The Response in Air Quality to the Reduction of Chinese Economic Activities During the COVID-19 Outbreak.

ABSTRACT: During the COVID-19 outbreak that took place in early 2020, the economic activities in China were drastically reduced and accompanied by a strong reduction in the emission of primary air pollutants. On the basis of measurements made at the monitoring stations operated by the China National Environmental Monitoring Center, we quantify the reduction in surface PM_2.5, NO₂, CO, and SO₂ concentrations in northern China during the lockdown, which started on 23 January 2020. We find that, on the average, the levels of surface PM_2.5 and NO₂ have decreased by approximately 35% and 60%, respectively, between the period 1 and 22 January 2020 and the period 23 January and 29 February 2020. At the same time, the mean ozone concentration has increas

SUBMITTER: Shi X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7267158 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature