Air Pollution and COVID-19 Mortality: How Power Plant Emissions Worsened Health Outcomes
Air Pollution and COVID-19 Mortality: How Power Plant Emissions Worsened Health Outcomes 1. I ntroduction Long-term exposure to air pollution—excellent particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) from power plants and other combustion sources—significantly worsened COVID-19 mortality rates globally. Studies show this relationship operates through multiple pathways, including chronic inflammation, weakened immune defenses, and pre-existing cardiopulmonary damage caused by pollutants. Vulnerable communities with higher pollution exposure and socioeconomic disparities faced disproportionately severe outcomes . 1.1 Overview of the link between air pollution and respiratory diseases Air pollution significantly contributes to the development and exacerbation of various respiratory diseases Pollution–Related Illnesses . Long-term exposure to air pollutants like particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) increases the risk of developing con...