Relationship between temporal anomalies in PM2.5 concentrations and reported influenza/influenza-like illness activity

• Published in: Heliyon Vol. 6; no. 8; p. e04726
• Main Author: DeFelice, T.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aerosol; Aerosol-health interactions; Atmospheric science; Climatology; Environmental analysis; Environmental health; Influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI); Influenza virus; Particulate matter(PM); PM2.5 concentration anomalies; PM2.5 concentrations; Public health; Atmospheric science; Climatology; PM2.5 concentrations; Influenza virus; Aerosol-health interactions; Aerosol; Environmental health; PM2.5 concentration anomalies; Particulate matter(PM); Environmental analysis; Influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI); Public health
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04726

A small number of studies suggest atmospheric particulate matter with diameters 2.5 micron and smaller (PM2.5) may possibly play a role in the transmission of influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms. Those studies were predominantly conducted under moderately to highly polluted outdoor atmospheres. The purpose of this study was to extend the data set to include a less polluted atmospheric environment. A relationship between PM2.5 and ILI activity extended to include lightly to moderately polluted atmospheres could imply a more complicated mechanism than that suggested by existing studies. We obtained concurrent PM2.5 mass concentration data, meteorological data and reported Influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) activity for the light to moderately polluted atmospheres over the Tucson, AZ region. We found no relation between PM2.5 mass concentration and ILI activity. There was an expected relation between ILI, activity, temperature, and relative humidity. There was a possible relation between PM2.5 mass concentration anomalies and ILI activity. These results might be due to the small dataset size and to the technological limitations of the PM measurements. Further study is recommended since it would improve the understanding of ILI transmission and thereby improve ILI activity/outbreak forecasts and transmission model accuracies.
Atmospheric science; Climatology; Environmental analysis; Environmental health; Public health; Aerosol; PM2.5 concentrations; PM2.5 concentration anomalies; Influenza virus; Influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI); Aerosol-health interactions; Particulate matter (PM).