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Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on criteria air pollutants in the city of Daegu, the epicenter of South Korea's outbreak.

ABSTRACT: The outbreak of COVID-19 in Daegu, South Korea, early in 2020 has led this metropolitan city to become one of the major hotspots in the world. This study investigates the association of meteorology and the new daily COVID-19 confirmed cases and the effects of the city lockdown on the variation in criteria air pollutants (CAPs) in Daegu. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were negatively correlated to the new daily cases and played an important role in the spread of COVID-19. Wind speed could enhance the virus transmission through the inhalation of aerosols and/or droplets and contact with fomites. The lockdown has directly decreased the concentrations of CAPs. In particular, reductions of 3.75% (PM10), 30.9% (PM2.5), 36.7% (NO2), 43.7% (CO), and 21.3% (SO2) between the period before and during the outbreak were observed over the entire city. An increase in O3 (71.1%) was affected by natural processes and photochemical formation other than the lockdown effects. The three central districts were the areas most affected by the virus and showed the highest reductions in CAPs (except for O3) during the outbreak. Apart from the influence of the lockdown, the decreasing trend in CAPs may be a result of the actions taken by the government to mitigate air pollutants nationwide since 2019. The results of this study can be useful for government and medical organizations to understand the behavior of the virus in the atmosphere. Further studies are necessary to explore the detailed influences of the lockdown on the environment and public life.

SUBMITTER: Vuong QT

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7592145 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on criteria air pollutants in the city of Daegu, the epicenter of South Korea's outbreak.

Vuong Quang Tran QT Thang Phan Quang PQ Park Min-Kyu MK Choi Sung-Deuk SD

Environmental science and pollution research international 20201028 36

The outbreak of COVID-19 in Daegu, South Korea, early in 2020 has led this metropolitan city to become one of the major hotspots in the world. This study investigates the association of meteorology and the new daily COVID-19 confirmed cases and the effects of the city lockdown on the variation in criteria air pollutants (CAPs) in Daegu. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were negatively correlated to the new daily cases and played an important role in the spread of COVID-19. Wind speed co ...[more]

PMID: 33113059

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Project description:As a result of the lockdown (LD) control measures enacted to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, almost all non-essential human activities were halted beginning on January 23, 2020 when the total lockdown was implemented. In this study, changes in the concentrations of the six criteria air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3) in Wuhan were investigated before (January 1 to 23, 2020), during (January 24 to April 5, 2020), and after the COVID-19 lockdown (April 6 to June 20, 2020) periods. Also, the relationships between the air pollutants and meteorological variables during the three periods were investigated. The results showed that there was significant improvement in air quality during the lockdown. Compared to the pre-lockdown period, the concentrations of NO2, PM2.5, PM10, and CO decreased by 50.6, 41.2, 33.1, and 16.6%, respectively, while O3 increased by 149% during the lockdown. After the lockdown, the concentrations of PM2.5, CO and SO2 declined by an additional 19.6, 15.6, and 2.1%, respectively. However, NO2, O3, and PM10 increased by 55.5, 25.3, and 5.9%, respectively, compared to the lockdown period. Except for CO and SO2, WS had negative correlations with the other pollutants during the three periods. RH was inversely related with all pollutants. Positive correlations were observed between temperature and the pollutants during the lockdown. Easterly winds were associated with peak PM2.5 concentrations prior to the lockdown. The highest PM2.5 concentrations were associated with southwesterly wind during the lockdown, and northwesterly winds coincided with the peak PM2.5 concentrations after the lockdown. Although, COVID-19 pandemic had numerous negative effects on human health and the global economy, the reductions in air pollution and significant improvement in ambient air quality likely had substantial short-term health benefits. This study improves the understanding of the mechanisms that lead to air pollution under diverse meteorological conditions and suggest effective ways of reducing air pollution in Wuhan.

Project description:BackgroundA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak started in February 2020 and was controlled at the end of March 2020 in Daegu, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Korea. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical course and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 in Daegu.MethodsIn collaboration with Daegu Metropolitan City and Korean Center for Diseases Control, we conducted a retrospective, multicenter cohort study. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data, including viral RNA detection, were obtained from the electronic medical records and cohort database and compared between survivors and non-survivors. We used univariate and multi-variable logistic regression methods and Cox regression model and performed Kaplan-Meier analysis to determine the risk factors associated with the 28-day mortality and release from isolation among the patients.ResultsIn this study, 7,057 laboratory-confirmed patients with COVID-19 (total cohort) who had been diagnosed from February 18 to July 10, 2020 were included. Of the total cohort, 5,467 were asymptomatic to mild patients (77.4%) (asymptomatic 30.6% and mild 46.8%), 985 moderate (14.0%), 380 severe (5.4%), and 225 critical (3.2%). The mortality of the patients was 2.5% (179/7,057). The Cox regression hazard model for the patients with available clinical information (core cohort) (n = 2,254) showed the risk factors for 28-day mortality: age > 70 (hazard ratio [HR], 4.219, P = 0.002), need for O₂ supply at admission (HR, 2.995; P = 0.001), fever (> 37.5°C) (HR, 2.808; P = 0.001), diabetes (HR, 2.119; P = 0.008), cancer (HR, 3.043; P = 0.011), dementia (HR, 5.252; P = 0.008), neurological disease (HR, 2.084; P = 0.039), heart failure (HR, 3.234; P = 0.012), and hypertension (HR, 2.160; P = 0.017). The median duration for release from isolation was 33 days (interquartile range, 24.0-46.0) in survivors. The Cox proportional hazard model for the long duration of isolation included severity, age > 70, and dementia.ConclusionOverall, asymptomatic to mild patients were approximately 77% of the total cohort (asymptomatic, 30.6%). The case fatality rate was 2.5%. Risk factors, including older age, need for O₂ supply, dementia, and neurological disorder at admission, could help clinicians to identify COVID-19 patients with poor prognosis at an early stage.

Dataset Information

Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on criteria air pollutants in the city of Daegu, the epicenter of South Korea's outbreak.

Publications

Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on criteria air pollutants in the city of Daegu, the epicenter of South Korea's outbreak.

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