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Exposure to poor air quality leads to a higher incidence of premature death due to heart and respiratory disease, write the American researchers behind a recent study published in the renowned The Lancet Planetary Health.
“To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive modeling study to examine the effect of strict lockdown measures on air quality and human health on a large scale,” he says.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still ravaging much of the world, a significant improvement in air quality has been observed after the shutdown of society in many countries.
American researchers have mapped airborne dust concentrations at 2,500 measuring stations in Europe and China during the corona shutdown in February and March.
Strongly reduced
– It is well known that airborne dust with a size of 2.5 micrometers, which was analyzed in this study, can penetrate up to the alveoli and contribute to the development of diseases in humans, says Deputy Director of Health Espen Rostrup Nakstad to Dagbladet.
Because particulate matter is caused by road traffic, industry, incinerators, and construction activity, levels dropped significantly during closures in China and Europe this winter, by around 30 and 17 percent, respectively, it shows. the recent study.
Based on the reduction in particulate matter, researchers have estimated using mathematical models that the shutdown may have prevented 24,200 deaths in China between February 1 and March 31.
For Europe, the researchers estimate that improved air quality may have prevented 2,190 deaths in the period from February 21 to May 17.
Uncertain numbers
The Norwegian Health Directorate notes that such calculations are subject to great uncertainty.
It will not be possible to support the calculations through registry data because the pandemic has affected people’s health to a significant degree during the same period.
– The most important contribution of the study is therefore that it documents a significant decrease in the concentration of particulate matter during the shutdown of the partnership, which can be assumed to have several environmental and health benefits, says Nakstad.
‘The results indicate that the closure measures led to a significant reduction in particulate matter concentrations in China and Europe. We estimate that tens of thousands of premature deaths from air pollution were prevented, but large differences were observed in Europe and China. Our findings indicate that significant improvements in air quality can be achieved in both China and Europe when strict guidelines for emissions are adopted, ”the researchers write.
