Changes of Air Pollutants in Urban Cities during the COVID-19 Lockdown-Sri Lanka
Abstract In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Sri Lanka underwent a nationwide lockdown that limited motor vehicle movement, industrial operations, and human activities. This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), su...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220223 |
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| author | Buddhi Pushpawela Sherly Shelton Gayathri Liyanage Sanduni Jayasekara Dimuthu Rajapaksha Akila Jayasundara Lesty Das Jayasuriya |
| author_facet | Buddhi Pushpawela Sherly Shelton Gayathri Liyanage Sanduni Jayasekara Dimuthu Rajapaksha Akila Jayasundara Lesty Das Jayasuriya |
| author_sort | Buddhi Pushpawela |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Sri Lanka underwent a nationwide lockdown that limited motor vehicle movement, industrial operations, and human activities. This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) concentrations in two urban cities (Colombo and Kandy) in Sri Lanka, by comparison of data from the lockdown period (March to May 2020) with its analogous period of 2019 and 2021. The results showed that the percentage change of daytime PM10, PM2.5, CO, and NO2 concentration during the lockdown in Colombo (Kandy) is –42.3% (–39.5%), –46% (–54.2%), –14.7% (–8.8%) and –82.2% (–80.9%), respectively. In both cities, the response of NO2 to the lockdown was the most sensitive. In contrast, daytime O3 concentration in Colombo (Kandy) has increased by 6.7% (27.2%), suggesting that the increase in O3 concentration was mainly due to a reduction in NOx emissions leading to lower O3 titration by NO. In addition, daytime SO2 concentration in Colombo has increased by 22.9%, while daytime SO2 concentration in Kandy has decreased by −40%. During the lockdown period, human activities were significantly reduced, causing significant reductions in industrial operations and transportation activities, further reducing emissions and improving air quality in two cities. The results of this study offer potential for local authorities to better understand the emission sources, assess the effectiveness of current air pollution control strategies, and form a basis for formulating better environmental policies to improve air quality and human health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-466008f99f4643e6a44ae3b20bbb6025 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-466008f99f4643e6a44ae3b20bbb60252025-02-09T12:22:07ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092023-01-0123312010.4209/aaqr.220223Changes of Air Pollutants in Urban Cities during the COVID-19 Lockdown-Sri LankaBuddhi Pushpawela0Sherly Shelton1Gayathri Liyanage2Sanduni Jayasekara3Dimuthu Rajapaksha4Akila Jayasundara5Lesty Das Jayasuriya6Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Alabama in HuntsvilleDepartment of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska LincolnIndustrial Technology InstituteIndustrial Technology InstituteUniversity of MoratuwaAir Resource Management and Monitoring Unit, Central Environmental AuthorityAir Resource Management and Monitoring Unit, Central Environmental AuthorityAbstract In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Sri Lanka underwent a nationwide lockdown that limited motor vehicle movement, industrial operations, and human activities. This study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) concentrations in two urban cities (Colombo and Kandy) in Sri Lanka, by comparison of data from the lockdown period (March to May 2020) with its analogous period of 2019 and 2021. The results showed that the percentage change of daytime PM10, PM2.5, CO, and NO2 concentration during the lockdown in Colombo (Kandy) is –42.3% (–39.5%), –46% (–54.2%), –14.7% (–8.8%) and –82.2% (–80.9%), respectively. In both cities, the response of NO2 to the lockdown was the most sensitive. In contrast, daytime O3 concentration in Colombo (Kandy) has increased by 6.7% (27.2%), suggesting that the increase in O3 concentration was mainly due to a reduction in NOx emissions leading to lower O3 titration by NO. In addition, daytime SO2 concentration in Colombo has increased by 22.9%, while daytime SO2 concentration in Kandy has decreased by −40%. During the lockdown period, human activities were significantly reduced, causing significant reductions in industrial operations and transportation activities, further reducing emissions and improving air quality in two cities. The results of this study offer potential for local authorities to better understand the emission sources, assess the effectiveness of current air pollution control strategies, and form a basis for formulating better environmental policies to improve air quality and human health.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220223COVID-19Air qualityAir pollutantsPolar plots |
| spellingShingle | Buddhi Pushpawela Sherly Shelton Gayathri Liyanage Sanduni Jayasekara Dimuthu Rajapaksha Akila Jayasundara Lesty Das Jayasuriya Changes of Air Pollutants in Urban Cities during the COVID-19 Lockdown-Sri Lanka Aerosol and Air Quality Research COVID-19 Air quality Air pollutants Polar plots |
| title | Changes of Air Pollutants in Urban Cities during the COVID-19 Lockdown-Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Changes of Air Pollutants in Urban Cities during the COVID-19 Lockdown-Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Changes of Air Pollutants in Urban Cities during the COVID-19 Lockdown-Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes of Air Pollutants in Urban Cities during the COVID-19 Lockdown-Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Changes of Air Pollutants in Urban Cities during the COVID-19 Lockdown-Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | changes of air pollutants in urban cities during the covid 19 lockdown sri lanka |
| topic | COVID-19 Air quality Air pollutants Polar plots |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220223 |
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