortality was the starkest, originating right in the most polluted European area. Spain and Germany did not present a noticeable gradient of pollution levels causing non-significant correlations. Densely populated areas were often hotspots of lower air quality levels but were not always correlated with a higher viral incidence. Air pollution has long been recognised as a high risk factor for several respiratory-related diseases and conditions, and it now appears to be a risk factor for COVID-19 as well. As such, air pollution should always be included as a factor for the study of airborne epidemics and further included in public health policies.
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Martin PJ, Billet S, Landkocz Y, Fougère B. Inflammation at the Crossroads: the Combined Effects of COVID-19, Ageing, and Air Pollution. J Frailty Aging 2021; 10:281-285. [PMID: 34105713 PMCID: PMC7948651 DOI: 10.14283/jfa.2021.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted different vulnerability profiles among individuals. With the highest mortality rate, the elderly are a very sensitive group. With regard to the main symptoms, a failure of the respiratory system, associated with deregulation of the immune system, has been observed. These symptoms may also be encountered in chronic exposure of susceptible populations to air pollution, including exacerbation of the inflammatory response. Is there a relationship between age, pollution exposure and the severity of COVID-19? Although it is unclear how these parameters are related, the same pathways can be activated and appear to find a common mechanism of action in inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Martin
- Dr. Sylvain Billet, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UR 4492, UCEIV, Maison de la Recherche en Environnement Industriel 2, 189A, Avenue Maurice Schumann, 59140 Dunkerque, France. Phone: +33-3 28 23 76 41, E-mail:
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23
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Kotsiou OS, Kotsios VS, Lampropoulos I, Zidros T, Zarogiannis SG, Gourgoulianis KI. PM 2.5 Pollution Strongly Predicted COVID-19 Incidence in Four High-Polluted Urbanized Italian Cities during the Pre-Lockdown and Lockdown Periods. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5088. [PMID: 34064956 PMCID: PMC8151137 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) heavily hit Italy, one of Europe's most polluted countries. The extent to which PM pollution contributed to COVID-19 diffusion is needing further clarification. We aimed to investigate the particular matter (PM) pollution and its correlation with COVID-19 incidence across four Italian cities: Milan, Rome, Naples, and Salerno, during the pre-lockdown and lockdown periods. METHODS We performed a comparative analysis followed by correlation and regression analyses of the daily average PM10, PM2.5 concentrations, and COVID-19 incidence across four cities from 1 January 2020 to 8 April 2020, adjusting for several factors, taking a two-week time lag into account. RESULTS Milan had significantly higher average daily PM10 and PM2.5 levels than Rome, Naples, and Salerno. Rome, Naples, and Salerno maintained safe PM10 levels. The daily PM2.5 levels exceeded the legislative standards in all cities during the entire period. PM2.5 pollution was related to COVID-19 incidence. The PM2.5 levels and sampling rate were strong predictors of COVID-19 incidence during the pre-lockdown period. The PM2.5 levels, population's age, and density strongly predicted COVID-19 incidence during lockdown. CONCLUSIONS Italy serves as a noteworthy paradigm illustrating that PM2.5 pollution impacts COVID-19 spread. Even in lockdown, PM2.5 levels negatively impacted COVID-19 incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ourania S. Kotsiou
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Thessaly, GAIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece
- Respiratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece; (I.L.); (K.I.G.)
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41500 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece;
| | - Vaios S. Kotsios
- Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Center, National Technical University of Athens, 44200 Attica, Athens, Greece;
| | - Ioannis Lampropoulos
- Respiratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece; (I.L.); (K.I.G.)
- Department of Business Administration, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Peloponnesus, Greece
| | - Thomas Zidros
- Department of Automation Engineering, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, 57400 Thessaloniki, Athens, Greece;
| | - Sotirios G. Zarogiannis
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41500 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece;
| | - Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis
- Respiratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece; (I.L.); (K.I.G.)
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Khan Z, Ualiyeva D, Khan A, Zaman N, Sapkota S, Khan A, Ali B, Ghafoor D. A Correlation among the COVID-19 Spread, Particulate Matters, and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2: A Review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 2021:5524098. [PMID: 34054974 PMCID: PMC8114882 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5524098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution (AP) is one of the leading causes of health risks because it causes widespread morbidity and mortality every year. Its impact on the environment includes acid rain and decreased visibility, but more importantly, it also has an impact on human health. The rise of COVID-19 demonstrates the cost of failing to manage AP. COVID-19 can be spread through the air, and atmospheric particulate matters (PMs) can create a good atmosphere for the long-distance spread of the virus. Moreover, these PMs can cause lung cell inflammation, thereby increasing sensitivity and the severity of symptoms in COVID-19 patients. In this study, we emphasized the potential role of PMs in the spread of COVID-19. The relationship among COVID-19, PMs, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) (receptor involved in virus entry into lung cells and inflammation) was also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zafran Khan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Swat, Mingora, Pakistan
| | - Daniya Ualiyeva
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Department of Herpetology, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Asaf Khan
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Nasib Zaman
- Center for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Swat, Mingora, Pakistan
| | - Sanjeep Sapkota
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ayub Khan
- Computer and Software Technology, University of Swat, Mingora, Pakistan
| | - Babar Ali
- Department of Optometry, Isra University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Dawood Ghafoor
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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25
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Duval JF, van Leeuwen HP, Norde W, Town RM. Chemodynamic features of nanoparticles: Application to understanding the dynamic life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols and aqueous biointerfacial zones. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 290:102400. [PMID: 33713994 PMCID: PMC7931671 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
We review concepts involved in describing the chemodynamic features of nanoparticles and apply the framework to gain physicochemical insights into interactions between SARS-CoV-2 virions and airborne particulate matter (PM). Our analysis is highly pertinent given that the World Health Organisation acknowledges that SARS-CoV-2 may be transmitted by respiratory droplets, and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention recognises that airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can occur. In our theoretical treatment, the virion is assimilated to a core-shell nanoparticle, and contributions of various interaction energies to the virion-PM association (electrostatic, hydrophobic, London-van der Waals, etc.) are generically included. We review the limited available literature on the physicochemical features of the SARS-CoV-2 virion and identify knowledge gaps. Despite the lack of quantitative data, our conceptual framework qualitatively predicts that virion-PM entities are largely able to maintain equilibrium on the timescale of their diffusion towards the host cell surface. Comparison of the relevant mass transport coefficients reveals that virion biointernalization demand by alveolar host cells may be greater than the diffusive supply. Under such conditions both the free and PM-sorbed virions may contribute to the transmitted dose. This result points to the potential for PM to serve as a shuttle for delivery of virions to host cell targets. Thus, our critical review reveals that the chemodynamics of virion-PM interactions may play a crucial role in the transmission of COVID-19, and provides a sound basis for explaining reported correlations between episodes of air pollution and outbreaks of COVID-19.
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Bourdrel T, Annesi-Maesano I, Alahmad B, Maesano CN, Bind MA. The impact of outdoor air pollution on COVID-19: a review of evidence from in vitro, animal, and human studies. Eur Respir Rev 2021; 30:30/159/200242. [PMID: 33568525 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0242-202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have pointed out that air pollution may be a contributing factor to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the specific links between air pollution and severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection remain unclear. Here we provide evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies from the existing literature. Epidemiological investigations have related various air pollutants to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality at the population level, however, those studies suffer from several limitations. Air pollution may be linked to an increase in COVID-19 severity and lethality through its impact on chronic diseases, such as cardiopulmonary diseases and diabetes. Experimental studies have shown that exposure to air pollution leads to a decreased immune response, thus facilitating viral penetration and replication. Viruses may persist in air through complex interactions with particles and gases depending on: 1) chemical composition; 2) electric charges of particles; and 3) meteorological conditions such as relative humidity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and temperature. In addition, by reducing UV radiation, air pollutants may promote viral persistence in air and reduce vitamin D synthesis. Further epidemiological studies are needed to better estimate the impact of air pollution on COVID-19. In vitro and in vivo studies are also strongly needed, in particular to more precisely explore the particle-virus interaction in air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bourdrel
- Memory Resource and Research Center, Geriatrics Dept, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Isabella Annesi-Maesano
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Dept (EPAR), Saint-Antoine Medical School, Paris, France
| | - Barrak Alahmad
- Dept of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cara N Maesano
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Dept (EPAR), Saint-Antoine Medical School, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Abèle Bind
- Dept of Statistics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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27
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Navarro KM, Clark KA, Hardt DJ, Reid CE, Lahm PW, Domitrovich JW, Butler CR, Balmes JR. Wildland firefighter exposure to smoke and COVID-19: A new risk on the fire line. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 760:144296. [PMID: 33341613 PMCID: PMC7962897 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Throughout the United States, wildland firefighters respond to wildfires, performing arduous work in remote locations. Wildfire incidents can be an ideal environment for the transmission of infectious diseases, particularly for wildland firefighters who congregate in work and living settings. In this review, we examine how exposure to wildfire smoke can contribute to an increased likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Human exposure to particulate matter (PM), a component of wildfire smoke, has been associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory responses; increasing the likelihood for adverse respiratory symptomology and pathology. In multiple epidemiological studies, wildfire smoke exposure has been associated with acute lower respiratory infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Co-occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and wildfire smoke inhalation may present an increased risk for COVID-19 illness in wildland firefighters due to PM based transport of SARS CoV-2 virus and up-regulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE-2) (i.e. ACE-2 functions as a trans-membrane receptor, allowing the SARS-CoV-2 virus to gain entry into the epithelial cell). Wildfire smoke exposure may also increase risk for more severe COVID-19 illness such as cytokine release syndrome, hypotension, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Current infection control measures, including social distancing, wearing cloth masks, frequent cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, frequent hand washing, and daily screening for COVID-19 symptoms are very important measures to reduce infections and severe health outcomes. Exposure to wildfire smoke may introduce additive or even multiplicative risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity of disease in wildland firefighters. Thus, additional mitigative measures may be needed to prevent the co-occurrence of wildfire smoke exposure and SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Navarro
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Field Studies and Engineering, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America.
| | - Kathleen A Clark
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Respiratory Health Division, Morgantown, WV, United States of America
| | - Daniel J Hardt
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Western States Division, Spokane, WA, United States of America
| | - Colleen E Reid
- Geography Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States of America
| | - Peter W Lahm
- USDA Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Joseph W Domitrovich
- USDA Forest Service, National Technology and Development Program, Missoula, MT, United States of America
| | - Corey R Butler
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Western States Division, Denver, CO, United States of America
| | - John R Balmes
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States of America; School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
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28
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Mele M, Magazzino C, Schneider N, Strezov V. NO 2 levels as a contributing factor to COVID-19 deaths: The first empirical estimate of threshold values. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 194:110663. [PMID: 33417906 PMCID: PMC7783466 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
This study represents the first empirical estimation of threshold values between nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations and COVID-19-related deaths in France. The concentration of NO2 linked to COVID-19-related deaths in three major French cities were determined using Artificial Neural Networks experiments and a Causal Direction from Dependency (D2C) algorithm. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential effects of NO2 in spreading the epidemic. The underlying hypothesis is that NO2, as a precursor to secondary particulate matter formation, can foster COVID-19 and make the respiratory system more susceptible to this infection. Three different neural networks for the cities of Paris, Lyon and Marseille were built in this work, followed by the application of an innovative tool of cutting the signal from the inputs to the selected target. The results show that the threshold levels of NO2 connected to COVID-19 range between 15.8 μg/m3 for Lyon, 21.8 μg/m3 for Marseille and 22.9 μg/m3 for Paris, which were significantly lower than the average annual concentration limit of 40 μg/m³ imposed by Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Mele
- University of Teramo, via R. Balzarini 1, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
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29
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Bourdrel T, Annesi-Maesano I, Alahmad B, Maesano CN, Bind MA. The impact of outdoor air pollution on COVID-19: a review of evidence from in vitro, animal, and human studies. Eur Respir Rev 2021; 30:30/159/200242. [PMID: 33568525 PMCID: PMC7879496 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0242-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have pointed out that air pollution may be a contributing factor to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the specific links between air pollution and severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection remain unclear. Here we provide evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies from the existing literature. Epidemiological investigations have related various air pollutants to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality at the population level, however, those studies suffer from several limitations. Air pollution may be linked to an increase in COVID-19 severity and lethality through its impact on chronic diseases, such as cardiopulmonary diseases and diabetes. Experimental studies have shown that exposure to air pollution leads to a decreased immune response, thus facilitating viral penetration and replication. Viruses may persist in air through complex interactions with particles and gases depending on: 1) chemical composition; 2) electric charges of particles; and 3) meteorological conditions such as relative humidity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and temperature. In addition, by reducing UV radiation, air pollutants may promote viral persistence in air and reduce vitamin D synthesis. Further epidemiological studies are needed to better estimate the impact of air pollution on COVID-19. In vitro and in vivo studies are also strongly needed, in particular to more precisely explore the particle–virus interaction in air. Our review highlights that both short- and long-term exposures to air pollution may be important aggravating factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission and COVID-19 severity and lethality through multiple mechanismshttps://bit.ly/395aS9w
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bourdrel
- Memory Resource and Research Center, Geriatrics Dept, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Isabella Annesi-Maesano
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Dept (EPAR), Saint-Antoine Medical School, Paris, France
| | - Barrak Alahmad
- Dept of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cara N Maesano
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Dept (EPAR), Saint-Antoine Medical School, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Abèle Bind
- Dept of Statistics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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30
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Woodby B, Arnold MM, Valacchi G. SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 pathogenesis, and exposure to air pollution: What is the connection? Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1486:15-38. [PMID: 33022781 PMCID: PMC7675684 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to air pollutants has been previously associated with respiratory viral infections, including influenza, measles, mumps, rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Epidemiological studies have also suggested that air pollution exposure is associated with increased cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19-associated mortality, although the molecular mechanisms by which pollutant exposure affects viral infection and pathogenesis of COVID-19 remain unknown. In this review, we suggest potential molecular mechanisms that could account for this association. We have focused on the potential effect of exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ), ozone (O3 ), and particulate matter (PM) since there are studies investigating how exposure to these pollutants affects the life cycle of other viruses. We have concluded that pollutant exposure may affect different stages of the viral life cycle, including inhibition of mucociliary clearance, alteration of viral receptors and proteases required for entry, changes to antiviral interferon production and viral replication, changes in viral assembly mediated by autophagy, prevention of uptake by macrophages, and promotion of viral spread by increasing epithelial permeability. We believe that exposure to pollutants skews adaptive immune responses toward bacterial/allergic immune responses, as opposed to antiviral responses. Exposure to air pollutants could also predispose exposed populations toward developing COIVD-19-associated immunopathology, enhancing virus-induced tissue inflammation and damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany Woodby
- Animal Science DepartmentPlants for Human Health Institute, N.C. Research Campus, North Carolina State UniversityKannapolisNorth Carolina
| | - Michelle M. Arnold
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyCenter for Molecular and Tumor VirologyLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterShreveportLouisiana
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Animal Science DepartmentPlants for Human Health Institute, N.C. Research Campus, North Carolina State UniversityKannapolisNorth Carolina
- Department of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyUniversity of FerraraFerraraItaly
- Department of Food and NutritionKyung Hee UniversitySeoulSouth Korea
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31
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Pansini R, Fornacca D. COVID-19 Higher Mortality in Chinese Regions With Chronic Exposure to Lower Air Quality. Front Public Health 2021; 8:597753. [PMID: 33585383 PMCID: PMC7874038 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.597753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the geographical character of the COVID-19 infection in China and correlated it with satellite- and ground-based measurements of air quality. Controlling for population density, we found more viral infections in those prefectures (U.S. county equivalent) afflicted by high Carbon Monoxide, Formaldehyde, PM 2.5, and Nitrogen Dioxide values. Higher mortality was also correlated with relatively poor air quality. When summarizing the results at a greater administrative level, we found that the 10 provinces (U.S. state equivalent) with the highest rate of mortality by COVID-19, were often the most polluted but not the most densely populated. Air pollution appears to be a risk factor for the incidence of this disease, despite the conventionally apprehended influence of human mobility on disease dynamics from the site of first appearance, Wuhan. The raw correlations reported here should be interpreted in a broader context, accounting for the growing evidence reported by several other studies. These findings warn communities and policymakers on the implications of long-term air pollution exposure as an ecological, multi-scale public health issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Pansini
- Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, Dali, China
- Behavioral and Experimental Economics Research Center, Statistic and Mathematics College, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming, China
| | - Davide Fornacca
- Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, Dali, China
- Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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32
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Tanwar V, Adelstein JM, Wold LE. Double trouble: combined cardiovascular effects of particulate matter exposure and coronavirus disease 2019. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 117:85-95. [PMID: 33084879 PMCID: PMC7665323 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly grown into a pandemic. According to initial reports, the lungs were thought to be the primary target, but recent case studies have shown its reach can extend to other organs including the heart and blood vessels. The severity of cardiac complications of COVID-19 depends on multiple underlying factors, with air pollutant exposure being one of them, as reported by several recent studies. Airborne particulate matter (PM) attracts heightened attention due to its implication in various diseases, especially respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Inhaled PM not only carries microorganisms inside the body but also elicits local and systemic inflammatory responses resulting in altering the host’s immunity and increasing susceptibility to infection. Previous and recent studies have documented that PM acts as a ‘carrier’ for the virus and aids in spreading viral infections. This review presents the mechanisms and effects of viral entry and how pollution can potentially modulate pathophysiological processes in the heart. We aimed to concisely summarize studies examining cardiovascular outcomes in COVID-19 patients and postulate on how PM can influence these outcomes. We have also reviewed evidence on the use of renin–angiotensin system inhibitors, namely angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, in patients with COVID-19. The interplay of pollution and SARS-CoV-2 is essential to understanding the effects of accentuated cardiovascular effects of COVID-19 and deserves in-depth experimental investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineeta Tanwar
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 473 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.,College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jeremy M Adelstein
- Medical Student Research Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Loren E Wold
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 473 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.,College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
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Guo B, Wang X, Pei L, Su Y, Zhang D, Wang Y. Identifying the spatiotemporal dynamic of PM 2.5 concentrations at multiple scales using geographically and temporally weighted regression model across China during 2015-2018. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 751:141765. [PMID: 32882558 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is closely related to the air quality and public health. Numerous models have been introduced to simulate the PM2.5 concentrations at large scale based on remote sensing and auxiliary data. However, the data precision provided by these models are inadequate for epidemiology and pollutant exposure studies at medium or small scale. The present study aims to calibrate PM2.5 concentrations at 1 km resolution scale across China during 2015-2018 based on monitoring station data and auxiliary data using a novel geographically and temporally weighted regression model (GTWR). The cross-validation (CV) method and the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model are conducted for validation and cross-comparison. Additionally, the spatial autocorrelation and slope analysis methods are implemented to detect the spatiotemporal dynamic of PM2.5 concentrations. A sample-based CV of the GTWR model demonstrates an acceptable precision with a coefficient of determination equal to 0.67, a root-mean-square error of 10.32 μg/m3, and a mean prediction error of-6.56 μg/m3. This result proves that the GTWR model can simulate PM2.5 concentrations at a higher spatial resolution and accuracy across China than some previous models. Besides, the heterogeneity and spatiotemporal dynamic of PM2.5 concentrations are obvious, that is, the High-High (H-H) agglomeration areas with strong haze pollution were mainly concentrated in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), Yangtze River Delta (YRD), Chengdu-Chongqing (CY), and Guanzhong Plain (GZP). In addition, the PM2.5 concentrations are undergoing a decreasing trend in most of the study area, and the decrease in the BTH is dramatic. The results of the present study are helpful for calibrating and detecting the spatiotemporal dynamic of PM2.5 concentrations and useful for the government to make decisions about decreasing haze pollution in urban agglomeration scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Guo
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China.
| | - Xiaoxia Wang
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Lin Pei
- School of Public Health, Xi'an JiaoTong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yi Su
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Dingming Zhang
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Yan Wang
- College of Geomatics, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, China
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Mele M, Magazzino C. Pollution, economic growth, and COVID-19 deaths in India: a machine learning evidence. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:2669-2677. [PMID: 32886309 PMCID: PMC7472938 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-10689-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
This study uses two different approaches to explore the relationship between pollution emissions, economic growth, and COVID-19 deaths in India. Using a time series approach and annual data for the years from 1980 to 2018, stationarity and Toda-Yamamoto causality tests were performed. The results highlight unidirectional causality between economic growth and pollution. Then, a D2C algorithm on proportion-based causality is applied, implementing the Oryx 2.0.8 protocol in Apache. The underlying hypothesis is that a predetermined pollution concentration, caused by economic growth, could foster COVID-19 by making the respiratory system more susceptible to infection. We use data (from January 29 to May 18, 2020) on confirmed deaths (total and daily) and air pollution concentration levels for 25 major Indian cities. We verify a ML causal link between PM2.5, CO2, NO2, and COVID-19 deaths. The implications require careful policy design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Mele
- Department of Political Sciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Cosimo Magazzino
- Department of Political Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
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Naqvi HR, Datta M, Mutreja G, Siddiqui MA, Naqvi DF, Naqvi AR. Improved air quality and associated mortalities in India under COVID-19 lockdown. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 268:115691. [PMID: 33139097 PMCID: PMC7590817 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
India enforced stringent lockdown measures on March 24, 2020 to mitigate the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronovirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we examined the impact of lockdown on the air quality index (AQI) [including ambient particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and ammonia (NH3)] and tropospheric NO2 and O3 densities through Sentinel-5 satellite data approximately 1 d post-lockdown and one month pre-lockdown and post-lockdown. Our findings revealed a marked reduction in the ambient AQI (estimated mean reduction of 17.75% and 20.70%, respectively), tropospheric NO2 density, and land surface temperature (LST) during post-lockdown compared with the pre-lockdown period or corresponding months in 2019, except for a few sites with substantial coal mining and active power plants. We observed a modest increase in the O3 density post-lockdown, thereby indicating improved tropospheric air quality. As a favorable outcome of the COVID-19 lockdown, road accident-related mortalities declined by 72-folds. Cities with poor air quality correlate with higher COVID-19 cases and deaths (r = 0.504 and r = 0.590 for NO2; r = 0.744 and r = 0.435 for AQI). Conversely, low mortality was reported in cities with better air quality. These results show a correlation between the COVID-19 vulnerable regions and AQI hotspots, thereby suggesting that air pollution may exacerbate clinical manifestations of the disease. However, a prolonged lockdown may nullify the beneficial environmental outcomes by adversely affecting socioeconomic and health aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Raja Naqvi
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.
| | - Manali Datta
- Department of Biochemistry, Amity University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Guneet Mutreja
- Environmental Systems Research Institute, R & D Center, New Delhi, India
| | - Masood Ahsan Siddiqui
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Afsar Raza Naqvi
- Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Magazzino C, Mele M, Schneider N. The relationship between air pollution and COVID-19-related deaths: An application to three French cities. APPLIED ENERGY 2020; 279:115835. [PMID: 32952266 PMCID: PMC7486865 DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Being heavily dependent to oil products (mainly gasoline and diesel), the French transport sector is the main emitter of Particulate Matter (PMs) whose critical levels induce harmful health effects for urban inhabitants. We selected three major French cities (Paris, Lyon, and Marseille) to investigate the relationship between the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak and air pollution. Using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) experiments, we have determined the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 linked to COVID-19-related deaths. Our focus is on the potential effects of Particulate Matter (PM) in spreading the epidemic. The underlying hypothesis is that a pre-determined particulate concentration can foster COVID-19 and make the respiratory system more susceptible to this infection. The empirical strategy used an innovative Machine Learning (ML) methodology. In particular, through the so-called cutting technique in ANNs, we found new threshold levels of PM2.5 and PM10 connected to COVID-19: 17.4 µg/m3 (PM2.5) and 29.6 µg/m3 (PM10) for Paris; 15.6 µg/m3 (PM2.5) and 20.6 µg/m3 (PM10) for Lyon; 14.3 µg/m3 (PM2.5) and 22.04 µg/m3 (PM10) for Marseille. Interestingly, all the threshold values identified by the ANNs are higher than the limits imposed by the European Parliament. Finally, a Causal Direction from Dependency (D2C) algorithm is applied to check the consistency of our findings.
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Key Words
- ANNs, Artificial Neural Networks
- Air pollution
- Artificial neural networks
- CH4, Methane
- CMAQ, Community Multiscale Air Quality
- CO, Carbon Monoxide
- COVID-19
- COVID-19, Coronavirus Disease 19
- D2C, Causal Direction from Dependency
- GAM, Generalized Additive Model
- GHG, Greenhouse Gas
- ML, Machine Learning
- Machine learning
- NO2, Nitrogen Dioxide
- NOx, Nitrogen Oxides
- O3, Ozone
- PM10, Particulate Matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 10.0 µm
- PM2.5, Particulate Matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm
- Particulate matter
- SO2, Sulfur Dioxide
- SO3, Sulphur Trioxide
- SOx, Sulphur Oxides
- VOC, Volatile Organic Compounds
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Yu H, Wang Y, Peng Q, Shao Y, Duan C, Zhu Y, Dong S, Li C, Shi Y, Zhang N, Zheng Y, Chen Y, Jiang Q, Zhong P, Zhou Y. Influence of coarse particulate matter on chickenpox in Jiading District, Shanghai, 2009-2018: A distributed lag non-linear time series analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 190:110039. [PMID: 32810505 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Although the link between ambient air pollution and some infectious diseases has been studied, few studies have explored so far, the relationship between chickenpox and particulate matter. Daily chickenpox counts in Jiading District, Shanghai, were collected from 2009 to 2018. Time series analysis was conducted to describe the trends of the daily number of chickenpox cases and the concentration of particulate matter 10 μm or less (PM10). The distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was developed to assess the lag and non-linear relationship between the number of chickenpox cases and PM10 concentration adjusting for meteorological factors and other pollutants. Spatiotemporal scanning was used to detect the clustering of chickenpox cases. There was a concomitant relationship between the number of chickenpox cases and PM10 concentration, especially in the period of high PM10 concentration. DLNM results showed a nonlinear relationship between the number of chickenpox cases and PM10 concentration with the maximum effect of PM10 being lagged for 13-14 days, which was consistent with the average incubation period of chickenpox. PM10 was significantly associated with the daily number of chickenpox cases when above 300 μg/m3. The risk of chickenpox increased with increasing PM10 concentration and the association was strongest at the lag of 14 day (RR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04-1.23) for PM10 concentration of 500 μg/m3 versus 50 μg/m3. The study provides evidence that high PM10 concentration increases the risk of chickenpox spreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Yu
- Jiading District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Yingjian Wang
- Fudan University School of Public Health, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Building 8, 130 Dong an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Fudan University Center for Tropical Disease Research, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qian Peng
- Jiading District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Yueqin Shao
- Jiading District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Chunmei Duan
- Jiading District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Yefan Zhu
- Jiading District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Shurong Dong
- Fudan University School of Public Health, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Building 8, 130 Dong an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Fudan University Center for Tropical Disease Research, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chunlin Li
- Fudan University School of Public Health, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Building 8, 130 Dong an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Fudan University Center for Tropical Disease Research, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ying Shi
- Fudan University School of Public Health, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Building 8, 130 Dong an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Fudan University Center for Tropical Disease Research, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Fudan University School of Public Health, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Building 8, 130 Dong an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Fudan University Center for Tropical Disease Research, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yingyan Zheng
- Fudan University School of Public Health, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Building 8, 130 Dong an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Fudan University Center for Tropical Disease Research, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yue Chen
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Qingwu Jiang
- Fudan University School of Public Health, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Building 8, 130 Dong an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Fudan University Center for Tropical Disease Research, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Peisong Zhong
- Jiading District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 201800, China.
| | - Yibiao Zhou
- Fudan University School of Public Health, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Building 8, 130 Dong an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; Fudan University Center for Tropical Disease Research, Building 8, 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Mishra R, Krishnamoorthy P, Gangamma S, Raut AA, Kumar H. Particulate matter (PM 10) enhances RNA virus infection through modulation of innate immune responses. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 266:115148. [PMID: 32771845 PMCID: PMC7357538 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Sensing of pathogens by specialized receptors is the hallmark of the innate immunity. Innate immune response also mounts a defense response against various allergens and pollutants including particulate matter present in the atmosphere. Air pollution has been included as the top threat to global health declared by WHO which aims to cover more than three billion people against health emergencies from 2019 to 2023. Particulate matter (PM), one of the major components of air pollution, is a significant risk factor for many human diseases and its adverse effects include morbidity and premature deaths throughout the world. Several clinical and epidemiological studies have identified a key link between the PM existence and the prevalence of respiratory and inflammatory disorders. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is not well understood. Here, we investigated the influence of air pollutant, PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm) during RNA virus infections using Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) - H5N1 virus. We thus characterized the transcriptomic profile of lung epithelial cell line, A549 treated with PM10 prior to H5N1infection, which is known to cause severe lung damage and respiratory disease. We found that PM10 enhances vulnerability (by cellular damage) and regulates virus infectivity to enhance overall pathogenic burden in the lung cells. Additionally, the transcriptomic profile highlights the connection of host factors related to various metabolic pathways and immune responses which were dysregulated during virus infection. Collectively, our findings suggest a strong link between the prevalence of respiratory illness and its association with the air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa Mishra
- Laboratory of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal, Bhopal, 462066, MP, India
| | - Pandikannan Krishnamoorthy
- Laboratory of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal, Bhopal, 462066, MP, India
| | - S Gangamma
- National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, Mangaluru, 575025, Karnataka, India; Centre for Water Food and Environment, IIT Ropar, Rupnagar, 140001, Punjab, India
| | - Ashwin Ashok Raut
- Pathogenomics Laboratory, ICAR - National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), OIE Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza, Bhopal, 462021, MP, India
| | - Himanshu Kumar
- Laboratory of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal, Bhopal, 462066, MP, India; WPI Immunology, Frontier Research Centre, Osaka University, Osaka, 5650871, Japan.
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Zhang Z, Xue T, Jin X. Effects of meteorological conditions and air pollution on COVID-19 transmission: Evidence from 219 Chinese cities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 741:140244. [PMID: 32592975 PMCID: PMC7832158 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
The spatial distribution of the COVID-19 infection in China cannot be explained solely by geographical distance and regulatory stringency. In this research we investigate how meteorological conditions and air pollution, as concurring factors, impact COVID-19 transmission, using data on new confirmed cases from 219 prefecture cities from January 24 to February 29, 2020. Results revealed a kind of nonlinear dose-response relationship between temperature and coronavirus transmission. We also found that air pollution indicators are positively correlated with new confirmed cases, and the coronavirus further spreads by 5-7% as the AQI increases by 10 units. Further analysis based on regional divisions revealed that in northern China the negative effects of rising temperature on COVID-19 is counteracted by aggravated air pollution. In the southern cities, the ambient temperature and air pollution have a negative interactive effect on COVID-19 transmission, implying that rising temperature restrains the facilitating effects of air pollution and that they jointly lead to a decrease in new confirmed cases. These results provide implications for the control and prevention of this disease and for the anticipation of another possible pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenbo Zhang
- School of Public Administration, Nanjing Audit University, 86 West Yushan Road, Nanjing 211815, China.
| | - Ting Xue
- School of Public Administration, Nanjing Audit University, 86 West Yushan Road, Nanjing 211815, China
| | - Xiaoyu Jin
- School of Government, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Bellocchio L, Bordea IR, Ballini A, Lorusso F, Hazballa D, Isacco CG, Malcangi G, Inchingolo AD, Dipalma G, Inchingolo F, Piscitelli P, Logroscino G, Miani A. Environmental Issues and Neurological Manifestations Associated with COVID-19 Pandemic: New Aspects of the Disease? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E8049. [PMID: 33139595 PMCID: PMC7663018 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China in December 2019 and rapidly caused a global health pandemic. Current evidence seems to suggest a possible link with ecosystem disequilibrium and even air pollution. The primary manifestations affect respiratory and circulatory systems, but neurological features are also being reported through case reports and case series. We summarize neurological symptoms and complications associated with COVID-19. We have searched for original articles published in PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central and Google Scholar using the following keywords: "COVID-19", "Coronavirus", "pandemic", "SARS-COV-2", "neurology", "neurological", "complications" and "manifestations". We found around 1000 publications addressing the issue of neurological conditions associated with COVID-19 infection. Amongst those, headache and dizziness are the most common reported symptoms followed by encephalopathy and delirium, while the most frequent complications are cerebrovascular accidents, Guillain-Barré syndrome, acute transverse myelitis, and acute encephalitis. Specific symptoms affecting the peripheral nervous system such as hyposmia and dysgeusia are the most common manifestations recorded in the selected studies. Interestingly, it was noted that these kinds of neurological symptoms might precede the typical features, such as fever and cough, in COVID patients. Neurological symptoms and complications associated with COVID-19 should be considered as a part of the clinical features of this novel global pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Bellocchio
- INSERM, U1215 NeuroCentre Magendie, Endocannabinoids and Neuroadaptation, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France;
| | - Ioana Roxana Bordea
- Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrea Ballini
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, Campus Universitario “Ernesto Quagliariello” University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70125 Bari, Italy;
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Felice Lorusso
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Denisa Hazballa
- Kongresi Elbasanit, Rruga: Aqif Pasha, 3001 Elbasan, Albania;
| | - Ciro Gargiulo Isacco
- Embryology and Regenerative Medicine and Immunology at Pham Chau Trinh University of Medicine Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh 70000, Vietnam;
- Regenerative Medicine and Metabolic Disorders at Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Medicine Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Malcangi
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Medicine Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy; (G.M.); (A.D.I.); (G.D.); (F.I.)
| | - Alessio Danilo Inchingolo
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Medicine Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy; (G.M.); (A.D.I.); (G.D.); (F.I.)
| | - Gianna Dipalma
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Medicine Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy; (G.M.); (A.D.I.); (G.D.); (F.I.)
| | - Francesco Inchingolo
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Medicine Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy; (G.M.); (A.D.I.); (G.D.); (F.I.)
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Staff UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, 20068 Milan, Italy;
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, 20068 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] [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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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] [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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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] [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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Wang B, Chen H, Chan YL, Oliver BG. Is there an association between the level of ambient air pollution and COVID-19? Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 319:L416-L421. [PMID: 32697597 PMCID: PMC7839633 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00244.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies suggest that environmental factors (e.g., air pollution) can influence the spread and infectivity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, very few papers have investigated or discussed the mechanism behind the phenomenon. Given the fact that pollution will increase as social distancing rules are relaxed, we summarized the current understanding of how air pollution may affect COVID-19 transmission and discussed several possible mechanisms. Air pollution exposure can dysregulate the human immune response and make people more susceptible to infections, and affect infectivity. For example, in response to exposure to air pollution, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 will increase, which is the receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This may increase the efficiency of viral infection. It is also possible that air pollution can facilitate SARS-CoV-2 spread by increasing the transmission, and potentially, SARS-CoV-2 can also survive longer when attached to a pollutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoming Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hui Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yik Lung Chan
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brian G Oliver
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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45
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Fattorini D, Regoli F. Role of the chronic air pollution levels in the Covid-19 outbreak risk in Italy. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 264:114732. [PMID: 32387671 PMCID: PMC7198142 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
After the initial outbreak in China, the diffusion in Italy of SARS-CoV-2 is exhibiting a clear regional trend with more elevated frequency and severity of cases in Northern areas. Among multiple factors possibly involved in such geographical differences, a role has been hypothesized for atmospheric pollution. We provide additional evidence on the possible influence of air quality, particularly in terms of chronicity of exposure on the spread viral infection in Italian regions. Actual data on Covid-19 outbreak in Italian provinces and corresponding long-term air quality evaluations, were obtained from Italian and European agencies, elaborated and tested for possible interactions. Our elaborations reveal that, beside concentrations, the chronicity of exposure may influence the anomalous variability of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy. Data on distribution of atmospheric pollutants (NO2, O3, PM2.5 and PM10) in Italian regions during the last 4 years, days exceeding regulatory limits, and years of the last decade (2010-2019) in which the limits have been exceeded for at least 35 days, highlight that Northern Italy has been constantly exposed to chronic air pollution. Long-term air-quality data significantly correlated with cases of Covid-19 in up to 71 Italian provinces (updated April 27, 2020) providing further evidence that chronic exposure to atmospheric contamination may represent a favourable context for the spread of the virus. Pro-inflammatory responses and high incidence of respiratory and cardiac affections are well known, while the capability of this coronavirus to bind particulate matters remains to be established. Atmospheric and environmental pollution should be considered as part of an integrated approach for sustainable development, human health protection and prevention of epidemic spreads but in a long-term and chronic perspective, since adoption of mitigation actions during a viral outbreak could be of limited utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Fattorini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente (Disva), Università Politecnica delle Marche (Univpm), Via Brecce Bianche, 60100, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Regoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente (Disva), Università Politecnica delle Marche (Univpm), Via Brecce Bianche, 60100, Ancona, Italy.
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46
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Xu H, Yan C, Fu Q, Xiao K, Yu Y, Han D, Wang W, Cheng J. Possible environmental effects on the spread of COVID-19 in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 731:139211. [PMID: 32402910 PMCID: PMC7204718 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus, designated as SARS-CoV-2, emerged in Wuhan, China and was identified as the causal pathogen of COVID-19. The epidemic scale of COVID-19 has increased dramatically, with confirmed cases increasing across China and globally. Understanding the potential affecting factors involved in COVID-19 transmission will be of great significance in containing the spread of the epidemic. Environmental and meteorological factors might impact the occurrence of COVID-19, as these have been linked to various diseases, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), whose causative pathogens belong to the same virus family as SARS-CoV-2. We collected daily data of COVID-19 confirmed cases, air quality and meteorological variables of 33 locations in China for the outbreak period of 29 January 2020 to 15 February 2020. The association between air quality index (AQI) and confirmed cases was estimated through a Poisson regression model, and the effects of temperature and humidity on the AQI-confirmed cases association were analyzed. The results show that the effect of AQI on confirmed cases associated with an increase in each unit of AQI was statistically significant in several cities. The lag effect of AQI on the confirmed cases was statistically significant on lag day 1 (relative risk (RR) = 1.0009, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0004, 1.0013), day 2 (RR = 1.0007, 95% CI: 1.0003, 1.0012) and day 3 (RR = 1.0008, 95% CI: 1.0003, 1.0012). The AQI effect on the confirmed cases might be stronger in the temperature range of 10 °C ≤ T < 20 °C than in other temperature ranges, while the RR of COVID-19 transmission associated with AQI was higher in the relative humidity (RH) range of 10% ≤ RH < 20%. Results may suggest an enhanced impact of AQI on the COVID-19 spread under low RH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Chonghuai Yan
- Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Qingyan Fu
- Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Kai Xiao
- Wuhan Environmental Protection Science Academy, Wuhan 430015, China
| | - Yamei Yu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Deming Han
- School of Environmental, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wenhua Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jinping Cheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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Comunian S, Dongo D, Milani C, Palestini P. Air Pollution and Covid-19: The Role of Particulate Matter in the Spread and Increase of Covid-19's Morbidity and Mortality. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E4487. [PMID: 32580440 PMCID: PMC7345938 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Sars-cov-2 virus (Covid-19) is a member of the coronavirus family and is responsible for the pandemic recently declared by the World Health Organization. A positive correlation has been observed between the spread of the virus and air pollution, one of the greatest challenges of our millennium. Covid-19 could have an air transmission and atmospheric particulate matter (PM) could create a suitable environment for transporting the virus at greater distances than those considered for close contact. Moreover, PM induces inflammation in lung cells and exposure to PM could increase the susceptibility and severity of the Covid-19 patient symptoms. The new coronavirus has been shown to trigger an inflammatory storm that would be sustained in the case of pre-exposure to polluting agents. In this review, we highlight the potential role of PM in the spread of Covid-19, focusing on Italian cities whose PM daily concentrations were found to be higher than the annual average allowed during the months preceding the epidemic. Furthermore, we analyze the positive correlation between the virus spread, PM, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a receptor involved in the entry of the virus into pulmonary cells and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Comunian
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy;
| | | | - Chiara Milani
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy;
- NeuroMi, Milan Centre for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Paola Palestini
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy;
- NeuroMi, Milan Centre for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
- POLARIS Research Centre, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
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48
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Zhang Y, Wang S, Zhang X, Ni C, Zhang J, Zheng C. Temperature modulation of the adverse consequences on human mortality due to exposure to fine particulates: A study of multiple cities in China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 185:109353. [PMID: 32222628 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to particulate matter of smaller than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) is linked to increased human mortality, and could be further complicated by concurrent ambient air temperatures. Published reports indicate that the association between ambient temperatures and mortality due to PM2.5 exposure is dissimilar across different geographic areas. Thus, it is unclear how ambient temperatures at different geographic locations can together modulate the influence of PM2.5 on mortality. In this paper, we examined how temperature modulated the association between mortality and PM2.5 exposure in 15 Chinese cities during 2014-2016. For analysis, First, Poisson generalized additive models under different temperature stratifications (<10th, 10-90th, and >90th temperature percentiles) was used to estimate PM2.5 associations to mortality, which were specific to different cities. Second, we used a meta-analysis to combine the effects at each temperature stratum and region (southern and northern China). Results revealed that high temperatures (daily mean temperature >90th percentile) robustly amplified observed associations of mortality and PM2.5 exposure, and the modifications were heterogeneous geographically. In the northern regions, a 10 μg/m3 increment in PM2.5 was associated with 0.18%, 0.28%, and 1.54% increase in non-accidental mortalities and 0.33%, 0.39%, and 1.32% increase in cardiovascular mortalities at low, moderate, and high temperature levels, respectively. In the southern regions, a 10 μg/m3 increment in PM2.5 was associated with 0.52%, 0.62%, and 1.90% increase in non-accidental mortalities and 0.55%, 0.98%, and 2.25% increase in cardiovascular mortalities at low, moderate, and high temperature levels, respectively. It is concluded that temperature altered PM2.5-mortality associations in southern and northern China synergistically, but the effect was more pronounced in the south. Therefore, geography and temperature need to be considered when studying how PM2.5 affects health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China; State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Shigong Wang
- Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China; Institute of Urban Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Changjian Ni
- Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Plateau Atmosphere and Environment Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China
| | - Canjun Zheng
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
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Cheng W, Li H, Zhang X, Sun W, Chong KC, Lau SYF, Yu Z, Liu S, Ling F, Pan J, Chen E. The association between ambient particulate matters, nitrogen dioxide, and childhood scarlet fever in Hangzhou, Eastern China, 2014-2018. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 246:125826. [PMID: 31918112 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.125826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 12/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emerging cases of childhood scarlet fever (SF) and worsening air pollution problems in Chinese cities suggests a potential linkage between them. However, few studies had explored this association in a large childhood population. METHODS We conducted a time-series analysis using the daily count of SF and the daily concentrations of particulate matters with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 (PM2.5) and 10 (PM10), as well as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Hangzhou, China from 2014 to 2018. Distributed lag nonlinear models were used to estimate the lag effects of PM2.5, PM10 and NO2 for a maximum lag of 10 days, which were quantified using relative risk (RR) comparing the adjusted risks at the 2.5th (extremely low effect) and 97.5th (extremely high effect) percentiles of concentration of the three air pollutants to that at the median. Stratified RRs by sex were also reported. RESULTS Using the median concentration as reference, for extremely high effect, the RR was the highest on lag days 5, 6, and 3 for PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 respectively. While on lag day 0, the RR of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 were 1.04 (95%CI: 0.90-1.20), 1.07 (95%CI: 0.92-1.24), and 1.08 (95%CI: 0.92-1.26) respectively, the RRs increased constantly and cumulatively to the maximum values of 1.88 (95%CI: 1.33-2.66), 1.82 (95%CI: 1.29-2.55), and 2.19 (95%CI: 1.47-3.27) for PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 respectively on lag day 10. Subgroup analyses showed that females appeared to be more vulnerable to the three pollutants than males. CONCLUSION Our study provides evidence that PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 exert delayed effects on SF infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Cheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310051, China
| | - Huanhuan Li
- Zhejiang Hospital, 12 Lingyin Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310013, China
| | - Xueying Zhang
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, 10029, United States
| | - Wanwan Sun
- Zhejiang Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310051, China
| | - Ka Chun Chong
- Division of Biostatistics, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong China
| | - Steven Yuk-Fai Lau
- Division of Biostatistics, JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong China
| | - Zhao Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310051, China
| | - Shelan Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310051, China
| | - Feng Ling
- Zhejiang Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310051, China
| | - Jinren Pan
- Zhejiang Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310051, China.
| | - Enfu Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310051, China.
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50
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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. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND 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] [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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