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Air Quality during COVID-19 in Four Megacities: Lessons and Challenges for Public Health

Author

Listed:
  • Patrick Connerton

    (Global Health and Sustainability Doctorate Program, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil)

  • João Vicente de Assunção

    (Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil)

  • Regina Maura de Miranda

    (School of Arts, Sciences and Humanity, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 03828-000, Brazil)

  • Anne Dorothée Slovic

    (Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil)

  • Pedro José Pérez-Martínez

    (Department of Infrastructure and Environment, School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban Design, University of Campinas—UNICAMP, Campinas 13083-889, Brazil)

  • Helena Ribeiro

    (Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil)

Abstract

The study described in this manuscript analyzed the effects of quarantine and social distancing policies implemented due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on air pollution levels in four western megacities: São Paulo in Brazil; Paris in France; and Los Angeles and New York in the United States. The study investigated the levels of four air pollutants—Carbon monoxide (CO), Ozone (O 3 ), Fine Particulate (PM 2.5 ) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 )—during the month of March 2020, compared to 2015–2019, in the urban air of these metropolitan areas, controlling for meteorological variables. Results indicated reductions in the levels of PM 2.5 , CO and NO 2 , with reductions of the latter two showing statistical significance. In contrast, tropospheric ozone levels increased, except in Los Angeles. The beneficial health effects of cleaner air might also help prevent deaths caused by the epidemic of COVID-19 in megacities by diminishing pressure on hospitals and health equipment. Future actions for the re-starting of non-essential economic activities in these cities should take into consideration the overall importance of health for the individual, as well as for societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Connerton & João Vicente de Assunção & Regina Maura de Miranda & Anne Dorothée Slovic & Pedro José Pérez-Martínez & Helena Ribeiro, 2020. "Air Quality during COVID-19 in Four Megacities: Lessons and Challenges for Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-24, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:14:p:5067-:d:384345
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Slovic, Anne Dorothée & Tomasiello, Diego Bogado & Giannotti, Mariana & Andrade, Maria de Fatima & Nardocci, Adelaide C., 2019. "The long road to achieving equity: Job accessibility restrictions and overlapping inequalities in the city of São Paulo," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 181-193.
    2. Nicola Scafetta, 2020. "Distribution of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Its Monthly Forecast Based on Seasonal Climate Patterns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-34, May.
    3. Leonardo Setti & Fabrizio Passarini & Gianluigi De Gennaro & Pierluigi Barbieri & Alberto Pallavicini & Maurizio Ruscio & Prisco Piscitelli & Annamaria Colao & Alessandro Miani, 2020. "Searching for SARS-COV-2 on Particulate Matter: A Possible Early Indicator of COVID-19 Epidemic Recurrence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-5, April.
    4. Guojun He & Yuhang Pan & Takanao Tanaka, 2020. "COVID-19, City Lockdowns, And Air Pollution: Evidence from China," HKUST IEMS Working Paper Series 2020-72, HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies, revised Mar 2020.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jorge Bañuelos-Gimeno & Natalia Sobrino & Rosa María Arce-Ruiz, 2023. "Effects of Mobility Restrictions on Air Pollution in the Madrid Region during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Periods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Pérez-Martínez, P.J. & Dunck, J.A. & de Assunção, J.V. & Connerton, P. & Slovic, A.D. & Ribeiro, H. & Miranda, R.M., 2022. "Long-term commuting times and air quality relationship to COVID-19 in São Paulo," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    3. Francis Tuluri & Reddy Remata & Wilbur L. Walters & Paul B. Tchounwou, 2023. "Impact of Regional Mobility on Air Quality during COVID-19 Lockdown in Mississippi, USA Using Machine Learning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Ahmad Taha Khalaf & Yuanyuan Wei & Jun Wan & Samiah Yasmin Abdul Kadir & Jamaludin Zainol & Hua Jiang & Ahmed N. Abdalla, 2023. "How Did the Pandemic Affect Our Perception of Sustainability? Enlightening the Major Positive Impact on Health and the Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Maksymilian Mądziel, 2023. "Vehicle Emission Models and Traffic Simulators: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-31, May.
    6. Mario Lovrić & Mario Antunović & Iva Šunić & Matej Vuković & Simonas Kecorius & Mark Kröll & Ivan Bešlić & Ranka Godec & Gordana Pehnec & Bernhard C. Geiger & Stuart K. Grange & Iva Šimić, 2022. "Machine Learning and Meteorological Normalization for Assessment of Particulate Matter Changes during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Zagreb, Croatia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, June.

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