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

Patrick Connerton, João Vicente de Assunção, Regina Maura de Miranda, Anne Dorothée Slovic, Pedro José Pérez-Martínez and Helena Ribeiro
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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

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-24

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.

Keywords: air pollution; Covid-19; urban health; traffic reductions; activity restrictions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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