The Spread of the Novel Coronavirus Disease-2019 in Polluted Cities: Environmental and Demographic Factors to Control for the Prevention of Future Pandemic Diseases

ABSTRACT

This chapter analyzes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases alongside environmental and demographic data in a case study of Italy, the first European country to experience a rapid increase in confirmed cases and deaths in 2020. Sample is based on Italian province capitals considering data of air pollution given by total days exceeding the limits set for PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter) or for ozone;diffusion of COVID-19 is measured with daily infected individuals;climate is measured with average temperature and wind speed;and finally interpersonal contacts are measured by population density of cities under study. This study finds that geo-environmental and demographic factors may have accelerated the spread of COVID-19 in polluted cities. In particular, results reveal that cities with little wind and frequently high levels of air pollution had higher numbers of COVID-19-related infected individuals and deaths in society. This chapter suggests the critical role of appropriate environmental policies for polluted cities to constrain risk factors for future epidemics of viral agents similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the strain of novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.