Science sub-journal interpretation! Does air pollution really make the COVID-19 epidemic even more deadly?

18, 2020 // -- A recent study published in the international journal Science Advances entitled "Air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in United States: Strengths and the design of an ecological regression analysis" found that people exposed to long-term air pollution may be more likely to die from COVID-19.
in an analysis of more than 3,000 U.S. counties, researchers found that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increased by more than 10 percent when there was a small increase in the risk of dying from COVID-19.
researcher Jeremy Jackson says air pollution can make influenza and other lung diseases worse, so it's no surprise that PM2.5 increases the risk of dying from COVID-19 disease; the paper's publication has a very tortuous history of not following the usual pattern of data collected by researchers for at least 20 years;
, a biostatists, says the increased risk findings do not pin down who is more likely to succumb to the virus, but I hope the findings will encourage policymakers to re-examine the health risks posed by air pollution.
Photo Source: Medicalxpress.com Analysis of how adjustable factors exacerbate symptoms and increase the risk of death in patients with COVID-19 is critical to guiding policies and behaviors to minimize disease-related mortality;
addition, a number of county-level agencies can guide action on key immediate policies to improve public health, which may include the allocation of personal protective equipment and hospital beds to areas with historically high levels of air pollution. In the
study, the researchers also analyzed county-wide data on coronavirus deaths and compared them with estimated daily PM2.5 concentrations across the United States from 2000 to 2016, and found a small increase in pollution (only 1 microgram per cubic meter) or an 11 percent increase in mortality in a county population.
. Environmental Protection Agency thinks safe air pollution levels are too high, and most scientists would probably agree, said Jackson, a researcher at the Environmental Protection Agency.
global warming alone will not have an impact on the epidemic, but by diverting people to renewable energy and electric cars, it may be enough to make the air cleaner and safer.
In many cities around the world, including New York, PM2.5 levels drop significantly during the pandemic blockade, and rise rapidly when people return to normal life; finally, researcher Jackson says the rebound in air pollution levels is frustrating for us, but it's important that the world actually conducts a large-scale trial that could have a very positive impact on controlling the epidemic if we make up our minds to reduce extreme air pollution.
() References: X. Wu, R.C. Nethery, M.B. Sabath, et al. Air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in The United States: Strengths and lys of an ecological regression analysis, Science Advances 04 Nov 2020, doi:10.1126/sciadv.abd4049(2) Jeremy Jackson, Kip Hodges. How air pollution may influence the course of pandemics, Science Advances 04 Nov 2020: Vol. 6, no. 45, eabf1897 doi:10.1126/sciadv.abf1897(3) Can air pollution make COVID even deadlier? By Steven Reinberg Healthday Reporter