“Fortune amidst misfortune”: The impact of Covid-19 city lockdowns on air quality

Figures & data

Figure 1. Pollution level in China in 2019 and 2020

Source: Sentinel −5p, 1 Feb—17 Mar.

Figure 2. Pollution level in Italy in 2019 and 2020

Source: Sentinel −5p, 1 Feb—17 Mar.

Figure 3. Pollution level in US in 2019 and 2020

Source: Sentinel −5p, 19 March—18 April 2020.

Table 1. Presents various air pollutants and their observations in the study areas

Study area	Pollutant types	Key observations	Author
China	Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Particulate Matter (PM2.5)	1. It is observed that the new types of cars produced have lower emission standards, making them produce and emit more of these into the atmosphere. 2. Due to the rapid growth and increased demand for transportation, food and other consumer goods, there are heavy industries established to meet these demands and as such more of these pollutants are released daily 3. These air pollutants are much seen in areas that are near cities than in remote areas	Xue et al. (2020) Wong (2014)
US	Ground-level ozone, Carbon monoxide (CO), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Particulate Matter (PM2.5/10), lead	1. These air pollutants affect people’s health and are more severe at sources that are near industrial cities and roadways 2. There has been an increased demand for heavy industrial machinery. These heavy industrial machineries are known to contribute heavily to air pollutant emission	United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018).
Italy	Sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), Particulate Matter (PM2.5/10)	Exposure to these pollutants usually is higher in cities than those in the countryside. This is because in the cities the issues of traffic are high, the use of power generators and domestic heating systems are intense	Battista et al. (2018)

Authors Own Construct, 2020.

Table

CO2	Carbon dioxide
Covid-19	Coronavirus disease 2019
GHG	Green House Gases
NASA	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NO2	Nitrogen dioxide
SARS	Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
SO2	Sulfur dioxide
WHO	World Health Organization

Xue, Y., Cao, X., Ai, Y., Xu, K., & Zhang, Y. (2020). Primary air pollutants emissions variation characteristics and future control strategies for transportation sector in Beijing, China. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(10), 4111. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104111

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Wong, E. (2014). China is also an exporter of pollution to the Western U.S., study finds. The New York Times, A6.

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United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2018). Air Quality Index (AQI) basics. http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi

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Battista, G., Pagliaroli, T., Mauri, L., Basilicata, C., & de Lieto Vollaro, R. (2016). Assessment of the air pollution level in the city of Rome (Italy). Sustainability, 8(9), 838. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/su8090838

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Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in [www.theguardian.com] at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/23/coronavirus-pandemic-leading-to-huge-drop-in-air-pollution