The Relationship between Environmental Quality, Sustainable Health, and the Coronavirus Pandemic in European Countries

Abstract

The emission of air pollutants weakens the body’s immune system and can increase the prevalence of coronaviruses. This study examined the effects of six environmental pollutant gases, including Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), Perfluorocarbons (PFC), and Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6), on the prevalence of coronaviruses (i.e., coronavirus cases, total deaths, and active cases) in 30 European countries. Due to the benefits of ridge regression, this method was used to investigate the effects of those environmental pollutants on coronavirus cases. The results showed that all six gases had a positive effect on active coronavirus cases in European countries. This study concludes that industrialized European countries could focus on reducing environmental pollutants to decrease the effects of future pandemics.