Changes in air quality during the lockdown in Barcelona (Spain) one month into the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic.

ABSTRACT: Lockdown measures came into force in Spain from March 14th, two weeks after the start of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, to reduce the epidemic curve. Our study aims to describe changes in air pollution levels during the lockdown measures in the city of Barcelona (NE Spain), by studying the time evolution of atmospheric pollutants recorded at the urban background and traffic air quality monitoring stations. After two weeks of lockdown, urban air pollution markedly decreased but with substantial differences among pollutants. The most significant reduction was estimated for BC and NO2 (-45 to -51%), pollutants mainly related to traffic emissions. A lower reduction was observed for PM10 (-28 to -31.0%). By contrast, O₃ levels increased (+33 to +57% of the 8 h daily maxima), probably due t

SUBMITTER: Tobias A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7151283 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature