PM2.5 Pollution Strongly Predicted COVID-19 Incidence in Four High-Polluted Urbanized Italian Cities during the Pre-Lockdown and Lockdown Periods.

Ourania S Kotsiou,Thomas Zidros,Sotirios G Zarogiannis,Konstantinos I Gourgoulianis,Vaios S Kotsios,Ioannis Lampropoulos

doi:10.3390/ijerph18105088

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) heavily hit Italy, one of Europe’s most polluted countries. The extent to which PM pollution contributed to COVID-19 diffusion is needing further clarification. We aimed to investigate the particular matter (PM) pollution and its correlation with COVID-19 incidence across four Italian cities: Milan, Rome, Naples, and Salerno, during the pre-lockdown and lockdown periods. Methods: We performed a comparative analysis followed by correlation and regression analyses of the daily average PM10, PM2.5 concentrations, and COVID-19 incidence across four cities from 1 January 2020 to 8 April 2020, adjusting for several factors, taking a two-week time lag into account. Results: Milan had significantly higher average daily PM10 and PM2.5 levels than Rome, Naples, and Salerno. Rome, Naples, and Salerno maintained safe PM10 levels. The daily PM2.5 levels exceeded the legislative standards in all cities during the entire period. PM2.5 pollution was related to COVID-19 incidence. The PM2.5 levels and sampling rate were strong predictors of COVID-19 incidence during the pre-lockdown period. The PM2.5 levels, population’s age, and density strongly predicted COVID-19 incidence during lockdown. Conclusions: Italy serves as a noteworthy paradigm illustrating that PM2.5 pollution impacts COVID-19 spread. Even in lockdown, PM2.5 levels negatively impacted COVID-19 incidence.

Highlights

The coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been designated as a public emergency leading to a global health crisis [1]
In Milan, the daily average concentration of PM10 exceeded the safe limits in two-fifths of the study period
The current study found a positive relationship between the humidity or wind speed with daily average particular matter (PM) concentrations and a negative relationship between the temperature and PM levels

Summary

Introduction

The coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been designated as a public emergency leading to a global health crisis [1]. While being important for COVID-19 spread mitigation, social distancing measures have significant consequences for individuals and communities [1]. The lockdowns slowed business activities, restricted transportation, and have resulted in an economic downturn affecting practically all nations [1]. At the same time, the traffic, transport, and industrial output restrictions and prohibitions have led to a decline in air pollution in affected countries [1,2]. While lockdowns have caused a decline in air pollution, this was not enough to avoid severe exceedances of air pollution in many places [1]. One of the worsthit countries in the global coronavirus pandemic, is one of Europe’s most polluted

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