Lessons from the COVID-19 air pollution decrease in Spain: Now what?

ABSTRACT: We offer an overview of the COVID-19 -driven air quality changes across 11 metropolises in Spain with the focus on lessons learned on how continuing abating pollution. Traffic flow decreased by up to 80% during the lockdown and remained relatively low during the full relaxation (June and July). After the lockdown a significant shift from public transport to private vehicles (+21% in Barcelona) persisted due to the pervasive fear that using public transport might increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which need to be reverted as soon as possible. NO₂ levels fell below 50% of the WHO annual air quality guidelines (WHOAQGs), but those of PM_2.5 were reduced less than expected due to the lower contributions from traffic, increased contributions from agricultural and d

SUBMITTER: Querol X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8612101 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature