Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown in a European Regional Monitoring Network (Spain): Are We Free from Pollution Episodes?

Gotzon Gangoiti, Maite de Blas, Maria Carmen Gómez, Ana Rodríguez-García, Eduardo Torre-Pascual, Estíbaliz García-Ruiz, Estibaliz Sáez de Cámara, Iñaki Zuazo, José Antonio García and Verónica Valdenebro
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Gotzon Gangoiti: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Maite de Blas: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Maria Carmen Gómez: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Ana Rodríguez-García: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Eduardo Torre-Pascual: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Estíbaliz García-Ruiz: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Estibaliz Sáez de Cámara: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Iñaki Zuazo: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
José Antonio García: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Verónica Valdenebro: Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-29

Abstract: The impact of the lockdown, during the period from March to June in 2020, upon the air quality of the Basque Country in northern Spain is analyzed. The evaluation accounts for the meteorology of the period. Daily and sub-daily analysis of aerosol and ozone records show that the territory was repeatedly affected by episodes of pollutants from outer regions. Three episodes of PM 10 and ten of PM 2.5 were caused by transported anthropogenic European sulfates, African dust, and wildland fires. The region, with a varied orographic climatology, shows high and diverse industrial activity. Urban and interurban road traffic of the region decreased by 49% and 53%, respectively, whereas industrial activity showed a lower reduction of 20%. Consequently, the average concentrations of NO 2 in the cities during the period fell to 12.4 µg·m ?3 (?45%). Ozone showed up to five exceedances of the WHOAQG for the daily maximum 8-h average in both rural and urban sites, associated with transport through France and the Bay of Biscay, under periods of European blocking anticyclones. However, averages showed a moderate decrease (?11%) in rural environments, in line with the precursor reductions, and disparate changes in the cities, which reproduced the weekend effect of their historical records. The PM 10 decreased less than expected (?10% and ?21%, in the urban and rural environments, respectively), probably caused by the modest decrease of industrial activity around urban sites and favorable meteorology for secondary aerosol formation, which could also influence the lower changes observed in the PM 2.5 (?1% and +3% at the urban and rural sites, respectively). Consequently, in a future low NOx traffic emission scenario, the inter-regional PM and ozone control will require actions across various sectors, including the industry and common pollution control strategies.

Keywords: air quality; COVID-19 lockdown; pollution episodes; ozone; PM 2.5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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