Potential role of particulate matter in the spreading of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: first observational study based on initial epidemic diffusion.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

A number of studies have shown that the airborne transmission route could spread some viruses over a distance of 2 meters from an infected person. An epidemic model based only on respiratory droplets and close contact could not fully explain the regional differences in the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. On March 16th 2020, we presented a position paper proposing a research hypothesis concerning the association between higher mortality rates due to COVID-19 observed in Northern Italy and average concentrations of PM₁₀ exceeding a daily limit of 50 µg/m³.

Methods

To monitor the spreading of COVID-19 in Italy from February 24th to March 13th (the date of the Italian lockdown), official daily data for PM₁₀ levels were collected from all

SUBMITTER: Setti L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7517216 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature