Amplified ozone pollution in cities during the COVID-19 lockdown.

ABSTRACT: The effect of lockdown due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on air pollution in four Southern European cities (Nice, Rome, Valencia and Turin) and Wuhan (China) was quantified, with a focus on ozone (O₃). Compared to the same period in 2017-2019, the daily O₃ mean concentrations increased at urban stations by 24% in Nice, 14% in Rome, 27% in Turin, 2.4% in Valencia and 36% in Wuhan during the lockdown in 2020. This increase in O₃ concentrations is mainly explained by an unprecedented reduction in NO_x emissions leading to a lower O₃ titration by NO. Strong reductions in NO₂ mean concentrations were observed in all European cities, ~53% at urban stations, comparable to Wuhan (57%), and ~65% at traffic stations. NO de

SUBMITTER: Sicard P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7237366 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature