Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and control measures on air quality and aerosol light absorption in Southwestern China.

ABSTRACT: China has been performing nationwide social lockdown by releasing the Level 1 response to major public health emergencies (RMPHE) to struggle against the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak since late January 2020. During the Level 1 RMPHE, social production and public transport were maintained at minimal levels, and residents stayed in and worked from home. The universal impact of anthropogenic activities on air pollution can be evaluated by comparing it with air quality under such extreme conditions. We investigated the concentration of both gaseous and particulate pollutants and aerosol light absorption at different levels of (RMPHE) in an urban area of southwestern China. During the lockdown, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO_x, and BC decreased by 30-50%, comp

SUBMITTER: Chen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7399664 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature