The link between COVID-19 and air pollution unraveled: dirty air increases the chance that you will get sick after being infected

It means that we are beginning to understand better why one person becomes deathly ill from corona, while the other hardly notices it.

Meanwhile, there is growing evidence that polluted air affects the number of corona infections and deaths. For example, the high death rates in northern Italy at the start of the pandemic may have been partly explained by the foul air there. In a new study researchers once again examined the possible link. And guess what? Air pollution does not increase the risk of getting infected, but it does increase the chance of getting sick after being infected.

High death rates

A series of previous studies have suggested that the number of people succumbing to the coronavirus is much higher in regions with poor air quality. This means that air pollution may somehow contribute to the high death rates: it seems that the course of COVID-19 is more severe in areas where the air is polluted. However, the reasons for this association were still unclear. Dirty air may promote the transmission of the virus, although it could also make someone more susceptible to a corona infection. “The problem is that previous studies were based on only diagnosed cases,” said study researcher Manolis Kogevinas. “All asymptomatic and undiagnosed corona patients were excluded.”

Study

The research team decided to take a different approach. In their study, they examined the link between antiviral antibodies, COVID-19 symptoms, and long-term exposure to air pollution. They did this by first measuring a series of virus-specific antibodies in about 9,600 subjects living in the Spanish region of Catalonia. They then compared the collected data with information about these people’s exposure to air pollutants (nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5, black carbon and ozone).

Bandage

It leads to an interesting discovery. Because exposure to nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 does indeed appear to be associated with a more serious disease course. For example, these people more often ended up in hospital or intensive care. The association with PM2.5 was stronger for men over 60 years of age and those living in socio-economically deprived areas. “Our study provides the strongest evidence worldwide for the link between air pollution and COVID-19,” concludes Kogevinas.

Unraveled

It means that the link between COVID-19 and air pollution has been unraveled: dirty air increases the chance that you will get sick after being infected. This means that you are not more likely to become infected by dirty air. But the risk of developing symptoms after being infected is greater for people who often and a lot of dirty air inhale. Incidentally, this is not only the case for COVID-19. “The results are in line with the association between air pollution and hospitalization described for other respiratory diseases such as flu or pneumonia,” said Kogevinas.

Thanks to the findings, we are gaining a better understanding of the complex coherence and mechanisms underlying the severity of a COVID-19 infection. For example, scientists and doctors are still confused as to why one person becomes deathly ill from COVID-19, while the other only has a cold. But perhaps we are now getting closer and closer to the answer. Because apparently certain environmental factors have a major influence on the severity of infectious diseases. The researchers therefore underline the benefits for public health if air quality is monitored more closely.