Studies have pointed out that air pollution may be a contributing factor to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Epidemiological investigations have related various air pollutants to COVID-19 morbidity and mortality at the population level.
Particulate Matter
Particulate matter is the general term used for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. It includes aerosols, smoke, fumes, dust, ash and pollen. Fine particulate matter is particulate matter that is 2.5 microns in diameter and less. It is also known as PM2.5 or respirable particles because it penetrates the respiratory system further than larger particles. Most fine particulate matter comes from fuel combustion, both from mobile sources such as vehicles and from stationary sources such as power plants, industry, households or biomass burning.
Multi-pollutant Air Pollution
Worldwide, ambient air pollution is responsible for about 4 million deaths per year, 16% of the lung cancer deaths, 25% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease deaths and about 26% of respiratory infection deaths.
Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health, mood, productivity and learning. Nine out of ten people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants and around 7 million people die every year from exposure to polluted air.
Air pollution may affect over 40 cell types in the respiratory system. It is considered as the major environmental risk factor in the incidence and progression of some diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, Alzheimer's diseases, autism, retinopathy, fetal growth and low birth weight. Air pollution has myriad effects on pulmonary immune responses. Air pollution can worsen asthma symptoms and allergic rhinitis.
Exposure of the skin to air pollutants has been associated with skin aging and inflammatory or allergic skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis or acne, while skin cancer is among the most serious effects. Ambient air pollutants may cause skin damage by generation of free radicals, induction of inflammatory cascade, disruption of skin barrier and alterations of skin microflora .
Air pollution creates a barrier that decreases the ability of sunlight Ultraviolet Light B rays to reach the earth’s atmosphere, potentially reducing the body’s capacity to produce vitamin D naturally. Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in air polluted areas than in non-polluted areas. Vitamin D plays numerous roles in prevention of at least 45 chronic diseases.
Airway Air pollution may cause upper airway swelling, damage the mucous membranes of the nose and throat and contribute to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. It is a serious medical condition. Complications include: daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, heart problems and type 2 diabetes.
Air Pollution and COVID-19
The outbreak of COVID-19 has created a serious public health concern worldwide. Although, most of the regions around the globe have been affected by COVID-19 infections; some regions are more badly affected in terms of infections and fatality rates than others. Both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution especially PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) may contribute significantly to higher rates of COVID-19 infections and mortalities with a lesser extent also PM10.
A significant correlation has been found between air pollution and COVID-19 infections and mortality in some countries in the world. Exposure to air pollution may influence COVID-19 transmission. Moreover, exposure to air pollution may increase vulnerability and have harmful effects on the prognosis of patients affected by COVID-19 infections.
Air pollution may be linked to an increase in COVID-19 severity and lethality through its impact on chronic diseases, such as cardiopulmonary diseases and diabetes. Experimental studies have shown that exposure to air pollution leads to a decreased immune response, thus facilitating viral penetration and replication.
Viruses may persist in air through complex interactions with particles and gases depending on: 1) chemical composition; 2) electric charges of particles; and 3) meteorological conditions such as relative humidity, ultraviolet (UV) radiation and temperature. In addition, by reducing UV radiation, air pollutants may promote viral persistence in air and reduce vitamin D synthesis.
Both air pollution and infections are autocorrelated both spatially and temporally. Viral spread may vary considerably across different areas depending on population density, the time of the virus introduction, and the time of infection control measures, such as physical distancing, mask requirements, test policies or stay-at-home directives. All these factors influence the dynamics of the disease that can be estimated through the daily number of new cases or through the calculation of the basic reproductive number (R0) and effective reproductive number, both depending on transmissibility, contact rates and duration of contagiousness, as well as on virus mutation time. As air pollution may also influence both transmissibility and duration of infectiousness, the analysis of the impact of air pollution on the dynamic of COVID-19 has to take into account confounders such as population density, the time of the virus introduction and the time of introduction of infection control measures.
Tips to Reduce Air Pollution
Plant and grow as many trees as possible. The practice of planting trees provides a lot of benefits to the environment and helps with the release of oxygen.
You must try and limit outdoor activities. If you must venture out, use masks. Keep the body hydrated and drinking more water than usual during this time. One can also consume vegetable and fruit juices.
Limit driving by using public transportation, biking and walking. Conserve energy, remember to turn off lights, computers, and electric appliances when not in use, run dishwashers and clothes washers only when full and use energy efficient light bulbs.
To reduce your home’s indoor air pollution: cleaning and dusting should be thorough, get rid of odours; don’t mask them, remove or reduce allergens, open windows and doors to increase air flow to give your house better ventilation, make sure your gas stove is well-ventilated, remove carpeting if possible, keep trash covered, remove shoes at the door and make your house smoke-free.
The concept of recycle and reuse is not just conserve resources and use them judicially but also is helpful for air pollution as it helps in reducing pollution emissions. The recycled products also take less power to make other products.
No to plastic bags. The use of plastic products could be very harmful to the environment as they take a very long time to decompose, due to their material made up of oil. The use of paper bags instead is a better alternative as they decompose easily and are recyclable.
The collecting of garbage and getting it on fire in dry seasons or dry leaves catching fires is a huge factor for causing air pollution.
Use of fans instead of Air Conditioner. The usage of AC’s takes a lot of energy and emits a lot of heat which is bad for the environment. AC’s also take a lot of power and energy to work as compared to fans.
Use filters for chimneys. The use of filters should be used at least if the consumption couldn’t be lessened, this will help to reduce the effect of harmful gases absorbing in the air.
Avoid usage of crackers. The use of crackers during festivals and weddings is sadly one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, leading to a layer of smog which is extremely harmful for health.
Avoid using of products with chemicals. Household cleaning supplies are common cause of indoor pollution. Harsh chemicals that give off fumes can irritate your nose, mouth and lungs. Products that use the chemicals in their usage or smell strongly, like paints or perfumes should be used less or outside the house. There can also be an alternative to use products with low chemical content and organic properties. Seal containers of household cleaners, workshop chemicals and solvents to prevent volatile organic compounds from evaporating into the air.
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