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Room SA, Chiu YC, Pan SY, Chen YC, Hsiao TC, Chou CCK, Hussain M, Chi KH. A comprehensive examination of temporal-seasonal variations of PM 1.0 and PM 2.5 in taiwan before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-33174-4. [PMID: 38632201 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33174-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
COVID-19 has been a significant global concern due to its contagious nature. In May 2021, Taiwan experienced a severe outbreak, leading the government to enforce strict Pandemic Alert Level 3 restrictions in order to curtail its spread. Although previous studies in Taiwan have examined the effects of these measures on air quality, further research is required to compare different time periods and assess the health implications of reducing particulate matter during the Level 3 lockdown. Herein, we analyzed the mass concentrations, chemical compositions, seasonal variations, sources, and potential health risks of PM1.0 and PM2.5 in Central Taiwan before and during the Level 3 lockdown. As a result, coal-fired boilers (47%) and traffic emissions (53%) were identified as the predominant sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM1.0, while in PM2.5, the dominant sources of PAHs were coal-fired boilers (28%), traffic emissions (50%), and iron and steel sinter plants (22.1%). Before the pandemic, a greater value of 20.9 ± 6.92 μg/m3 was observed for PM2.5, which decreased to 15.3 ± 2.51 μg/m3 during the pandemic due to a reduction in industrial and anthropogenic emissions. Additionally, prior to the pandemic, PM1.0 had a contribution rate of 79% to PM2.5, which changed to 89% during the pandemic. Similarly, BaPeq values in PM2.5 exhibited a comparable trend, with PM1.0 contributing 86% and 65% respectively. In both periods, the OC/EC ratios for PM1.0 and PM2.5 were above 2, due to secondary organic compounds. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of PAHs in PM2.5 decreased by 4.03 × 10-5 during the pandemic, with PM1.0 contributing 73% due to reduced anthropogenic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahzada Amani Room
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
| | - Yi Chen Chiu
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
| | - Shih Yu Pan
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Cheng Chen
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ta-Chih Hsiao
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Charles C-K Chou
- Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Majid Hussain
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Haripur, 22620, Hattar Road, Haripur City, KP, Pakistan
| | - Kai Hsien Chi
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, Taiwan.
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Picciulin M, Petrizzo A, Madricardo F, Barbanti A, Bastianini M, Biagiotti I, Bosi S, Centurelli M, Codarin A, Costantini I, Dadić V, Falkner R, Folegot T, Galvez D, Leonori I, Menegon S, Mihanović H, Muslim S, Pari A, Pari S, Pleslić G, Radulović M, Rako-Gospić N, Sabbatini D, Tegowski J, Vukadin P, Ghezzo M. First basin scale spatial-temporal characterization of underwater sound in the Mediterranean Sea. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22799. [PMID: 38129457 PMCID: PMC10739739 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49567-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic underwater noise is an emergent pollutant. Despite several worldwide monitoring programs, only few data are available for the Mediterranean Sea, one of the global biodiversity hotspots. The results of the first continuous acoustic programme run at a transnational basin scale in the Mediterranean Sea are here presented. Recordings were done from March 2020 to June 2021, including the COVID-19 lockdown, at nine stations in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Spatial-temporal variations of the underwater sound are described, having one third octave band sound pressure levels (SPLs) from 10 Hz to 20 kHz as metrics. Higher and more variable SPLs, mainly related to vessel traffic, were found close to harbours, whereas Natura 2000 stations experienced lower SPLs. Lower values were recorded during the lockdown in five stations. Median yearly SPLs ranged between 64 and 95 as well as 70 and 100 dB re 1 µPa for 63 and 125 Hz bands, respectively. These values are comparable with those previously found in busy shallow EU basins but higher levels are expected during a business-as-usual period. This is a baseline assessment for a highly impacted and environmental valuable area, that needs to be managed in a new sustainable blue growth strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Picciulin
- CNR-National Research Council, ISMAR - Institute of Marine Sciences in Venice, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy.
| | - Antonio Petrizzo
- CNR-National Research Council, ISMAR - Institute of Marine Sciences in Venice, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Fantina Madricardo
- CNR-National Research Council, ISMAR - Institute of Marine Sciences in Venice, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Andrea Barbanti
- CNR-National Research Council, ISMAR - Institute of Marine Sciences in Venice, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Mauro Bastianini
- CNR-National Research Council, ISMAR - Institute of Marine Sciences in Venice, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Ilaria Biagiotti
- CNR-National Research Council, IRBIM -Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, SS Ancona, Largo Fiera Della Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - Sofia Bosi
- CNR-National Research Council, ISMAR - Institute of Marine Sciences in Venice, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Michele Centurelli
- CNR-National Research Council, IRBIM -Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, SS Ancona, Largo Fiera Della Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - Antonio Codarin
- ARPA FVG - Regional Environmental Protection Agency of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Via Cairoli 14, 33057, Palmanova, Udine, Italy
| | - Ilaria Costantini
- CNR-National Research Council, IRBIM -Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, SS Ancona, Largo Fiera Della Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - Vlado Dadić
- IOR - Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Šetalište I. Meštrovića 63, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Raffaela Falkner
- Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Kaštel 24, 51551, Veli Lošinj, Croatia
| | - Thomas Folegot
- Quiet Oceans, Bâtiment Cap Ocean, Technopôle Brest-Iroise, 525 Avenue Alexis de Rochon, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Daphnie Galvez
- CNR-National Research Council, ISMAR - Institute of Marine Sciences in Venice, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Iole Leonori
- CNR-National Research Council, IRBIM -Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnologies, SS Ancona, Largo Fiera Della Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - Stefano Menegon
- CNR-National Research Council, ISMAR - Institute of Marine Sciences in Venice, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
| | - Hrvoje Mihanović
- IOR - Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Šetalište I. Meštrovića 63, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Stipe Muslim
- IOR - Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Šetalište I. Meštrovića 63, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Alice Pari
- Fondazione Cetacea Onlus, Viale Torino 7A, 47838, Riccione, Italy
| | - Sauro Pari
- Fondazione Cetacea Onlus, Viale Torino 7A, 47838, Riccione, Italy
| | - Grgur Pleslić
- Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Kaštel 24, 51551, Veli Lošinj, Croatia
| | - Marko Radulović
- Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Kaštel 24, 51551, Veli Lošinj, Croatia
| | - Nikolina Rako-Gospić
- Blue World Institute of Marine Research and Conservation, Kaštel 24, 51551, Veli Lošinj, Croatia
| | - Davide Sabbatini
- Fondazione Cetacea Onlus, Viale Torino 7A, 47838, Riccione, Italy
| | - Jaroslaw Tegowski
- Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Av. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Predrag Vukadin
- IOR - Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Šetalište I. Meštrovića 63, 21000, Split, Croatia
| | - Michol Ghezzo
- CNR-National Research Council, ISMAR - Institute of Marine Sciences in Venice, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venice, Italy
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Gea M, Macrì M, Marangon D, Pitasi FA, Fontana M, Schilirò T, Bonetta S. Biological effects of particulate matter samples during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison with the pre-lockdown period in Northwest Italy. AIR QUALITY, ATMOSPHERE, & HEALTH 2023; 16:1-16. [PMID: 37359393 PMCID: PMC10243887 DOI: 10.1007/s11869-023-01381-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, containment measures were applied inducing potential changes in air pollutant concentrations and thus in air toxicity. This study evaluates the role of restrictions on biological effects of particulate matter (PM) in different Northwest Italy sites: urban background, urban traffic, rural, and incinerator. Daily PM samples collected in 2020 were pooled according to restrictions: January/February (no restrictions), March and April (first lockdown), May/June and July/August/September (low restrictions), October/November/December (second lockdown). The 2019 samples (pre-pandemic period) were pooled as 2020 for comparison. Pools were extracted with organic solvents and extracts were tested to assess cytotoxicity (WST-1 assay) and genotoxicity (comet assay) on BEAS-2B cells, mutagenicity (Ames test) on TA98 and TA100 Salmonella typhimurium strains, and estrogenic activity (gene reporter assay) on MELN cells. Pollutant concentrations were also analyzed (PM10, PM2.5, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). No difference was observed for PM and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations between 2020 and 2019. During lockdown months (2020), PM cytotoxicity/genotoxicity was significantly lower in some sites than during 2019, while considering PM mutagenicity/estrogenic activity some differences were detected but without statistical significance. PM extract effects decreased in some sites during 2020; this may be due to lockdowns that reduced/modified pollutant emissions and may be related also to complex PM origin/formation and to meteorological conditions. In conclusion, the study confirms that PM biological effects cannot be assessed considering only the PM concentration and suggests to include a battery of bioassay for air quality monitoring in order to protect human health from air pollution effects. Graphical Abstract Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11869-023-01381-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gea
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 Bis, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Manuela Macrì
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Turin, Italy
| | - Daniele Marangon
- Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Piedmont (ARPA Piemonte), Via Sabaudia 164, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Francesco Antonio Pitasi
- Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Piedmont (ARPA Piemonte), Via Sabaudia 164, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Marco Fontana
- Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Piedmont (ARPA Piemonte), Via Sabaudia 164, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Tiziana Schilirò
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 Bis, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Bonetta
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Via Santena 5 Bis, 10126 Turin, Italy
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Hassan MA, Mehmood T, Lodhi E, Bilal M, Dar AA, Liu J. Lockdown Amid COVID-19 Ascendancy over Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution Anomaly. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13540. [PMID: 36294120 PMCID: PMC9603700 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013540] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Air is a diverse mixture of gaseous and suspended solid particles. Several new substances are being added to the air daily, polluting it and causing human health effects. Particulate matter (PM) is the primary health concern among these air toxins. The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed the fact that particulate pollution affects human health more severely than other air pollutants. The spread of air pollution and viruses, two of our millennium's most serious concerns, have been linked closely. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can spread through the air, and PM could act as a host to spread the virus beyond those in close contact. Studies on COVID-19 cover diverse environmental segments and become complicated with time. As PM pollution is related to everyday life, an essential awareness regarding PM-impacted COVID-19 among the masses is required, which can help researchers understand the various features of ambient particulate pollution, particularly in the era of COVID-19. Given this, the present work provides an overview of the recent developments in COVID-19 research linked to ambient particulate studies. This review summarizes the effect of the lockdown on the characteristics of ambient particulate matter pollution, the transmission mechanism of COVID-19, and the combined health repercussions of PM pollution. In addition to a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the lockdown, its rationales-based on topographic and socioeconomic dynamics-are also discussed in detail. The current review is expected to encourage and motivate academics to concentrate on improving air quality management and COVID-19 control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Azher Hassan
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Tariq Mehmood
- College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ehtisham Lodhi
- The SKL for Management and Control of Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Surveying and Land Information Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Afzal Ahmed Dar
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710000, China
| | - Junjie Liu
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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Liu Z, Pang P, Fang W, Ali S, Anser MK. Dynamic common correlated effects of pandemic uncertainty on environmental quality: fresh insights from East-Asia and Pacific countries. AIR QUALITY, ATMOSPHERE & HEALTH 2022; 15:1395-1411. [PMID: 35194479 PMCID: PMC8853084 DOI: 10.1007/s11869-022-01164-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that pandemic-related uncertainty affects various macroeconomic indicators, including environmental quality. Due to pandemic outbreaks, the reduction in economic activities affects the environmental quality in many economies. The study explores the impact of pandemic uncertainty on environmental quality in East-Asia and Pacific countries. Most past research use only CO2 emissions, which is an inappropriate measurement of environmental quality. Besides CO2 emissions, we have utilized other pollutants like N2O and CH4 emissions along with ecological footprint. The traditional econometric approaches ignore cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity and give biased outcomes. Hence, we have employed a new method, “Dynamic Common Correlated Effects (DCCE),” which can excellently deal with the problems mentioned above. The short-run and long-run DCCE estimations show a negative and significant influence of pandemic uncertainty on ecological footprint, CO2 and CH4 emissions in whole and lower-income group of East-Asia and Pacific region. Moreover, pandemic uncertainty has a negative relationship with all indicators of environmental quality in higher-income economies. The study provides a unique opportunity to examine how pandemic uncertainty through anthropogenic activities affects environmental quality and serves as a significant resource for policymakers in planning and estimating the effectiveness of environmental quality measures. It is necessary to carry out sustainable environmental policies in East-Asia and Pacific region according to the vulnerabilities and resilience to global pandemic uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Liu
- School of Business, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ping Pang
- School of Business, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Fang
- Institute of Agricultural Economic and Information, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640 China
| | - Sajid Ali
- School of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Khalid Anser
- School of Public Administration, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, China
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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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Wu H, Lu Z, Wei J, Zhang B, Liu X, Zhao M, Liu W, Guo X, Xi B. Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Pollutant Levels and Associated Reductions in Ischemic Stroke Incidence in Shandong Province, China. Front Public Health 2022; 10:876615. [PMID: 35719628 PMCID: PMC9197688 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.876615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Local governments in China took restrictive measures after the outbreak of COVID-19 to control its spread, which unintentionally resulted in reduced anthropogenic emission sources of air pollutants. In this study, we intended to examine the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown policy on the concentration levels of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of ≤1 μm (PM1), ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), and ≤10 μm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO) and the potential subsequent reductions in the incidence of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in Shandong Province, China. Methods A difference-in-difference model combining the daily incidence data for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and air pollutant data in 126 counties was used to estimate the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the air pollutant levels and ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke incident counts. The avoided ischemic stroke cases related to the changes in air pollutant exposure levels were further estimated using concentration-response functions from previous studies. Results The PM1, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and CO levels significantly decreased by −30.2, −20.9, −13.5, −46.3, and −13.1%, respectively. The O3 level increased by 11.5% during the lockdown compared with that in the counterfactual lockdown phase of the past 2 years. There was a significant reduction in population-weighted ischemic stroke cases (−15,315, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −27,689, −2,942), representing a reduction of 27.6% (95% CI: −49.9%, −5.3%). The change in the number of hemorrhagic stroke cases was not statistically significant. The total avoided PM1-, PM2.5-, PM10-, NO2-, and CO–related ischemic stroke cases were 739 (95% CI: 641, 833), 509 (95% CI: 440, 575), 355 (95% CI: 304, 405), 1,132 (95% CI: 1,024, 1,240), and 289 (95% CI: 236, 340), respectively. Conclusion The COVID-19 lockdown indirectly reduced the concentration levels of PM1, PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and CO and subsequently reduced the associated ischemic stroke incidence. The health benefits due to the lockdown are temporary, and long-term measures should be implemented to increase air quality and related health benefits in the post-COVID-19 period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zilong Lu
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Bingyin Zhang
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xue Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Min Zhao
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wenhui Liu
- Information and Data Analysis Lab, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaolei Guo
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Academy of Preventive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Xiaolei Guo
| | - Bo Xi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Bo Xi
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8
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The Impact of the Pandemic on Vehicle Traffic and Roadside Environmental Pollution: Rzeszow City as a Case Study. ENERGIES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/en14144299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The development of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related lockdown had a major impact on vehicle traffic in cities. Based on available data from the selected city of Rzeszow, Poland, it was decided to assess changes in vehicle traffic and the impact of these changes on roadside environmental pollution. As part of the research, data from the first half of 2020 regarding vehicle traffic on selected streets of the city and on the city’s inlet routes were analyzed. For the selected road sections, changes in hourly traffic volume in 2020, compared with 2019, were also determined. With data on traffic volume, an attempt was made to estimate the impact of changes in traffic volume on air pollution in the city. Research on air pollution from motor vehicles was focused on a selected section of a city road that was equipped with an automatic air pollution measurement station located very close to the road. Additionally, at the road intersection and in the vicinity of the measuring station, a sensor was installed in the roadway to count passing vehicles. A preliminary analysis of air pollution data revealed that factors such as wind speed and direction and outside temperature had a large impact on measurement results. To eliminate the influence of these factors and to obtain data concerning only contamination originating from motor vehicles traveling along the road, an appropriate mathematical model of the traffic flow–roadside environment system was built. This model was designed to determine the air pollution in the vicinity of the road generated by traffic flow. The constructed model was verified, and the conditions for its use were determined in order to study the impact of traffic and roadside environment on the level of air pollution from harmful exhaust substances. It was shown that at certain times of the day, especially at low temperatures, other sources of harmful emissions related to home heating play a major role in air pollution in the city.
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Maipas S, Panayiotides IG, Kavantzas N. Remote-Working Carbon-Saving Footprint: Could COVID-19 Pandemic Establish a New Working Model with Positive Environmental Health Implications? ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2021; 15:11786302211013546. [PMID: 33994793 PMCID: PMC8107946 DOI: 10.1177/11786302211013546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Urban air pollution is a major problem with known negative health implications, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Lockdown measures have caused the reductions of various urban pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matters (PMs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). COVID-19 pandemic has also established remote-working as an antidote to declining economic activity due to lockdown measures. The environmental health implications of the new hybrid-working model, which drastically reduces the number of circulating vehicles, appear to be positive enough to reveal an emerging opportunity. Since this hybrid model may have started becoming a widely accepted working model, the current situation has revealed the opportunity of remote-working arrangements to serve as a supplementary mitigative and adaptive measure against urban environmental deterioration. Also, a remote-working carbon-saving footprint may be introduced in order to evaluate a firm's carbon footprint reduction due to remote-working arrangements. These workings arrangements may be accompanied by improvements and expansions of urban green spaces and with broader use of electric vehicles, transforming our cities into more sustainable, safe, healthy, and worth-living environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotirios Maipas
- Environment and Health. Management of
Environmental Health Effects, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of
Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
- First Department of Pathology, Medical
School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens General Hospital “Laikon,”
Athens, Attica, Greece
| | - Ioannis G Panayiotides
- Environment and Health. Management of
Environmental Health Effects, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of
Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
- Second Department of Pathology, “Attikon”
University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens,
Attica, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Kavantzas
- Environment and Health. Management of
Environmental Health Effects, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of
Athens, Athens, Attica, Greece
- First Department of Pathology, Medical
School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens General Hospital “Laikon,”
Athens, Attica, Greece
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Nazir R, Ali J, Rasul I, Widemann E, Shafiq S. Eco-Environmental Aspects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Potential Control Strategies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:3488. [PMID: 33801704 PMCID: PMC8037994 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
A new coronavirus-strain from a zoonotic reservoir (probably bat)-termed as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-has recently claimed more than two million deaths worldwide. Consequently, a burst of scientific reports on epidemiology, symptoms, and diagnosis came out. However, a comprehensive understanding of eco-environmental aspects that may contribute to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread is still missing, and we therefore aim to focus here on these aspects. In addition to human-human direct SARS-CoV-2 transmission, eco-environmental sources, such as air aerosols, different public use objects, hospital wastes, livestock/pet animals, municipal wastes, ventilation facilities, soil and groundwater potentially contribute to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Further, high temperature and humidity were found to limit the spread of COVID-19. Although the COVID-19 pandemic led to decrease air and noise pollution during the period of lockdown, increased use of masks and gloves is threatening the environment by water and soil pollutions. COVID-19 badly impacted all the socio-economic groups in different capacities, where women, slum dwellers, and the people lacking social protections are the most vulnerable. Finally, sustainable strategies, waste management, biodiversity reclaim, eco-friendly lifestyle, improved health infrastructure and public awareness, were proposed to minimize the COVID-19 impact on our society and environment. These strategies will seemingly be equally effective against any future outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashid Nazir
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abbottabad Campus, COMSATS University Islamabad, University Road, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan;
| | - Jawad Ali
- Department of Biotechnology, Abbottabad Campus, Tobe Camp, COMSATS University Islamabad, University Road, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan;
| | - Ijaz Rasul
- Plant Virology Section, Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan;
| | - Emilie Widemann
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A5B7, Canada;
| | - Sarfraz Shafiq
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A3K7, Canada
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