Air quality improvement from COVID-19 lockdown: evidence from China

The Phl p 5 allergen of the plant species Phleum pratense is considered one of the most crucial grass pollen allergenic molecules inducing respiratory allergies. In this study, we evaluated seasonal variation in the concentration of both grass pollen and Phl p 5 allergens as well as the ratio allergen/pollen (pollen potency) in the air of Bratislava during two consecutive years, 2019-2020. These 2 years differed in terms of air pollution, as COVID-19 lockdown in spring 2020 considerably improved air quality in the study area. Air samples were collected using a Hirst-type sampler for pollen detection and the cyclone sampler for aeroallergen detection. In 2020, we observed 80.3% higher seasonal pollen integral, probably associated with the longer pollen season duration, however, 43.6% lower mean daily pollen potency than in 2019. The mean daily pollen value was 37.5% higher in 2020 than in the previous year, while the mean daily allergen value was 14.9% lower in 2020. To evaluate the relationship between the amount of pollen or allergen in the air and selected meteorological factors and air pollution parameters, we used multiple regression analysis. Regarding weather factors, precipitation and relative humidity were significantly associated with pollen and/or allergen concentration, though these associations were negative. Atmospheric pollutants, especially CO, NO 2 and O 3 were significantly associated with pollen and/or allergen levels. The associations with CO and O 3 were positive, while the association with NO 2 was negative. Our results indicate that for grasses, an air pollutant that has a significant positive relationship to the ratio of allergen/pollen is nitrogen dioxide.

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“…Improving air quality due to lockdown has been observed in numerous countries (e.g. Mahato et al 2020;Dantas et al 2020;Wang et al 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation in the allergenic potency of airborne grass pollen in Bratislava (Slovakia) urban environment

Ščevková

Vašková

Sepšiová

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Air pollutants can be removed from the atmosphere by precipitation (Wang et al 2020). By comparing the cumulative precipitation in the selected period during the 2 years, it can be found that the cumulative precipitation in 2020 is significantly higher than that in the same period in 2019.…”

Section: Analysis Of Mass Concentration Changes Of No 2 and So 2 In Different Phasesmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Under high wind speed, the dispersion of the pollutant is greater, while in the lower wind speed is likely for air pollution accumulation (Sbai et al 2021). High temperatures can function as catalysts for chemical processes of air pollutants (Wang et al 2020). As can be seen from Fig.…”

Section: Analysis Of Mass Concentration Changes Of No 2 and So 2 In Different Phasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal variation characteristics of atmospheric NO2 and SO2 in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region before and after the COVID-19 outbreak

Shen

Zhao

Zhou

et al. 2021

Air Qual Atmos Health

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Emergency response mechanisms were activated throughout China during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is different from the temporary, partial, and limited pollution control measures taken to ensure the regional environmental quality during several important events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). During the COVID-19 epidemic period, extensive movement of people and almost all unnecessary industrial production (necessary industrial production refers to the production of food, epidemic prevention materials, etc.) have been severely restricted, so transportation and industrial production have been greatly reduced. This is a rare extreme emission reduction scenario that presents a unique opportunity for atmospheric research. In this study, based on hourly mass concentration data of NO 2 and SO 2 from atmospheric monitoring sites in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region during the COVID-19 epidemic period, the changes in transportation and industrial production in the region, data statistics, and spatial analysis were used to analyze the pollution changes and their causes. The results indicate that the NO 2 and SO 2 concentrations in the BTH region decreased significantly during the epidemic period. The spatial distribution pattern of NO 2 pollution in the BTH region was "high in the southeast and low in the northwest," and SO 2 pollution in the BTH region was high in the southern and eastern parts of Hebei. The initiation of emergency response level 1 had an obvious effect on reducing NO 2 and SO 2 pollution in the region, while the impact of emergency response level 2 and below was limited. Compared with the single traffic control, the comprehensive control, similar to the emergency response, had a better effect on reducing NO 2 pollution in the region. The control of major large cities in the region also had a certain effect on alleviating NO 2 and SO 2 pollution in the entire region. Moreover, for activities under short-term control, it is particularly important to guard against the "retaliatory growth" after the control is lifted. By reducing and controlling some polluting industries in industrial production, the degree of NO 2 and SO 2 pollution in the region can be effectively reduced. The manufacturing industry of chemical raw materials and the chemical products and non-metallic mineral products industry made a great contribution to the change in industrial source pollution emissions in the BTH region during the COVID-19 epidemic. Road traffic emissions remained an important source of NO 2 emissions in the BTH region during this period. NO 2 emission reduction can be effectively achieved by controlling road traffic and transportation.

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“…C2ES, 2020 , Chen et al, 2020 , Hopkins University, 2020 , Kumar et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2021 , Singh et al, 2020 , US EPA, 2021 , Wang et al, 2020 , WHO, 2020 , Wu et al, 2021 .…”

Section: Uncited Referencementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of COVID-19 on the environment: An overview on air, water, wastewater, and solid waste

Elsaid

Olabi

Sayed

et al. 2021

Journal of Environmental Management

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Air quality improvement from COVID-19 lockdown: evidence from China

Cited by 54 publications

References 25 publications

Seasonal variation in the allergenic potency of airborne grass pollen in Bratislava (Slovakia) urban environment

Seasonal variation in the allergenic potency of airborne grass pollen in Bratislava (Slovakia) urban environment

Spatial and temporal variation characteristics of atmospheric NO2 and SO2 in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region before and after the COVID-19 outbreak

Effects of COVID-19 on the environment: An overview on air, water, wastewater, and solid waste

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