Health impact assessment of air pollutants during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Brazilian metropolis

Abstract

Studies around the world have revealed reduced levels of atmospheric particulate matter in periods of greatest human mobility restriction to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to carry out a health impact assessment in Recife, Brazil, hypothesizing a scenario in which the levels of PM 10 and PM 2.5 remained, throughout the year, as in the most restrictive period of human mobility. Particular material data (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ) were measured during the pandemic and population and health (mortality, hospital admissions for heart and respiratory problems) data from 2018 were used. We observed a reduction in the concentration of PM 2.5 in up to 43.7% and PM 10 up to 29.5% during the period of social isolation in the city of Recife. The reduction in PM 2.5 would avoid 106 annual deaths from non-external causes and 58 annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases. In this scenario, $ 294.88 million would be saved ($ 114.88 million from heart problems and $ 180 million from non-external causes). When considering hospitalizations avoided by the decrease in PM 10 , we observed 57 fewer hospitalizations for respiratory diseases, 42 for heart diseases and a reduction of 37 deaths due to non-external causes. The reduction in spending on respiratory and cardiovascular hospitalizations would exceed $ 330,000. Therefore, the reduction of particulate matter could prevent hospital admissions, deaths and consequently there would be a reduction in disease burden in developing countries where economic resources are scarce. In this sense, governments should seek to reduce levels of pollution in order to improve the life quality and health of the population.

Redução na concentração de MP2,5 causada pelas medidas de isolamento para contenção do COVID-19 influenciaram o risco à saúde durante a prática de exercício

“…Also, the increased humidity leads to the reduction of ascendant airflow and lower temperatures that increase the concentration of air pollutants (30)(31)(32)(33). The reduction in the concentration of PM2.5 observed in our study agrees with other works conducted in Brazil and worldwide that reported mitigation of air pollution during COVID-19 lockdown compared to before the period due to the reduction in anthropogenic emissions (34)(35)(36)(37)(38). Porto Alegre is a city with a large number of parks and green areas, ideal places to realize physical activities, and the policies to control SARS-CoV-2 spreading did not include the closing of these specific locals (39).…”

“…The decrease in PM2.5 concentration and consequently in the health risk might represent a great impact on public health, considering the hypothesis that fewer particles in the air could reduce the transmission of the virus and that the long-term exposure to PM2.5 increase the susceptibility of the population to COVID-19, resulting in more severe cases (44,45). A study by Leão and colleagues that evaluates the health impact assessment in a Brazilian capital demonstrated that if the reduction in PM2.5 concentration observed in the lockdown was maintained 106 annual deaths from non-external causes and 58 annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases would be avoided, summing to $ 294.88 million saved (34). Therefore, policies to reduce the air pollution emissions must be implemented aiming to avoid public health crises assuring a better quality of life for the population and reduction in the public costs on health.…”

Comportamento dos poluentes do ar durante e após lockdown em uma cidade de médio porte

“…Por outro lado, o dióxido de nitrogênio apresentou médias superiores à média dos sete dias anteriores, tanto no período do lockdown quanto no período pós-lockdown e um percentual de 54% dos registros foi inferior à média histórica para este poluente. Esta redução dos níveis de poluentes em decorrência de medidas de confinamento também foi encontrada em outros estudos ao redor do mundo e também no Brasil (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(18)(19)(20). O principal padrão de comportamento dos poluentes encontrado nestes estudos foi de diminuição nas concentrações de NO2, PM10, PM2,5, SO2 e CO, e um consequente aumento nos níveis de O3.…”

“…Entre estes tópicos, a redução dos níveis de poluentes atmosféricos tem sido objeto de inúmeros estudos ao redor do mundo (4). Estudos em diferentes regiões do mundo têm mostrado que as medidas de bloqueio ou confinamento são responsáveis pela redução de tráfego veicular e, em alguns casos, de atividade industrial, com uma consequente diminuição da emissão de poluentes para a atmosfera (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13).…”

Excess Deaths From All Causes and by Covid-19 in Brazil in 2020

“…For one, children and adolescents had to spend more time at home with the suspension of face-to-face learning 32 . Another reason was that the restricted mobility caused by the quarantine measures likely led to a reduction in unintentional (drowning and car accidents) and intentional injuries (homicides) 14,33,34 , as well as deaths from influenza 10 .…”