Abstract
The study aims to investigate the relationship between air pollution and COVID-19, specifically how the former exacerbates the severity of COVID-19 health outcomes. The research methodology is based on primary and secondary sources such as COVID-19 outcome data and studies of exposure to air pollution. The study includes analysis of factors such as air pollution level (the level of PM2.5 fine matter in the air), household income levels, incidence statistics, the course of COVID-19 in the United States, and COVID-19 deaths in five American cities: New York City, New York; Los Angeles, California; Fresno, California; Juneau, Alaska; and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Overall, study results suggest that environmental conditions affect one's vulnerability to COVID-19 infection and the severity of health outcomes, as increased incidence of coronavirus infection and frequency of deaths were observed among COVID-19 infected low-income populations living in cities with a higher degree of air pollution. Further research should be conducted considering population density of cities and age composition of the population. In addition, further studies should continue to explore the impact of various forms of pollution on COVID-19 prevalence and mortality rates.