Mortality rates are higher in regions with high air pollution

Cyprus International University Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering faculty member, Asst. Prof. Dr. Sedef Çakır evaluated the relationship between air pollution and COVID-19 while underlining that the COVID-19 mortality rates are higher in regions where there is high air pollution.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Çakır stated that there are studies showing the relationship between air pollution, which is of great importance for today's global environmental problems, from different aspects, and added, " in the first study group, studies were conducted showing the results of higher mortality rates in regions with high air pollution were made."

Drawing attention to the studies conducted by Harvard University, Çakır explained that it has been found that 1 microgram increase in cubic meter increases the risk of death by 15%, especially in particle concentration of less than 2.5 microns in diameter.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Çakır expressed that the polluted air also increases the risk of respiratory diseases, and noted that studies highlight that the high mortality rates in northern Italy are related to air pollution due to intense industrial activities in the region.

Stating that the relationship between COVID-19 and air pollution was examined in the second study group, Çakır stated that the effects of social isolation practices on air pollution due to the pandemic were examined. The findings showed that with the social isolation and quarantines applied for certain periods, sea/air/land transportation and industrial activities came to a halt resulting in a decrease in air pollution rates.

It was explained that the concentration of nitrogen dioxide emitted from vehicle exhausts, power plants and industrial chimneys decreased by 60% compared to the same period of the previous year in Northern China, Western Europe, and America, and according to the scientific studies that have been published, there is a 35% decrease in particulate matter concentration in China.

Declaring that there is a decrease in nitrogen dioxide gas and particulate matter concentrations compared to the same period of the previous year in another study published by the European Environment Agency, Çakır said, “however, these reductions did not continue in all cities of Europe. Due to the differences in human activities and weather conditions in cities, different evaluations were made” and emphasized the effects of human activities on air quality.