Impact of Short-Term Air Pollution on Respiratory Infections: A Time-Series Analysis of COVID-19 Cases in California during the 2020 Wildfire Season. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The 2020 California wildfire season coincided with the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting many counties in California, with impacts on air quality. We quantitatively analyzed the short-term effect of air pollution on COVID-19 transmission using county-level data collected during the 2020 wildfire season. Using time-series methodology, we assessed the relationship between short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and Air Quality Index (AQI) on confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 20 counties impacted by wildfires. Our findings indicate that PM2.5, CO, and AQI are positively associated with confirmed COVID-19 cases. This suggests that increased air pollution could worsen the situation of a health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Health policymakers should make tailored policies to cope with situations that may increase the level of air pollution, especially during a wildfire season.

published proceedings

  • Int J Environ Res Public Health

author list (cited authors)

  • Ademu, L. O., Gao, J., Thompson, O. P., & Ademu, L. A.

complete list of authors

  • Ademu, Lilian Ouja||Gao, Jingjing||Thompson, Onah Peter||Ademu, Lawrence Anebi

publisher