The nexus between air pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey: Further evidence from wavelet coherence analysis

Abstract

The effect of the ambient air quality on the COVID-19 pandemic is a topic that has attracted much attention and still remains of current interest. The study area of Turkey is one of the countries with high case numbers, but there is no detailed investigation dealing with it in the literature. For this reason, the correlation and nexus between COVID-19 cases and deaths in Turkey with the air pollutants of PM10, PM2.5, SO2, CO, NO2 and O3 were determined between 1 April and 31 July 2021 using the statistical methods of correlation and wavelet coherence analysis. According to the findings, for the COVID-19 pandemic parameters, there were positive significant correlations with PM2.5, SO2, CO, and NO2 and an inverse significant correlation with O3. Wavelet transform coherence revealed that air pollution, which has significant effects on human life, was one of the main determinants of the spread and mortality linked to the pandemic. Additionally, it is notable that the national air quality improved during full lockdown periods in the country. The findings obtained in this study are expected to attract the attention of legislating and enforcing authorities and support more decisive steps being taken to reduce environmental pollutants and to control air pollution.