publications

2022

1. A review on the biological, epidemiological, and statistical relevance of COVID-19 paired with air pollution

   Elizabeth F Yates, Kenneth Zhang, Abbie Naus, and 3 more authors

   Environ Adv, Jun 2022

   Abs

   This narrative review paper is aimed to critically evaluate recent studies of the associations between air pollution and the outcomes in the COVID-19 pandemic. The main air pollutants we have considered are carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), ground-level ozone (O(3)), particulate matter (PM(2.5) and PM(10)), and sulfur dioxide (SO(2)). We, specifically, evaluated the influences of these pollutants, both individually and collaboratively, across various geographic areas and exposure windows. We further reviewed the proposed biological mechanisms underlying the association between air pollution and COVID-19. Ultimately, we aim to inform policy and public health practice regarding the implications of COVID-19 and air pollution.

2021

1. Lag time between state-level policy interventions and change points in COVID-19 outcomes in the United States

   Tanujit Dey, Jaechoul Lee, Sounak Chakraborty, and 5 more authors

   Patterns (N Y), Jun 2021

   Abs

   State-level policy interventions have been critical in managing the spread of the new coronavirus. Here, we study the lag time between policy interventions and change in COVID-19 outcome trajectory in the United States. We develop a stepwise drifts random walk model to account for non-stationarity and strong temporal correlation and subsequently apply a change-point detection algorithm to estimate the number and times of change points in the COVID-19 outcome data. Furthermore, we harmonize data on the estimated change points with non-pharmaceutical interventions adopted by each state of the United States, which provides us insights regarding the lag time between the enactment of a policy and its effect on COVID-19 outcomes. We present the estimated change points for each state and the District of Columbia and find five different emerging trajectory patterns. We also provide insight into the lag time between the enactment of a policy and its effect on COVID-19 outcomes.

2. Association of temporary Environmental Protection Agency regulation suspension with industrial economic viability and local air quality in California, United States

   Emily Chang, Kenneth Zhang, Margaret Paczkowski, and 2 more authors

   Environ Sci Eur, Apr 2021

   Abs

   BACKGROUND: This study seeks to answer two questions about the impacts of the 2020 Environmental Protection Agency’s enforcement regulation rollbacks: is this suspension bolstering the economic viability of industries as oil and manufacturing executives claim they will and are these regulations upholding the agency’s mission of protecting the environment? RESULTS: To answer the former question, we utilized 6 months of state employment level data from California, United States, as a method of gauging the economic health of agency-regulated industries. We implemented a machine learning model to predict weekly employment data and a t-test to indicate any significant changes in employment. We found that, following California’s state-issued stay-at-home order and the agency’s regulation suspension, oil and certain manufacturing industries had statistically significant lower employment values.To answer the latter question, we used 10 years of PM(2.5) levels in California, United States, as a metric for local air quality and treatment-control county pairs to isolate the impact of regulation rollbacks from the impacts of the state lockdown. Using the agency’s data, we performed a t-test to determine whether treatment-control county pairs experienced a significant change in PM(2.5) levels. Even with the statewide lockdown-a measure we hypothesized would correlate with decreased mobility and pollution levels-in place, counties with oil refineries experienced the same air pollution levels when compared to historical data averaged from the years 2009 to 2019. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the expectation that the suspension would improve the financial health of the oil and manufacturing industry, we can conclude that these industries are not witnessing economic growth with the suspension and state shutdown in place. Additionally, counties with oil refineries could be taking advantage of these rollbacks to continue emitting the same amount of PM(2.5), in spite of state lockdowns. For these reasons, we ask international policymakers to reconsider the suspension of enforcement regulations as these actions do not fulfill their initial expectations. We recommend the creation and maintenance of pollution control and prevention programs that develop emission baselines, mandate the construction of pollution databases, and update records of pollution emissions. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12302-021-00489-9.