The Impact of Air Quality Index (AQI) and Meteorological Factors on Covid-19 Outbreak (Case Study: Tehran Province)

جغرافیا و مخاطرات محیطی

Article 8, Volume 12, Issue 2 - Serial Number 46, February 2023, Pages 147-163   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/geoeh.2022.79489.1297

Authors

Ali Mohammadhasani¹; Hamidreza Kamyab^{* 2}; Hasan Razaei³

¹Department of Environment, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

²Assistant Professor of Environment Department, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan. Iran

³Associate Professor of Environment Department, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan. Iran

Abstract

The relationship between air quality and the spread of Covid-19 has been proven to be sometimes positive and sometimes negative in previous studies. A research gap was seen in Iran regarding the impact of air quality on the spread of Covid-19. Thus, this study examined the relationship between the reproductive number of Covid-19 with the air quality index and meteorological factors. The reproductive number is an index to explain the spread of a viral disease. The air quality index related to each of the pollutants NO₂, O₃, CO, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and the criterion pollutant were utilized in this study. Meteorological factors, including temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, air pressure, and wind speed were used. The data were obtained weekly and at Tehran province. The dependence of variables was determined using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. The examined relationships were then estimated by regression. Each independent variable was tested in a distinct regression because of the limitations of the study. The linear and curvature regressions were performed according to the dispersion of variables and statistical assumptions. The best model was fitted based on statistical significance and regression coefficient of determination. The results of correlation tests showed the dependence of reproductive number with PM₁₀, PM_2.5, SO₂ and relative humidity. Regression tests also confirmed the relationship between the reproductive number (dependent variable) and each of the independent variables PM₁₀ (coefficient of determination 0.274), PM_2.5 (coefficient of determination 0.358), SO₂ (coefficient of determination 0.359), and relative humidity (determination coefficient 0.213). The results indicated that an increase in PM₁₀, PM_2.5, SO₂ and decrease in relative humidity was associated with an increase in spread of Covid-19.

Keywords

Reproductive Number; Air Pollution; Particulates; Epidemic

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