Issue 4 - Impact of air pollution on COVID-19 mortality and morbidity: An epidemiological and mechanistic review

Hasan Bayram; Nur Konyalilar; Muge Akpinar Elci; Hadi Rajabi; G Tuşe Aksoy; Deniz Mortazavi; Özgecan Kayalar; Öner Dikensoy; Luis Taborda-Barata; Giovanni Viegi

doi:10.1016/j.pulmoe.2024.04.005

Issue 4 - Impact of air pollution on COVID-19 mortality and morbidity: An epidemiological and mechanistic review

Pulmonology. 2024 May 16:S2531-0437(24)00051-5. doi: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2024.04.005. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Koç University, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: habayram@ku.edu.tr.
² Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey.
³ School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, USA.
⁴ Department of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine, Koç University, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey.
⁵ UBIAir - Clinical and Experimental Lung Centre UBIMedical, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal.
⁶ CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy.

PMID: 38755091
DOI: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2024.04.005

Abstract

Air pollution is a major global environment and health concern. Recent studies have suggested an association between air pollution and COVID-19 mortality and morbidity. In this context, a close association between increased levels of air pollutants such as particulate matter ≤2.5 to 10 µM, ozone and nitrogen dioxide and SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospital admissions and mortality due to COVID 19 has been reported. Air pollutants can make individuals more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection by inducing the expression of proteins such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)2 and transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) that are required for viral entry into the host cell, while causing impairment in the host defence system by damaging the epithelial barrier, muco-ciliary clearance, inhibiting the antiviral response and causing immune dysregulation. The aim of this review is to report the epidemiological evidence on impact of air pollutants on COVID 19 in an up-to-date manner, as well as to provide insights on in vivo and in vitro mechanisms.

Keywords: Air pollution; Airways; COVID-19 mortality; Meteorological parameters; Morbidity; Underlying mechanisms.

Publication types

Review