COVID-19 and environmental -weather markers: Unfolding baseline levels and veracity of linkages in tropical India.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is rapidly spreading across the globe due to its contagion nature. We hereby report the baseline permanent levels of two most toxic air pollutants in top ranked mega cities of India. This could be made possible for the first time due to the unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown emission scenario. The study also unfolds the association of COVID-19 with different environmental and weather markers. Although there are numerous confounding factors for the pandemic, we find a strong association of COVID-19 mortality with baseline PM_2.5 levels (80% correlation) to which the population is chronically exposed and may be considered as one of the critical factors. The COVID-19 morbidity is found to be

SUBMITTER: Beig G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7442551 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature