Dataset Information

Effects of chronic exposure to ambient air pollutants on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality - A lesson from OECD countries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Exposure to ambient air pollution is related to 4.2 million premature deaths per year worldwide and is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, such as respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity. Furthermore, exposure to air pollution can increase human sensitivity to respiratory pathogens via damage to the respiratory track or via airborne transmission on the surface of particulate matter, and might be an additional factor influencing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to examine the association between populations' exposure to air pollution and the morbidity and mortality rates from COVID-19.

Methods

We examined the association between population-weighted long term exposure to PM_2.5 and NOx, and the morbidity and mortality over time following the detection of the first COVID-19 positive case in 36 OECD countries. Pearson and Spearman correlations between daily COVID-19 morbidity and mortality (Jan-Jun 2020) on the 10^th, 20^th, 40^th and 60^th and 80^th days since first confirmed case in the country, and demographic, health, economic, and environmental data were calculated. Multivariate linear regression were used to examine the associations between demographic, health, economic and air pollution features and the rate of confirmed cases and deaths on the 60^th and 80^th days following the first confirmed case.

Results

PM_2.5 concentrations in 2015-2017 were positively correlated with COVID-19 morbidity and mortality on the 10^th, 20^th, 40^th and 60^th days since the first confirmed case in all countries. NOx concentrations in 2015-2017 and country's density (population/Km²) were positively correlated with COVID-19 morbidity and mortality on the 60^th day. All multivariate linear regressions consisting PM_2.5 concentrations models were statistically significant. Our models also emphasize the importance of the relative number of hospital beds in decreasing the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19.

Conclusions

The adverse health outcomes stemming from long-term exposure to various air pollutants has long been known to the scientific community. According to our results and previously published studies, it appears that long-term exposure to air pollutants concentrations exceeding WHO guidelines, such as PM_2.5 and NOx might exacerbate morbidity and mortality rates from COVID-19. These results should raise a red flag globally among decision makers about the urgent need to reduce air pollution and its harmful effects.

SUBMITTER: Barnett-Itzhaki Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7826117 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Effects of chronic exposure to ambient air pollutants on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality - A lesson from OECD countries.

Barnett-Itzhaki Zohar Z Levi Adi A

Environmental research 20210121

<h4>Background</h4>Exposure to ambient air pollution is related to 4.2 million premature deaths per year worldwide and is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, such as respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity. Furthermore, exposure to air pollution can increase human sensitivity to respiratory pathogens via damage to the respiratory tract or via airborne transmission on the surface of particulate matter, and might be an additional factor influencing COVID-19 morbidity and mortali ...[more]

PMID: 33484722

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Project description:BackgroundRecent studies conducted in several OECD countries have shown that chronic exposure to elevated levels of air pollutants (especially PM2.5, PM10 and NOx), might negatively impact COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to examine the association between chronic exposure to air pollution in Israeli cities and towns, their demographic and socioeconomic status, and COVID-19 morbidity, during the three local morbidity waves.MethodsWe examined the associations between: (a) annual average concentrations of NOx, CO, PM10, PM2.5 and SO2 in 2016-2019, and demographic and socioeconomic parameters, and (b) COVID-19 positive cases in 279 Israeli cities and towns, in the four state-wide morbidity peaks: 1st wave peak: March 31st, 2020; 2nd wave peaks: July 24th and September 27th, 2020, and the 3rd wave peak: January 17th, 2021, which occurred after the beginning of the nationwide vaccination campaign. These associations were calculated using both Spearman correlations and multivariate linear regressions.ResultsWe found statistically significant positive correlations between the concentrations of most pollutants in 2016-19 and COVID-19 morbidity rate at the first three timepoints but not the 4th (January 17th, 2021). Population density and city/town total population were also positively associated with the COVID-19 morbidity rates at these three timepoints, but not the 4th, in which socioeconomic parameters were more dominant - we found a statistically significant negative correlation between socioeconomic cluster and COVID-19 morbidity. In addition, all multivariate models including PM2.5 concentrations were statistically significant, and PM2.5 concentrations were positively associated with the COVID-19 morbidity rates in all models.ConclusionsWe found a nationwide association between population chronic exposure to five main air pollutants in Israeli cities and towns, and COVID-19 morbidity rates during two of the three morbidity waves experienced in Israel. The widespread morbidity that was related to socioeconomic factors during the 3rd wave, emphasizes the need for special attention to morbidity prevention in socioeconomically vulnerable populations and especially in large household communities. Nevertheless, this ecological study has several limitations, such as the inability to draw conclusions about causality or mechanisms of action. The growing body of evidence, regarding association between exacerbated COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates and long-term chronic exposure to elevated concentrations of air pollutants should serve as a wake-up call to policy makers regarding the urgent need to reduce air pollution and its harmful effects.

Project description:BackgroundImpaired in utero fetal growth trajectory may have long term health consequences of the newborns and increase risk of adulthood metabolic diseases. Prenatal exposure to air pollution has been linked to fetal development restriction; however, the impact of exposure to ambient air pollutants on the entire course of intrauterine fetal development has not been comprehensively investigated.MethodsDuring 2015-2018, two cohorts of mother-infant dyads (N = 678 and 227) were recruited in Shanghai China, from which three categories of data were systematically collected: (1) daily exposure to six air pollutants during pregnancy, (2) fetal biometry in the 2nd (gestational week 24, [GW24]) and 3rd trimester (GW36), and (3) neonatal outcomes at birth. We investigated the impact of prenatal exposure to air pollutant mixture on the trajectory of fetal development during the course of gestation, adjusting for a broad set of potential confounds.ResultsPrenatal exposure to PM2.5, PM10, SO2 and O3 significantly reduced fetal biometry at GW24, where SO2 had the most potent effect. For every 10 μg/m3 increment increase of daily SO2 exposure during the 1st trimester shortened femur length by 2.20 mm (p = 6.7E-21) translating to 5.3% reduction from the average of the study cohort. Prenatal air pollution exposure also decreased fetal biometry at GW36 with attenuated effect size. Comparing to the lowest exposed quartile, fetus in the highest exposed quartile had 6.3% (p = 3.5E-5) and 2.1% (p = 2.4E-3) lower estimated intrauterine weight in GW24 and GW36, respectively; however, no difference in birth weight was observed, indicating a rapid catch-up growth in the 3rd trimester.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, for the first time, we demonstrated the impact of prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants on the course of intrauterine fetal development. The altered growth trajectory and rapid catch-up growth in associated with high prenatal exposure may lead to long-term predisposition for adulthood metabolic disorders.

Dataset Information

Effects of chronic exposure to ambient air pollutants on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality - A lesson from OECD countries.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Effects of chronic exposure to ambient air pollutants on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality - A lesson from OECD countries.

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