Biomass use and COVID-19: A novel concern

Megha Thakur; Esther A Boudewijns; Giridhara R Babu; Onno C P van Schayck

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2020.109586

Biomass use and COVID-19: A novel concern

Environ Res. 2020 Jul:186:109586. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109586. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Authors

Megha Thakur¹, Esther A Boudewijns², Giridhara R Babu³, Onno C P van Schayck²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: meghathakurhp@gmail.com.
² Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
³ Public Health Foundation of India, Indian Institute of Public Health-Hyderabad, Bangalore Campus, Bangalore, 560023, India.

Abstract

Evidence supports the link between air pollution and COVID-19 and thus it is likely that exposure to biomass smoke is associated with COVID-19. The poor, including refugees and migrant workers staying in fragile conditions, are most vulnerable. An outbreak of COVID-19 in a place where the concept of physical distancing is next to impossible could easily overwhelm the public health system. It is thus essential to understand the consequences of being exposed to smoke in relation to COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: Air pollution; COVID-19; Migrants; Smoke.

MeSH terms

Air Pollution*
Betacoronavirus
Biomass*
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections*
Humans
Incineration
Pandemics*
Pneumonia, Viral*
SARS-CoV-2
Smoke

Substances

Smoke