INCREASED PM2.5 LEVELS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED INCIDENCE OF COVID-19: THE WASHINGTON WILDFIRES OF 2020

Yakima County, Washington was subject to the extrordinary Washington Wildfire Season of 2020 in which unhealty air (PM2.5) persisted for a 14-day period. This remarkable fire and smoke season began in tandem with the COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 virus, like inhaled particulate matter is known to cause respiratory illness or injury. This study sought to determine through publicly available data whether increased levels of PM2.5 were associated with increased cases of COVID-19. Using a 12-day lag analysis, Pearson product correlations were performed between PM2.5 24-hour averages in Yakima County Washington and daily confirmed cases of COVID-19 for data available on March 1, 2020-October 15, 2020. In addition, total running cases of confirmed COVID-19, daily mortality and total running mortality rates were compared in the lag analyses. All days (PM2.5) in the lag analysis were found to have a statistically significant positive correlation with COVID-19 case counts and total running counts of COVID-19 (p<.001) with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.24-0.28. The total running mortality rates were also significantly associated with daily PM2.5 (p<.001); however, the daily mortality rates were not found to be statistically significantly related to PM2.5. This simple analysis provides preliminary evidence that increased air pollution (PM2.5) is associated with higher rates of confirmed COVID-19 cases. However, further research is required to determine the potentially confounding factors in this relationship.

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Particulate Matter Mortality Rates and Their Modification by Spatial Synoptic Classification

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16111904 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (11) ◽

pp. 1904 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jayeun Kim

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Age Groups ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Daily Mortality ◽

Synoptic Classification ◽

Respiratory Mortality ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Particulate Air Pollution ◽

Spatial Synoptic Classification ◽

Highly Correlated

Air pollution levels are highly correlated with temperature or humidity, so we investigated the relationship between PM10 and the spatial synoptic classification (SSC) scheme on daily mortality, according to age group and season. Daily death data for 2000–2014 from Seoul, Korea, were acquired, and time-series analysis was applied with respect to season and to each of seven distinct SSC types: dry moderate (DM); dry polar (DP); dry tropical (DT); moist moderate (MM); moist polar (MP); moist tropical (MT); and transition (T). Modification effects were estimated for daily, non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality between PM10 and SSC types. The following SSC-type-specific increased mortalities were observed, by cause of death: non-accidental mortality: DT (1.86%) and MT (1.86%); cardiovascular mortality: DT (2.83%) and MM (3.00%); respiratory mortality: MT (3.78%). Based on simplified weather types, increased PM10 effects in non-accidental mortality rates were observed in dry (1.54%) and moist (2.32%) conditions among those aged 40–59 years and were detected regardless of conditions in other age groups: 60–74 (1.11%), 75–84 (1.55%), and 85+ (1.75%). The effects of particulate air pollution, by SSC, suggest the applicability of SSC to the comparison and understanding of acute effects of daily mortality based on weather type.

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The Effect of the Urban Ambient Air Pollution Mix on Daily Mortality Rates in 11 Canadian Cities

Can J Public Health ◽

10.1007/bf03404464 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 89 (3) ◽

pp. 152-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Richard T. Burnett ◽

Sabit Cakmak ◽

Jeffrey R. Brook

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Ambient Air Pollution ◽

Daily Mortality

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Effect of ambient air pollution on daily mortality rates in Guangzhou, China

Atmospheric Environment ◽

10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.07.055 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 528-535 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Ignatius Tak Sun Yu ◽

Yong hui Zhang ◽

Wilson Wai San Tam ◽

Qing Hua Yan ◽

Yan jun Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Ambient Air Pollution ◽

Daily Mortality

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Urban Air Pollution May Enhance COVID-19 Case-Fatality and Mortality Rates in the United States

The Innovation ◽

10.1016/j.xinn.2020.100047 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 100047 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Donghai Liang ◽

Liuhua Shi ◽

Jingxuan Zhao ◽

Pengfei Liu ◽

Jeremy A. Sarnat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Urban Air Pollution ◽

Case Fatality ◽

The United States ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Urban Air

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Comparing Performance Across In-person and Videoconference-Based Administrations of Common Neuropsychological Measures in Community-Based Survivors of Stroke

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617720001174 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Jodie E. Chapman ◽

Betina Gardner ◽

Jennie Ponsford ◽

Dominique A. Cadilhac ◽

Renerus J. Stolwyk

Keyword(s):

Neuropsychological Assessment ◽

Language Impairment ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Service Access ◽

Community Based ◽

Neuropsychological Measures

Abstract Objective: Neuropsychological assessment via videoconference could assist in bridging service access gaps due to geographical, mobility, or infection control barriers. We aimed to compare performances on neuropsychological measures across in-person and videoconference-based administrations in community-based survivors of stroke. Method: Participants were recruited through a stroke-specific database and community advertising. Stroke survivors were eligible if they had no upcoming neuropsychological assessment, concurrent neurological and/or major psychiatric diagnoses, and/or sensory, motor, or language impairment that would preclude standardised assessment. Thirteen neuropsychological measures were administered in-person and via videoconference in a randomised crossover design (2-week interval). Videoconference calls were established between two laptop computers, facilitated by Zoom. Repeated-measures t tests, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and Bland–Altman plots were used to compare performance across conditions. Results: Forty-eight participants (26 men; M age = 64.6, SD = 10.1; M time since stroke = 5.2 years, SD = 4.0) completed both sessions on average 15.8 (SD = 9.7) days apart. For most measures, the participants did not perform systematically better in a particular condition, indicating agreement between administration methods. However, on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised, participants performed poorer in the videoconference condition (Total Recall Mdifference = −2.11). ICC estimates ranged from .40 to .96 across measures. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that in-person and videoconference assessment result in comparable scores for most neuropsychological tests evaluated in mildly impaired community-based survivors of stroke. This preliminary evidence supports teleneuropsychological assessment to address service gaps in stroke rehabilitation; however, further research is needed in more diverse stroke samples.

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Preliminary Evidence That Taping Does Not Optimize Joint Coupling of the Foot and Ankle Joints in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18042029 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 2029

Author(s):

Charles Deltour ◽

Bart Dingenen ◽

Filip Staes ◽

Kevin Deschamps ◽

Giovanni A. Matricali

Keyword(s):

Cross Correlation ◽

Ankle Instability ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Preliminary Evidence ◽

Chronic Ankle Instability ◽

Heel Strike ◽

Segmental Motion ◽

Barefoot Running ◽

Ankle Motion ◽

Joint Coupling

Background: Foot–ankle motion is affected by chronic ankle instability (CAI) in terms of altered kinematics. This study focuses on multisegmental foot–ankle motion and joint coupling in barefoot and taped CAI patients during the three subphases of stance at running. Methods: Foot segmental motion data of 12 controls and 15 CAI participants during running with a heel strike pattern were collected through gait analysis. CAI participants performed running trials in three conditions: barefoot running, and running with high-dye and low-dye taping. Dependent variables were the range of motion (RoM) occurring at the different inter-segment angles as well as the cross-correlation coefficients between predetermined segments. Results: There were no significant RoM differences for barefoot running between CAI patients and controls. In taped conditions, the first two subphases only showed RoM changes at the midfoot without apparent RoM reduction compared to the barefoot CAI condition. In the last subphase there was limited RoM reduction at the mid- and rearfoot. Cross-correlation coefficients highlighted a tendency towards weaker joint coupling in the barefoot CAI condition compared to the controls. Joint coupling within the taped CAI conditions did not show optimization compared to the barefoot CAI condition. Conclusions: RoM was not significantly changed for barefoot running between CAI patients and controls. In taped conditions, there was no distinct tendency towards lower mean RoM values due to the mechanical restraints of taping. Joint coupling in CAI patients was not optimized by taping.

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Assessing the Respiratory Effects of Air Pollution from Biomass Cookstoves on Pregnant Women in Rural India

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18010183 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 183

Author(s):

Raj Parikh ◽

Sowmya R. Rao ◽

Rakesh Kukde ◽

George T. O'Connor ◽

Archana Patel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Central India ◽

Respiratory Illness ◽

Biomass Fuel ◽

Second Hand Smoke ◽

Rural India ◽

P Value ◽

Liquefied Petroleum Gas ◽

Respiratory Effects

Background: In India, biomass fuel is burned in many homes under inefficient conditions, leading to a complex milieu of particulate matter and environmental toxins known as household air pollution (HAP). Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable as they and their fetus may suffer from adverse consequences of HAP. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a noninvasive, underutilized tool that can serve as a surrogate for airway inflammation. We evaluated the prevalence of respiratory illness, using pulmonary questionnaires and FeNO measurements, among pregnant women in rural India who utilize biomass fuel as a source of energy within their home. Methods: We prospectively studied 60 pregnant women in their 1st and 2nd trimester residing in villages near Nagpur, Central India. We measured FeNO levels in parts per billion (ppb), St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ-C) scores, and the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale. We evaluated the difference in the outcome distributions between women using biomass fuels and those using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) using two-tailed t-tests. Results: Sixty-five subjects (32 in Biomass households; 28 in LPG households; 5 unable to complete) were enrolled in the study. Age, education level, and second-hand smoke exposure were comparable between both groups. FeNO levels were higher in the Biomass vs. LPG group (25.4 ppb vs. 8.6 ppb; p-value = 0.001). There was a difference in mean composite SGRQ-C score (27.1 Biomass vs. 10.8 LPG; p-value < 0.001) including three subtotal scores for Symptoms (47.0 Biomass vs. 20.2 LPG; p-value< 0.001), Activity (36.4 Biomass vs. 16.5 LPG; p-value < 0.001) and Impact (15.9 Biomass vs. 5.2 LPG; p-value < 0.001). The mMRC Dyspnea Scale was higher in the Biomass vs. LPG group as well (2.9 vs. 0.5; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Increased FeNO levels and higher dyspnea scores in biomass-fuel-exposed subjects confirm the adverse respiratory effects of this exposure during pregnancy. More so, FeNO may be a useful, noninvasive biomarker of inflammation that can help better understand the physiologic effects of biomass smoke on pregnant women. In the future, larger studies are needed to characterize the utility of FeNO in a population exposed to HAP.

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Gender Differences in Association between Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in the Capital of the Green Lungs of Poland–Population-Based Study with 2,953,000 Person-Years of Follow-Up

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9082351 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 2351

Author(s):

Łukasz Kuźma ◽

Krzysztof Struniawski ◽

Szymon Pogorzelski ◽

Hanna Bachórzewska-Gajewska ◽

Sławomir Dobrzycki

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Air Pollutant ◽

World Health ◽

The European Union ◽

Daily Mortality ◽

Male Population ◽

The Impact

(1) Introduction: air pollution is considered to be one of the main risk factors for public health. According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of approximately 500,000 citizens of the European Union (EU), including almost 5000 inhabitants of Poland every year. (2) Purpose: to assess the gender differences in the impact of air pollution on the mortality in the population of the city of Bialystok—the capital of the Green Lungs of Poland. (3) Materials and Methods: based on the data from the Central Statistical Office, the number—and causes of death—of Białystok residents in the period 2008–2017 were analyzed. The study utilized the data recorded by the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection station and the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management during the analysis period. Time series regression with Poisson distribution was used in statistical analysis. (4) Results: A total of 34,005 deaths had been recorded, in which women accounted for 47.5%. The proportion of cardiovascular-related deaths was 48% (n = 16,370). An increase of SO2 concentration by 1-µg/m3 (relative risk (RR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.12; p = 0.005) and a 10 °C decrease of temperature (RR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.05; p = 0.005) were related to an increase in the number of daily deaths. No gender differences in the impact of air pollution on mortality were observed. In the analysis of the subgroup of cardiovascular deaths, the main pollutant that was found to have an effect on daily mortality was particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5); the RR for 10-µg/m3 increase of PM2.5 was 1.07 (95% CI 1.02–1.12; p = 0.01), and this effect was noted only in the male population. (5) Conclusions: air quality and atmospheric conditions had an impact on the mortality of Bialystok residents. The main air pollutant that influenced the mortality rate was SO2, and there were no gender differences in the impact of this pollutant. In the male population, an increased exposure to PM2.5 concentration was associated with significantly higher cardiovascular mortality. These findings suggest that improving air quality, in particular, even with lower SO2 levels than currently allowed by the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, may benefit public health. Further studies on this topic are needed, but our results bring questions whether the recommendations concerning acceptable concentrations of air pollutants should be stricter, or is there a safe concentration of SO2 in the air at all.

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