Comparative Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Quality: A Multinational Study of SARS-CoV-2 Hotspots

Ahmed Ould Boudia (), Mohamed Asheesh, Frank Adusei-Mensah and Yazid Bounab
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Ahmed Ould Boudia: Department of Civil Engineering and Energy Technology, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Yliopistokatu 9, 90570 Oulu, Finland
Mohamed Asheesh: Department of Civil Engineering and Energy Technology, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Yliopistokatu 9, 90570 Oulu, Finland
Frank Adusei-Mensah: Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 8, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
Yazid Bounab: Center for Machine Vision and Signal Analysis (CMVS), University of Oulu, Pentti Kaiteran katu 1, 90014 Oulu, Finland

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, nations implemented lockdown measures to contain the virus. This study assessed air pollution levels during and after lockdowns, focusing on the following heavily affected locations: Oulu and Helsinki in Finland, Paris in France, Madrid in Spain, Milan in Italy, and Wuhan in China. Air Quality Index (AQI) data from these locations over two years were analyzed to understand the effects of lockdowns. The study compared COVID-19 lockdowns in these six cities with SARS-CoV-2 measurements using statistical methods. Variations in outdoor pollutants were evaluated through tests, revealing significant differences. Parametric analyses and regression were employed to study the impacts of lockdown measures on pollution and their relationships. The study comprehensively analyzed the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on air quality, identifying differences, quantifying changes, and exploring patterns in each city. Pollutant correlations varied among cities during the lockdowns. Regression analysis highlighted the impact of independent variables on pollutants. Decreases in NO 2 were observed in Helsinki, Madrid, Oulu, Paris, and Milan, reflecting reduced traffic and industrial activities. Reductions in PM 2.5 and PM 10 were noted in these cities and in Wuhan, except for O 3 levels, which increased. The reduction in human activities improved air quality, particularly for NO 2 and PM 10 . Regional variations underscore the need for tailored interventions. The study observed a substantial decrease in both PM 2.5 and NO 2 levels during the COVID-19 lockdowns, indicating a direct correlation between reduced human activities, such as transportation and industrial operations, and improved air quality. This underscores the potential impact of environmental measures and suggests the need for sustainable practices to mitigate urban pollution.

Keywords: COVID-19; lockdown; air pollution; air quality; pandemic; reduction; environmental interventions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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