People who live in areas with poor air quality are more likely to get Corona. The symptoms are also worse, which means more people die. This is evident from research by the RIVM, UU, WUR and GGD GHOR Nederland. Alfons Olde Loohuis, medical advisor at Q- and C-support, is one of the driving forces behind this research.
Air pollutants (such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides) enter the air through, for example, road traffic, livestock farming and industry. These substances cause poorer air quality. They enter the body through inhalation. This can lead to various health effects such as cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases. People who live in polluted air can also be more susceptible to respiratory infections.
More hospital admissions and deaths due to poor air quality
Air pollution does not play a direct role in the process of spreading the Coronavirus. However, this research shows that people who live in an environment with poor air quality are more likely to get Corona. More people also end up in hospital or die due to more serious complaints.
Sources of particulate matter
The study shows that particulate matter from livestock farming has an effect on both the chance of infection with Corona and the severity of the disease. Particulate matter from road traffic seems to have more effect on the severity of the disease and less on the chance of becoming infected with the virus. In this study, no specific effect was found for particulate matter from industry on the chance of corona or the severity of the disease.
