Letters | Improve Hong Kong’s air quality to reduce the risk of long Covid

Readers discuss the link between air pollution and post-Covid risk, and ask for an SPCA app for vet appointments

Reading Time:2 minutes

People wear masks in Causeway Bay as Hong Kong experiences high pollution levels on September 1, 2020. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:30am, 27 Mar 2023

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification.

Exposure to outdoor air pollution has long been linked to negative respiratory health effects, including worsening asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. The World Health Organization estimates that outdoor air pollution leads to 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide annually.

Recent studies have also suggested a relationship between air pollution and long-term effects of Covid-19, otherwise known as long Covid. Long Covid is a condition where recovered Covid-19 patients continue to experience symptoms for weeks or months. These symptoms range from fatigue and headaches to shortness of breath and even cognitive issues.

Although the exact cause of long Covid is still unknown, researchers have begun examining a variety of factors that might contribute to its development, including ambient air pollution.

High levels of air pollution were found to increase the risk of post-Covid symptoms in young adults, according to a study in The Lancet. The study surveyed 753 young adults who had contracted Covid-19 and found that long-term exposure to very fine PM2.5 particles increased the likelihood of long Covid symptoms.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, it has never been more important to address the issue of air pollution, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Hong Kong. Governments, businesses and individuals all have a role to play in reducing air pollution levels.