Open Letter from the Bureau of the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science Technology and Environment, Ms. Barnett, Mr. Gerasymov and Ms. Hoxha, and from the Special Representative on Arctic Issues, Ms. Eidsheim

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    Open Letter by the Bureau of the OSCE PA 2nd Committee SR on Arctic Issues

    https://www.ft.dk/samling/20201/almdel/osce/bilag/7/2283693.pdf

    Vienna, 18 November 2020
    Dear Members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly,
    It is widely known that long-term exposure to high levels of particulate matter (PM)
    chronically impairs human health and influences the clinical course of infections acquired by
    already debilitated individuals, especially in the most vulnerable age groups. According to the
    Annual Report on Air Quality by the European Environment Agency, pollution is causing
    almost a half-million preventable deaths in Europe. Among other things, inhaling polluted air
    increases the risk of heart attack, pneumonia and, if infected by COVID-19, death.
    Against the backdrop of increasing SARS-CoV-2 infection rates throughout the OSCE
    region, the Bureau of the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science Technology and
    Environment and the Special Representative on Arctic Issues are pleased to share with your
    national delegations some interesting findings which have been presented by the Italian
    Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA) during an informative briefing held on 23
    October 2020.
    Over the last few years, SIMA’s scientists - in consultation and co-operation with a wide
    network of academic institutions from across the OSCE region - conducted extensive
    research on the impact of pollution on public health and, most recently, on the correlation
    between the high concentration of atmospheric particulate matter and COVID-19 infections,
    both in terms of airborne diffusion and health outcomes. Notably, such a correlation has been
    signalled by various research institutes, including the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in
    Mainz and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. To learn more about these
    developments, we plan to host a roundtable policy debate with the contribution of pertinent
    experts from across the region in the framework of our 2nd
    Committeework.
    At this critical juncture, we are especially convinced that policymakers should respond to
    citizens’ security needs through timely and well-calibrated environmental protection policies
    based on the latest scientific evidence. The far-fetched health and security implications of the
    ongoing crisis have, in fact, restated the urgency to effectively limit the detrimental effects of
    OSCEs Parlamentariske Forsamling 2020-21
    OSCE Alm.del - Bilag 7
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    pollution on human well-being and climate through strict regulations, both during and after
    the crisis.
    We therefore invite you to consider the annexed findings in your policymaking efforts
    aimed at mitigating the security impact of the current health crisis. You may also
    circulate them among your respective parliaments, governments and scientific communities,
    as appropriate.
    In conclusion, rest assured that we will continue to advocate for a more holistic and
    interdisciplinary approach to environmental security, whereby the protection of the
    environment becomes the precondition to effectively address both the public and the planet’s
    health crisis. Our goal is to achieve a more balanced and forward-looking development
    strategy in response to growing public health concerns, as well as to the security expectations
    of current and future generations.
    Yours sincerely,
    Ms. Doris Barnett, Chair of the OSCE PA General Committee on Economic Affairs,
    Science, Technology and Environment
    Vice-Chair of the OSCE PA General Committee on Economic
    Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment
    Ms. Elona Gjebrea-Hoxha, Rapporteur of the OSCE PA General Committee on Economic
    Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment
    Ms. Torill Eidsheim, OSCE PA Special Representative on Arctic Issues
    1
    This document outlines the recent scientific findings of the Italian Society of Environmental
    Medicine (SIMA) on the correlation between the high concentration of atmospheric particulate
    matter and SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission, presented to the Bureau of the OSCE PA General
    Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment during an Informative
    Briefing on 23 October 2020. As such, the OSCE PA makes no claims nor warranties of any kind,
    expressed or implied, about the completeness and reliability of the data presented.
    Practical implications of the SIMA studies on COVID-19 containment
    for the attention of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
    18 November 2020
    KEY FINDINGS
    • Particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and
    PM10) serve as “carriers” for
    several chemical and biological
    pollutants, including viruses,
    allowing long-term survival of
    viruses in the atmosphere for hours or
    even days. Thus, like many other
    micro-organisms and viruses, the
    new coronavirus Sars-Cov-2 can
    also spread through the air over
    large distances (the so-called
    airborne route transmission1
    ).
    Figure 1. How Big Are Coronavirus Particles? Smart Air Filters, 4 February 2020,
    https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/can-masks-capture-coronavirus/.
    • SIMA’s innovative research on the correlation between SARS-COV-2 virus transmission and
    the concentration of atmospheric particulate matter suggests that PM should be regarded as
    a contributing factor to COVID-19 infections, both in terms of airborne diffusion and health
    outcomes. A positive correlation between exposure to significant levels of air pollution
    and higher fatality rates has been signalled by various scientific efforts around the globe2
    .
    • As COVID-19 related deaths and the further spread of the coronavirus have been found to be
    associated with excess PM10 and PM2.5, the abundance of particulate matter in the air
    represents a significant predictor of COVID-19 infection - which reveals how the virus
    spreads more quickly in polluted areas, even when accounting for population density and the
    average number of daily travellers and tourists.
    1
    At the end of September 2020, the Centre for Disease Control in the USA have recognized the “Airborne Route” as
    another way of COVID-19 spreading in addition to direct interpersonal contagion.
    2
    For instance, a recent nationwide study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that 1 unit increase in
    long-term average exposure to PM2.5 is associated with an 8% increase in the COVID-19 mortality rate in the USA.
    Moreover, an international research effort which included the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz found that 15%
    of worldwide COVID-19 deaths can be traced back to long-term exposure to PM2.5
    2
    • In particular, super-spread (or “high-way”) effects are observable when, under stable
    weather conditions, the PM10 exceedances are repeated over time with frequencies beyond
    three consecutive days.3
    This is a typical condition in many European cities where the
    temperature is around 5-10 degrees, the relative humidity is over 80% and the presence of
    emissions is high due to fossil or biomass combustion caused by vehicular traffic or domestic
    heating. In such conditions, the virus may cover distances up to 10 meters from the
    emission source. Notably, while one person can normally infect two individuals, in this “super-
    spread scenario,” one person may infect up to five individuals.
    • Sars-Cov-2 can also rapidly diffuse in any
    indoor environment in the presence of one
    or more infected people, but there are
    different technologies that can be useful in
    reducing the risk of virus diffusion inindoor
    environments (e.g. schools, offices, and
    restaurants) to near zero. For instance, air
    conditioning systems play a decisive role in
    controlling the dispersion of droplets and
    aerosols produced by breathing in closed
    environments. Notably, doubling the air
    conditioning flow rate inside a closed
    room reduces the concentration of
    contaminated particles by 99.6%. Figure 2. The difference between droplet and airborne transmission.
    BBC News, 8 July 2020,https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53329946.
    • Air exchange is fundamental in the dilution of the virus and its transfer to the outside. The
    reduction of airborne biological pollutants present in the droplets significantly decreases the
    concentration of the pathogen in the air. This, together with the today's use of barrier means
    (wearing face masks, social distancing and hand washing), represents the main tool in reducing
    the risk of contagion in closed environments.
    KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
    • In order to prevent the “super-spreading” effect induced by heavy air pollution during the
    next European winter (when climatic conditions, humidity and temperature will be ideal for
    viral spreading), it is critical to reduce the levels of particulate matter by:
    o In the short-term: Temporarily halting all vehicular traffic and reducing heating
    combustion in cities experiencing more than two consecutive days of PM exceedances
    during a COVID-19 emergency context.
    o In the mid-term: Reducing the use of fossil fuels and biomass combustion while
    favouring the transition to renewable energy sources.
    • To avoid the detrimental impact of “super-spread” events in the presence of prolonged PM
    exceedances, it is critical to:
    o Increase the interpersonal safety distance beyond two meters.
    o Close all windows and doors to avoid high concentrations of PM indoors.
    o Make the use of FFP2 face masks compulsory, both indoors and outdoors.
    • Monitoring the presence of Sars-COV-2 RNA on particulate matter, both indoors and
    outdoors, should be used as an early indicator of COVID-19 local epidemic recurrences4
    .
    3
    Super-spread events are generally observed also for the seasonal flu, resulting in high healthcare-related costs each year.
    4
    In this context, SIMA has a specific project proposal which can be presented to interested OSCE PA delegations.
    3
    • The use of air purification, or mechanical ventilation, should be actively implemented to
    enhance safety in any indoor environment.
    • The interpersonal safety distance should be increased to at least two metres to better
    protect citizens’ health amid the coronavirus pandemic. In parallel, it is critical to require all
    citizens to use face masks in every public place.
    Figure 3 . SIMA’s s he e of possi le e ha e e t of viral tra s issio through stabilized human exhalation on PM.
    • The capacity of healthcare systems should be immediately boosted by re-opening closed
    hospitals and making use of military infrastructures to efficiently manage the expected surge
    in COVID-19-related admissions. Simultaneously, outpatient medical services (those that can
    isolate and closely follow patients and direct contacts at home) must be urgently reinforced.
    References to SIMA Publications
    • Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Torboli V, Fontana F,
    Clemente L. SARS-Cov-2RNA Found on Particulate Matter of Bergamo in Northern Italy: First Evidence. Environmental
    Research. 2020 May 30:109754.
    • Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Barbieri P, Licen S, Perrone MG, Piazzalunga A, Borelli M, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Rizzo
    E. Potential role of particulate matter in the spreading of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: first observational study based on
    initial epidemic diffusion. British Medical Journal Open (BMJ Open). 2020 Sep 1;10(9): e039338.
    • Borro L, Mazzei L, Raponi M, Piscitelli P, Miani A, Secinaro A. The Role of Air Conditioning in the Diffusion of Sars-CoV-
    2 in Indoor Environments: a First Computational Fluid Dynamic Model, based on Investigations performed at the Vatican
    State Children’s Hospital. Environmental Research. 2020 Oct 15:110343.
    • Distante C, Piscitelli P, Miani A. Covid-19 outbreak progression in Italian regions: Approaching the peak by the end of March
    in northern Italy and first week of April in Southern Italy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
    2020 Jan;17(9):3025.
    • Setti L, Passarini F, De Gennaro G, Baribieri P, Perrone MG, Borelli M, Palmisano J, Di Gilio A, Piscitelli P, Miani A.
    Airborne Transmission Route of COVID19: Why 2 Meters/6 Feet of Inter-Personal Distance Could Not Be Enough. Int. J.
    Environ. Res. Public Health2020, 17, 2932.
    • Leonardo Setti, Fabrizio Passarini, Gianluigi de Gennaro, Pierluigi Barbieri, Alberto Pallavicini, Maurizio Ruscio, Prisco
    Piscitelli, Annamaria Colao, Alessandro Miani. Searching for SARS-COV-2 on Particulate Matter: A Possible Early Indicator
    of COVID-19 Epidemic Recurrence? Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 23 April 2020.
    • Miani A, Burgio E, Piscitelli P, Lauro R, Colao A. The Italian war-like measures to fight coronavirus spreading: Re-open
    closed hospitals now. Lancet EClinical Medicine. 2020 Apr 1; 21.
    • Piscitelli P, Miani A, Mazza A, Triassi M, De Donno A, Scala A, Pulimeno M, Distante A, Pollice F, Colao A. Health-care
    inequalities in Italy: challenges for the Government. Lancet Public Health. 2019 Dec 1;4(12): e605.
    • Anelli F, Leoni G, Monaco R, Nume C, Rossi RC, Marinoni G, Spata G, De Giorgi D, Peccarisi L, Miani A, Burgio E. Italian
    doctors call for protecting healthcare workers and boosting community surveillance during covid-19 outbreak. British Medical
    Journal BMJ. 2020 Mar 26;368:m1254.
    • Colao A, Piscitelli P, Pulimeno M, Colazzo S, Miani A, Giannini S. Rethinking the role of the school after COVID-19. Lancet
    Public Health. 2020 May 25.