COVID deaths in England’s first wave were 70% higher in areas with worst air pollution, study finds | Sky News

Victoria Seabrook Friday 18 June 2021
Deaths from COVID-19 in England during the first wave of the pandemic were 70% higher in areas with worse air pollution than the national average, new research has revealed.
Report author Peter Congdon, geography professor at Queen Mary University of London, said he hoped the study would help avoid a high number of deaths in future similar epidemics – and also serve to highlight “the long standing issues of poor air quality in cities”.
The report, published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal J, found the prevalence of nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter 10 were “significant influences” on deaths from COVID-19.
Comparatively, 40% fewer people died in areas of England with the cleanest air.