Peaks of Fine Particulate Matter May Modulate the Spreading and Virulence of COVID-19

Abstract

A probe of a patient, seeking help in an emergency ward of a French hospital in late December 2019 because of Influenza like symptoms, was retrospectively tested positive to COVID-19. Despite the early appearance of the virus in Europe, the prevalence and virulence appeared to be low for several weeks, before the spread and severity of symptoms increased exponentially, yet with marked spatial and temporal differences. Here, we compare the possible linkages between peaks of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the sudden, explosive increase of hospitalizations and mortality rates in the Swiss Canton of Ticino, and the Greater Paris and London regions. We argue that these peaks of fine particulate matter are primarily occurring during thermal inversion of the boundary layer of the atmosphere. We also discuss the influence of Saharan dust intrusions on the COVID-19 outbreak observed in early 2020 on the Canary Islands. We deem it both reasonable and plausible that high PM2.5 concentrations—favored by air temperature inversions or Saharan dust intrusions—are not only modulating but even more so boosting severe outbreaks of COVID-19. Moreover, desert dust events—besides enhancing PM2.5 concentrations—can be a vector for fungal diseases, thereby exacerbating COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. We conclude that the overburdening of the health services and hospitals as well as the high over-mortality observed in various regions of Europe in spring 2020 may be linked to peaks of PM2.5 and likely particular weather situations that have favored the spread and enhanced the virulence of the virus. In the future, we recommended to monitor not only the prevalence of the virus, but also to consider the occurrence of weather situations that can lead to sudden, very explosive COVID-19 outbreaks.

Simple quantitative assessment of the outdoor versus indoor airborne transmission of viruses and covid-19

“…If this situation occurs the “fresh” air that is introduced from outside in buildings could be already “polluted” leading to a strongly enhanced indoor airborne transmission of the disease. In the authors opinion this could explain some observed outbreak of the epidemic depending on geographical area and meteorology as shown in a recent paper (Rohrer et al ., 2020). Note the importance of the wind factor and of the outdoor people density.…”

“…It has been observed especially in Italy (Rohrer et al ., 2020; Zoran et al ., 2020) a correlation between pollution by particulate matter and outbreak of the epidemic. It has been suggested that in a synergistic effect pollution can increase the infective power of virus by agglomeration of airborne infective particles with PM particles.…”

“…A correlation between episodes of fine particle (PM hereafter) pollution and the increase in contamination cases has been observed on several occasions (Rohrer et al ., 2020; Zoran et al ., 2020). It could be deduced from this that atmospheric PM pollutants act as vectors for viruses because of surface aggregation and reaction phenomena.…”

Impact of Weather Parameters and Population Density on the COVID-19 Transmission: Evidence from 81 Provinces of Turkey

“…Researchers have done a lot of studies to determine which factors affect to transmission of COVID-19 by evaluating these data together with various parameters. The weather variables are good indicators to forecast COVID-19 cases in following days (Gupta et al 2020a , b ; Li et al 2020a , b ; Rohrer et al 2020 ; Wu et al 2020 ). Table 1 shows the results of existing literature.…”

Transmission of SARS-Cov-2 and other enveloped viruses to the environment through protective gear: a brief review

“…According to medical experts, while these practices do not guarantee complete prevention of viral infections, they can prevent early transmission of enveloped virus (SARS-CoV-2). Regardless of the current situation, the emergency procedures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should be followed (Phan et al 2019 ; Rohrer et al 2020 ; Lessler et al 2009 ). The current epidemic (COVID-19) is thought to be transmitted through direct contact and airborne routes, and has been spreading from individual to individual for the last 12 months.…”