The project is suitable for the Human Factors challenge because it was analyzed through the databases made available by the event, NOx gas emission hotspots, where coincidentally there are higher contagion records and the coronavirus mortality rate, both at a high. Therefore, it is a factor that follows this pattern and may be correlated, since the contact with NOx gases, among other polluting agents, is scientifically proven to decrease the effectiveness of the immune system against diseases. Thus, people who are in these locations and in constant contact with such gases, can worsen their health status if they are contaminated with the disease, or even become more vulnerable to developing not only COVID-19, but also other infections that can be lethal.
It is known that vulnerable people can easily become infected with the coronavirus. But who of us are not vulnerable to him? We are daily facing several agents to whom we have suffered severe damage. And what if one of these agents directly contributes to the aggravation of the endemic and dangerous COVID-19?
Since the early education it is known that nitrogen is an essential factor for the survival of living beings today. However, we also know about the existence of nitrogen oxides, regularly abbreviated as NOx. Nitrogen oxides are not always harmful, however, we have two acquaintances present in our lives, namely nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) highly polluting and harmful to human health.
Nitrogen dioxide is commonly found in the air, as we are in constant contact with cars, industries and other facts that cause the release of the substance into the air. However, it is proven that NO2 is harmful to human health in a way that makes it more sensitive to asthma and bronchitis, in addition to worsening the condition of lung diseases, leaving the immune system weaker and less resistant to respiratory diseases.
A University of California study found that NO2 may be correlated with sudden death in newborns. Both NO and NO2 are not fat soluble. Due to this factor, they cause pulmonary gravidic consequences in humans, which can lead to death. It is known that the coronavirus is easily contagious and lethal in individuals who have a weakened immune system.
Observing what is available in the SEDAC Global COVID-19 Viewer, we realize that not only the risk group previously predicted is being infected, but also people of different ages and locations. And why is that? It was suspected that there was another factor that could be common to contagion. And a global map was found in the databases with the critical NO2 identification points around the world: the Copernicus Sentinel-5P Tropospheric Nitrogen Dioxide provided by ESA. According to him, in the most critical points of the disease, such as New York and other cities with high populations, the identified tropospheric amount of NO2 is greater than 180 μmol / m², which is something to consider.
Coincidentally, NASA and ESA identified in the Airborne Nitrogen Dioxide Plummets Over China survey that, due to rigid quarantine, NO2 decreased in the locality, as well as decreasing the incidence of cases of the disease. So there is apparently less pollution. However, NO2 can be one of the causes that, due to the great and constant contagion with the gas, can favor the contagion by coronavirus. In 2018, we had studies from the National Academy of Sciences of the United States where it was concluded that exposure to air pollution particles can be harmful to human health, in addition to the fact that due to pollution concentrated in urban centers, people are more vulnerable to coronavirus.
Harvard study in 2020 points out the relationship between air pollution and the death rate of Covid-19. The places that have more pollution around the world are gradually decreasing the emission of nitrogen oxides harmful to human health, however, in these places there are also the highest rates of contagion before the lockdown, as can be seen in the present monitoring in the article New-generation satellite observations monitor air pollution during COVID-19 lockdown measures in California, published by NASA.
Therefore, it was identified during the challenge that one of the human factors that causes damage in relation to COVID-19 is the constant contact with nitrogen oxides harmful to health. There is a need to build a prophylaxis campaign to strengthen the immune system of humans, so that, as the problem of contact with NO2 has been identified, why not boost the immune system naturally of humans?The construction of the Your(self) Free platform was conceived, a joint campaign by NASA, ESA, JAXA and governmental and non-governmental institutions around the world, where through collaborative actions, alerting the population that pollution is one of the factors humans that aggravate the health status of a person with coronavirus, as well as a factor that increases the chances of contagion.
With this, Your(self) Free aims to encourage people to build natural bunkers - in our innovative concept of sustainable bunkers. And how does it work? The idea of building sustainable bunkers is just an incentive to plant specific plants in homes, workplaces (if it works, of course), among other open places, such as parks. These plants help to neutralize nitrogen oxides and, consequently, bring a better quality of life to humans and contribute to the reduction of pollution on planet Earth, where less and less pollution, but the ecosystem is grateful and people's immune systems are strengthened.
People are left with a low immune system, being vulnerable to covid without realizing why, since they are not part of the high-risk population - the elderly, pregnant women, among others (as noted in the graphs for several countries, including Brazil, where constant deaths of people are observed "outside the risk curve". NASA's SEDAC proves this, showing that people of different ages in urban areas are being contaminated without having an apparent "why". But Your (self) Free identified that it was because of the constant contact with NO2.
Plant natural plants at home and consequently, you will have less NO2 thus, your immune system gets stronger. These natural plants that will form the "natural bunker", since when equating the NO2 neutralizer with water (which is the common process), results in another chemical substance that is more harmful to health and the environment in the absence of strict care.
By using the preventive campaign to strengthen the immune system, people also end up strengthening the local trade in florists and farmers. NASA scientists have previously proven that Sansevieria trifasciata, better known as "Saint George's Sword", is one of the plants that can neutralize nitrogen dioxide, in addition to several other useful functions.
With the campaign active, the human factor that is the generation and constant contact with NOx gases identified as one of the causes of aggravation of the pandemic situation in which we live, it is expected that the campaign will be disseminated so that people are aware of the hotspots of emissions. As it is inevitable, but it is possible to reduce contact with them, through campaigns on social networks and programs with volunteers to disseminate information, Your (self) Free presents a way for people to intensify their care against COVID-19 and contribute with the database of NASA, ESA and JAXA, in addition to the databases of regional ministries of health and various other governmental and non-governmental institutions, in addition to college research centers and other educational and applied research institutions that have an interest.