Published

2025-02-13

Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals

La contaminación del aire como un factor de riesgo potencial para la propagación de COVID-19: un estudio de caso de las capitales provinciales italianas

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v28n4.114296

Keywords:

Air Pollution, COVID-19, Public Health, Environmental Factors, Sustainable growth, Environmental science, Italy (en)
Contaminación del aire, COVID-19, Italia, Salud pública, Factores ambientales, Crecimiento sostenible, Ciencias ambientales (es)

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Authors

  • Bilal Kargi Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Sereflikoçhisar Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Banking and Finance, Şereflikoçhisar, Ankara, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7741-8961
  • Mario Coccia CNR – National Research Council of Italy, Turin Research Area of the National Research Council, Strada delle Cacce, 73, Turin 10135, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1957-6731

This study investigates the potential association between air pollution and the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Employing Italy as a case study, the research explores the diffusion patterns of COVID-19 within Italian provincial capitals. Findings suggest a correlation between elevated levels of air pollution and the number of confirmed cases. Cities exceeding air quality limits for PM10 or ozone for more than 100 days annually exhibited significantly higher caseloads compared to those with lower pollution levels. Additionally, the analysis reveals that hinterland locations (inland areas) with both high air pollution and low wind speed displayed a particularly pronounced increase in infection rates. Notably, over 75% of confirmed COVID-19 cases and approximately 81% of related deaths in Italy occurred in regions with high air pollution levels. These findings underscore the potential role of environmental factors in COVID-19 transmission and highlight the necessity for long-term public health strategies that integrate environmental and sustainability policies alongside medical interventions.

Este estudio investiga la posible asociación entre la contaminación del aire y la propagación de la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Tomando a Italia como caso de estudio, la investigación explora los patrones de difusión de COVID-19 en las capitales provinciales italianas. Los hallazgos sugieren una correlación entre los niveles elevados de contaminación del aire y el número de casos confirmados. Las ciudades que superan los límites de calidad del aire para PM10 u ozono durante más de 100 días al año exhibieron cargas de casos significativamente más altas en comparación con aquellas con niveles de contaminación más bajos. Además, el análisis revela que las ubicaciones del interior (áreas del interior) con alta contaminación del aire y baja velocidad del viento mostraron un aumento particularmente pronunciado en las tasas de infección. En particular, más del 75% de los casos confirmados de COVID-19 y aproximadamente el 81% de las muertes relacionadas en Italia ocurrieron en regiones con altos niveles de contaminación del aire. Estos hallazgos subrayan el papel potencial de los factores ambientales en la transmisión de COVID-19 y resaltan la necesidad de estrategias de salud pública a largo plazo que integren políticas ambientales y de sostenibilidad junto con intervenciones médicas.

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How to Cite

APA

Kargi, B. and Coccia, M. (2025). Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals. Earth Sciences Research Journal, 28(4), 461–470. https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v28n4.114296

ACM

[1]
Kargi, B. and Coccia, M. 2025. Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals. Earth Sciences Research Journal. 28, 4 (Feb. 2025), 461–470. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v28n4.114296.

ACS

(1)
Kargi, B.; Coccia, M. Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals. Earth sci. res. j. 2025, 28, 461-470.

ABNT

KARGI, B.; COCCIA, M. Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals. Earth Sciences Research Journal, [S. l.], v. 28, n. 4, p. 461–470, 2025. DOI: 10.15446/esrj.v28n4.114296. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/114296. Acesso em: 2 apr. 2025.

Chicago

Kargi, Bilal, and Mario Coccia. 2025. “Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals”. Earth Sciences Research Journal 28 (4):461-70. https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v28n4.114296.

Harvard

Kargi, B. and Coccia, M. (2025) “Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals”, Earth Sciences Research Journal, 28(4), pp. 461–470. doi: 10.15446/esrj.v28n4.114296.

IEEE

[1]
B. Kargi and M. Coccia, “Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals”, Earth sci. res. j., vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 461–470, Feb. 2025.

MLA

Kargi, B., and M. Coccia. “Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals”. Earth Sciences Research Journal, vol. 28, no. 4, Feb. 2025, pp. 461-70, doi:10.15446/esrj.v28n4.114296.

Turabian

Kargi, Bilal, and Mario Coccia. “Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals”. Earth Sciences Research Journal 28, no. 4 (February 13, 2025): 461–470. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/114296.

Vancouver

1.
Kargi B, Coccia M. Air Pollution as a Potential Risk Factor for COVID-19 Spread: A Case Study of Italian Provincial Capitals. Earth sci. res. j. [Internet]. 2025 Feb. 13 [cited 2025 Apr. 2];28(4):461-70. Available from: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/114296

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