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Coronavirus: study, link with smog is not proven

2020-03-22T16:39:54.883Z


The Italian aerosol company (Ias) intervenes after the note of some researchers (ANSA)


The correlation between smog and the spread of Coronavirus is not currently proven. This is supported by an information note from the Italian aerosol company, signed by 70 scientists from various bodies and institutions. "To date, no effect of greater susceptibility to contagion to Covid-19 due to exposure to atmospheric dust has been demonstrated" and "it is believed that the proposal for restrictive measures to contain pollution" is, "at the current state of knowledge , unjustified. "

The Italian aerosol company (Ias) intervenes after the note of some researchers who instead reported an alleged association between atmospheric particulate pollution (Pm) and the spread of Covid-19. The IAS, therefore, which includes among its members about 150 expert researchers on the problems of atmospheric particulates coming from universities, research bodies, regional and provincial agencies for environmental protection and from the private sector has decided to express an opinion based on the current knowledge that, it is specified "is still very limited and this requires the utmost caution in interpreting the available data". If it is true that exposure, more or less prolonged, to high concentrations of dust increases the susceptibility to chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and that this condition can worsen the health situation of the infected, as well as these high concentrations are frequently observed in northern Italy , especially in the Po Valley, in winter, "however, no effect of greater susceptibility to contagion" due to dust has been demonstrated so far. It is therefore possible that some weather conditions, such as low temperature and high atmospheric humidity, may create an environment that favors the survival of the virus, but "the covariance between conditions of poor atmospheric circulation, formation of secondary aerosol, accumulation of Pm close to the ground and spread of the virus it must not, however, be mistaken for a cause-effect relationship ". Therefore, what is hypothesized "must be carefully evaluated with extensive and in-depth investigations". In the same way, "it is believed that the proposal for restrictive measures to contain pollution as a means to combat contagion is, in the current state of knowledge, unjustified, even if there is no doubt that the reduction of anthropogenic emissions, if maintained for a long period , has beneficial effects on air quality and climate and therefore on general health ".

Source: ansa

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