UCLA

Growing ecological studies suggest chronic exposure to air pollution exacerbates risks of COVID-19 incidence and mortality. This study assessed the associations between air pollutants and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in Los Angeles. 2019 annual mean exposure to air pollutants, including PM0.1 total mass, PM2.5 total mass, PM2.5 elemental carbon (EC), PM2.5 tracer from mobile sources, NO2, and ozone in 2019 were estimated at the ZIP code level based solely on residential areas. Negative binomial models and spatial models were used, considering each pollutant individually and adjusting for another pollutant. Exposure to PM0.1 mass, ozone, NO2, and PM2.5 EC were identified as risk factors for COVID-19 incidence and mortality. The results also suggest that air pollution has synergistic effects on COVID-19 outcomes. The study provides localized insights into the spatial and temporal associations between species-specific air pollutants and COVID-19 outcomes, highlighting the need for policy recommendations to mitigate air pollution.