Abstract
A small number of studies suggest atmospheric particulate matter with diameters 2.5 micron and smaller (PM2.5) may possibly play a role in the transmission of influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms. Those studies were predominantly conducted under moderately to highly polluted outdoor atmospheres. The purpose of this study was to extend the data set to include a less polluted atmospheric environment. A relationship between PM2.5 and ILI activity extended to include lightly to moderately polluted atmospheres could imply a more complicated mechanism than that suggested by existing studies. We obtained concurrent PM2.5 mass concentration data, meteorological data and reported Influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) activity for the light to moderately polluted atmospheres over the Tucson, AZ region. We found no relation between PM2.5 mass concentration and ILI activity. There was an expected relation between ILI, activity, temperature, and relative humidity. There was a possible relation between PM2.5 mass concentration anomalies and ILI activity. These results might be due to the small dataset size and to the technological limitations of the PM measurements. Further study is recommended since it would improve the understanding of ILI transmission and thereby improve ILI activity/outbreak forecasts and transmission model accuracies.
Highlights
A handful of all health-related studies have focused on the relationship between influenza and influenza-like illness activity and outdoor atmospheric aerosols
Previous studies have found relationships between outdoor particulate matter (PM) data and influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) activity. These were primarily conducted in regions with moderate to high aerosol burdened or polluted atmospheric environments
Our analyses show the well-known relation between ILI activity and environmental conditions, namely temperature and relative humidity
Summary
A handful of all health-related studies have focused on the relationship between influenza and influenza-like illness ( collectively denoted as ILI) activity and outdoor atmospheric aerosols. They are mostly associated with moderate to higher aerosol-burdened atmospheric boundary-layer environments. Griffin et al (2001) used a direct-count assay (i.e., use of a nucleic acid stain to count microorganisms via epifluorescence microscopy) of the virus-like particles sampled over the U.S Virgin Islands They reported a background virus-like concentration of ~1–50 LÀ1, which is enough to initiate the ice crystal precipitation process under the right environmental conditions, i.e., at sufficient relative humidity and air temperatures as high as 271 K or -2 C per Vali (1996). A good foundation on biological influence in the phase change of water to ice is summarized in Fro€hlich-Nowoisky et al (2016), Wiedinmyer et al (2009), Von Blohn et al (2005), Vali (1996) and Lee et al (1995)
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