The effects of air pollution, meteorological parameters, and climate change on COVID-19 comorbidity and health disparities: A systematic review

Paul D. Juarez, Aramandla Ramesh, Darryl B. Hood, Donald J. Alcendor, R. Burciaga Valdez, Mounika P. Aramandla, Mohammad Tabatabai, Patricia Matthews-Juarez, Michael A. Langston, Mohammad Z. Al-Hamdan, Amruta Nori-Sarma, Wansoo Im, Charles C. Mouton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Air pollutants, especially particulate matter, and other meteorological factors serve as important carriers of infectious microbes and play a critical role in the spread of disease. However, there remains uncertainty about the relationship among particulate matter, other air pollutants, meteorological conditions and climate change and the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), hereafter referred to as COVID-19. A systematic review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines to identify the relationship between air quality, meteorological conditions and climate change, and COVID-19 risk and outcomes, host related factors, co-morbidities and disparities. Out of a total of 170,296 scientific publications screened, 63 studies were identified that focused on the relationship between air pollutants and COVID-19. Additionally, the contribution of host related-factors, co-morbidities, and health disparities was discussed. This review found a preponderance of evidence of a positive relationship between PM2.5, other air pollutants, and meteorological conditions and climate change on COVID-19 risk and outcomes. The effects of PM2.5, air pollutants, and meteorological conditions on COVID-19 mortalities were most commonly experienced by socially disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Results however, were not entirely consistent, and varied by geographic region and study. Opportunities for using data to guide local response to COVID-19 are identified.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)194-210
Number of pages17
JournalEnvironmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
Volume4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Air quality
  • COVID-19
  • PM
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • and epidemic
  • health disparities
  • meteorological conditions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Ecology
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effects of air pollution, meteorological parameters, and climate change on COVID-19 comorbidity and health disparities: A systematic review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this