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<p>Long-term air pollution exposure is the leading environmental risk to human health.
We are working with relevant experts to understand the relationship between air quality
and increased risks from COVID-19 based on emerging science. This will be supported
by the National Institute for Health Research and UK Research and Innovation joint
open call for projects on mitigating the health, social, economic, cultural and environmental
impacts of COVID-19.</p><p>We note that there is emerging evidence suggesting an association
between COVID-19 mortality and exposure to air pollution, but many of the emerging
papers are, as yet, generally not peer-reviewed and are of variable quality. Currently,
there is no clear evidence to suggest that air pollution has a direct link to the
spread or severity of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom. In April, the Department for
the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs initiated work to conduct detailed statistical
analysis of the United Kingdom data, delivered in collaboration with the Department
for Health and Social Care, Public Health England and the Office for National Statistics,
and with input from the relevant Air Quality Expert Group and Committee on the Medical
Effects of Air Pollution experts. The work will be published in due course. The Department
for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs continues to have extensive discussions
with the Department for Health and Social Care and other departments on the relationship
between air quality and health.</p>
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