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The Effect of Pollution on the Spread of COVID-19 in Europe

This study investigates empirically how air pollution in earlier periods as measured by three air pollutants, namely NO(2), PM(10), and PM(2.5) may have affected the spread and fatality of COVID-19 in 31 European countries. Using panel data with fixed effects to examine the relationship between prev...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Kasioumi, Myrto, Stengos, Thanasis
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Springer International Publishing 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8531903/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34703977
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41885-021-00099-y
Descripción
Sumario:This study investigates empirically how air pollution in earlier periods as measured by three air pollutants, namely NO(2), PM(10), and PM(2.5) may have affected the spread and fatality of COVID-19 in 31 European countries. Using panel data with fixed effects to examine the relationship between previous exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 new cases and COVID-19 deaths, we find that previous air pollution levels have both acted as an important factor in explaining the COVID-19 spread and its high fatality rate. This result may explain the negative impact that these pollutants may have on health and in particular on the respiratory functions that are mainly attacked by the virus. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at doi:10.1007/s41885-021-00099-y.