COVID-19 was claimed by scientists to be linked to air pollution, leading to higher infected cases and death rates. According to the World Economic Forum's latest report, a new study discovered a correlation between the number of COVID-19 cases and the level of air pollution.
Virus Air pollution linked to far higher Covid-19 death rates, study finds ️ https://t.co/8Z5HKy9wXj#coronavirus #COVID19 #AirPollution #climatechange pic.twitter.com/8jOZ4TM4G6 — Alexander Verbeek (@Alex_Verbeek) April 8, 2020
The total number of deaths caused by the novel coronavirus has now surpassed half a million. It said that medical experts and other researchers must understand why some places have a higher number of cases and deaths compared to other locations. New research claimed that air pollution may be one of the factors affecting the cases.
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The study, which was published by IZA Institute of Labor Economics, claimed that lung function can be reduced by long term exposure to pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate matter, which are called PM2.5 because they are smaller than 2.5 micrometers. These substances may also cause respiratory illnesses.
It was also revealed that the pollutants may cause persistent inflammatory response even in relatively young individuals. The new study claimed that the particles can increase the risk of viruses, including the pathogen SARS-Cov-2, which causes COVID-19, which penetrates into the respiratory tract.
Netherlands' unusual COVID-19 cases
355 Dutch municipalities were included in the study's data analysis. An increase in fine particulate matter concentrations of 1 microgram per cubic meter was discovered by the researchers to be linked with an increase of up 15 infected cases, three deaths, and four hospital admissions.
The first COVID-19 case in the Netherlands was reported in late February, which then later led to over 50,000 cases by late June. Most of the infected cases were found in the south-eastern regions. However, the researchers found out these hotspots of disease transmission found in rural regions are pretty unusual since these areas have only a few people living together.
An explanation was provided by the Dutch media, saying that the rural areas hold carnival celebrations that attract thousands of people to parades and street parties. But, the study claimed that there is still a relationship between air pollution and COVID-19, even if other factors such as carnivals, health, income, age, and population density, were controlled.
The scientists found 12.3 micrograms per cubic meter was found in the Dutch municipality that has the highest annual average concentration of fine particulate matter, while the lowest only has 6.9 micrograms per cubic meter. The study concluded that if the most polluted municipality fell to the least polluted level, it would lead to 24 fewer hospital admissions, 19 fewer deaths, and 82 fewer disease cases.
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