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The Improvement of Air Quality and Associated Mortality during the COVID-19 Lockdown in One Megacity of China: An Empirical Strategy

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  • Zhihu Xu

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Ru Cao

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Xin Hu

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Wenxing Han

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Yuxin Wang

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Jing Huang

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Guoxing Li

    (Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China)

Abstract

Although the lockdown policy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic indeed improved the air quality and reduced the related health risks, the real effects of the lockdown and its resulting health risks remain unclear considering the effects of unobserved confounders and the longstanding efforts of the government regarding air pollution. We compared air pollution between the lockdown period and the period before the lockdown using a difference-in-differences (DID) model and estimated the mortality burden caused by the number of deaths related to air pollution changes. The NO 2 and CO concentrations during the lockdown period (17 days) declined by 8.94 μg/m 3 (relative change: 16.94%; 95% CI: 3.71, 14.16) and 0.20 mg/m 3 (relative change: 16.95%; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.35) on an average day, respectively, and O 3 increased by 8.41 μg/m 3 (relative change: 32.80%; 95% CI: 4.39, 12.43); no meaningful impacts of the lockdown policy on the PM 2.5 , PM 10 , SO 2 , or the AQI values were observed. Based on the three clearly changed air pollutants, the lockdown policy prevented 8.22 (95% CI: 3.97, 12.49) all-cause deaths. Our findings suggest that the overall excess deaths caused by air pollution during the lockdown period declined. It is beneficial for human health when strict control measures, such as upgrading industry structure and promoting green transportation, are taken to reduce emissions, especially in cities with serious air pollution in China, such as Shijiazhuang.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhihu Xu & Ru Cao & Xin Hu & Wenxing Han & Yuxin Wang & Jing Huang & Guoxing Li, 2021. "The Improvement of Air Quality and Associated Mortality during the COVID-19 Lockdown in One Megacity of China: An Empirical Strategy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-10, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8702-:d:616416
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jiang, Dachuan & Xiao, Weihua & Wang, Jianhua & Wang, Hao & Zhao, Yong & Li, Baoqi & Zhou, Pu, 2018. "Evaluation of the effects of one cold wave on heating energy consumption in different regions of northern China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 331-338.
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    Cited by:

    1. Haijie Wang & Yong Geng & Jingxue Zhang & Xiqiang Xia & Yanchao Feng, 2021. "Ecological Civilization Demonstration Zone, Air Pollution Reduction, and Political Promotion Tournament in China: Empirical Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-12, November.
    2. 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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