Long-term air pollution and other risk factors associated with COVID-19 at the census tract level in Colorado


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Background Information

Severe consequences of COVID-19 infection come from the virus’s effects on the lungs and heart, suggesting air pollution may affect COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates. In June 2020, CDPHE leadership made a request to the Colorado Tracking program to review emerging studies linking fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and COVID-19 and replicate the analysis for Colorado. To help decision-makers target appropriate interventions during the pandemic, Colorado Tracking chose to analyze how air pollution and other factors (race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.) influence COVID-19 outcomes at the census-tract level in Colorado.

What was CO Tracking’s role?

Tracking staff conceptualized the study, developed the methodology, curated the data, conducted the formal analysis, wrote and edited the manuscript, and responded to peer-reviewer comments.

What product or output came from CO Tracking’s role?

This project produced multiple outputs including multiple internal and external presentations, a white paper, relative risk scores for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality for Colorado census tracts, and a peer-reviewed publication in the journal Environmental Pollution.

What action or decision was taken to resolve the problem?

Conducting this analysis helped respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying communities of color and areas with a history of air pollution as being at higher risk from COVID-19 at a fine geographic scale. The analysis also identified targeted areas for additional air monitoring in Colorado that would allow for enhanced ability to link PM2.5 exposures with health outcomes.

What was the outcome of this action or decision?

Results from this study were used by CDPHE’s Mobile Sources Program to develop a stimulus proposal that focused on funding electric school buses in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and air pollution. The proposal was made to the U.S. Department of Education to reallocate unspent grant funds in order to fund activities directed at addressing COVID-19 impacts and recovery with a health equity and environmental justice lens. The goal of switching school districts from diesel to electric buses is critical because diesel emissions contribute disproportionate amounts of fine particulate matter in disadvantaged communities. This proposal is currently under review.