Background: The questioned link between air pollution and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreading or related mortality represents a hot topic that has immediately been regarded in the light of divergent views. A first “school of thought” advocates that what matters are only standard epidemiological variables (i.e. frequency of interactions in proportion of the viral charge). A second school of thought argues that co-factors such as quality of air play an important role too. Methods: We analyzed available literature concerning the link between air quality, as measured by different pollutants and a number of COVID-19 outcomes, such as number of positive cases, deaths, and excess mortality rates. We reviewed several studies conducted worldwide and discussing many different methodological approaches aimed at investigating causality associations. Results: Our paper reviewed the most recent empirical researches documenting the existence of a huge evidence produced worldwide concerning the role played by air pollution on health in general and on COVID-19 outcomes in particular. These results support both research hypotheses, i.e. long-term exposure effects and short-term consequences (including the hypothesis of particulate matter acting as viral “carrier”) according to the two schools of thought, respectively. Conclusions: The link between air pollution and COVID-19 outcomes is strong and robust as resulting from many different research methodologies. Policy implications should be drawn from a “rational” assessment of these findings as “not taking any action” represents an action itself.
Becchetti, L., Beccari, G., Conzo, G., Conzo, P., De Santis, D., & Salustri, F. (2021). Air quality and COVID-19 adverse outcomes: Divergent views and experimental findings. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, 193, 110556 [10.1016/j.envres.2020.110556].
Titolo: | Air quality and COVID-19 adverse outcomes: Divergent views and experimental findings | |
Autori: | ||
Data di pubblicazione: | 2021 | |
Rivista: | ||
Citazione: | Becchetti, L., Beccari, G., Conzo, G., Conzo, P., De Santis, D., & Salustri, F. (2021). Air quality and COVID-19 adverse outcomes: Divergent views and experimental findings. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, 193, 110556 [10.1016/j.envres.2020.110556]. | |
Handle: | http://hdl.handle.net/11590/401401 | |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Articolo in rivista |