Dataset Information

Global, continental, and national variation in PM_2.5, O₃, and NO₂ concentrations during the early 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

ABSTRACT: Lockdowns implemented in response to COVID-19 have caused an unprecedented reduction in global economic and transport activity. In this study, variation in the concentration of health-threatening air pollutants (PM_2.5, NO₂, and O₃) pre- and post-lockdown was investigated at global, continental, and national scales. We analyzed ground-based data from >10,000 monitoring stations in 380 cities across the globe. Global-scale results during lockdown (March to May 2020) showed that concentrations of PM_2.5 and NO₂ decreased by 16.1% and 45.8%, respectively, compared to the baseline period (2015-2019). However, O₃ concentration increased by 5.4%. At the continental scale, concentrations of PM_2.5 and NO₂ substantially dropped in 2020 across all continents during lockdown compared to the baseline, with a maximum reduction of 20.4% for PM_2.5 in East Asia and 42.5% for NO₂ in Europe. The maximum reduction in O₃ was observed in North America (7.8%), followed by Asia (0.7%), while small increases were found in other continents. At the national scale, PM_2.5 and NO₂ concentrations decreased significantly during lockdown, but O₃ concentration showed varying patterns among countries. We found maximum reductions of 50.8% for PM_2.5 in India and 103.5% for NO₂ in Spain. The maximum reduction in O₃ (22.5%) was found in India. Improvements in air quality were temporary as pollution levels increased in cities since lockdowns were lifted. We posit that these unprecedented changes in air pollutants were mainly attributable to reductions in traffic and industrial activities. Column reductions could also be explained by meteorological variability and a decline in emissions caused by environmental policy regulations. Our results have implications for the continued implementation of strict air quality policies and emission control strategies to improve environmental and human health.

SUBMITTER: He C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7867708 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Global, continental, and national variation in PM2.5, O3, and NO2 concentrations during the early 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

He Chao C Hong Song S Zhang Lu L Mu Hang H Xin Aixuan A Zhou Yiqi Y Liu Jinke J Liu Nanjian N Su Yuming Y Tian Ya Y Ke Biqin B Wang Yanwen Y Yang Lu L

Atmospheric pollution research 20210207 3

Lockdowns implemented in response to COVID-19 have caused an unprecedented reduction in global economic and transport activity. In this study, variation in the concentration of health-threatening air pollutants (PM2.5, NO2, and O3) pre- and post-lockdown was investigated at global, continental, and national scales. We analyzed ground-based data from >10,000 monitoring stations in 380 cities across the globe. Global-scale results during lockdown (March to May 2020 ...[more]

PMID: 33584105

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Project description:Fine particulate matter is considered to be the most significant ambient air pollutant in terms of potential health impacts. Therefore, it is important that regulators are able to accurately assess the exposure of populations to PM10 and PM2.5 across municipal areas. We report on the practicalities of using a laser light scattering portable particulate monitor (Turnkey Instruments DustMate), in combination with a GPS, to map PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations on city-wide scales in Newcastle upon Tyne/Gateshead (UK), during a series of walking surveys. A heated inlet is necessary to remove moisture droplets from the sampled air prior to analysis by the instrument, though this also results in the loss of volatile particulate components, particularly from the PM2.5 fraction. A co-location calibration study was carried out with a reference urban background Tapered Element Oscillating Micro-Balance/Filter Dynamics Measuring System (TEOM-FDMS) system in Newcastle that is part of the UK's Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) of air quality monitoring stations. For PM10, orthogonal regression of the DustMate against TEOM-FDMS data gave a slope and intercept of 1.02 ± 0.06 and -3.7 ± 1.2, respectively (R2 = 0.73), whereas for PM2.5, the respective values were 0.78 ± 0.06 and -0.63 ± 0.55 (R2 = 0.79). These parameters are comparable to literature calibration studies using this technology. There was good agreement between simultaneous samples taken using two DustMate instruments: for PM10, a slope and intercept of 1.05 ± 0.03 and 0.36 ± 0.5, respectively (R2 = 0.73), were obtained, whereas for the PM2.5, the respective values were 0.79 ± 0.01 and 0.19 ± 0.06 (R2 = 0.86). Correction factors based on the slope and intercepts obtained from the calibration exercise were applied to raw data collected from the DustMate. An annually-normalised correction procedure was then used to account for different background particulate concentrations on different sampling days. These corrected PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations and corresponding GPS coordinates were displayed on a base map using Google Fusion Tables and Google Earth Professional. Almost all areas surveyed in Newcastle/Gateshead were well below the EU Air Quality Standards for PM10 and PM2.5.

Dataset Information

Global, continental, and national variation in PM_2.5, O₃, and NO₂ concentrations during the early 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

Publications

Global, continental, and national variation in PM<sub>2.5</sub>, O<sub>3</sub>, and NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations during the early 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

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