Investigation Regarding the Correlation between Particulate Matter 2.5 Air Pollution and Mortality Rates due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

In 2015, 3.2 million people died due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), worldwide. In fact, survival rates for those living with severe COPD are lower than for those with cancer. The one known contributor to this disease is air pollution, and with its rising levels every year, it is necessary to determine the exact correlation between air pollution and COPD. Data was gathered for a selection of 20 countries from the World Bank Database and Health Data Database. This data was graphed and analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, which is a statistical test that measures the relationship between 2 variables. When calculated, the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.756, determining that there is a significant relationship between air pollution and COPD. Through the investigation, it is concluded that there is a positive correlation between PM2.5 air pollution and mortality rate due to COPD. PM2.5 is a component of air pollution defined as the amount of atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers. Due to its small physical nature, PM2.5 can easily infiltrate the lungs, causing infections in the respiratory organs. They can reach the bronchi and even the alveoli, causing inflammation which ultimately results in COPD and premature deaths. Therefore, this research will aim to investigate the relationship between PM2.5 air pollution and COPD, allowing for a better understanding of these variables.