The Relationship between the Transmission of Different SARS-CoV-2 Strains and Air Quality: A Case Study in China

Ruiqing Ma, Yeyue Zhang, Yini Zhang, Xi Li and Zheng Ji ()
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Ruiqing Ma: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Yeyue Zhang: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Yini Zhang: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Xi Li: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
Zheng Ji: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a global public health concern for almost three years, and the transmission characteristics vary among different virus variants. Previous studies have investigated the relationship between air pollutants and COVID-19 infection caused by the original strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, it is unclear whether individuals might be more susceptible to COVID-19 due to exposure to air pollutants, with the SARS-CoV-2 mutating faster and faster. This study aimed to explore the relationship between air pollutants and COVID-19 infection caused by three major SARS-CoV-2 strains (the original strain, Delta variant, and Omicron variant) in China. A generalized additive model was applied to investigate the associations of COVID-19 infection with six air pollutants (PM 2.5 , PM 10 , SO 2 , CO, NO 2 , and O 3 ). A positive correlation might be indicated between air pollutants (PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and NO 2 ) and confirmed cases of COVID-19 caused by different SARS-CoV-2 strains. It also suggested that the mutant variants appear to be more closely associated with air pollutants than the original strain. This study could provide valuable insight into control strategies that limit the concentration of air pollutants at lower levels and would better control the spread of COVID-19 even as the virus continues to mutate.

Keywords: air pollution; COVID-19; virus variants; generalized additive model; meteorological factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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