Google Trends as a health sentinel. ALERT study: Analyzing Symptoms Perceptions Related To Environmental pollution
Benedetta Bondi1, Fulvio Braido1, Ilaria Baiardini1
1Respiratory and Allergy Clinic, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132, Genoa, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine (DIMI), University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
Respiratory Medicine
|December 31, 2025
Summary
Air pollution, including particulate matter and NO2, is linked to increased online searches for respiratory issues like cough and mental health concerns such as depression. Google Trends can aid in public health surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Digital Epidemiology
Background:
- Environmental pollution is a known risk factor for respiratory and psychological diseases.
- A rise in self-medication and self-diagnosis via web searches has been observed in clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between air pollution and public health.
- To analyze the impact of pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3 on respiratory and mental health.
- To explore the correlation between air quality and online health-related search trends.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Google Trends to track public interest in specific health terms (e.g., cough, asthma).
- Collected air pollutant concentration data (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, benzene) for Genoa, Italy in 2024.
- Correlated search trends with environmental pollutant levels.
Main Results:
- Established a significant correlation between searches for 'cough' and levels of PM2.5, O3, benzene, and NO2.
- Found a connection between depression-related searches and exposure to PM2.5 and benzene.
- Demonstrated the utility of online search data in reflecting public health concerns related to air quality.
Conclusions:
- Google Trends serves as a valuable tool for epidemiological surveillance of environmental health impacts.
- Healthcare systems must adapt to the health consequences of air quality.
- Innovative approaches integrating real-time tracking and data analytics are crucial for patient care and management.
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