The Effect of Pollution on the Spread of COVID-19 in Europe

Abstract

This study investigates empirically how air pollution in earlier periods as measured by three air pollutants, namely NO2, PM10, and PM2.5 may have affected the spread and fatality of COVID-19 in 31 European countries. Using panel data with fixed effects to examine the relationship between previous exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 new cases and COVID-19 deaths, we find that previous air pollution levels have both acted as an important factor in explaining the COVID-19 spread and its high fatality rate. This result may explain the negative impact that these pollutants may have on health and in particular on the respiratory functions that are mainly attacked by the virus.