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Air Quality Implications of COVID-19 in California

Author

Listed:
  • Shuai Pan

    (School of Atmospheric Physics, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), Nanjing 210044, China
    School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA)

  • Jia Jung

    (Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • Zitian Li

    (Nanning Meteorological Service, Nanning 530000, China)

  • Xuewei Hou

    (School of Atmospheric Physics, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), Nanjing 210044, China)

  • Anirban Roy

    (Independent Researcher, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA)

  • Yunsoo Choi

    (Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA)

  • H. Oliver Gao

    (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected human health and the economy. The implementation of social distancing practices to combat the virus spread, however, has led to a notable improvement in air quality. This study compared the surface air quality monitoring data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)’s AirNow network during the period 20 March–5 May in 2020 to those in 2015–2019 from the Air Quality System (AQS) network over the state of California. The results indicated changes in fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) of −2.04 ± 1.57 μg m −3 and ozone of −3.07 ± 2.86 ppb. If the air quality improvements persist over a year, it could potentially lead to 3970–8900 prevented premature deaths annually (note: the estimates of prevented premature deaths have large uncertainties). Public transit demand showed dramatic declines (~80%). The pandemic provides an opportunity to exhibit how substantially human behavior could impact on air quality. To address both the pandemic and climate change issues, better strategies are needed to affect behavior, such as ensuring safer shared mobility, the higher adoption of telecommuting, automation in the freight sector, and cleaner energy transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuai Pan & Jia Jung & Zitian Li & Xuewei Hou & Anirban Roy & Yunsoo Choi & H. Oliver Gao, 2020. "Air Quality Implications of COVID-19 in California," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:17:p:7067-:d:406125
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Tomás R. Bolaño-Ortiz & S. Enrique Puliafito & Lucas L. Berná-Peña & Romina M. Pascual-Flores & Josefina Urquiza & Yiniva Camargo-Caicedo, 2020. "Atmospheric Emission Changes and Their Economic Impacts during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Argentina," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-29, October.
    2. Pan, Shuai & Fulton, Lewis M. & Roy, Anirban & Jung, Jia & Choi, Yunsoo & Gao, H. Oliver, 2021. "Shared use of electric autonomous vehicles: Air quality and health impacts of future mobility in the United States," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    3. Abdullah Addas & Ahmad Maghrabi, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Air Quality—A Global Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-31, September.
    4. Pan, Shuai & Yu, Wendi & Fulton, Lewis M. & Jung, Jia & Choi, Yunsoo & Gao, H. Oliver, 2023. "Impacts of the large-scale use of passenger electric vehicles on public health in 30 US. metropolitan areas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    5. Rezzy Eko Caraka & Yusra Yusra & Toni Toharudin & Rung-Ching Chen & Mohammad Basyuni & Vilzati Juned & Prana Ugiana Gio & Bens Pardamean, 2021. "Did Noise Pollution Really Improve during COVID-19? Evidence from Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-12, May.

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