Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Air Quality in Metropolitan New Jersey.

ABSTRACT: Improved air quality has been the silver lining of the pandemic since early 2020. The air quality in northern New Jersey (NJ) was continuously measured during the COVID-19 pandemic and through the three stages of recovery, i.e., the Stay-at-home stage, Reopening stage 1, and Reopening stage 2. A significant change in air quality was observed during the Stay-at-home stage (March 16 to May 16, 2020) as most people stayed home and industrial activity decreased 60%. Compared to 2019, carbon dioxide (CO₂) decreased 17%, carbon monoxide (CO) decreased 7%, and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) decreased 51% during the Stay-at-home stage in 2020. However, the ground-level ozone (O₃) increased in 2020 because of the reduced NO_x emission and the possibly increased lev

SUBMITTER: Yao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9296220 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature