SMART THINKING

New research from around the world is finding that nitrogen dioxide levels and poor air quality may be important contributors to rates of mortality from COVID-19.

New research says COVID-19 may be worse in areas where air pollution is high.

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, of which 4.2 million deaths are due to outdoor air pollution. The impact of air pollution is a global problem and includes both developed and developing countries.

Air pollution-associated deaths can include aggravated asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung and heart diseases, and respiratory allergies. Recent research from the University Hospital of ClermontFerrand in France and the Hong Kong Baptist University has shown a link between countries that are most impacted by air pollution and those that have more deaths from coronavirus. Conversely when the air pollution in an area reduces, so too, do the number of deaths.

Other new research published in the journal Science of the Total Environment compared nitrogen dioxide levels in January/February in 66 regions in Italy, Spain, France and Germany with COVID-19 deaths recorded up to 19 March. Nitrogen dioxide is a group of gaseous air pollutants produced as a result of road traffic and other fossil fuel combustion processes. The analysis showed that of the coronavirus deaths across 66 regions, 78% occurred in the five most polluted regions. Yaron Ogen, at Martin Luther University HalleWittenberg in Germany who conducted the research says results from the tests indicate that long-term exposure to the pollutant may be one of the most important contributors to fatalities caused by COVID-19.

“However, my research is only an initial indication that there might be a correlation between the level of air pollution, air movement and the severity of the course of the corona outbreaks,” he said.

A study by Harvard University suggests COVID-19 death rates rise by about 15% in areas that had even a small increase in fine-particle pollution levels in the years before the pandemic.

Another study at the University of Siena in Italy and Aarhus University in Denmark, suggests a possible link between high levels of air pollution and COVID-19 deaths in northern Italy. The Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions – areas known for the poor air quality – had death rates of about 12% compared with 4.5% in the rest of Italy.

Public Health Foundation India president Professor K. Srinath Reddy said of the research: “If air pollution has already damaged the airways and lung tissue, there is reduced reserve to cope with the onslaught of coronavirus.”

So what can you do to reduce air pollution and improve the health of your respiratory system?

• Don’t smoke and try to avoid second-hand smoke

• Limit driving as much as possible

• Keep your car well maintained and avoid excessive idling

• Run appliances like the dishwasher and washing machine when full

• Use a HEPA air purifier to remove particles and allergens from the air

• Grow plants and trees which can help to remove pollutants from the air.