A strong correlation has been found between air pollution, specifically particulate matter, and Covid-19 cases, hospital admissions and deaths. People living with poor air quality may be more susceptible to this disease, and airborne particulate matter may exacerbate the spread of the virus. Researchers in Harvard University investigated the effect of exposure to air pollution on COVID-19 mortality in 3000 counties in the United States, comprising 98% of the country’s population. It concluded that a small increase of only 1 µg/m3 of PM2.5 corresponded to a 15% increase in COVID-19 death rate.
Another independent study published in the Cardiovascular Research Journal by the European Society of Cardiology, also concluded that particulate air pollution contributed about 15% worldwide, about 17% in North America, about 19% in Europe, and about 27% in East Asia to Covid-19 mortality.
These studies have strengthened and confirmed previous suspicions about the effects of air pollution on respiratory and coronary health. They highlight the importance of the current regulations on air pollution in protecting health during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is of incredible strategic importance for our health, as well as for the economy to be able to measure air pollution and actively take efforts to reduce it. Systems like ESI’s Canary, with its PM2.5, PM10, Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide sensors can be great allies in measuring and improving air quality both indoors and outdoors.