SARS-CoV-2 spread in Northern Italy: what about the pollution role?
Susanna SciomerFederica MoscucciDamiano MagrìRoberto BadagliaccaGianfranco PiccirilloPiergiuseppe AgostoniPublished in: Environmental monitoring and assessment (2020)
The recent epidemic of the new SARS-CoV-2 in the northern regions of Italy is putting the organization of the Italian health system under serious attack. The current emergency requires all possible efforts to stem the spread of the virus. In this context, it is clear that we have the urgent need to rely upon etiopathogenetic data, in order to do all possible efforts to block the epidemic. However, observing the trend of the infections in China and the geographic areas of the main outbreaks, it could be hypothesized that air pollution plays a role. In particular, it has been previously demonstrated, in specific populations, a role of particulate matter in worsening clinical presentation of virus infection in airways. Without prejudice to the ascertained virus spread by air droplets or contaminated surfaces, the factors that could have favored its spread remain to be investigated. Moreover, if these observations were to be confirmed, when the health emergency is resolved, it will be mandatory to redesign an economic-productive model in balance with the environment.
Keyphrases
- particulate matter
- air pollution
- sars cov
- public health
- healthcare
- heavy metals
- emergency department
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- lung function
- quality improvement
- mental health
- risk assessment
- drinking water
- machine learning
- pseudomonas aeruginosa
- mass spectrometry
- climate change
- coronavirus disease
- atomic force microscopy
- emergency medical
- health risk assessment
- biofilm formation