Why is the infection rate with the coronavirus in some countries and even regions within countries higher than in others? According to a recent study, because these are areas with very high air pollution.
The mortality rate of corona viruses is "significantly higher" in places with increased air pollution because tiny particles in the air weaken the respiratory organs.
The background to this study is an estimate by scientists of the United States government that COVID-19 could kill between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans. The majority of pre-existing conditions that increase the risk of death from COVID-19 are the same diseases that occur with long-term exposure to air pollution. The aim of the research was to determine whether long-term average exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) increases the risk of COVID-19 deaths in the United States.
PM2.5 is a tiny airborne particle known to cause long-term health problems and is produced by industry, cars and fuel combustion.
In their study, the scientists found that an increase of only 1 g/m3 PM2.5 is associated with a 15% increase in the COVID-19 death rate. In conclusion, they assume that even a small increase in PM2.5 concentration is associated with a significantly higher probability of death after infection with the coronavirus.
Data on air pollution from around 3,000 US communities, which make up 98% of the country's population, were collected and compared with coronavirus statistics.
In order to avoid distorting the results, the figures were adjusted for factors such as poverty levels, smoking, obesity and the number of available tests and hospital beds.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.05.20054502v1
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.05.20054502v1.full.pdf
Air pollution weakens the respiratory tract, so people are more likely to develop chronic respiratory diseases. The ability to prevent infections through the infiltration of pathogens or environmental toxins is inhibited, resulting in increased mortality.
So anyone living in a city or area with high levels of air pollution is at high risk. Conversely, those who live in an area with clean air, who do not have respiratory disease, are not so easily damaged by the virus.
This explains the big difference in infection rates between countries and areas.
It is therefore wrong to compare countries and regions with high levels of air pollution in terms of the risk of infection and death from coronavirus with those that do not suffer from the same air pollution. One must look at the whole picture and the cause of previous illnesses in the localities and not simply quote figures in an unqualified manner and use them as a basis for deciding on measures.
May the Good be with you!