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Air Pollution and COVID-19: The Role of Particulate Matter in the Spread and Increase of COVID-19’s Morbidity and Mortality

Author

Listed:
  • Silvia Comunian

    (Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy)

  • Dario Dongo

    (Égalité org, 00152 Rome, 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Comunian & Dario Dongo & Chiara Milani & Paola Palestini, 2020. "Air Pollution and COVID-19: The Role of Particulate Matter in the Spread and Increase of COVID-19’s Morbidity and Mortality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-22, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:12:p:4487-:d:374832
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sultan Ayoub Meo & Abdulelah Adnan Abukhalaf & Omar Mohammed Alessa & Abdulrahman Saad Alarifi & Waqas Sami & David C. Klonoff, 2021. "Effect of Environmental Pollutants PM2.5, CO, NO 2 , and O 3 on the Incidence and Mortality of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Five Regions of the USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Sounak Chakraborty & Tanujit Dey & Yoonbae Jun & Chae Young Lim & Anish Mukherjee & Francesca Dominici, 2022. "A Spatiotemporal Analytical Outlook of the Exposure to Air Pollution and COVID-19 Mortality in the USA," Journal of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Statistics, Springer;The International Biometric Society;American Statistical Association, vol. 27(3), pages 419-439, September.
    3. Evan Mallen & Heather A. Joseph & Megan McLaughlin & Dorette Quintana English & Carmen Olmedo & Matt Roach & Carmen Tirdea & Jason Vargo & Matt Wolff & Emily York, 2022. "Overcoming Barriers to Successful Climate and Health Adaptation Practice: Notes from the Field," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-19, June.
    4. Francesca Gorini & Fabrizio Bianchi & Giorgio Iervasi, 2020. "COVID-19 and Thyroid: Progress and Prospects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-5, September.
    5. Lauren Hoskovec & Sheena Martenies & Tori L. Burket & Sheryl Magzamen & Ander Wilson, 2022. "Association between air pollution and COVID‐19 disease severity via Bayesian multinomial logistic regression with partially missing outcomes," Environmetrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(7), November.
    6. Priscilla Gomes da Silva & José Gonçalves & Maria São José Nascimento & Sofia I. V. Sousa & João R. Mesquita, 2022. "Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the Indoor and Outdoor Areas of Urban Public Transport Systems of Three Major Cities of Portugal in 2021," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-7, May.
    7. Hans-Peter Hutter & Michael Poteser & Hanns Moshammer & Kathrin Lemmerer & Monika Mayer & Lisbeth Weitensfelder & Peter Wallner & Michael Kundi, 2020. "Air Pollution Is Associated with COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality in Vienna, Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-11, December.

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