Airborne magnetic nanoparticles may contribute to COVID-19 outbreak: Relationships in Greece and Iran

Abstract

This work attempts to shed light on whether the COVID-19 pandemic rides on airborne pollution. In particular, a two-city study provides evidence that PM 2.5 contributes to the timing and severity of the epidemic, without adjustment for confounders. The publicly available data of deaths between March and October 2020, updated it on May 30, 2021, and the average seasonal concentrations of PM 2.5 pollution over the previous years in Thessaloniki, the second-largest city of Greece, were investigated. It was found that changes in coronavirus-related deaths follow changes in air pollution and that the correlation between the two data sets is maximized at the lag time of one month. Similar data from Tehran were gathered for comparison. The results of this study underscore that it is possible, if not likely, that pollution nanoparticles are related to COVID-19 fatalities (Granger causality, p < 0.05), contributing to the understanding of the environmental impact on pandemics.

Air pollution might affect the clinical course of COVID-19 in pediatric patients

“…This study demonstrates the direct links between outdoor air pollution and clinical manifestation of COVID-19 in pediatric patients, indicating that exposure to pollutants such as PM 2.5 and B(a)P can increase the odds of selected symptoms manifestation, increased inflammatory response, and extended hospital stay. Although the links between the severity of COVID-19 and air pollution have already been explored, contrary to our study, previous research focused on adult or general populations, not specifically on pediatric groups ( Rzymski et al, 2022 ; Martinez-Boubeta and Simeonidis, 2022 , Bowe et al, 2021 , Kogevinas et al, 2021 ).…”

The association of airborne particulate matter and benzo[a]pyrene with the clinical course of COVID-19 in patients hospitalized in Poland

“…Although linkages between air pollution and increased rates of hospitalization and deaths due to COVID-19 have been already demonstrated, the previously presented results were elaborated mainly on a population level and had a correlation nature ( Accarino et al, 2021 ; Bashir et al, 2020 ; Beig et al, 2020 ; Coker et al, 2020 ; Isphording and Pestel, 2021 ; Magazzino et al, 2020 ; Martinez-Boubeta and Simeonidis, 2022 ; Wu et al, 2020 ; Zhou et al, 2022 ). Moreover, these studies did not explore the potential associations between airborne B(a)P and COVID-19.…”

“…Some investigations indicate that air particulates with a diameter of ≤2.5 μm may act as SARS-CoV-2 carriers and support its spread ( Borisova and Komisarenko, 2021 ; Khan et al, 2021 ; Nor et al, 2021 ). Moreover, the number of hospitalized and fatal patients tends to be increased in regions and periods characterized by air pollution ( Bowe et al, 2021 ; Khan et al, 2021 ; Kogevinas et al, 2021 ; Martinez-Boubeta and Simeonidis, 2022 ; Paital and Agrawal, 2020 ). Importantly, inhalation of airborne particulate matter was shown experimentally to increase the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in respiratory epithelial cells ( Khan et al, 2021 ; Lin et al, 2018 ; Paital and Agrawal, 2020 ).…”

Covid-19 Vaccines Work but Other Factors Play a Relevant Role: A Data Analysis on Spread and Mortality in 24 Countries

“…The biggest limitation is determined by the potential variability in accuracy in the different states surveyed. Another limitation is related to the big number of confounding factors, among which: climate, 20 level of pollution, 18 , 28 different strategies in the administration of vaccines for age groups 29 , 30 and fragile populations, 31 , 32 accessibility of vaccines by public health services, different average age of populations, restriction measures adopted and effectiveness in their implementation.…”