In this study, we examined over 3 million SARS-CoV-2 infections and about 50,000 COVID-19 deaths in California from February 2020 to February 2021 to evaluate risks associated with long-term neighborhood levels of PM2.5
Compared to those living in neighborhoods with the lowest exposure, we found that individuals living in neighborhoods with the highest long-term PM2.5 exposure were:
- At 20% higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
- At 51% higher risk of COVID-19 mortality.
- More likely to be Hispanic and more socioeconomically vulnerable.
We estimate that 9% of COVID-19 deaths during this time would have been prevented if all of California met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5. The full publication is available here.
Key Project Information
Project Time Period
2020 - 2021
Project Funder
California Air Resources Board, Award No. 19RD029: Impact of Air Pollution on COVID-19 Case and Death Risk in California
Project Partners
Technical Assistance Providers
Project Contact:
For more information, please contact info@trackingcalifornia.org
Project Publications
- Association between long-term exposure to particulate air pollution with SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 deaths in California, U.S.A. [2022] Paul English, Julie Von Behren, John R. Balmes, John Boscardin, Catherine Carpenter, Debbie E. Goldberg, Sophia Horiuchi, Maxwell Richardson, Gina Solomon, Jhaqueline Valle, Peggy Reynolds
