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Reflections Based on Pollution Changes Brought by COVID-19 Lockdown in Shanghai

Author

Listed:
  • Fang Zhang

    (MNR Key Laboratory for Polar Science, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai 200136, China)

  • Yi Han

    (Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK)

  • Bailin Cong

    (First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Qingdao 266061, China)

Abstract

COVID-19 and its variants have been changing the world. The spread of variants brings severe effects to the global economy and to human’s lives and health, as well as to society. Lockdown is proven to be effective in stopping the spread. It also provides a chance to study natural environmental changes with humanity’s limited interference. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of lockdown on five major airborne pollutants, i.e., NO 2 , SO 2 , O 3 , PM 2.5 and PM 10 , in the three different functional regions of Chongming, Xuhui and Jinshan of Shanghai. Changes in the same pollutants from the three regions over the same/different periods were all studied and compared. Overall, the COVID-19 lockdown has changed pollutant concentrations in the long and short terms. Concentrations of four pollutants decreased, except for that of earth surface O 3 , which increased. SO 2 had significant correlations with all other pollutants. PM 2.5 and PM 10 are more externally input than locally produced. NO 2 , SO 2 and PM levels sharply reduced in Jinshan and Xuhui due to the limited usage of fossil fuel. Lockdown improved the air quality. People now have a chance to rethink the value of life and the harmony between economic progress and environmental protection. This is helpful to establish sustainable societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang Zhang & Yi Han & Bailin Cong, 2021. "Reflections Based on Pollution Changes Brought by COVID-19 Lockdown in Shanghai," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10613-:d:653142
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kyung-Min Nam & Xu Zhang & Min Zhong & Eri Saikawa & Xiliang Zhang, 2019. "Health effects of ozone and particulate matter pollution in China: a province-level CGE analysis," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 63(2), pages 269-293, October.
    2. Zhang, Junyi, 2020. "Transport policymaking that accounts for COVID-19 and future public health threats: A PASS approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 405-418.
    3. Yuyan Zhou & Yan Zhang & Dong Ma & Jun Lu & Wenbin Luo & Yu Fu & Shanshan Li & Junlan Feng & Cheng Huang & Wangqi Ge & Hong Zhu, 2020. "Port-Related Emissions, Environmental Impacts and Their Implication on Green Traffic Policy in Shanghai," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Guojun He & Yuhang Pan & Takanao Tanaka, 2020. "The short-term impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on urban air pollution in China," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(12), pages 1005-1011, December.
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