Lower COVID-19 mortality in Italian forested areas suggests immunoprotection by Mediterranean plants.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has induced dramatic effects on the population of the industrialized north of Italy, whereas it has not heavily affected inhabitants of the southern regions. This might be explained in part by human exposure to high levels of fine particulate matter (PM) in the air of northern Italy, thus exacerbating the mortality. Since trees mitigate air pollution by intercepting PM onto plant surfaces and bolster the human immune system by emitting bioactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs), we hypothesize a protective role of evergreen forested areas in southern Italy. We compared the mortality rate  due to COVID-19, the death number, the positivity rate and the forest coverage per capita in various Italian regions. Hectares of forest per capita and prevalence of deciduous versu

SUBMITTER: Roviello V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7427271 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature