COVID-19 as a Factor Influencing Air Quality? A City Study in China
Abstract To prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which emerged in late December 2019, the Chinese government immediately adopted lockdown measures, such as restricting traffic and closing factories. By analyzing the spatiotemporal distribution of the air quality index (AQI) val...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210080 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823862862329675776 |
|---|---|
| author | Chengming Li Hui Shang Zhihao Cui Zhaoxin Dai Zhaoting Ma |
| author_facet | Chengming Li Hui Shang Zhihao Cui Zhaoxin Dai Zhaoting Ma |
| author_sort | Chengming Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract To prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which emerged in late December 2019, the Chinese government immediately adopted lockdown measures, such as restricting traffic and closing factories. By analyzing the spatiotemporal distribution of the air quality index (AQI) values in Dongying, a city dominated by the petrochemical industry (specifically, petroleum exploration), during February 2020, when the strictest measures were in force, this study investigates the effect of short-term lockdowns on air quality. We observed a statistically significant reduction in the monthly average AQI—24.6%, or an absolute decrease of 25.4—compared to February 2019. Additionally, the difference between the maximum and the minimum hourly average AQI dropped to almost one-third of the value that in the normal time during winter. We also assessed the influence of meteorological factors and industrial exhaust emissions. Quantitative analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (p < 0.01) between the AQI and exhaust emissions, confirming the latter’s contribution to air pollution. However, this contribution shrunk by approximately 38.3% during February 2020. Our results indicate that the improvement in air quality was related to traffic reduction and enterprise closures during the lockdown, which only marginally affected the spatial distribution of the AQI values. This research serves as a reference for controlling air pollution in Dongying and areas with similar conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd5f5b9933a04d9eb84a085df07a157d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd5f5b9933a04d9eb84a085df07a157d2025-02-09T12:21:31ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092021-05-0121911310.4209/aaqr.210080COVID-19 as a Factor Influencing Air Quality? A City Study in ChinaChengming Li0Hui Shang1Zhihao Cui2Zhaoxin Dai3Zhaoting Ma4Chinese Academy of Surveying and MappingDongying Natural Resources BureauShandong University of Science and TechnologyChinese Academy of Surveying and MappingChinese Academy of Surveying and MappingAbstract To prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which emerged in late December 2019, the Chinese government immediately adopted lockdown measures, such as restricting traffic and closing factories. By analyzing the spatiotemporal distribution of the air quality index (AQI) values in Dongying, a city dominated by the petrochemical industry (specifically, petroleum exploration), during February 2020, when the strictest measures were in force, this study investigates the effect of short-term lockdowns on air quality. We observed a statistically significant reduction in the monthly average AQI—24.6%, or an absolute decrease of 25.4—compared to February 2019. Additionally, the difference between the maximum and the minimum hourly average AQI dropped to almost one-third of the value that in the normal time during winter. We also assessed the influence of meteorological factors and industrial exhaust emissions. Quantitative analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (p < 0.01) between the AQI and exhaust emissions, confirming the latter’s contribution to air pollution. However, this contribution shrunk by approximately 38.3% during February 2020. Our results indicate that the improvement in air quality was related to traffic reduction and enterprise closures during the lockdown, which only marginally affected the spatial distribution of the AQI values. This research serves as a reference for controlling air pollution in Dongying and areas with similar conditions.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210080COVID-19 pandemicAir quality index (AQI)Spatiotemporal characteristicsIndustrial exhaust emissionsVariations in air quality |
| spellingShingle | Chengming Li Hui Shang Zhihao Cui Zhaoxin Dai Zhaoting Ma COVID-19 as a Factor Influencing Air Quality? A City Study in China Aerosol and Air Quality Research COVID-19 pandemic Air quality index (AQI) Spatiotemporal characteristics Industrial exhaust emissions Variations in air quality |
| title | COVID-19 as a Factor Influencing Air Quality? A City Study in China |
| title_full | COVID-19 as a Factor Influencing Air Quality? A City Study in China |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 as a Factor Influencing Air Quality? A City Study in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 as a Factor Influencing Air Quality? A City Study in China |
| title_short | COVID-19 as a Factor Influencing Air Quality? A City Study in China |
| title_sort | covid 19 as a factor influencing air quality a city study in china |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemic Air quality index (AQI) Spatiotemporal characteristics Industrial exhaust emissions Variations in air quality |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210080 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chengmingli covid19asafactorinfluencingairqualityacitystudyinchina AT huishang covid19asafactorinfluencingairqualityacitystudyinchina AT zhihaocui covid19asafactorinfluencingairqualityacitystudyinchina AT zhaoxindai covid19asafactorinfluencingairqualityacitystudyinchina AT zhaotingma covid19asafactorinfluencingairqualityacitystudyinchina |