Mon 25 Jan 2021 Caroline Russel - Green World
“Air pollution makes people vulnerable and susceptible to a whole host of health conditions – Covid-19 has delivered ‘the final coup de grâce’.”
Transport Spokesperson Caroline Russell explains the link between air pollution
and susceptibility to Covid-19.
(Caroline Russell is a Green Party politician and activist
and member of the London Assembly.)
A picture is emerging of a clear increase in the risk posed by coronavirus in polluted areas. This is particularly worrying for Londoners, who are exposed to high levels of PM2.5 particle pollution every day. Pollution attacks our respiratory system, making it an unwanted ally of Covid-19, compounding the damage the virus causes, in much the same way smoking and pollution worsen COPD outcomes.
In a peer-reviewed Harvard University study, it was found there is an increase of around 11 per cent in coronavirus deaths per 1 microgram per metre cubed increment in PM2.5 background levels.
Speaking about the increased susceptibility and vulnerability to coronavirus for people living in highly polluted areas last October, Dr Maria Neira of the World Health Organisation said: “We need to make sure that this double burden is tackled in a very important way, addressing as well the causes of air pollution.”
At an Assembly environment scrutiny committee meeting in November, Dr Ian Mudway, Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, explained that air pollution makes people vulnerable and susceptible to a whole host of health conditions and described Covid-19 as coming along and delivering “the final coup de grâce, so to speak.” …….. Full Green News article here
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