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In Sweden, Stockholm and Sörmland are the most affected by the rapid spread of the coronavirus. And that some areas are particularly susceptible to the spread of the virus, there are several explanations for: how many cases came from abroad
In “Current” at SVT, Emma Frans, PhD in epidemiology, addresses another factor that may play a role: air pollution in the air. On the show, she says:
– There are also theories that air pollution may explain why we see these regional differences that seem a bit typical for covid-19.
Study shows increased risk in contaminated areas
When SVT asks about this, since Stockholmer would be more exposed to the fact that the air in the city is worse than elsewhere, she responds:
– It may be the case, or people who live in areas where there is a lot of air pollution, which may be more common that have risk factors that make them worse.
It is far from the first time that air pollution is considered a major factor in the spread of infection. A study from Harvard University shows that particles in air pollution exacerbate the effect of the virus.
As tiny particles of air pollutants enter human lungs, they eventually degrade the body’s resistance to a virus like this.
The Harvard study even showed a big difference: People who have lived for a long time in places with high levels of air pollution have an approximately 15 percent higher risk of dying from covid-19 than those who have not. The particles also increased the risk of needing care in the intensive care unit. These results are also in line with what might be seen after the Sars outbreak in the early 2000s.
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