Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

August 5, 2020

Evidence-Based Considerations Exploring Relations between SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Air Pollution: Involvement of PM2.5-Mediated Up-Regulation of the Viral Receptor ACE-2

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  • A correlation analysis of air quality and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in Italy suggested that higher concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) corresponded temporally with higher COVID-19 incidence, mortality, and case fatality ratios across 110 geographic areas in Northern Italy. The infection rate tripled for PM2.5 levels increasing from 10 to 25 µg/m3 and the case fatality doubled for PM2.5 levels increasing from 10 to 22 µg/m3.  
  • The authors propose a potential mechanism for this observation due to upregulation of expression of the ACE-2 gene by pollutants mediated through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.  

Borro et al. (Aug 2, 2020). Evidence-Based Considerations Exploring Relations between SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Air Pollution: Involvement of PM2.5-Mediated Up-Regulation of the Viral Receptor ACE-2. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155573