Abstract
Introduction: Long and short-term exposure to certain concentrations of environmental pollutants seems to influence the spread and worsening of COVID-19. On the other hand, it has been hypothesized that quarantines have a positive effect on air quality. Objective: To examine the concentration of particulate material 10 (CPM10) in the last five years, in pre-quarantine and post-quarantine months of 2020 and the impact of the quarantine on CPM10 in Santa Marta (Colombia). Materials and Methods: Retrospective longitudinal study of CPM10 on a sample of five environmental monitoring stations, period 2016-2020. CPM10 distributions were calculated for each year and season, as well as between months before and after quarantine. Results: A statistically significant reduction of 34% in CPM10 was evidenced in 2020 compared to the previous four years. CPM10 of post-quarantine months decreased 40% in comparison with the pre-quarantine months. There were no significant differences in CPM10 between the stations, although median values of CPM10 were higher in the southern stations. CPM10 from 2016- 2020 (long term) and in pre-quarantine months (short term) exceeded the limits of increased risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 established in previous international studies. Conclusion: The quarantine had a positive impact on the air quality in Santa Marta. However, CPM10 levels found in the long and short term could have predisposed the population to infection and death from the virus.
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