The Effects of Air Pollution on COVID-19 Related Mortality in Northern Italy

Abstract

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollutant concentrations is known to cause chronic lung inflammation, a condition that may promote increased severity of COVID-19 syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). In this paper, we empirically investigate the ecologic association between long-term concentrations of area-level fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and excess deaths in the first quarter of 2020 in municipalities of Northern Italy. The study accounts for potentially spatial confounding factors related to urbanization that may have influenced the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 and related COVID-19 mortality. Our epidemiological analysis uses geographical information (e.g., municipalities) and negative binomial regression to assess whether both ambient PM 2.5 concentration and excess mortality have a similar spatial distribution. Our analysis suggests a positive association of ambient PM 2.5 concentration on excess mortality in Northern Italy related to the COVID-19 epidemic. Our estimates suggest that a one-unit increase in PM 2.5 concentration (µg/m 3) is associated with a 9% (95% confidence interval: 6-12%) increase in COVID-19 related mortality.

Decrease in life expectancy due to COVID-19 disease not offset by reduced environmental impacts associated with lockdowns in Italy

“…Both visually and numerically (Pearson correlation index = 0.93 and 0.88 between DALYs and deaths, and hospitalisations, respectively) a relevant parallel exists between the two sets of numbers, which suggests that the higher the environmental impact to human health due to energy consumption within a certain region, the higher the number of people affected by a more severe disease. This confirms several recent observations about the relationship between the high penetration of the virus in the population of Northern Italy with the low air quality of those regions ( Coker et al, 2020 ; Fattorini & Regoli, 2020 ; Mirri et al, 2020 ; Murgante et al, 2020 ; Zoran et al, 2020 ), although it must be stated that the impacts estimated with the DALYs in this paper are not necessarily occurring in loco (according to the life cycle approach undertaken in this study).…”

“…In this regard, a large body of research has recently evaluated the potential effect of air pollution on the increase of COVID-19 lethality in different geographical areas ( Cole et al, 2020 ; Copat et al, 2020 ; Domingo & Rovira, 2020 ; Hendryx & Luo, 2020 ; Magazzino et al, 2020 ; Ogen, 2020 ; Yao et al, 2020 ). In Italy, contagious has rapidly spread starting from the end of February 2020, particularly in the North (Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna) and recording much higher levels of lethality than in other countries and Italian regions ( Coker et al, 2020 ; Fattorini & Regoli, 2020 ; Murgante et al, 2020 ; Perone, 2021 ; Zoran et al, 2020 ).…”

COVID-19 lockdown improves air quality in Morocco

“…Similar results have been reported in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Bangladesh, and the USA [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. This was also observed in the most polluted cities in the world, notably Bangalore, Beijing, Bangkok, Delhi, and Nanjing, as well as in the main shopping centers of the world, notably New York, London, Paris, Seoul, Sydney, and Tokyo [22].…”

Exposure to air pollution and COVID‐19 severity: A review of current insights, management, and challenges

“…A positive correlation has also been found between AQI, PM, and ground-level O 3 and COVID-19 incidence (Zoran et al, 2020a(Zoran et al, , 2020b an association of PM 2.5 levels with a high mortality rate from COVID-19 (Coker et al, 2020). In that study, per unit rise in PM 2.5 levels (µg/m 3 ) caused increased (9%) COVID-19-related mortality (Coker et al, 2020). After adjustment of population density and age, increased concentrations of PM 2.5 and NO 2 were associated with COVID-19 incidence in Italy (Fiasca et al, 2020).…”

“…Another study, using data from 71 provinces in Italy, indicates a positive correlation of air quality with COVID-19 incidence, giving further evidence that prolonged air pollution could influence viral transmission (Fattorini & Regoli, 2020). A positive correlation has also been found between AQI, PM, and ground-level O 3 and COVID-19 incidence (Zoran et al, 2020a(Zoran et al, , 2020b an association of PM 2.5 levels with a high mortality rate from COVID-19 (Coker et al, 2020). In that study, per unit rise in PM 2.5 levels (µg/m 3 ) caused increased (9%) COVID-19-related mortality (Coker et al, 2020).…”