Exploring the Air Pollution with Particulate Matter—PM₁₀, COVID-19 Cases Evolution in Romania and Exposure to Aeroallergens

Constant exposure to the atmospheric air polluted with particulate matter is considered to have a negative influence on human health, even if it is found at values that may not exceed the maximum allowable concentration. Starting from the correlation between atmospheric air polluted with PM and COVID-19 incidence/mortality, this research had as first objective to assess the exposure to an average concentration of PM₁₀ in Romania and, in particular, in Bucharest for a period of six years and the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 cases per 1000 inhabitants (continuing previous research, from 2020). Subsequently, we studied the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 cases per 1000 inhabitants until January 2022. Another research objective was to identify a possible association between the atmospheric air polluted with particulate matter, viruses (SARS-CoV-2) and aeroallergens (common ragweed). To achieve the first two proposed objectives, the research method used was a univariate statistical analysis, correlation and regression analysis, subsequently analyzing the data and comparing with the results obtained in the research conducted previously (2020). In the selection of data, which formed the basis of the last part of the research, we used the recommendations of the PRISMA-ScR Guidelines, which were useful and guided us in the proper conduct of the research and in obtaining results in line with the proposed purpose. The applied regression model showed that in Bucharest, 86.34% of the variation in the cases incidence is explained by the variation in the PM₁₀ concentration. In the second part of the research, we observed an exponential increase in the number of cases, without demonstrating a direct causal relationship with exposure to particulate matter air polluted. Otherwise, we additionally studied the data on the existence of a causal relationship between the increase of pollen in the atmospheric air over time and the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the data that considered that there would be no causal relationship between these parameters.