2020 COVID-19 lockdown and the impacts on air quality with emphasis on urban, suburban and rural zones

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Klara Slezakova (Author) FEUP; Maria do Carmo Pereira (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Scientific Reports

Vol. 11

Initial page: 21336

ISSN: 2045-2322

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 25 Citations

Scopus - 27 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Natural sciences > Environmental science

Associated Projects

BioFirEx - Um painel de (bio)marcadores para a vigilância da saúde e da segurança do bombeiro

LEPABE - Financiamento Plurianual 2020-2023 da Unidade de I&D LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-NFD

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99491-7

Abstract (EN): Air quality improvements pollution changes due to COVID-19 restrictions have been reported for many urban developments and large metropolitan areas, but the respective impacts at rural and remote zones are less frequently analysed. This study evaluated air pollution changes across all Portugal (68 stations) considering all urban, suburban and rural zones. PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, ozone was analysed in pre-, during, and post-lockdown period (January-May 2020) and for a comparison also in 2019. NO2 was the most reduced pollutant in 2020, which coincided with decreased traffic. Significant drop (15-71%) of traffic related NO2 was observed specifically during lockdown period, being 55% for the largest and most populated region in country. PM was affected to a lesser degree (with substantial differences found for largely populated areas (Lisbon region similar to 30%; North region, up to 49%); during lockdown traffic-related PM dropped 10-70%. PM10 daily limit was exceeded 50% less in 2020, with 80% of exceedances before lockdown period. SO2 decreased by 35%, due to suspended industrial productions, whereas ozone concentrations slightly (though not significantly) increased (83 vs. 80 mu g m(-3)).

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11