An updated study from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that air pollution is associated with a higher risk of Covid related death. Specifically, researchers found that an increase of 1 microgram per cubic meter of PM2.5 increases the Covid death rate by 8%. If that is difficult to visualize, let’s break it down:
· What is PM 2.5? Air particles (e.g. pollution) that measure 2.5 microns in diameter. Human hair is about 50-70 microns in diameter.
· How much is 1 microgram? One microgram = 0.000001 grams. A grain of salt is about 60 micrograms.
· A bedroom that is 20x10x12 feet holds 2400 cubic feet of air, or about 68 cubic meters of air.
Thus, for the sake of a rough visual, one microgram per cubic meter is the same as saying one grain of salt per NYC bedroom.
If NYC had been pollution-free in the years leading up to the pandemic, we would have had about 80% less Covid related deaths, which would have meant a smaller economic impact.
The upside of Covid-19 is that it is highlighting all the ways in which E, S, and G are imperative for economies globally. We will be highlighting more of these links in upcoming posts, and hope that the greater awareness will bring about a better post-pandemic future.