New research links COVID-19 mortality to air pollution – specifically, small increases in levels of fine particulate matter – explains Professor Francesca Dominici from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The study is the first to look at the link between long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5)—generated largely from fuel combustion from cars, refineries, and power plants—and the risk of death from COVID-19 in the U.S.
The study concludes that a small increase in long-term exposure to PM2.5 leads to a large increase in the COVID-19 death rate. The results underscore the importance of continuing to enforce air pollution regulations to protect human health both during and after the COVID-19 crisis. The data and code are publicly available.