A new study finds that when people are admitted to a hospital for Covid, those who live where there are higher levels of long-term fine particle air pollution (annual PM2.5) have a higher risk of admission to the ICU (intensive care unit) and a higher risk of death, as reported in Air Quality News.
The researchers looked at all people admitted to 7 hospitals in New York City who had a positive Covid PCR test, and evaluated the air pollution at the address where they live. They found that per 1µg/m3 increase in annual PM2.5, there was an 11% increased risk of death and a 13% increased risk of ICU admission.
Most important: 99% of the people with Covid had annual PM2.5 exposure below the EPA standard of 12µg/m3, and 98% of the people with Covid had annual PM2.5 exposure below the WHO standard of 10µg/m3. They even found a higher risk of ICU admission or death at an annual PM2.5 level of 7.13, far below the current standard.
The researchers commented that air pollution is a modifiable risk factor – it’s something we can fix. And they also stated that “state, national, and local air pollution regulation to lower long-term exposures should be considered a critical public health measure to improve infectious disease mortality.”
Fixing air pollution and cleaning up the air is critical. We need clean air to be healthy. We have the tools and technology, we just need to do it! We need smart policies, smart budgets that fund clean air and don’t subsidize pollution. #HealthyAirIsHealthCare
Read the news article in Air Quality News.
Read the scientific study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
12/15/2021
