Two mechanisms for accelerated diffusion of COVID-19 outbreaks in regions with high intensity of population and polluting industrialization: the air pollution-to-human and human-to-human transmission dynamics

Mario Coccia

Results show that the exposure of people to SO2, NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5 is associated with HFMDs. Moreover, the effect of air pollution in the cold season is higher than in the warm season. Shepherd and Mullins (2019) have also analyzed the relationship between arthritis diagnosis in those over 50 and exposure to extreme air pollution in utero or infancy. Results link early-life air pollution exposure to later-life arthritis diagnoses, and suggest a particularly strong link for Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 3 . Sheperd and Mullins (2019) also argue that exposure to smog and air pollution in the first year of life is associated with a higher incidence of arthritis later in life. These findings are important to explain complex relationships between people, meteorological conditions, air pollution and viral infectivity because millions of people continue to be exposed to episodes of extreme air pollution each year in cities around the world.