Association Between Long-Term Exposure to Particulate Air Pollution with SARS-CoV-2 Infections and COVID-19 Deaths in California, U.S.A

Details

• Personal Author:
  Balmes JR ; Boscardin J ; Carpenter C ; English PB ; Goldberg DE ; Horiuchi S ; Reynolds P ; Richardson, Michael ; Solomon G ; Valle J ; Von Behren J
• Description:
  Previous studies have reported associations between air pollution and COVID-19 morbidity and mortality, but most have limited their exposure assessment to a large area, have not used individual-level variables, nor studied infections. We examined 3.1 million SARS-CoV-2 infections and 49,691 COVID-19 deaths that occurred in California from February 2020 to February 2021 to evaluate risks associated with long-term neighborhood concentrations of particulate matter less than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5). We obtained individual address data on SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 deaths and assigned 2000-2018 1km-1km gridded PM2.5 surfaces to census block groups. We included individual covariate data on age and sex, and census block data on race/ethnicity, air basin, Area Deprivation Index, and relevant comorbidities. Our analyses were based on generalized linear mixed models utilizing a Poisson distribution. Those living in the highest quintile of long-term PM2.5 exposure had risks of SARS-CoV-2 infections 20% higher and risks of COVID-19 mortality 51% higher, compared to those living in the lowest quintile of long-term PM2.5 exposure. Those living in the areas of highest long-term PM2.5 exposure were more likely to be Hispanic and more vulnerable, based on the Area Deprivation Index. The increased risks for SARS-CoV-2 Infections and COVID-19 mortality associated with highest long-term PM2.5 concentrations at the neighborhood-level in California were consistent with a growing body of literature from studies worldwide, and further highlight the importance of reducing levels of air pollution to protect public health. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollution Communicable Diseases Mortality Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Air Pollution Author Keywords: Air Pollution COVID-19 Infectious Diseases Long-term Exposure Long Term Exposure Mortality Data Particulates SARS-CoV-2
• ISSN:
  2666-7657
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067187
• Citation:
  Environ Adv 2022 Oct; 9:100270
• Contact Point Address:
  Paul B. English, Tracking California, Public Health Institute, 555 12th St., Suite 290, Oakland, CA 94607, United States
• Email:
  paul.english@trackingcalifornia.org
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, Berkeley
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Advances
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e9c35548b4bac51c3cccec4a2a78f94a52442ff33ae036aebde4edda613e079d73bafb5d9cf7f106d6ec705f84ec5e9ca187822652dcf5499d2242e4684be409
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/231326/cdc_231326_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.39 MB ]