The Effect on Air Quality of Lockdown Directives to Prevent the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Campania Region—Italy: Indications for a Sustainable Development
Data on air quality collected by the regional network of fixed stations in the most urbanized areas of the Campania region in the south of Italy are examined. Two periods are considered: before and during the adoption of the main directives limiting human activities to fight the spread of SARS-CoV-2...
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doaj-d9d36e53f0454e36bfa56fdf7e33599a2020-11-25T03:00:22ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502020-07-01125558555810.3390/su12145558The Effect on Air Quality of Lockdown Directives to Prevent the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Campania Region—Italy: Indications for a Sustainable DevelopmentDomenico Toscano0Fabio Murena1Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering Department—University of Naples “Federico II”, 80125 Naples, ItalyChemical, Materials and Production Engineering Department—University of Naples “Federico II”, 80125 Naples, ItalyData on air quality collected by the regional network of fixed stations in the most urbanized areas of the Campania region in the south of Italy are examined. Two periods are considered: before and during the adoption of the main directives limiting human activities to fight the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The first period is from the 5th of February to the 5th of March, and the second is from the 13th of March to the 13th of April. Meteorological conditions in the two periods were compared and significant differences were not observed. Therefore, the comparison of air quality data is feasible. During the second period, an intercontinental transport of particulate matter occurred. Data collected during this event (4 p.m. on the 30th of March to 4 p.m. on the 31st of March) were excluded from the analysis. The main reduction of pollutant concentration is observed for NO<sub>2</sub> (−48% of the period average). PM<sub>10</sub> shows a lower reduction (−17%). The PM<sub>2.5</sub> average period concentration was quite constant, while the 98° percentile was reduced by −21%. Ozone shows, on the contrary, an increase in concentration due mainly to an increase in solar irradiation during the 2nd period, but also due to the decrease of NOx concentration. The reduction or the increase of pollutant concentration depends on the category of the station: background, industrial, residential, and traffic. In addition to air quality, the reduction of anthropogenic emissions is also studied. All the information available on the reduction of emissions from transport, industry, heating, and other main emissive sectors were collected. The results give useful insights for the development of air quality management policies that could be adopted when the sanitary emergency will end to guarantee the sustainable development of the Campania region.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5558air monitoringlockdownSARS-CoV-2NO<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>particulate matter |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Domenico Toscano Fabio Murena |
spellingShingle |
Domenico Toscano Fabio Murena The Effect on Air Quality of Lockdown Directives to Prevent the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Campania Region—Italy: Indications for a Sustainable Development Sustainability air monitoring lockdown SARS-CoV-2 NO<sub>2</sub> O<sub>3</sub> particulate matter |
author_facet |
Domenico Toscano Fabio Murena |
author_sort |
Domenico Toscano |
title |
The Effect on Air Quality of Lockdown Directives to Prevent the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Campania Region—Italy: Indications for a Sustainable Development |
title_short |
The Effect on Air Quality of Lockdown Directives to Prevent the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Campania Region—Italy: Indications for a Sustainable Development |
title_full |
The Effect on Air Quality of Lockdown Directives to Prevent the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Campania Region—Italy: Indications for a Sustainable Development |
title_fullStr |
The Effect on Air Quality of Lockdown Directives to Prevent the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Campania Region—Italy: Indications for a Sustainable Development |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Effect on Air Quality of Lockdown Directives to Prevent the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Campania Region—Italy: Indications for a Sustainable Development |
title_sort |
effect on air quality of lockdown directives to prevent the spread of sars-cov-2 pandemic in campania region—italy: indications for a sustainable development |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2020-07-01 |
description |
Data on air quality collected by the regional network of fixed stations in the most urbanized areas of the Campania region in the south of Italy are examined. Two periods are considered: before and during the adoption of the main directives limiting human activities to fight the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The first period is from the 5th of February to the 5th of March, and the second is from the 13th of March to the 13th of April. Meteorological conditions in the two periods were compared and significant differences were not observed. Therefore, the comparison of air quality data is feasible. During the second period, an intercontinental transport of particulate matter occurred. Data collected during this event (4 p.m. on the 30th of March to 4 p.m. on the 31st of March) were excluded from the analysis. The main reduction of pollutant concentration is observed for NO<sub>2</sub> (−48% of the period average). PM<sub>10</sub> shows a lower reduction (−17%). The PM<sub>2.5</sub> average period concentration was quite constant, while the 98° percentile was reduced by −21%. Ozone shows, on the contrary, an increase in concentration due mainly to an increase in solar irradiation during the 2nd period, but also due to the decrease of NOx concentration. The reduction or the increase of pollutant concentration depends on the category of the station: background, industrial, residential, and traffic. In addition to air quality, the reduction of anthropogenic emissions is also studied. All the information available on the reduction of emissions from transport, industry, heating, and other main emissive sectors were collected. The results give useful insights for the development of air quality management policies that could be adopted when the sanitary emergency will end to guarantee the sustainable development of the Campania region. |
topic |
air monitoring lockdown SARS-CoV-2 NO<sub>2</sub> O<sub>3</sub> particulate matter |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5558 |
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