The US Desert Research Institute (D.R.I.) investigates the effect of human activity on the environment, and the reverse flow. It has been doing so since 1959, and is a world leader in applied environmental research. Its scientists investigated whether an increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections in Reno, Nevada related to smoke from 2020 wildfires. And they found evidence COVID-19 cases increased in wildfire smoke.
Large Increase in SARS-CoV-2 Test Positivity Rate Noted
That’s after the D.R.I. found ‘a 17.7 percent rise in COVID-19 cases after a prolonged 2020 wildfire smoke event’ in Reno, Nevada. A number of fires beginning June 2020 had burned more than 4,397,809 acres in neighboring California. This smoke had then drifted across into Reno and lingered there.
A unique situation developed in Reno, where residents were exposed to wildfire smoke more often than many other areas. A team member explains that’s because the area is in an inter-mountain valley that restricts the dispersion of pollutants, and possibly increases the magnitude of exposure’.
‘This makes it even more important for us to understand how smoke impacts on human health,’ they explain. We append a link to their research report, and also a report on the D.R.I. website we acknowledge as inspiration for this post.
Proof that COVID-19 Cases Increased in Wildfire Smoke
The Desert Research Institute used mathematical modelling to analyze the relationship between fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke, and the COVID-19 test positivity rate. They found the positive test rate in their area of interest increased 17.7% during a period of prolonged smoke.
They suggest COVID-19 cases increased in wildfire smoke for of several reasons:
1… Particulates in the wildfire smoke may have modified immune responses and helped transfer the virus to lungs.
2… Elevated concentrations of ambient nitrogen dioxide could have changed the behavior of ACE2 receptors, thereby increasing human infection rate.
But the researchers suggest the effect could be less severe in future. That’s if more people sheltered in homes during extreme smoke events after authorities implemented smoke lock downs.
Related
Double Jeopardy in COVID-19 Wildfire Season
A Pandemic of Unvaccinated Citizens
Preview Image: A 2020 California Wildfire
