Does air pollution increase your risk of getting COVID-19?
Does air pollution increase your risk of getting COVID-19?
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COVID-19 has not been linked directly to air-pollution, and there has not been research conducted to show that reducing air pollution leads to fewer COVID-19 deaths. However, urban air-pollution (that commonly contains fine particulate matter from things like cars or trucks, fires, coal-based power) is associated with an increase risk of breathing problems and respiratory (breathing) illnesses. Exposure to high levels of bad air pollution damages the throat and lungs and causes chronic inflammation that could limit how well the lungs are able to protect themselves from infections. It has been reported that individuals with existing breathing problems (i.e. asthma, emphysema) are may be at higher risk of COVID-19. Studies conducted in China, Italy, and the United States have shown that in areas with higher amounts of air pollution there is an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. However, the United States study notes that the findings are for county-level populations and cannot be used to link individual cases to air pollution. More studies will need to be conducted to better understand how air quality may affect individual people and their risk of COVID-19
COVID-19 has not been linked directly to air-pollution, and there has not been research conducted to show that reducing air pollution leads to fewer COVID-19 deaths. However, urban air-pollution (that commonly contains fine particulate matter from things like cars or trucks, fires, coal-based power) is associated with an increase risk of breathing problems and respiratory (breathing) illnesses. Exposure to high levels of bad air pollution damages the throat and lungs and causes chronic inflammation that could limit how well the lungs are able to protect themselves from infections. It has been reported that individuals with existing breathing problems (i.e. asthma, emphysema) are may be at higher risk of COVID-19. Studies conducted in China, Italy, and the United States have shown that in areas with higher amounts of air pollution there is an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. However, the United States study notes that the findings are for county-level populations and cannot be used to link individual cases to air pollution. More studies will need to be conducted to better understand how air quality may affect individual people and their risk of COVID-19
Publication
What our experts say
COVID-19 has not been linked directly to air-pollution, and there has not been research conducted to show that reducing air pollution leads to fewer COVID-19 deaths. However, urban air-pollution (that commonly contains fine particulate matter from things like cars or trucks, fires, coal-based power) is associated with an increase risk of breathing problems and respiratory (breathing) illnesses.
Exposure to high levels of bad air pollution damages the throat and lungs and causes chronic inflammation that could limit how well the lungs are able to protect themselves from infections. It has been reported that individuals with existing breathing problems (i.e. asthma, emphysema) are may be at higher risk of COVID-19.
Studies conducted in China, Italy, and the United States have shown that in areas with higher amounts of air pollution there is an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. However, the United States study notes that the findings are for county-level populations and cannot be used to link individual cases to air pollution. More studies will need to be conducted to better understand how air quality may affect individual people and their risk of COVID-19
COVID-19 has not been linked directly to air-pollution, and there has not been research conducted to show that reducing air pollution leads to fewer COVID-19 deaths. However, urban air-pollution (that commonly contains fine particulate matter from things like cars or trucks, fires, coal-based power) is associated with an increase risk of breathing problems and respiratory (breathing) illnesses.
Exposure to high levels of bad air pollution damages the throat and lungs and causes chronic inflammation that could limit how well the lungs are able to protect themselves from infections. It has been reported that individuals with existing breathing problems (i.e. asthma, emphysema) are may be at higher risk of COVID-19.
Studies conducted in China, Italy, and the United States have shown that in areas with higher amounts of air pollution there is an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. However, the United States study notes that the findings are for county-level populations and cannot be used to link individual cases to air pollution. More studies will need to be conducted to better understand how air quality may affect individual people and their risk of COVID-19
Context and background
Air pollution can cause health problems. According to the WHO the smallest type of pollution, fine particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 microns, can be particularly harmful. The tiny particles are able to travel deep into the lungs and long-term exposure to that pollution is known to cause and worsen breathing and heart problems.
Outdoors, fine particles in the air may be a result of vehicle (i.e. car or truck) and equipment (i.e. tractor) exhaust, or by burning wood, coal, or gases at power plants. Sometimes, fine particles can also be carried over long distances by wind. Fine particles are also produced indoors. Smoke (from tobacco or other sources), cooking, burning candles, or fireplaces are common sources of indoor air pollution.
Densely populated urban areas and industrial areas are known to have high levels of fine particulate matter. Several studies have shown that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter is a leading risk factor for death, especially among older adults.
Air pollution can cause health problems. According to the WHO the smallest type of pollution, fine particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 microns, can be particularly harmful. The tiny particles are able to travel deep into the lungs and long-term exposure to that pollution is known to cause and worsen breathing and heart problems.
Outdoors, fine particles in the air may be a result of vehicle (i.e. car or truck) and equipment (i.e. tractor) exhaust, or by burning wood, coal, or gases at power plants. Sometimes, fine particles can also be carried over long distances by wind. Fine particles are also produced indoors. Smoke (from tobacco or other sources), cooking, burning candles, or fireplaces are common sources of indoor air pollution.
Densely populated urban areas and industrial areas are known to have high levels of fine particulate matter. Several studies have shown that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter is a leading risk factor for death, especially among older adults.
Resources
- Assessing the relationship between surface levels of PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter impact on COVID-19 in Milan, Italy (Science Direct - Science of the Total Environment)
- Air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in the United States: Strengths and limitations of an ecological regression analysis (Science Advances)
- Evaluating the impact of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter on mortality among the elderly (Science Advances)
- Linkages Between Air Pollution and the Health Burden From COVID-19: Methodological Challenges and Opportunities (American Journal of Epidemiology)
- Can exposure to PM2.5 particles increase the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? (Science of the Total Environment)
- Air Pollution (WHO)
- Assessing the relationship between surface levels of PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter impact on COVID-19 in Milan, Italy (Science Direct - Science of the Total Environment)
- Air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in the United States: Strengths and limitations of an ecological regression analysis (Science Advances)
- Evaluating the impact of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter on mortality among the elderly (Science Advances)
- Linkages Between Air Pollution and the Health Burden From COVID-19: Methodological Challenges and Opportunities (American Journal of Epidemiology)
- Can exposure to PM2.5 particles increase the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? (Science of the Total Environment)
- Air Pollution (WHO)
