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Aix ML, Petit P, Bicout DJ. Air pollution and health impacts during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Grenoble, France. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 303:119134. [PMID: 35283200 PMCID: PMC8908221 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
It is undeniable that exposure to outdoor air pollution impacts the health of populations and therefore constitutes a public health problem. Any actions or events causing variations in air quality have repercussions on populations' health. Faced with the worldwide COVID-19 health crisis that began at the end of 2019, the governments of several countries were forced, in the beginning of 2020, to put in place very strict containment measures that could have led to changes in air quality. While many works in the literature have studied the issue of changes in the levels of air pollutants during the confinements in different countries, very few have focused on the impact of these changes on health risks. In this work, we compare the 2020 period, which includes two lockdowns (March 16 - May 10 and a partial shutdown Oct. 30 - Dec. 15) to a reference period 2015-2019 to determine how these government-mandated lockdowns affected concentrations of NO2, O3, PM2.5, and PM10, and how that affected human health factors, including low birth weight, lung cancer, mortality, asthma, non-accidental mortality, respiratory, and cardiovascular illnesses. To this end, we structured 2020 into four periods, alternating phases of freedom and lockdowns characterized by a stringency index. For each period, we calculated (1) the differences in pollutant levels between 2020 and a reference period (2015-2019) at both background and traffic stations; and (2) the resulting variations in the epidemiological based relative risks of health outcomes. As a result, we found that relative changes in pollutant levels during the 2020 restriction period were as follows: NO2 (-32%), PM2.5 (-22%), PM10 (-15%), and O3 (+10.6%). The pollutants associated with the highest health risk reductions in 2020 were PM2.5 and NO2, while PM10 and O3 changes had almost no effect on health outcomes. Reductions in short-term risks were related to reductions in PM2.5 (-3.2% in child emergency room visits for asthma during the second lockdown) and NO2 (-1.5% in hospitalizations for respiratory causes). Long-term risk reductions related to PM2.5 were low birth weight (-8%), mortality (-3.3%), and lung cancer (-2%), and to NO2 for mortality (-0.96%). Overall, our findings indicate that the confinement period in 2020 resulted in a substantial improvement in air quality in the Grenoble area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Laure Aix
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Pascal Petit
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Dominique J Bicout
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France.
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Lovrić M, Antunović M, Šunić I, Vuković M, Kecorius S, Kröll M, Bešlić I, Godec R, Pehnec G, Geiger BC, Grange SK, Šimić I. Machine Learning and Meteorological Normalization for Assessment of Particulate Matter Changes during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Zagreb, Croatia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116937. [PMID: 35682517 PMCID: PMC9180289 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, the authors investigated changes in mass concentrations of particulate matter (PM) during the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. Daily samples of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 fractions were measured at an urban background sampling site in Zagreb, Croatia from 2009 to late 2020. For the purpose of meteorological normalization, the mass concentrations were fed alongside meteorological and temporal data to Random Forest (RF) and LightGBM (LGB) models tuned by Bayesian optimization. The models’ predictions were subsequently de-weathered by meteorological normalization using repeated random resampling of all predictive variables except the trend variable. Three pollution periods in 2020 were examined in detail: January and February, as pre-lockdown, the month of April as the lockdown period, as well as June and July as the “new normal”. An evaluation using normalized mass concentrations of particulate matter and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted. The results showed that no significant differences were observed for PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 in April 2020—compared to the same period in 2018 and 2019. No significant changes were observed for the “new normal” as well. The results thus indicate that a reduction in mobility during COVID-19 lockdown in Zagreb, Croatia, did not significantly affect particulate matter concentration in the long-term..
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Lovrić
- Know-Center, Inffeldgasse 13, 8010 Graz, Austria; (M.K.); (B.C.G.)
- Institute for Anthropological Research, Gajeva 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Correspondence: (M.L.); (I.S.)
| | | | - Iva Šunić
- Institute for Anthropological Research, Gajeva 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Matej Vuković
- Pro2Future GmbH, Inffeldgasse 25F, 8010 Graz, Austria;
| | - Simonas Kecorius
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany;
| | - Mark Kröll
- Know-Center, Inffeldgasse 13, 8010 Graz, Austria; (M.K.); (B.C.G.)
| | - Ivan Bešlić
- Environmental Hygiene Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (I.B.); (R.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Ranka Godec
- Environmental Hygiene Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (I.B.); (R.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Gordana Pehnec
- Environmental Hygiene Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (I.B.); (R.G.); (G.P.)
| | | | - Stuart K. Grange
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland;
- Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Iva Šimić
- Environmental Hygiene Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (I.B.); (R.G.); (G.P.)
- Correspondence: (M.L.); (I.S.)
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103
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Patel K, Singh AK. Consequences of pre and post confinement on the atmospheric air pollutants during spread of COVID-19 in India. INDIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE CULTIVATION OF SCIENCE (2004) 2022; 97:319-336. [PMID: 35669679 PMCID: PMC9160865 DOI: 10.1007/s12648-022-02380-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19, a severe respiratory syndrome, was diagnosed in Wuhan, China, and in the last week of January 2020, it was reported in India. The drastic speed of spreading of COVID-19 imposed a total lockdown in India for the first time in four stages. This leads to restrictions on transport, industries, coal-based power plants, etc. During these stages of lockdown, a detailed analysis was done to study the effect of confinement on various air pollutants, PM10, PM2.5, SO2, CO, NH3, and NOx (NO, NO2) over the thirteen different stations situated at different states in India. The data were compared with pre-confinement duration at different locations in India. During confinement, the air pollutants showed less value when compared with the pre-confinement stage alarming everyone and also the Indian government to bring up rules and regulations for better air quality index so that such pandemics should be reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpana Patel
- Department of Physics, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Delhi-NCR Campus, Modinagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201204 India
| | - Abhay Kumar Singh
- Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005 India
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104
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Nguyen TPM, Bui TH, Nguyen MK, Nguyen TH, Vu VT, Pham HL. Impact of Covid-19 partial lockdown on PM 2.5, SO 2, NO 2, O 3, and trace elements in PM 2.5 in Hanoi, Vietnam. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:41875-41885. [PMID: 33834338 PMCID: PMC8032319 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13792-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Covid-19 lockdowns have improved the ambient air quality across the world via reduced air pollutant levels. This article aims to investigate the effect of the partial lockdown on the main ambient air pollutants and their elemental concentrations bound to PM2.5 in Hanoi. In addition to the PM2.5 samples collected at three urban sites in Hanoi, the daily PM2.5, NO2, O3, and SO2 levels were collected from the automatic ambient air quality monitoring station at Nguyen Van Cu street to analyze the pollution level before (March 10th-March 31st) and during the partial lockdown (April 1st-April 22nd) with "current" data obtained in 2020 and "historical" data obtained in 2014, 2016, and 2017. The results showed that NO2, PM2.5, O3, and SO2 concentrations obtained from the automatic ambient air quality monitoring station were reduced by 75.8, 55.9, 21.4, and 60.7%, respectively, compared with historical data. Besides, the concentration of PM2.5 at sampling sites declined by 41.8% during the partial lockdown. Furthermore, there was a drastic negative relationship between the boundary layer height (BLH) and the daily mean PM2.5 in Hanoi. The concentrations of Cd, Se, As, Sr, Ba, Cu, Mn, Pb, K, Zn, Ca, Al, and Mg during the partial lockdown were lower than those before the partial lockdown. The results of enrichment factor (EF) values and principal component analysis (PCA) concluded that trace elements in PM2.5 before the partial lockdown were more affected by industrial activities than those during the partial lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Phuong Mai Nguyen
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam.
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Thi Hieu Bui
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, National University of Civil Engineering, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Manh Khai Nguyen
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thi Hue Nguyen
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| | - Van Tu Vu
- Department of Environmental Water Quality Analysis, Institute of Environmental Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Hai Long Pham
- Department of Environmental Water Quality Analysis, Institute of Environmental Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
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105
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González-Pardo J, Ceballos-Santos S, Manzanas R, Santibáñez M, Fernández-Olmo I. Estimating changes in air pollutant levels due to COVID-19 lockdown measures based on a business-as-usual prediction scenario using data mining models: A case-study for urban traffic sites in Spain. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 823:153786. [PMID: 35151743 PMCID: PMC8828445 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments declared severe restrictions throughout 2020, presenting an unprecedented scenario of reduced anthropogenic emissions of air pollutants derived mainly from traffic sources. To analyze the effect of these restrictions derived from COVID-19 pandemic on air quality levels, relative changes in NO, NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were calculated at urban traffic sites in the most populated Spanish cities over different periods with distinct restrictions in 2020. In addition to the changes calculated with respect to the observed air pollutant levels of previous years (2013-2019), relative changes were also calculated using predicted pollutant levels for the different periods over 2020 on a business-as-usual scenario using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models with meteorological and seasonal predictors. MLR models were selected among different data mining techniques (MLR, Random Forest (RF), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN)), based on their higher performance and accuracy obtained from a leave-one-year-out cross-validation scheme using 2013-2019 data. A q-q mapping post-correction was also applied in all cases in order to improve the reliability of the predictions to reproduce the observed distributions and extreme events. This approach allows us to estimate the relative changes in the studied air pollutants only due to COVID-19 restrictions. The results obtained from this approach show a decreasing pattern for NOx, with the largest reduction in the lockdown period above -50%, whereas the increase observed for O3 contrasts with the NOx patterns with a maximum increase of 23.9%. The slight reduction in PM10 (-4.1%) and PM2.5 levels (-2.3%) during lockdown indicates a lower relationship with traffic sources. The developed methodology represents a simple but robust framework for exploratory analysis and intervention detection in air quality studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime González-Pardo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Universidad de Cantabria, Av. de Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
| | - Sandra Ceballos-Santos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Universidad de Cantabria, Av. de Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
| | - Rodrigo Manzanas
- Santander Meteorology Group, Dpto. De Matemática Aplicada y Ciencias de la Computación, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander 39005, Spain.
| | - Miguel Santibáñez
- Department of Nursing, Global Health Research Group, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain; Research Nursing Group, IDIVAL, Calle Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n, 39011 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
| | - Ignacio Fernández-Olmo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Universidad de Cantabria, Av. de Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
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106
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Lv Y, Tian H, Luo L, Liu S, Bai X, Zhao H, Lin S, Zhao S, Guo Z, Xiao Y, Yang J. Meteorology-normalized variations of air quality during the COVID-19 lockdown in three Chinese megacities. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; 13:101452. [PMID: 35601668 PMCID: PMC9106379 DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2022.101452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
To avoid the spread of COVID-19, China implemented strict prevention and control measures, resulting in dramatic variations in air quality. Here, we applied a machine learning algorithm (random forest model) to eliminate meteorological effects and characterize the high-resolution variation characteristics of air quality induced by COVID-19 in Beijing, Wuhan, and Urumqi. Our RF model estimates showed that the highest decrease in deweathered PM2.5 in Wuhan (-43.6%) and Beijing (-14.0%) was at traffic stations during lockdown period (February 1- March 15, 2020), while it was at industry stations in Urumqi (-54.2%). Deweathered NO2 decreased significantly in each city (∼30%-50%), whereas accompanied by a notable increase in O3. The diurnal patterns show that the morning peaks of traffic-related NO2 and CO almost disappeared. Additionally, our results suggested that meteorological effects offset some of the reduction in pollutant concentrations. Adverse meteorological conditions played a leading role in the variation in PM2.5 concentration in Beijing, which contributed to +33.5%. The true effect of lockdown reduced the PM2.5 concentrations in Wuhan, Beijing, and Urumqi by approximately 14.6%, 17.0%, and 34.0%, respectively. In summary, lockdown is the most important driver of the decline in pollutant concentrations, but the reduction of SO2 and CO is limited and they are mainly influenced by changing trends. This study provides insights into quantifying variations in air quality due to the lockdown by considering meteorological variability, which varies greatly from city to city, and provides a reference for changes in city scale pollutant concentrations during the lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqian Lv
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Hezhong Tian
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Lining Luo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Shuhan Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Bai
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Hongyan Zhao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Shumin Lin
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Shuang Zhao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Zhihui Guo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yifei Xiao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Junqi Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Center for Atmospheric Environmental Studies, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
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107
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González-Pardo J, Ceballos-Santos S, Manzanas R, Santibáñez M, Fernández-Olmo I. Estimating changes in air pollutant levels due to COVID-19 lockdown measures based on a business-as-usual prediction scenario using data mining models: A case-study for urban traffic sites in Spain. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022. [PMID: 35151743 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5655326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments declared severe restrictions throughout 2020, presenting an unprecedented scenario of reduced anthropogenic emissions of air pollutants derived mainly from traffic sources. To analyze the effect of these restrictions derived from COVID-19 pandemic on air quality levels, relative changes in NO, NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were calculated at urban traffic sites in the most populated Spanish cities over different periods with distinct restrictions in 2020. In addition to the changes calculated with respect to the observed air pollutant levels of previous years (2013-2019), relative changes were also calculated using predicted pollutant levels for the different periods over 2020 on a business-as-usual scenario using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models with meteorological and seasonal predictors. MLR models were selected among different data mining techniques (MLR, Random Forest (RF), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN)), based on their higher performance and accuracy obtained from a leave-one-year-out cross-validation scheme using 2013-2019 data. A q-q mapping post-correction was also applied in all cases in order to improve the reliability of the predictions to reproduce the observed distributions and extreme events. This approach allows us to estimate the relative changes in the studied air pollutants only due to COVID-19 restrictions. The results obtained from this approach show a decreasing pattern for NOx, with the largest reduction in the lockdown period above -50%, whereas the increase observed for O3 contrasts with the NOx patterns with a maximum increase of 23.9%. The slight reduction in PM10 (-4.1%) and PM2.5 levels (-2.3%) during lockdown indicates a lower relationship with traffic sources. The developed methodology represents a simple but robust framework for exploratory analysis and intervention detection in air quality studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime González-Pardo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Universidad de Cantabria, Av. de Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
| | - Sandra Ceballos-Santos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Universidad de Cantabria, Av. de Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
| | - Rodrigo Manzanas
- Santander Meteorology Group, Dpto. De Matemática Aplicada y Ciencias de la Computación, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander 39005, Spain.
| | - Miguel Santibáñez
- Department of Nursing, Global Health Research Group, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain; Research Nursing Group, IDIVAL, Calle Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n, 39011 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
| | - Ignacio Fernández-Olmo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Universidad de Cantabria, Av. de Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
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108
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Wijnands JS, Nice KA, Seneviratne S, Thompson J, Stevenson M. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air pollution: A global assessment using machine learning techniques. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; 13:101438. [PMID: 35506000 PMCID: PMC9047632 DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2022.101438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries implemented public health ordinances that resulted in restricted mobility and a resultant change in air quality. This has provided an opportunity to quantify the extent to which carbon-based transport and industrial activity affect air quality. However, quantification of these complex effects has proven to be difficult, depending on the stringency of restrictions, country-specific emission source profiles, long-term trends and meteorological effects on atmospheric chemistry, emission levels and in-flow from nearby countries. In this study, confounding factors were disentangled for a direct comparison of pandemic-related reductions in absolute pollutions levels, globally. The non-linear relationships between atmospheric processes and daily ground-level NO 2 , PM10, PM2.5 and O 3 measurements were captured in city- and pollutant-specific XGBoost models for over 700 cities, adjusting for weather, seasonality and trends. City-level modelling allowed adaptation to the distinct topography, urban morphology, climate and atmospheric conditions for each city, individually, as the weather variables that were most predictive varied across cities. Pollution forecasts for 2020 in absence of a pandemic were generated based on weather and formed an ensemble for country-level pollution reductions. Findings were robust to modelling assumptions and consistent with various published case studies. NO 2 reduced most in China, Europe and India, following severe government restrictions as part of the initial lockdowns. Reductions were highly correlated with changes in mobility levels, especially trips to transit stations, workplaces, retail and recreation venues. Further, NO 2 did not fully revert to pre-pandemic levels in 2020. Ambient PM2.5 pollution, which has severe adverse health consequences, reduced most in China and India. Since positive health effects could be offset to some extent by prolonged exposure to indoor pollution, alternative transport initiatives could prove to be an important pathway towards better health outcomes in these countries. Increased O 3 levels during initial lockdowns have been documented widely. However, our analyses also found a subsequent reduction in O 3 for many countries below what was expected based on meteorological conditions during summer months (e.g., China, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, Turkey). The effects in periods with high O 3 levels are especially important for the development of effective mitigation strategies to improve health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper S Wijnands
- Transport, Health and Urban Design Research Lab, Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
- Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), 3731 GA De Bilt, The Netherlands
| | - Kerry A Nice
- Transport, Health and Urban Design Research Lab, Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Sachith Seneviratne
- Transport, Health and Urban Design Research Lab, Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jason Thompson
- Transport, Health and Urban Design Research Lab, Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Mark Stevenson
- Transport, Health and Urban Design Research Lab, Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
- Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
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109
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Effect of COVID-19 Response Policy on Air Quality: A Study in South China Context. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13050842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mass suspension of anthropogenic activities is extremely rare, the quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a natural experiment to investigate the impact of anthropogenic activities on air quality. The mitigation of air pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown has been reported from a global perspective; however, the air pollution levels vary in different regions. This study initiated a novel synthesis of multiple-year satellite observations, national ground measurements towards SO2, NO2 and O3 and meteorological conditions to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Beihai, a specific city in a less developed area in southwest China, to reveal the potential implications of control strategies for air pollution. The levels of the major air pollutants during the COVID-19 lockdown (LP) and during the same period of previous years (SP) were compared and a series of statistical tools were applied to analyze the sources of air pollution in Beihai. The results show that air pollutant levels decreased with substantial diversity during the LP. Satellite-retrieved NO2 and SO2 levels during the LP decreased by 5.26% and 22.06%, while NO2, SO2, PM2.5 and PM10 from ground measurements during the LP were 25.6%, 2.7%, 22.2% and 22.2% lower than during SP, respectively. Ground measured SO2 concentrations during the LP were only 2.7% lower than during the SP, which may be attributed to uninterrupted essential industrial activities, such as power plants. Polar plots analysis shows that NO2 concentrations were strongly associated with local emission sources, such as automobiles and local industry. Additionally, the much lower levels of NO2 concentrations during the LP and the absence of an evening peak may highlight the significant impact of the traffic sector on NO2. The decrease in daily mean O3 concentrations during the LP may be associated with the reduction in NO2 concentrations. Indications in this study could be beneficial for the formulation of atmospheric protection policies.
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110
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Tang MX, Huang XF, Sun TL, Cheng Y, Luo Y, Chen Z, Lin XY, Cao LM, Zhai YH, He LY. Decisive role of ozone formation control in winter PM 2.5 mitigation in Shenzhen, China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 301:119027. [PMID: 35183665 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 lockdown, atmospheric PM2.5 in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) showed the highest reduction in China, but the reasons, being a critical question for future air quality policy design, are not yet clear. In this study, we analyzed the relationships among gaseous precursors, secondary aerosols and atmospheric oxidation capacity in Shenzhen, a megacity in the PRD, during the lockdown period in 2020 and the same period in 2021. The comprehensive observational datasets showed large lockdown declines in all primary and secondary pollutants (including O3). We found that, however, the daytime concentrations of secondary aerosols during the lockdown period and normal period were rather similar when the corresponding odd oxygen (Ox≡O3+NO2, an indicator of photochemical processing avoiding the titration effect of O3 by freshly emitted NO) were at similar levels. Therefore, reduced Ox, rather than the large reduction in precursors, was a direct driver to achieve the decline in secondary aerosols. Moreover, Ox was also found to determine the spatial distribution of intercity PM2.5 levels in winter PRD. Thus, an effective strategy for winter PM2.5 mitigation should emphasize on control of winter O3 formation in the PRD and other regions with similar conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Xue Tang
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Observation Supersite, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Huang
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Observation Supersite, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Tian-Le Sun
- Shenzhen Environmental Monitoring Center, Shenzhen, 518049, China
| | - Yong Cheng
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Observation Supersite, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yao Luo
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Observation Supersite, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zheng Chen
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Observation Supersite, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Lin
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Observation Supersite, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Li-Ming Cao
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Observation Supersite, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yu-Hong Zhai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Regional Air Quality Monitoring, Guangdong Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou, 510308, China
| | - Ling-Yan He
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Observation Supersite, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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111
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Wang X, Gu W, Wang F, Liu L, Wang Y, Han X, Xie Z. A potential controlling approach on surface ozone pollution based upon power big data. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2022; 4:164. [PMID: 35574248 PMCID: PMC9086420 DOI: 10.1007/s42452-022-05045-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractSurface ozone pollution has attracted extensive attention with the decreasing of haze pollution, especially in China. However, it is still difficult to efficiently control the pollution in time despite numbers of reports on mechanism of ozone pollution. Here we report a method for implementing effective control of ozone pollution through power big data. Combining the observation of surface ozone, NO2, meteorological parameters together with hourly electricity consumption data from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitting companies, a generalized additive model (GAM) is established for quantifying the influencing factors on the temporal and spatial distribution of surface ozone pollution from 2020 to 2021 in Anhui province, central China. The average R2 value for the modelling results of 16 cities is 0.82, indicating that the GAM model effectively captures the characteristics of ozone. The model quantifies the contribution of input variables to ozone, with both NO2 and industrial VOCs being the main contributors to ozone, contributing 33.72% and 21.12% to ozone formation respectively. Further analysis suggested the negative correlation between ozone and NO2, revealing VOCs primarily control the increase in ozone. Under scenarios controlling for a 10% and 20% reduction in electricity use in VOC-electricity sensitive industries that can be identified by power big data, ozone concentrations decreased by 9.7% and 19.1% during the pollution period. This study suggests a huge potential for controlling ozone pollution through power big data and offers specific control pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute, Hefei, 230026 Anhui China
| | - Weihua Gu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026 Anhui China
| | - Feng Wang
- State Grid Anhui Electric Power CO. LTD, Hefei, 230026 Anhui China
| | - Li Liu
- State Grid Anhui Electric Power CO. LTD, Hefei, 230026 Anhui China
| | - Yu Wang
- State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute, Hefei, 230026 Anhui China
| | - Xuemin Han
- State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute, Hefei, 230026 Anhui China
| | - Zhouqing Xie
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026 Anhui China
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112
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Keshtkar M, Heidari H, Moazzeni N, Azadi H. Analysis of changes in air pollution quality and impact of COVID-19 on environmental health in Iran: application of interpolation models and spatial autocorrelation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:38505-38526. [PMID: 35080722 PMCID: PMC8790552 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17955-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In the global COVID-19 epidemic, humans are faced with a new challenge. The concept of quarantine as a preventive measure has changed human activities in all aspects of life. This challenge has led to changes in the environment as well. The air quality index is one of the immediate concrete parameters. In this study, the actual potential of quarantine effects on the air quality index and related variables in Tehran, the capital of Iran, is assessed, where, first, the data on the pollutant reference concentration for all measuring stations in Tehran, from February 19 to April 19, from 2017 to 2020, are monitored and evaluated. This study investigated the hourly concentrations of six particulate matters (PM), including PM2.5, PM10, and air contaminants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO). Changes in pollution rate during the study period can be due to reduced urban traffic, small industrial activities, and dust mites of urban and industrial origins. Although pollution has declined in most regions during the COVID-19 quarantine period, the PM2.5 rate has not decreased significantly, which might be of natural origins such as dust. Next, the air quality index for the stations is calculated, and then, the interpolation is made by evaluating the root mean square (RMS) of different models. The local and global Moran index indicates that the changes and the air quality index in the study area are clustered and have a high spatial autocorrelation. The results indicate that although the bad air quality is reduced due to quarantine, major changes are needed in urban management to provide favorable conditions. Contaminants can play a role in transmitting COVID-19 as a carrier of the virus. It is suggested that due to the rise in COVID-19 and temperature in Iran, in future studies, the effect of increased temperature on COVID-19 can be assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Keshtkar
- Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Department of Environmental Planning, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Heidari
- School of Environment, College of Engineering, Department of Environmental Planning, Management & Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Niloofar Moazzeni
- Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Department of Environmental Planning, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Azadi
- Research Group Climate Change and Security, Institute of Geography, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
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113
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Sharma GK, Tewani A, Gargava P. Comprehensive analysis of ambient air quality during second lockdown in national capital territory of Delhi. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 6:100078. [PMID: 36919145 PMCID: PMC9427329 DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2022.100078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The lockdown imposed in Delhi, due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant gains in air quality. Under the lockdown, restrictions were imposed on movement of people, operation of industrial establishments and hospitality sector amongst others. In the study, Air Quality Index and concentration trends of six pollutants, i.e. PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3 were analysed for National Capital Territory of Delhi, India for three periods in 2021 (pre-lockdown: 15 March to 16 April 2021, lockdown: 17 April to 31 May 2021 and post-lockdown: 01 June to 30 June). Data for corresponding periods in 2018-2020 was also analysed. Lockdown period saw 6 days in satisfactory AQI category as against 0 days in the same category during the pre-lockdown period. Average PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and SO2 concentrations reduced by 22%, 31%, 25% and 28% respectively during lockdown phase as compared to pre-lockdown phase, while O3 was seen to increase. Variation in meteorological parameters and correlation of pollutants has also been examined. The significant improvement arising due to curtailment of certain activities in the lockdown period indicates the importance of local emission control, and helps improve the understanding of the dynamics of air pollution, thus highlighting policy areas to regulatory bodies for effective control of air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Kumar Sharma
- Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi 110032, India
| | - Ankush Tewani
- Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi 110032, India
| | - Prashant Gargava
- Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi 110032, India
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114
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Deng C, Tian S, Li Z, Li K. Spatiotemporal characteristics of PM 2.5 and ozone concentrations in Chinese urban clusters. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 295:133813. [PMID: 35114261 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite China's public commitment to emphasise air pollution investigation and control, trends in PM2.5 and ozone concentrations in Chinese urban clusters remain unclear. This study quantifies the spatiotemporal variations in PM2.5 and surface ozone at the scale of Chinese urban clusters by using a long-term integrated dataset from 2015 to 2020. Nonlinear Granger causality testing was used to explore the spatial association patterns of PM2.5 and ozone pollution in five megacity cluster regions. The results show a significant downward trend in annual mean PM2.5 concentrations from 2015 to 2020, with a decline rate of 2.8 μg m-3 yr-1. By contrast, surface ozone concentrations increased at a rate of 2.1 μg m-3 yr-1 over the 6 years. The annual mean PM2.5 concentrations in urban clusters show significant spatial clustering characteristics, mainly in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), Fenwei Plain (FWP), Northern slope of Tianshan Mountains urban cluster (NSTM), Sichuan Basin urban cluster (SCB), and Yangtze River Delta (YRD). Surface ozone shows severe summertime pollution and distributional variability, with increased ozone pollution in major urban clusters. The highest increases were observed in BTH, Yangtze River midstream urban cluster (YRMR), YRD, and Pearl River Delta (PRD). Nonlinear Granger causality tests showed that PM2.5 was a nonlinear Granger cause of ozone, further supporting the literature's findings that PM2.5 reduction promoted photochemical reaction rates and stimulated ozone production. The nonlinear test statistic passed the significance test in magnitude and statistical significance. FWP was an exception, with no significant long-term nonlinear causal link between PM2.5 and ozone. This study highlights the challenges of compounded air pollution caused primarily by ozone and secondary PM2.5. These results have implications for the design of synergistic pollution abatement policies for coupled urban clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuxiong Deng
- School of Geographic Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, PR China.
| | - Si Tian
- School of Geographic Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, PR China.
| | - Zhongwu Li
- School of Geographic Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, PR China.
| | - Ke Li
- Key Laboratory of Computing and Stochastic Mathematics (Ministry of Education of China), Key Laboratory of Applied Statistics and Data Science, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, PR China.
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115
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Cirqueira SSR, Rodrigues PF, Branco P, Vormittag E, Nunes R, Anastacio AVB, Veras M, Sousa S, Saldiva PHN. Heterogeneous impacts of mobility restrictions on air quality in the State of Sao Paulo during the COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 300:118984. [PMID: 35151813 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Air quality in the State of Sao Paulo was evaluated during the first general State plan of mobility restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic (24th March to May 31, 2020). Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 and sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentrations were assessed in cities of the Sao Paulo State with a monitoring station and compared to historical data. Linear regression models were built to investigate the relationship between the isolation of the population - determined using mobile phone monitoring data - and the concentration of each pollutant during the studied period. Although the reduction of pollutants such as NO2, SO2 and PM2.5 is very clear, the economic and climatic characteristics of each region were decisive in the general behaviour of O3 and PM10. It was not possible to establish a correlation between the pollutants and the isolation index, partly due to the lack of data, partly due to the compliance of the population to those measurements, which was variable over time. Another important limitation factor was the absence of data related to the pollutants of interest in many of the stations. However, the isolation measures carried out in the State opened the opportunity to individually assess the air quality measurements in each of the stations, enabling an understanding that will allow in the future the design of air quality policies together with local sanitary policies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patricia Ferrini Rodrigues
- Institute for Advanced Studies of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Pedro Branco
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
| | | | - Rafael Nunes
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
| | | | - Mariana Veras
- The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Sofia Sousa
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Paulo Hilário Nascimento Saldiva
- Institute for Advanced Studies of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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116
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Luo K, Wang Z, Wu J. Association of population migration with air quality: Role of city attributes in China during COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2021). ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; 13:101419. [PMID: 35462624 PMCID: PMC9014039 DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2022.101419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric pollution studies have linked diminished human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve air quality. This study was conducted during January to March (2019-2021) in 332 cities in China to examine the association between population migration and air quality, and examined the role of three city attributes (pollution level, city scale, and lockdown status) in this effect. This study assessed six air pollutants, namely CO, NO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5, and SO2, and measured meteorological data, with-in city migration (WCM) index, and inter-city migration (ICM) index. A linear mixed-effects model with an autoregressive distributed lag model was fitted to estimate the effect of the percent change in migration on air pollution, adjusting for potential confounding factors. In summary, lower migration was associated with decreased air pollution (other than O3). Pollution change in susceptibility is more likely to occur in NO2 decrease and O3 increase, but unsusceptibility is more likely to occur in CO and SO2, to city attributes from low migration. Cities that are less air polluted and population-dense may benefit more from decreasing PM10 and PM2.5. The associations between population migration and air pollution were stronger in cities with stringent traffic restrictions than in cities with no lockdowns. Based on city attributes, an insignificant difference was observed between the effects of ICM and WCM on air pollution. Findings from this study may gain knowledge about the potential interaction between migration and city attributes, which may help decision-makers adopt air-quality policies with city-specific targets and paths to pursue similar air quality improvements for public health but at a much lower economic cost than lockdowns.
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Key Words
- AQI, air quality index
- Air quality
- COVID-19
- China
- City attributes
- F-test, variance ratio test
- ICM, inter-city migration
- Kurt, kurtosis
- LSDV-ADL, a linear mixed-effects model with an autoregressive distributed lag
- Migration
- Modification effects
- PRE, accumulated precipitation
- PRS, atmospheric pressure
- PRSR, range of atmospheric pressure
- RHU, relative humidity
- SD, standard deviation
- SSD, sunshine duration
- Skew, skewness
- TEM, temperature
- TEMR, range of temperature
- VIF, variance inflation factor
- WCM, within-city migration
- WIN, Wind speed
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyu Luo
- Key Laboratory for Urban Habitat Environmental Science and Technology, School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- Key Laboratory for Urban Habitat Environmental Science and Technology, School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Jiansheng Wu
- Key Laboratory for Urban Habitat Environmental Science and Technology, School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
- Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
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117
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Adoption of innovative strategies to mitigate supply chain disruption: COVID-19 pandemic. OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT RESEARCH 2022. [PMCID: PMC9042663 DOI: 10.1007/s12063-021-00222-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic outbreak caused supply chain (SC) disruption and threatened human life across the world, which could be mitigated through innovative strategies. Based on this scenario, this study examines the impact of COVID-19 on green practices, SC crisis mitigation strategies, smart technologies, and sustainable supply chain performance in the Pakistani manufacturing industry. Data was collected from Pakistani firms and employed structural equation modeling for testing hypotheses. The empirical results found that the COVID-19 pandemic is statistically related to green practices, SC crisis mitigation strategies, and smart technologies, while it harms sustainable supply chain performance. Moreover, green practices, SC crisis mitigation strategies, and smart technologies positively contribute to sustainable supply chain performance. The results of this study also confirmed the mediating role of green practices, SC crisis mitigation strategies, and smart technologies and moderating role organizational commitment in the context of a developing economy’s manufacturing industry. This study enhances awareness and understanding and contributes to the existing literature on verifying the link between COVID-19 pandemic and green practices, SC crisis mitigation strategies, and smart technologies to increase sustainable supply chain performance during a pandemic disruption in the Pakistani context. This study supports the managers of supply chain and manufacturing firms in adopting green practices and smart technologies. Also, it helps in the formation and successful implementation of SC crisis mitigation strategies during the crisis.
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118
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Zhao L, Wang Y, Zhang H, Qian Y, Yang P, Zhou L. Diverse spillover effects of COVID-19 control measures on air quality improvement: evidence from typical Chinese cities. ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY 2022; 25:7075-7099. [PMID: 35493768 PMCID: PMC9035376 DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02353-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 prevention and control measures are taken by China's government, especially traffic restrictions and production suspension, had spillover effects on air quality improvement. These effects differed among cities, but these differences have not been adequately studied. To provide more knowledge, we studied the air quality index (AQI) and five air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and O3) before and after the COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai, Wuhan, and Tangshan. The pollution data from two types of monitoring stations (traffic and non-traffic stations) were separately compared and evaluated. We used monitoring data from the traffic stations to study the emission reduction caused by traffic restrictions. Based on monitoring data from the non-traffic stations, we established a difference-in-difference model to study the emission reduction caused by production suspension. The COVID-19 control measures reduced AQI and the concentrations of all pollutants except O3 (which increased greatly), but the magnitude of the changes differed among the three cities. The control measures improved air quality most in Wuhan, followed by Shanghai and then Tangshan. We investigated the reasons for these differences and found that differences in the characteristics of these three types of cities could explain these differences in spillover effects. Understanding these differences could provide some guidance and support for formulating differentiated air pollution control measures in different cities. For example, whole-process emission reduction technology should be adopted in cities with the concentrated distribution of continuous process enterprises, whereas vehicles that use cleaner energy and public transport should be vigorously promoted in cities with high traffic development level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laijun Zhao
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 334 Jungong Rd, Shanghai, 200093 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Wang
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 334 Jungong Rd, Shanghai, 200093 People’s Republic of China
| | - Honghao Zhang
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 334 Jungong Rd, Shanghai, 200093 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Qian
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 334 Jungong Rd, Shanghai, 200093 People’s Republic of China
| | - Pingle Yang
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 334 Jungong Rd, Shanghai, 200093 People’s Republic of China
| | - Lixin Zhou
- Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 334 Jungong Rd, Shanghai, 200093 People’s Republic of China
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119
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Impact of the Levels of COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention and Control Measures on Air Quality: A Case Study of Jiangsu Province, China. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13050640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In order to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevention and control measures of public health emergencies were initiated in all provinces of China in early 2020, which had a certain impact on air quality. In this study, taking Jiangsu Province in China as an example, the air pollution levels in different regions under different levels of pandemic prevention and control (PPC) measures are evaluated. The implementation of the prevention and control policies of COVID-19 pandemic directly affected the concentration of air pollutants. No matter what level of PPC measures was implemented, the air quality index (AQI) and pollutant concentrations of NO2, CO, PM10 and PM2.5 were all reduced by varied degrees. The higher the level of PPC measures, the greater the reduction was in air pollutant concentrations. Specifically, NO2 was the most sensitive to PPC policies. The concentrations of CO and atmospheric particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) decreased most obviously under the first and second level of PPC. The response speed of air quality to different levels of PPC measures varied greatly among different cities. Southern Jiangsu, which has a higher level of economic development and is dominated by secondary and tertiary industries, had a faster response speed and a stronger responsiveness. The results of this study reflect the economic vitality of different cities in economically advanced regions (i.e., Jiangsu Province) in China. Furthermore, the results can provide references for the formulation of PPC policies and help the government make more scientific and reasonable strategies for air pollution prevention and control.
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120
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Zhao H, Wang L, Zhang Z, Qi Q, Zhang H. Quantifying ecological and health risks of ground-level O 3 across China during the implementation of the "Three-year Action Plan for Cleaner Air". THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 817:153011. [PMID: 35026272 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
After China implemented the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP), PM2.5 concentrations decreased but were still higher than national standards in major areas and ozone (O3) concentration increased unintentionally. To further decrease PM2.5 concentrations and reduce days with severe air pollution, the government promulgated the "Three-year (2018-2020) Action Plan for Cleaner Air" (the Three-year Action Plan) in 2018. During the three-year Action Plan, a few studies reported a continuous decline in PM2.5, but it is unclear whether O3 and its effects also increase with the decrease of PM2.5 like during APPCAP. In this study, for the first time, we systematically assessed changes in ground-level O3 concentrations and related ecological and health risks during the period of the Three-year Action Plan using nationwide O3 measurements. The national MDA8, Exceedance, and SOMO35 indicators were reduced by 3.8%, 28.5%, and 12.6%, respectively, ecological risk indicators of M12, M7, SUM06, AOT40, and W126 were reduced by 5.4%, 5.6%, 19.5%, 15.4%, and 18.6%, respectively, from 2018 to 2020. Spatially, the greatest reduction in all the indicators except MDA8 occurred in Pearl River Delta, followed by Fen Wei Plains, while Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Chengdu-Chongqing, and Yangtze River Delta presented relatively small reductions. Between 2018 and 2020, the production losses caused by O3 for wheat and rice decreased by 21.4% and 17.6%, respectively. Long-term exposure to O3 across China over 2020 was estimated to cause about 160,795 (95% CI: 81,515-312,983) for all-cause mortality, 107,128 (95% CI: 36,703-173,823) for cardiovascular mortality, and 34,444 (95% CI: 0-72,609) for respiratory mortality, indicating decreases of 9.93%, 9.86%, and 9.78%, respectively, compared to the year 2018. Taken together, our results provided the first direct evidence for China's efforts to control O3 pollution in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhao
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Shaanxi Meteorological Service Center of Agricultural Remote Sensing and Economic Crops, Xi'an 710014, China
| | - Qi Qi
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Hongliang Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai 200062, China.
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Tourre YM, Paulin M, Dhonneur G, Attias D, Pathak A. COVID-19, air quality and space monitoring. GEOSPATIAL HEALTH 2022; 17. [PMID: 35385928 DOI: 10.4081/gh.2022.1052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Due to the worldwide spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), human mobility and economic activity have slowed down considerably since early 2020. A relatively high number of those infected develop serious pneumonia leading to progressive respiratory failure, system disease and often death. Apart from close human-to-human contact, the acceleration and global diffusion of this pandemic has been shown to be associated with changes in atmospheric chemistry and air pollution by microscopic particulate matter (PM). Breathing air with high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and PM can result in over-expression of the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) leading to stress of organs, such as heart and kidneys. Satellite monitoring can play a crucial role in spatio-temporal surveillance of the disease by producing data on pollution as proxy for industrial activity, transport and traffic circulation. Real-time monitoring of COVID-19 in air and chemical pollution of the atmospheric boundary layer available from Earth-observing satellites commuting with Health Information Systems (HIS) would be useful for decision makers involved with public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves M Tourre
- Former senior scientist at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO of Columbia University, NYC), and Engineer (Meteo-France), Toulouse.
| | - Mireille Paulin
- Program Environment, Space and Public Health, CNES, Toulouse.
| | - Gilles Dhonneur
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Curie Institute, Paris.
| | - David Attias
- Department of Pneumology, Clinique Pasteur, Toulouse.
| | - Atul Pathak
- Department of Cardiology, Princess Grace Hospital.
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Shanableh A, Al-Ruzouq R, Hamad K, Gibril MBA, Khalil MA, Khalifa I, El Traboulsi Y, Pradhan B, Jena R, Alani S, Alhosani M, Stietiya MH, Al Bardan M, Al-Mansoori S. Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown and recovery on People's mobility and air quality in the United Arab Emirates using satellite and ground observations. REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS : SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT 2022; 26:100757. [PMID: 36281297 PMCID: PMC9581513 DOI: 10.1016/j.rsase.2022.100757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The stringent COVID-19 lockdown measures in 2020 significantly impacted people's mobility and air quality worldwide. This study presents an assessment of the impacts of the lockdown and the subsequent reopening on air quality and people's mobility in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Google's community mobility reports and UAE's government lockdown measures were used to assess the changes in the mobility patterns. Time-series and statistical analyses of various air pollutants levels (NO2, O3, SO2, PM10, and aerosol optical depth-AOD) obtained from satellite images and ground monitoring stations were used to assess air quality. The levels of pollutants during the initial lockdown (March to June 2020) and the subsequent gradual reopening in 2020 and 2021 were compared with their average levels during 2015-2019. During the lockdown, people's mobility in the workplace, parks, shops and pharmacies, transit stations, and retail and recreation sectors decreased by about 34%-79%. However, the mobility in the residential sector increased by up to 29%. The satellite-based data indicated significant reductions in NO2 (up to 22%), SO2 (up to 17%), and AOD (up to 40%) with small changes in O3 (up to 5%) during the lockdown. Similarly, data from the ground monitoring stations showed significant reductions in NO2 (49% - 57%) and PM10 (19% - 64%); however, the SO2 and O3 levels showed inconsistent trends. The ground and satellite-based air quality levels were positively correlated for NO2, PM10, and AOD. The data also demonstrated significant correlations between the mobility and NO2 and AOD levels during the lockdown and recovery periods. The study documents the impacts of the lockdown on people's mobility and air quality and provides useful data and analyses for researchers, planners, and policymakers relevant to managing risk, mobility, and air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah Shanableh
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
- GIS & Remote Sensing Center, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rami Al-Ruzouq
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
- GIS & Remote Sensing Center, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled Hamad
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed Barakat A Gibril
- GIS & Remote Sensing Center, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohamad Ali Khalil
- GIS & Remote Sensing Center, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Inas Khalifa
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Yahya El Traboulsi
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Biswajeet Pradhan
- Centre for Advanced Modelling and Geospatial Information Systems (CAMGIS), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Earth Observation Center, Institute of Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ratiranjan Jena
- GIS & Remote Sensing Center, Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sama Alani
- Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4L8
| | - Mohamad Alhosani
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company-Bee'ah, Sharjah, 20248, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Hashem Stietiya
- Division of Consultancy, Research & Innovation (CRI), Sharjah Environment Company-Bee'ah, Sharjah, 20248, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mayyada Al Bardan
- Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, Sharjah, 135, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saeed Al-Mansoori
- Applications Development and Analysis Section (ADAS), Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Dubai, 211833, United Arab Emirates
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123
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Guo Q, Lee DC. The ecology of COVID-19 and related environmental and sustainability issues. AMBIO 2022; 51:1014-1021. [PMID: 34279809 PMCID: PMC8287844 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01603-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Around the globe, human behavior and ecosystem health have been extensively and sometimes severely affected by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Most efforts to study these complex and heterogenous effects to date have focused on public health and economics. Some studies have evaluated the pandemic's influences on the environment, but often on a single aspect such as air or water pollution. The related research opportunities are relatively rare, and the approaches are unique in multiple aspects and mostly retrospective. Here, we focus on the diverse research opportunities in disease ecology and ecosystem sustainability related to the (intermittent) lockdowns that drastically reduced human activities. We discuss several key knowledge gaps and questions to address amid the ongoing pandemic. In principle, the common knowledge accumulated from invasion biology could also be effectively applied to COVID-19, and the findings could offer much-needed information for future pandemic prevention and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinfeng Guo
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 3041 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Danny C Lee
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 200 WT Weaver Blvd, Asheville, NC, 28804, USA
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124
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Soba D, Gámez AL, Becerril JM, Esteban R, Aranjuelo I. Traffic restrictions during COVID-19 lockdown improve air quality and reduce metal biodeposition in tree leaves. URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING 2022; 70:127542. [PMID: 35310684 PMCID: PMC8916843 DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had a great global impact on human health, the life of people, and economies all over the world. However, in general, COVID-19´s effect on air quality has been positive due to the restrictions on social and economic activity. This study aimed to assess the impact on air quality and metal deposition of actions taken to reduce mobility in 2020 in two different urban locations. For this purpose, we analysed air pollution (NO2, NO, NOx, SO2, CO, PM10, O3) and metal accumulation in leaves of Tilia cordata collected from April to September 2020 in two cities in northern Spain (Pamplona-PA and San Sebastián-SS). We compared their values with data from the previous year (2019) (in which there were no mobility restrictions) obtained under an identical experimental design. We found that metal accumulation was mostly lower during 2020 (compared with 2019), and lockdown caused significant reductions in urban air pollution. Nitrogen oxides decreased by 33%-44%, CO by 24%-38%, and PM10 by 16%-24%. The contents of traffic-related metals were significantly reduced in both studied cities. More specifically, significant decreases in metals related to tyre and brake wear (Zn, Fe, and Cu) and road dust resuspension (Al, Ti, Fe, Mn, and Ca) were observed. With these results, we conclude that the main reason for the improvement in urban air pollutants and metals was the reduction in the use of cars due to COVID-19 lockdown. In addition, we offer some evidence indicating the suitability of T. cordata leaves as a tool for biomonitoring metal accumulation. This information is relevant for future use by the scientific community and policy makers to implement measures to reduce traffic air pollution in urban areas and to improve environmental and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Soba
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IdAB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Gobierno de Navarra, Avenida Pamplona 123, 31192 Mutilva, Spain
| | - Angie L Gámez
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IdAB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Gobierno de Navarra, Avenida Pamplona 123, 31192 Mutilva, Spain
| | - José María Becerril
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), c/Sarriena s/n, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Raquel Esteban
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), c/Sarriena s/n, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Iker Aranjuelo
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IdAB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Gobierno de Navarra, Avenida Pamplona 123, 31192 Mutilva, Spain
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125
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Rajesh TA, Ramachandran S. Assessment of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic imposed lockdown and unlock effects on black carbon aerosol, its source apportionment, and aerosol radiative forcing over an urban city in India. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH 2022; 267:105924. [PMID: 34803200 PMCID: PMC8594172 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
A nationwide lockdown was imposed in India due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic which significantly reduced the anthropogenic emissions. We examined the characteristics of equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentration and its source apportionment using a multiwavelength aethalometer over an urban site (Ahmedabad) in India during the pandemic induced lockdown period of year 2020. For the first time, we estimate the changes in BC, its contribution from fossil (eBC ff ) and wood (eBC wf ) fuels during lockdown (LD) and unlock (UL) periods in 2020 with respect to 2017 to 2019 (normal period). The eBC mass concentration continuously decreased throughout lockdown periods (LD1 to LD4) due to enforced and stringent restrictions which substantially reduced the anthropogenic emissions. The eBC mass concentration increased gradually during unlock phases (UL1 to UL7) due to the phase wise relaxations after lockdown. During lockdown period eBC mass concentration decreased by 35%, whereas during the unlock period eBC decreased by 30% as compared to normal period. The eBC wf concentrations were higher by 40% during lockdown period than normal period due to significant increase in the biomass burning emissions from the several community kitchens which were operational in the city during the lockdown period. The average contributions of eBC ff and eBC wf to total eBC mass concentrations were 70% and 30% respectively during lockdown (LD1 to LD4) period, whereas these values were 87% and 13% respectively during the normal period. The reductions in BC concentrations were commensurate with the reductions in emissions from transportation and industrial activities. The aerosol radiative forcing reduced significantly due to the reduction in anthropogenic emissions associated with COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown leading to a cooling of the atmosphere. The findings in the present study on eBC obtained during the unprecedented COVID-19 induced lockdown can provide a comprehensive understanding of the BC sources and current emission control strategies, and thus can serve as baseline anthropogenic emissions scenario for future emission control strategies aimed to improve air quality and climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A Rajesh
- Space and Atmospheric Sciences Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380009, India
| | - S Ramachandran
- Space and Atmospheric Sciences Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380009, India
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126
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Park HK, Shim JY. Changes in air pollution and childhood respiratory viral infections in Korea post-COVID-19 outbreak. Clin Exp Pediatr 2022; 65:211-213. [PMID: 35176835 PMCID: PMC8990952 DOI: 10.3345/cep.2021.01585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hyung Kyu Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung Yeon Shim
- Department of Pediatrics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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127
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Hoffmann C, Maglakelidze M, von Schneidemesser E, Witt C, Hoffmann P, Butler T. Asthma and COPD exacerbation in relation to outdoor air pollution in the metropolitan area of Berlin, Germany. Respir Res 2022; 23:64. [PMID: 35307034 PMCID: PMC8935815 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-022-01983-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ambient air pollution poses a major risk for the development and aggravation of respiratory diseases. Evidence suggests that even in low-level air pollution environments there is a risk for an increase in adverse respiratory symptoms. We examined whether variations in daily air pollution levels of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, or particulate matter in Berlin, Germany were associated with hospital admissions of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma patients in a time series analysis. Methods We calculated single and multi-pollutant models, investigated possible lags in effect, and analysed the influence of meteorological variables on the results. Data from January 2005 through December 2015 were used to quantify the concentration–response. Results The risk ratio for asthma patients to be hospitalised on the same day of NO2 exposure was 1.101 per 10 µg/m3 NO2 increase (95% CI: 1.013 to 1.195), for COPD patients 1.123 (95% CI: 1.081 to 1.168). Neither the exposure to ozone (95% CI: 0.904 to 1.020), PM10 (95% CI: 0.990 to 1.127), nor PM2.5 (95% CI: 0.981 to 1.148) was associated with an increased risk ratio for asthma patients to be hospitalised. Risk ratios for the hospital admission of COPD patients were also not increased due to ozone (95% CI: 0.981 to 1.033), PM10 (95% CI: 0.988 to 1.032), or PM2.5 (95% CI: 0.966 to 1.019) exposure. The presented risk ratios and confidence intervals relate to the day of exposure. We found no increased hospitalisation risks with a delayed occurrence on subsequent days. Conclusions A quantifiable, statistically significant increase in risk for asthma and COPD exacerbations owing to NO2 exposure at levels well below European regulatory limit values was observed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12931-022-01983-1.
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128
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Zhou M, Hu T, Zhang W, Wang Q, Kong L, Zhou M, Rao P, Peng W, Chen X, Song X. COVID-19 pandemic: impacts on air quality and economy before, during and after lockdown in China in 2020. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2022:1-11. [PMID: 35244530 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2022.2049894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACTThis paper comprehensively evaluates the dynamic effects on China's environment and economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show that the COVID-19 lockdown resulted in a temporary improvement in air quality. Furthermore, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the atmosphere in China were 36% lower than in the week after last year's Lunar New Year holiday, but this also led to an economic downturn. Moreover, the aerosol optical depth (AOD) decreased significantly. During the back-to-work period, the economy recovered and there was an increase in energy consumption, and CO2, NO2 emissions sharply increased to pre-lockdown levels. In the post-lockdown period, the AOD was lower than that of the same period last year. This study can provide reference for environmental policy making, as it demonstrates to what extent the control of pollution sources can improve air quality. Precise emission reduction and regional joint prevention and control are important and effective means for the prevention and control of O3 pollution. The health and economic benefits of COVID-19 pandemic control measures are incalculable. And this can provide an effective scientific basis and theoretical support for the prevention and control of air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengge Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Hu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqi Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Kong
- National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Menglong Zhou
- Huanghe S & T University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Pinhua Rao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Wangminzi Peng
- Jiangxi Meteorological Station, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangxiang Chen
- Jiangxi Meteorological Station, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojuan Song
- Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, People's Republic of China
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129
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A Clustering Spatial Estimation of Marginal Economic Losses for Vegetation Due to the Emission of VOCs as a Precursor of Ozone. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14063484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The economic losses of vegetation caused by ozone were usually evaluated with existing ozone concentrations. However, in the case a new project is assessed, the marginal losses induced by the additional emissions of ozone’s precursors are required. As ozone is VOC-sensitive in China, this study used novel approaches to assess the marginal economic losses (MELs) for vegetation due to the emission of VOCs as a precursor of ozone, which integrated the geographically constrained AHC algorithm with the spatial regression and applied the cluster-specific coefficients of VOC emissions to the MEL estimation. The new approaches reduce the regression sigma2 from 94.5 to 64.6. The marginal contributions of VOC emissions to ozone concentrations range from 0.123 to 1.180 μg/m3 per kilotonne of emissions per year per 0.25 × 0.25 degree. Negative marginal contributions of NOx emissions were found in Southeast China and the Yunan Guizhou Plateau. County-level marginal increases in AOT40s and MELs due to VOC emissions for crops, semi-natural products, and coniferous and deciduous forests were presented as maps. These values are exceedingly large in Northeast China and the Yunan Guizhou Plateau. Due to the high timber prices, sensitivities to ozone, and long growing seasons, MELs of forests are higher than those of other vegetation types, and thus factories with VOC emissions should be away from the surrounding areas of forests.
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130
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Zhang C, Stevenson D. Characteristic changes of ozone and its precursors in London during COVID-19 lockdown and the ozone surge reason analysis. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT (OXFORD, ENGLAND : 1994) 2022; 273:118980. [PMID: 35136378 PMCID: PMC8815197 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.118980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The London COVID-19 lockdown reduced emissions from anthropogenic sources, providing unique conditions for air contamination research. This research uses tropospheric ozone (O3), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NOx (NO+NO2) hourly monitoring data at the London Marylebone Road station from 2001 to 2020 to investigate the effects of lockdown on (O3) and its precursors. Both NOx and VOCs pollution showed a decreasing trend between 2001 and 2021, with a gradual increase in O3 in contrast. During the COVID-19 lockdown period (from 23rd March to July 4, 2020), there was a surge in O3 concentration, accompanied by a sharp reduction in NOx concentrations. Because all the monitoring VOCs/NOx results were less than eight during the lockdown, indicating that O3 formation in urban London was in the VOC-limited regime. The rapid increase in O3 concentrations caused by the lockdown was closely related to the rapid decrease in NOx emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyue Zhang
- School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, United Kingdom
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710127, China
| | - David Stevenson
- School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, United Kingdom
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131
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Changing Air Quality and the Ozone Weekend Effect during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. CLIMATE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cli10030041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Air pollutants, NO, NO2, and O3, were examined from April to June 2020 and compared to a 10-year (2010–2019) climatology of these pollutants for two monitoring sites in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, coinciding with local lockdown measures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. NO and NO2 values were lower than any of the preceding 10 years at the two Toronto sites for both weekdays and weekends. Ozone concentrations did not have a corresponding decrease and in fact increased for weekdays, similar to other parts of the world. The well-documented ozone weekend effect was considerably muted during the morning rush hour throughout this pandemic period. A Fisher exact test on hourly averaged data revealed statistically significant record hourly minimums for NO and NO2, but this was not found for ozone, consistent with the aggregate ranking results. These findings are likely the result of considerably reduced vehicular traffic during this time and ozone chemistry in a NOx-saturated (VOC limited) environment. This has important implications for ozone abatement strategies.
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132
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Efe B. Air quality improvement and its relation to mobility during COVID-19 lockdown in Marmara Region, Turkey. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:255. [PMID: 35257238 PMCID: PMC8900962 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-09889-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (hereafter COVID-19) has changed the daily routines of people around the world. When the first case was confirmed on 11 March 2020 in Turkey, the number of cases reached 4500 per day by 10 April in Turkey. Afterwards, the government declared more restrictive lockdown measures for 31 metropolitan cities starting 10 April, and it was implemented for the following weekends, national, and religious holidays. The change in concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 during these measures with respect to the pre-lockdown period, the same period in the previous years and for different levels of measures for the cities in the Marmara Region of Turkey was investigated in this study. The daily mean concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 obtained from 11 stations operated by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and Google mobility data are used in this study. Average PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations during the lockdown period declined with respect to the pre-lockdown period and the previous year for all stations. Average PM10 concentrations during the lockdown of 8 of 11 stations declined, while the rest of the stations increased with respect to the pre-lockdown period. In 9 of the 11 stations, the average concentration of PM10 decreased compared to the previous four years. In 7 of the 11 stations, the number of days exceeding WHO limit for PM10 was decreased during the lockdown period with respect to the pre-lockdown period. For PM2.5, the number of days exceeding WHO limit was decreased during the lockdown period compared to the pre-lockdown period for all the stations. For NO2, the number of days exceeding WHO limit was decreased during the lockdown period compared to the pre-lockdown period for 7 of the 8 stations. There is a significant relationship between mobility decrease and NO2 concentrations in large cities. The correlation coefficients are generally lower in small cities in the study region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahtiyar Efe
- Department of Meteorological Engineering, University of Samsun, 19 Mayis, Samsun, Turkey.
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133
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Zhang Z, Liu Y, Liu H, Hao A, Zhang Z. The impact of lockdown on nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) over Central Asian countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:18923-18931. [PMID: 34705200 PMCID: PMC8548356 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17140-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the main air pollutants, formed due to both natural and anthropogenic processes, which has a significant negative impact on human health. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted countries to take various measures, including social distancing or stay-at-home orders. This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) changes in Central Asian countries. Data from TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) on the Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite, as well as meteorological data, make it possible to assess changes in NO2 concentration in countries and major cities in the region. In particular, the obtained satellite data show a decreased tropospheric column of NO2. Its decrease during the lockdown (March 19-April 14) ranged from - 5.1% (Tajikistan) to - 11.6% (Turkmenistan). Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that limitations in anthropogenic activities have led to improvements in air quality. The possible influence of meteorology is not assessed in this study, and the implied uncertainties cannot be quantified. In this way, the level of air pollution is expected to decrease as long as partial or complete lockdown continues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongrong Zhang
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
| | - Yijia Liu
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Haizhong Liu
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Aihong Hao
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Zhongwei Zhang
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
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Lou B, Barbieri DM, Passavanti M, Hui C, Gupta A, Hoff I, Lessa DA, Sikka G, Chang K, Fang K, Lam L, Maharaj B, Ghasemi N, Qiao Y, Adomako S, Foroutan Mirhosseini A, Naik B, Banerjee A, Wang F, Tucker A, Liu Z, Wijayaratna K, Naseri S, Yu L, Chen H, Shu B, Goswami S, Peprah P, Hessami A, Abbas M, Agarwal N. Air pollution perception in ten countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. AMBIO 2022; 51:531-545. [PMID: 34155609 PMCID: PMC8216327 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01574-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
As largely documented in the literature, the stark restrictions enforced worldwide in 2020 to curb the COVID-19 pandemic also curtailed the production of air pollutants to some extent. This study investigates the perception of the air pollution as assessed by individuals located in ten countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa and the USA. The perceptions towards air quality were evaluated by employing an online survey administered in May 2020. Participants (N = 9394) in the ten countries expressed their opinions according to a Likert-scale response. A reduction in pollutant concentration was clearly perceived, albeit to a different extent, by all populations. The survey participants located in India and Italy perceived the largest drop in the air pollution concentration; conversely, the smallest variation was perceived among Chinese and Norwegian respondents. Among all the demographic indicators considered, only gender proved to be statistically significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baowen Lou
- School of Highway, Chang’an University, Nan Er Huan Road (Mid-section), Xi’an, 710064 Shaanxi China
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Diego Maria Barbieri
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Marco Passavanti
- Italian Society of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-Italy), Mannelli St. 139, 50132 Firenze, Toscana Italy
| | - Cang Hui
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602 South Africa
- Biodiversity Informatics Unit, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cape Town, 7945 South Africa
| | - Akshay Gupta
- Department of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering Group, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, 321-A&B, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667 India
| | - Inge Hoff
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Daniela Antunes Lessa
- Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Rua Nove, Bauxita, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais 35400-000 Brazil
| | - Gaurav Sikka
- Department of Geography, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga, Bihar 846004 India
| | - Kevin Chang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Mailstop 1022, Moscow, ID 83844 USA
| | - Kevin Fang
- Department of Geography, Sonoma State University, Environment, and Planning, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 USA
| | - Louisa Lam
- School of Health, Federation University Australia, 72-100 Clyde Rd, Berwick, VIC 3806 Australia
| | - Brij Maharaj
- Department of Geography, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College City, Durban, 4000 KwaZulu South Africa
| | - Navid Ghasemi
- Department of Civil Chemical Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento, 2, 40136 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna Italy
| | - Yaning Qiao
- School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Daxue Road 1, Xuzhou, 22116 Jiangsu China
| | - Solomon Adomako
- Department of Engineering and Science, University of Agder, Jon Lilletuns vei 9, 4879 Grimstad, Agder Norway
| | - Ali Foroutan Mirhosseini
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Bhaven Naik
- Department of Civil Engineering/Russ College of Engineering & Technology, Ohio University, 28 W. Green Drive, Athens, OH 45701 USA
| | - Arunabha Banerjee
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039 India
| | - Fusong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures, Wuhan University of Technology, Luoshi road 122, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei China
| | - Andrew Tucker
- Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center, University of Connecticut, 270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202 Longley Building, Storrs, CT 06269 USA
| | - Zhuangzhuang Liu
- School of Highway, Chang’an University, Nan Er Huan Road (Mid-section), Xi’an, 710064 Shaanxi China
| | - Kasun Wijayaratna
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 81, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Sahra Naseri
- School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, 76615-336 Kerman, Iran
| | - Lei Yu
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Xingang Xi Road 135, Guangzhou, 510275 Guangdong China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Benan Shu
- Foshan Transportation Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Kuiqi Second Road 18, Foshan, 528000 Guangdong China
| | - Shubham Goswami
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, C V Raman Avenue, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012 India
| | - Prince Peprah
- Department of Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, John Goodsell Building, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Amir Hessami
- Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Texas A&M University – , Kingsville, 917 W. Ave B, Kingsville, TX 78363 USA
| | - Montasir Abbas
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 301-D3 Patton Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Nithin Agarwal
- Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, 2100 NE Waldo Rd., Sta 106, Gainesville, FL 32609 USA
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135
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Rawat P, Naja M. Remote sensing study of ozone, NO 2, and CO: some contrary effects of SARS-CoV-2 lockdown over India. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:22515-22530. [PMID: 34792768 PMCID: PMC8598935 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17441-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Escalating emissions of several air pollutants over South Asia could play a detrimental role in the regional and global atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate these emissions within the boundary layer and at higher heights utilizing satellite data that are more inclusionary, where limited in situ observations are available. Here, we utilize the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), Ozone Monitoring Instruments (OMI), TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), and Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME-2) hyperspectral satellite data to assess the changes in emission sources during Indian lockdown with a primary focus on the tropospheric profiles of ozone and carbon monoxide (CO). A significant reduction (> 20%) in the tropospheric ozone was seen over northern and northeast regions compared to 2018, while a dramatic increase (> 20%) compared to 2019 was seen. The subtropical dynamics mainly contributed to the increased ozone over the northern region. An analysis of the ozone production regime showed mostly NO2 limited regime over the major part of India and VOC limited regime over thermal power plants regions. Unlike in the boundary layer, where CO showed reduction (15-20%), CO profiles showed a consistent increase (as high as 31%) in the free troposphere over the majority of cities and thermal power plants. The CO total column also showed an increase (~ 20%) over central and western India and a slight decrease (5%) over northern India. Similar to CO, an increase (~ 15%) of NO2 column over the western region was observed particularly compared to 2019. However, unlike ozone and CO, reduction of tropospheric NO2 columns was seen over the major part of India, with the highest reduction over northern regions (20-52%). Furthermore, homogeneous yearly differences (> 30%) between OMI and TROPOMI NO2 observations were also seen distinctly over the remote areas. Contrary to surface-based studies, the present study shows an increase in CO, ozone (decrease), and NO2 at several locations and in the free troposphere during the lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajjwal Rawat
- Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Manora Peak, Nainital, 263001, India
| | - Manish Naja
- Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Manora Peak, Nainital, 263001, India.
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136
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Zhang X, Cheng C, Zhao H. A Health Impact and Economic Loss Assessment of O 3 and PM 2.5 Exposure in China From 2015 to 2020. GEOHEALTH 2022; 6:e2021GH000531. [PMID: 35355832 PMCID: PMC8950782 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
China is in a critical air quality management stage. Rapid industrial development and urbanization has resulted in non-ignorable air pollution, which seriously endangers human health. Assessment of the health impacts and economic losses of air pollution is essential for the prevention and control policy formulation. Based on ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter concentration (PM2.5) monitoring data in 331 Chinese cities from 2015 to 2020, this study evaluated the health effects and the corresponding economic losses of O3 and PM2.5 pollution on three health endpoints. The ratio of population exposed to O3 levels that exceeded the Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) increased from 13.35% in 2015 to 14.15% in 2020, which resulted in 133,415 (2015) - 156,173 (2020) all-cause deaths, 88,941 (2015) - 104,051 (2020) cardiovascular deaths, and 28,614 (2015) - 33,456 (2020) respiratory deaths. The ratio of population exposed to PM2.5 levels that exceeded the CAAQS decreased, but in many regions, especially in North China and the Yangtze River Delta, the PM2.5 concentration remained high. By 2020, nearly half of the population in China was still exposed to PM2.5 levels that exceeded the CAAQS, and the corresponding economic losses reached CNY 3.46 and 3.05 billion, respectively. These results improved the understanding of the spatial-temporal variation trends of major air pollutants at city scale in China, and emphasize the continued coordination urgently needed for controlling O3 and PM2.5 following the implementation of the 2013 policy to mitigate air pollution to protect human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangxue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource EcologyBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural DisasterMinistry of EducationBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Changxiu Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource EcologyBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Natural DisasterMinistry of EducationBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
- National Tibetan Plateau Data CenterBeijingChina
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Environmental Science and EngineeringFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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137
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Francis D, Fonseca R, Nelli N, Teixido O, Mohamed R, Perry R. Increased Shamal winds and dust activity over the Arabian Peninsula during the COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020. AEOLIAN RESEARCH 2022; 55:100786. [PMID: 35251380 PMCID: PMC8883805 DOI: 10.1016/j.aeolia.2022.100786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
While anthropogenic pollutants have decreased during the lockdown imposed as an effort to contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), changes in particulate matter (PM) do not necessarily exhibit the same tendency. This is the case for the eastern Arabian Peninsula, where in March-June 2020, and with respect to the same period in 2016-2019, a 30 % increase in PM concentration is observed. A stronger than normal nocturnal low-level jet and subtropical jet over parts of Saudi Arabia, in response to anomalous convection over the tropical Indian Ocean, promoted enhanced and more frequent episodes of Shamal winds over the Arabian Peninsula. Increased surface winds associated with the downward mixing of momentum to the surface fostered, in turn, dust lifting and increased PM concentrations. The stronger low-level winds also favoured long-range transport of aerosols, changing the PM values downstream. The competing effects of reduced anthropogenic and increased dust concentrations leave a small positive signal (<5 W m-2) in the net surface radiation flux (Rnet), with the former dominating during daytime and the latter at night. However, in parts of the Arabian Gulf, Sea of Oman and Iran Rnet increased by >20 W m-2 with respect to the baseline period, owing to a clearer environment and weaker winds. It is concluded that a reduction in anthropogenic emissions due to the lockdown does not necessarily go hand in hand with lower particulate matter concentrations. Therefore, emissions reduction strategies need to account for feedback effects in order to reach the planned long-term outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Francis
- Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (ENGEOS) Lab, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ricardo Fonseca
- Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (ENGEOS) Lab, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Narendra Nelli
- Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (ENGEOS) Lab, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Oriol Teixido
- Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), P.O Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ruqaya Mohamed
- Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), P.O Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Richard Perry
- Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), P.O Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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138
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Yang M, Chen L, Msigwa G, Tang KHD, Yap PS. Implications of COVID-19 on global environmental pollution and carbon emissions with strategies for sustainability in the COVID-19 era. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 809:151657. [PMID: 34793787 PMCID: PMC8592643 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of COVID-19 on global environmental pollution since its onset in December 2019 require special attention. The rapid spread of COVID-19 globally has led countries to lock down cities, restrict traffic travel and impose strict safety measures, all of which have implications on the environment. This review aims to systematically and comprehensively present and analyze the positive and negative impacts of COVID-19 on global environmental pollution and carbon emissions. It also aims to propose strategies to prolong the beneficial, while minimize the adverse environmental impacts of COVID-19. It systematically and comprehensively reviewed more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and publications related to the impacts of COVID-19 on air, water and soil pollution, carbon emissions as well as the sustainable strategies forward. It revealed that PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and CO levels reduced in most regions globally but SO2 and O3 levels increased or did not show significant changes. Surface water, coastal water and groundwater quality improved globally during COVID-19 lockdown except few reservoirs and coastal areas. Soil contamination worsened mainly due to waste from the use of personal protective equipment particularly masks and the packaging, besides household waste. Carbon emissions were reduced primarily due to travel restrictions and less usage of utilities though emissions from certain ships did not change significantly to maintain supply of the essentials. Sustainable strategies post-COVID-19 include the development and adoption of nanomaterial adsorption and microbial remediation technologies, integrated waste management measures, "sterilization wave" technology and energy-efficient technologies. This review provides important insight and novel coverage of the environmental implications of COVID-19 in more than 25 countries across different global regions to permit formulation of specific pollution control and sustainability strategies in the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 eras for better environmental quality and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Yang
- Department of Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Department of Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Goodluck Msigwa
- Department of Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
- Environmental Science Program, Division of Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China
| | - Pow-Seng Yap
- Department of Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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139
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Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19 Lockdown on the NO2 Concentrations and Urban Thermal Environment: Evidence from the Five Largest Urban Agglomerations in China. REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14040921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Under the threat of COVID-19, many regions around the world implemented lockdown policies to control the spread of the virus. This restriction on both social and economic activities has improved the quality of the environment in certain aspects. However, most previous studies have only focused on the short-term impact of lockdown policies on the urban environment. The long-term effects of lockdown require a more focused exploration and analysis. Thus, five major urban agglomerations in China were selected as the research area; changes in the numerical and spatial distribution of NO2 concentration and surface temperature during four different lockdown stages in 2019, 2020, and 2021 were investigated to analyze the long-term effects of lockdown policies on the urban environment. The results indicated that the impact of shorter lockdowns was short-term and unsustainable; the NO2 concentrations increased again with the resumption of production. Compared with air pollutants, thermal environmental problems are more complex. The effect of the lockdown policy was not reflected in the decrease in the area proportions of the high- and sub-high-temperature regions but rather in the spatial distribution of the high-temperature area, which was manifested as a fragmentation and dispersion of heat source patches. In addition to the severity of the lockdown, the impact of the lockdown policy was also closely related to the level of development and industrial structure of each city. Among the urban environments of the five agglomerations, the most affected were the Yangtze River Delta and Yangtze River Middle-Reach urban agglomerations, which had the largest decline in NO2 concentrations and the most notable fragmentation of heat source patches.
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140
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Saha L, Kumar A, Kumar S, Korstad J, Srivastava S, Bauddh K. The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on global air quality: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (SINGAPORE) 2022; 5:5-23. [PMID: 37519773 PMCID: PMC8819204 DOI: 10.1007/s42398-021-00213-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. As a preventive measure, the majority of countries adopted partial or complete lockdown to fight the novel coronavirus. The lockdown was considered the most effective tool to break the spread of the coronavirus infection worldwide. Although lockdown damaged national economies, it has given a new dimension and opportunity to reduce environmental contamination, especially air pollution. In this study, we reviewed, analyzed and discussed the available recent literature and highlighted the impact of lockdown on the level of prominent air pollutants and consequent effects on air quality. The levels of air contaminants like nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM) decreased globally compared to levels in the past few decades. In many megacities of the world, the concentration of PM and NO2 declined by > 60% during the lockdown period. The air quality index (AQI) also improved substantially throughout the world during the lockdown. Overall, the air quality of many urban areas improved slightly to significantly during the lockdown period. It has been observed that COVID-19 transmission and mortality rate also decreased in correlation to reduced pollution level in many cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lala Saha
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi, 835205 India
| | - Amit Kumar
- Department of Botany, Lucknow University, Lucknow, 226007 India
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi, 835205 India
| | - John Korstad
- Department of Biology and Global Environmental Sustainability, Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, OK 74171 USA
| | - Sudhakar Srivastava
- Plant Stress Biology Laboratory, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India
| | - Kuldeep Bauddh
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi, 835205 India
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141
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Xue J, Zhao T, Luo Y, Miao C, Su P, Liu F, Zhang G, Qin S, Song Y, Bu N, Xing C. Identification of ozone sensitivity for NO 2 and secondary HCHO based on MAX-DOAS measurements in northeast China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 160:107048. [PMID: 34959197 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, tropospheric formaldehyde (HCHO) vertical column densities (VCDs) were measured using multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) from January to November 2019 in Shenyang, Northeast China. The maximum HCHO VCD value appeared in the summer (1.74 × 1016 molec/cm2), due to increased photo-oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). HCHO concentrations increased from 08:00 and peaked near 13:00, which was mainly attributed to the increased release of isoprene from plants and enhanced photolysis at noon. The HCHO VCDs observed by MAX-DOAS and OMI have a good correlation coefficient (R) of 0.78, and the contributions from primary and secondary HCHO sources were distinguished by the multi-linear regression model. The anthropogenic emissions showed unobvious seasonal variations, and the primary HCHO was relatively stable in Shenyang. Secondary HCHO contributed 82.62%, 83.90%, 78.90%, and 41.53% to the total measured ambient HCHO during the winter, spring, summer, and autumn, respectively. We also found a good correlation (R = 0.78) between enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and HCHO VCDs, indicating that the oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) was the main source of HCHO. The ratio of secondary HCHO to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was used as the tracer to analyze O3-NOx-VOC sensitivities. We found that the VOC-limited, VOC-NOx-limited, and NOx-limited regimes made up 93.67%, 6.23%, 0.11% of the overall measurements, respectively. In addition, summertime ozone (O3) sensitivity changed from VOC-limited in the morning to VOC-NOx-limited in the afternoon. Therefore, this study offers information on HCHO sources and corresponding O3 production sensitivities to support strategic management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiexiao Xue
- School of Environmental Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Ting Zhao
- School of Environmental Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Yifu Luo
- School of Environmental Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Congke Miao
- School of Environmental Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Pinjie Su
- School of Environmental Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Feng Liu
- School of Environmental Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Guohui Zhang
- School of Environmental Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Sida Qin
- Liaoning Science and Technology Center for Ecological and Environmental Protection, Shenyang 110161, China
| | - Youtao Song
- School of Environmental Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China
| | - Naishun Bu
- School of Environmental Science, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, China; Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment Research in Cold Regions of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin University, 150086, China.
| | - Chengzhi Xing
- Key Lab of Environmental Optics & Technology, Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
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142
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Muche M, Yemata G, Molla E, Muasya AM, Tsegay BA. COVID-19 lockdown and natural resources: a global assessment on the challenges, opportunities, and the way forward. BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE 2022; 46:20. [PMID: 35125859 PMCID: PMC8800433 DOI: 10.1186/s42269-022-00706-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, which has an enormous effect on human lives and the global environment. This review aimed to assess the global scientific evidence on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on natural resources using international databases and search engines. Thus, the unprecedented anthropause due to COVID-19 has positive and negative effects on natural resources. MAIN BODY This review showed that the unprecedented pandemic lockdown events brought a negative impact on the physical environment, including pollution associated with a drastic increase in person protective equipment, deforestation, illegal poaching and logging, overfishing, disruption of the conservation program and projects. It is noted that the spread of pandemic diseases could be aggravated by environmental pollution and a rapid increase in the global population. Despite these negative impacts of COVID-19, the anthropause appear to have also several positive effects on natural resources such as short term reduction of indoor and outdoor environmental pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and CO2), reduction in noise pollutions from ships, boats, vehicles, and planes which have positive effects on aquatic ecosystems, water quality, birds behaviour, wildlife biodiversity, and ecosystem restoration. CONCLUSION Therefore, governments and scientific communities across the globe have called for a green recovery to COVID-19 and implement multi-actor interventions and environmentally friendly technologies to improve and safeguard sustainable environmental and biodiversity management and halt the next pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meseret Muche
- Department of Biology, Woldia University, P.O. Box 400, Woldia, Ethiopia
| | - Getahun Yemata
- Department of Biology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Eyayu Molla
- Deparment of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - A. Muthama Muasya
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700 South Africa
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143
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Doi H, Osawa T, Tsutsumida N. Assessing the potential repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on global SDG attainment. DISCOVER SUSTAINABILITY 2022; 3:2. [PMID: 35425924 PMCID: PMC8765102 DOI: 10.1007/s43621-021-00067-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a worldwide lockdown, and this restriction on human movements and activities has significantly affected society and the environment. Some effects might be quantitative, but some might be qualitative, and some effects could prolong immediately and/or persistently. This study examined the consequences of global lockdown for human movement and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions using an air pollution index and dataset and satellite image analyses. We also evaluated the immediate (during lockdown) and persistent (after lockdown) effects of lockdown on achieving the SDGs. Our analysis revealed a drastic reduction in human movement and NO2 emissions and showed that many SDGs were influenced both immediately and persistently due to the global lockdown. We observed the immediate negative impacts on four goals and positive impacts on five goals, especially those concerning economic issues and ecosystem conservation, respectively. The persistent effects of lockdown were likely to be predominantly reversed from their immediate impacts due to economic recovery. The global lockdown has influenced the global community's ability to meet the SDGs, and our analysis provides powerful insights into the status of the internationally agreed-upon SDGs both during and after the COVID-19-induced global lockdown. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43621-021-00067-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideyuki Doi
- Graduate School of Information Science, University of Hyogo, 7-1-28 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047 Japan
| | - Takeshi Osawa
- Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-Osawa 1-1, Hachiouji, Tokyo 192-0397 Japan
| | - Narumasa Tsutsumida
- Graduate School of Science & Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura ward, Saitama, Saitama 338-8570 Japan
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144
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Ding D, Xing J, Wang S, Dong Z, Zhang F, Liu S, Hao J. Optimization of a NO x and VOC Cooperative Control Strategy Based on Clean Air Benefits. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:739-749. [PMID: 34962805 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Serious ambient PM2.5 and O3 pollution is one of the most important environmental challenges of China, necessitating an urgent cost-effective cocontrol strategy. Herein, we introduced a novel integrated assessment system to optimize a NOx and volatile organic compound (VOC) control strategy for the synergistic reduction of ambient PM2.5 and O3 pollution. Focusing on the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cities and their surrounding regions, which are experiencing the most serious PM2.5 and O3 pollution in China, we found that NOx emission reduction (64-81%) is essential to attain the air quality standard no matter how much VOC emission is reduced. However, the synergistic VOC control is strongly recommended considering its substantially human health and crop production benefits, which are estimated up to 163 (PM2.5-related) and 101 (O3-related) billion CHY during the reduction of considerable emissions. Notably, such benefits will be greatly reduced if the synergistic VOC reduction is delayed. This study also highlights the necessity of simultaneous VOC and NOx emission control in winter while enhancing the NOx control in the summer, which is contrary to the current control strategy adopted in China. These findings point out the right pathways for future policy making on comitigating PM2.5 and O3 pollution in China and other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Ding
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jia Xing
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhaoxin Dong
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fenfen Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shuchang Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiming Hao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China
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145
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Boniardi L, Nobile F, Stafoggia M, Michelozzi P, Ancona C. A multi-step machine learning approach to assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on NO 2 attributable deaths in Milan and Rome, Italy. Environ Health 2022; 21:17. [PMID: 35034644 PMCID: PMC8761378 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00825-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollution is one of the main concerns for the health of European citizens, and cities are currently striving to accomplish EU air pollution regulation. The 2020 COVID-19 lockdown measures can be seen as an unintended but effective experiment to assess the impact of traffic restriction policies on air pollution. Our objective was to estimate the impact of the lockdown measures on NO2 concentrations and health in the two largest Italian cities. METHODS NO2 concentration datasets were built using data deriving from a 1-month citizen science monitoring campaign that took place in Milan and Rome just before the Italian lockdown period. Annual mean NO2 concentrations were estimated for a lockdown scenario (Scenario 1) and a scenario without lockdown (Scenario 2), by applying city-specific annual adjustment factors to the 1-month data. The latter were estimated deriving data from Air Quality Network stations and by applying a machine learning approach. NO2 spatial distribution was estimated at a neighbourhood scale by applying Land Use Random Forest models for the two scenarios. Finally, the impact of lockdown on health was estimated by subtracting attributable deaths for Scenario 1 and those for Scenario 2, both estimated by applying literature-based dose-response function on the counterfactual concentrations of 10 μg/m3. RESULTS The Land Use Random Forest models were able to capture 41-42% of the total NO2 variability. Passing from Scenario 2 (annual NO2 without lockdown) to Scenario 1 (annual NO2 with lockdown), the population-weighted exposure to NO2 for Milan and Rome decreased by 15.1% and 15.3% on an annual basis. Considering the 10 μg/m3 counterfactual, prevented deaths were respectively 213 and 604. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the lockdown had a beneficial impact on air quality and human health. However, compliance with the current EU legal limit is not enough to avoid a high number of NO2 attributable deaths. This contribution reaffirms the potentiality of the citizen science approach and calls for more ambitious traffic calming policies and a re-evaluation of the legal annual limit value for NO2 for the protection of human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Boniardi
- EPIGET - Epidemiology, Epigenetics, and Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Environmental and Industrial Toxicology Unit, Milan, Italy.
| | - Federica Nobile
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service/ASL, Roma 1, Via C. Colombo 112, 00147, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service/ASL, Roma 1, Via C. Colombo 112, 00147, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Michelozzi
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service/ASL, Roma 1, Via C. Colombo 112, 00147, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Ancona
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service/ASL, Roma 1, Via C. Colombo 112, 00147, Rome, Italy
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146
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Abdeldayem OM, Dabbish AM, Habashy MM, Mostafa MK, Elhefnawy M, Amin L, Al-Sakkari EG, Ragab A, Rene ER. Viral outbreaks detection and surveillance using wastewater-based epidemiology, viral air sampling, and machine learning techniques: A comprehensive review and outlook. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:149834. [PMID: 34525746 PMCID: PMC8379898 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
A viral outbreak is a global challenge that affects public health and safety. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been spreading globally, affecting millions of people worldwide, and led to significant loss of lives and deterioration of the global economy. The current adverse effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic demands finding new detection methods for future viral outbreaks. The environment's transmission pathways include and are not limited to air, surface water, and wastewater environments. The wastewater surveillance, known as wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), can potentially monitor viral outbreaks and provide a complementary clinical testing method. Another investigated outbreak surveillance technique that has not been yet implemented in a sufficient number of studies is the surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the air. Artificial intelligence (AI) and its related machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) technologies are currently emerging techniques for detecting viral outbreaks using global data. To date, there are no reports that illustrate the potential of using WBE with AI to detect viral outbreaks. This study investigates the transmission pathways of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment and provides current updates on the surveillance of viral outbreaks using WBE, viral air sampling, and AI. It also proposes a novel framework based on an ensemble of ML and DL algorithms to provide a beneficial supportive tool for decision-makers. The framework exploits available data from reliable sources to discover meaningful insights and knowledge that allows researchers and practitioners to build efficient methods and protocols that accurately monitor and detect viral outbreaks. The proposed framework could provide early detection of viruses, forecast risk maps and vulnerable areas, and estimate the number of infected citizens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar M Abdeldayem
- Department of Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611AX Delft, the Netherlands.
| | - Areeg M Dabbish
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, Biology Department, School of Science and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud M Habashy
- Department of Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611AX Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Mohamed K Mostafa
- Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Elhefnawy
- CanmetENERGY, 1615 Lionel-Boulet Blvd, P.O. Box 4800, Varennes, Québec J3X 1P7, Canada; Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Lobna Amin
- Department of Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611AX Delft, the Netherlands; Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, PO Box 15200, FI-00076, Aalto, Finland
| | - Eslam G Al-Sakkari
- Chemical Engineering Department, Cairo University, Cairo University Road, 12613 Giza, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Ragab
- CanmetENERGY, 1615 Lionel-Boulet Blvd, P.O. Box 4800, Varennes, Québec J3X 1P7, Canada; Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada; Faculty of Electronic Engineering, Menoufia University, 32952, Menouf, Egypt
| | - Eldon R Rene
- Department of Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611AX Delft, the Netherlands
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147
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Assessment of COVID-19 Lockdown Impact on the Air Quality in Eastern Spain: PM and BTX in Urban, Suburban and Rural Sites Exposed to Different Emissions. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13010097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic spread globally, and severe measures to control it were implemented. This study investigates the impact of the lockdown on the air quality of three provinces in the Valencia region, eastern Spain, in the years 2015–2020, focusing on particulate matter (PM). A thorough statistical analysis using different approaches is conducted. Hourly patterns are also assessed. In addition, the role of meteorological parameters on PM is explored. The results indicate an overall PM10 reduction of 16.5% when comparing the lockdown in 2020 and the 2015–2019 period, while PM2.5 increased by 3.1%. As expected, urban zones experienced higher reductions than suburban zones, which experienced a PM concentration increase. The impact of the drastic drops of benzene, toluene and xylene (77.4%, 58.0% and 61.8%, respectively) on the PM values observed in urban sites is discussed. Our study provides insights on the effect of activity changes over a wide region covering a variety of air quality stations, urban, suburban and rural, and different emission types. The results of this work are a valuable reference and suggest the need for considering different factors when establishing scientific air pollution control strategies.
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148
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Feng Z, Xu Y, Kobayashi K, Dai L, Zhang T, Agathokleous E, Calatayud V, Paoletti E, Mukherjee A, Agrawal M, Park RJ, Oak YJ, Yue X. Ozone pollution threatens the production of major staple crops in East Asia. NATURE FOOD 2022; 3:47-56. [PMID: 37118490 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-021-00422-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
East Asia is a hotspot of surface ozone (O3) pollution, which hinders crop growth and reduces yields. Here, we assess the relative yield loss in rice, wheat and maize due to O3 by combining O3 elevation experiments across Asia and air monitoring at about 3,000 locations in China, Japan and Korea. China shows the highest relative yield loss at 33%, 23% and 9% for wheat, rice and maize, respectively. The relative yield loss is much greater in hybrid than inbred rice, being close to that for wheat. Total O3-induced annual loss of crop production is estimated at US$63 billion. The large impact of O3 on crop production urges us to take mitigation action for O3 emission control and adaptive agronomic measures against the rising surface O3 levels across East Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaozhong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yansen Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Kazuhiko Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Lulu Dai
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
- Rural Energy and Environment Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Evgenios Agathokleous
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Elena Paoletti
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Arideep Mukherjee
- Key Laboratory of Agrometeorology of Jiangsu Province, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
- Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Madhoolika Agrawal
- Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Rokjin J Park
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yujin J Oak
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Xu Yue
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China.
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149
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Payra S, Gupta P, Sarkar A, Bhatla R, Verma S. Changes in tropospheric ozone concentration over Indo-Gangetic Plains: the role of meteorological parameters. METEOROLOGY AND ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS 2022; 134:96. [PMCID: PMC9555686 DOI: 10.1007/s00703-022-00932-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
This study seeks to understand and quantify the changes in tropospheric ozone (O3) in lower troposphere (LT), middle troposphere (MT) and upper middle troposphere (UMT) over the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGPs), India during the COVID-19 lockdown 2020 with that of pre-lockdown 2019. The gridded datasets of ozone from the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis product, ERA5 in combination with statistical interpolated (IDWs) surface NO2 observations, present a consistent picture and indicate a significant tropospheric ozone enhancement over IGP during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in May 2020. The Paper also examines the influencing role of meteorological parameters on increasing ozone concentration. Over LT, an increase in O3 concentration (23%) is observed and in MT to UMT an enhancement of about 9–18% in O3 concentration have been seen during May 2020 with respect to May 2019. An investigation on causes of increasing ozone concentration (35–85 ppbv) from MT to UMT during May 2020 reveals that there was significant rise (by 1–6%) in low cloud cover (LCC). Notably, higher LCC increases the backscattering of upward solar radiation from the top of the atmosphere. A positive difference of 5–25 W/m2 in upward solar radiation (USR) is observed across the entire study region. The result suggests that higher LCC significantly contributed to the enhanced USR. Thereby, resulting in higher photolysis rate that lead to an increase in mid tropospheric ozone concentration during May 2020. The results highlight the importance of LCC as an important pathway in ozone formation and aid in scientific understanding of it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swagata Payra
- Department of Remote Sensing, Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand India
| | - Priyanshu Gupta
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh India
| | - Abhijit Sarkar
- National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Noida, Uttar Pradesh India
| | - R. Bhatla
- Department of Geophysics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh India
- DST-Mahamana Centre of Excellence in Climate Change Research, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh India
| | - Sunita Verma
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh India
- DST-Mahamana Centre of Excellence in Climate Change Research, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh India
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150
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Orak NH, Alshehri K, Chen X. The Impacts on Greenhouse Gases Emission during the COVID-19 lockdown in the US: An Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment. PROCEDIA CIRP 2022; 105:25-30. [PMID: 35280218 PMCID: PMC8902133 DOI: 10.1016/j.procir.2022.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic (COVID-19) is causing disruptions to energy, finance, tourism, and trade industries all around the world. These disruptions are the result of quarantining and lockdowns that cause reductions in production and consumptions. This change in production and consumption rates has environmental consequences. This study investigates the environmental effects of COVID-19 lockdown in the United States by Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (IO-LCA) approach. The analysis is based on extraction of economic data in the US. The simulated results are based on different durations and strategies of lockdown measures. Among all industrial categories, utilities, which include power generation and supply, water supply, and natural gas supply sectors, saw the most significant reductions by approximately 110 kt CO2-eq in the first quarter and 265 kt CO2-eq in the second quarter of 2020. The assessed reductions were the results of both direct emission reductions caused by the shutdown of certain industries and also indirect emission reductions from upstream industries. The proposed methodology provides an effective guideline to predict the greenhouse gases emissions, which can be used as a prediction method for different regions in the world.
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