Dramatic decline of observed atmospheric CO2 and CH4 during the COVID-19 lockdown over the Yangtze River Delta of China

The temporal variation of greenhouse gas concentrations in China during the COVID-19 lockdown in China is analyzed in this work using high resolution measurements of near surface △CO₂, △CH₄ and △CO concentrations above the background conditions at Lin'an station (LAN), a regional background station in the Yangtze River Delta region. During the pre-lockdown observational period (IOP-1), both △CO₂ and △CH₄ exhibited a significant increasing trend relative to the 2011-2019 climatological mean. The reduction of △CO₂, △CH₄ and △CO during the lockdown observational period (IOP-2) (which also coincided with the Chinese New Year Holiday) reached up to 15.0 ppm, 14.2 ppb and 146.8 ppb, respectively, and a reduction of △CO₂/△CO probably due to a dramatic reduction from industrial emissions. △CO₂, △CH₄ and △CO were observed to keep declining during the post-lockdown easing phase (IOP-3), which is the synthetic result of lower than normal CO₂ emissions from rural regions around LAN coupled with strong uptake of the terrestrial ecosystem. Interestingly, the trend reversed to gradual increase for all species during the later easing phase (IOP-4), with △CO₂/△CO constantly increasing from IOP-2 to IOP-3 and finally IOP-4, consistent with recovery in industrial emissions associated with the staged resumption of economic activity. On average, △CO₂ declined sharply throughout the days during IOP-2 but increased gradually throughout the days during IOP-4. The findings showcase the significant role of emission reduction in accounting for the dramatic changes in measured atmospheric △CO₂ and △CH₄ associated with the COVID-19 lockdown and recovery.     

Impact of meteorological condition changes on air quality and particulate chemical composition during the COVID-19 lockdown

Stringent quarantine measures during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown period (January 23, 2020 to March 15, 2020) have resulted in a distinct decrease in anthropogenic source emissions in North China Plain compared to the paralleled period of 2019. Particularly, 22.7% decrease in NO₂ and 3.0% increase of O₃ was observed in Tianjin, nonlinear relationship between O₃ generation and NO₂ implied that synergetic control of NO_x and VOCs is needed. Deteriorating meteorological condition during the COVID-19 lockdown obscured the actual PM_2.5 reduction. Fireworks transport in 2020 Spring Festival (SF) triggered regional haze pollution. PM_2.5 during the COVID-19 lockdown only reduced by 5.6% in Tianjin. Here we used the dispersion coefficient to normalize the measured PM_2.5 (DN-PM_2.5), aiming to eliminate the adverse meteorological impact and roughly estimate the actual PM_2.5 reduction, which reduced by 17.7% during the COVID-19 lockdown. In terms of PM_2.5 chemical composition, significant NO₃^? increase was observed during the COVID-19 lockdown. However, as a tracer of atmospheric oxidation capacity, odd oxygen (O_x = NO₂ + O₃) was observed to reduce during the COVID-19 lockdown, whereas relative humidity (RH), specific humidity and aerosol liquid water content (ALWC) were observed with noticeable enhancement. Nitrogen oxidation rate (NOR) was observed to increase at higher specific humidity and ALWC, especially in the haze episode occurred during 2020SF, high air humidity and obvious nitrate generation was observed. Anomalously enhanced air humidity may response for the nitrate increase during the COVID-19 lockdown period.     

Response of PM2.5-bound elemental species to emission variations and associated health risk assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic in a coastal megacity

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is disrupting the world from many aspects. In this study, the impact of emission variations on PM_2.5-bound elemental species and health risks associated to inhalation exposure has been analyzed based on real-time measurements at a remote coastal site in Shanghai during the pandemic. Most trace elemental species decreased significantly and displayed almost no diel peaks during the lockdown. After the lockdown, they rebounded rapidly, of which V and Ni even exceeded the levels before the lockdown, suggesting the recovery of both inland and shipping activities. Five sources were identified based on receptor modeling. Coal combustion accounted for more than 70% of the measured elemental concentrations before and during the lockdown. Shipping emissions, fugitive/mineral dust, and waste incineration all showed elevated contributions after the lockdown. The total non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) for the target elements exceeded the risk threshold for both children and adults with chloride as the predominant species contributing to HQ. Whereas, the total carcinogenic risk (TR) for adults was above the acceptable level and much higher than that for children. Waste incineration was the largest contributor to HQ, while manufacture processing and coal combustion were the main sources of TR. Lockdown control measures were beneficial for lowering the carcinogenic risk while unexpectedly increased the non-carcinogenic risk. From the perspective of health effects, priorities of control measures should be given to waste incineration, manufacture processing, and coal combustion. A balanced way should be reached between both lowering the levels of air pollutants and their health risks.     

厦门湾空气质量对新冠疫情管控的响应

通过对厦门湾城市群在COVID-19封锁前后6周内（2020-01-11~2020-02-21）的空气污染物浓度变化进行分析,以确定影响本区域空气质量的主要人为污染源.在春节假期与封锁叠加期间,SO₂、NO₂、CO、PM₁₀和PM_2.5浓度相比于节前1周的下降幅度分别为6%~22%、53%~70%、34%~48%、47%~64%和53%~60%,而O₃浓度变化没有一致的规律性;与2018~2019年历史同期相比,PM_2.5、PM₁₀、CO和NO₂的下降幅度更大,但SO₂的下降幅度相当;在复工复产后,NO₂的反弹幅度最大（38%~138%）,远高于SO₂（2%~42%）,显示交通源相对于固定源更易受到疫情管控的影响;春节后风速增大和降水增多也为SO₂、NO₂和PM的下降提供了正向影响.利用反距离插值权重法,得到管控前后厦门湾城市群不同污染物的空间分布变化特征,显示NO₂浓度高值区的变化与交通源高度相关,CO和SO₂空间分布特征保持稳定,复工后PM_2.5和PM₁₀在人口与路网密集区变化不明显,而在工地相对集中区域有明显上升,O₃空间分布的低值区与NO₂的高值区具有较好的空间匹配性,显示NO₂对O₃滴定作用明显,可为进一步O₃污染减排措施的制定提供参考.     

Covid-19 lockdown and physical distancing policies are elitist: towards an indigenous (Afro-centred) approach to containing the pandemic in sub-urban slums in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study explores the experience of the sub-urban slum residents in Okpoko (Anambra State), Ngwa-road Aba (Abia State), Ajegunle (Lagos State) and Gwagwalada (Abuja), to underscore the elitist and western contexts of Covid-19 lockdown and physical distancing policies. The study apprehends these policies as being counter-productive due to Nigeria’s peculiar socio-economic circumstances, and brainstorms on the need and prospects for adaption and institutionalisation of an indigenous Afro-centred approach towards the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic. The use of herbal mixtures or local concoctions such as parboiled garlic cloves, lemon and ginger juice in the treatment and/or prevention of Covid-19 pandemic is a popular home-grown indigenous approach/practice which is generally believed to have inhibitory effects against Covid-19 by majority of the local people. These herbal remedies should be formally investigated, validated and encouraged in Nigeria as an alternative indigenous approach for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19 pandemic.     

新冠疫情严控期间南京市空气质量

为研究2020年初新冠疫情严控措施对南京市空气质量的影响,选取1月25日~2月10日（疫情严控期）南京及周边省会城市空气质量监测数据,与5a同期数据进行对比,分析时空分布特征.结果表明,疫情停工期间,降水量同比下降,大气扩散条件为近5a较差水平,但除O₃浓度不降反升外,其他主要污染物PM_2.5、PM₁₀、SO₂、NO₂和CO浓度均达近5a最低值,分别为36,44,5,22μg/m³和1.1mg/m³.通过推算疫情停工期间本地减排措施的“净环境效益”,严控使得PM_2.5、PM₁₀、SO₂、NO₂和CO分别下降了41.7%、45.3%、14.3%、43.5%、18.2%,O₃浓度上升了4.8%.从空间上分析,南京市SO₂浓度及其同比降幅在长三角省会城市内排名第1,其他污染物改善情况处于中等水平.从日变化可知,PM_2.5和PM₁₀日变化由双峰型变为单峰型,夜间未出现次峰值.O₃夜间浓度明显升高,原因是交通源的大幅削减使NO对O₃的滴定反应降低,而白天O₃浓度峰值取决于VOCs和NO_x的减排比例.     

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the elemental profile of PM10 present in the ambient aerosol of an educational institute in Kolkata,India

Reduction in air pollution level was prime observation during COVID-19 lockdown globally. Here, the study was conducted to assess the impact of lockdown on the elemental profile of PM₁₀ in ambient aerosol to quantify the elemental variation. To quantify the variation, phase-wise sampling of air pollutants was carried out using the gravimetric method for PM₁₀, while NO₂ and SO₂ were estimated through the chemiluminescence and fluorescent spectrometric method respectively. The elemental constituents of PM₁₀ were carried out using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer and their source apportionment was carried out using the Positive Matrix Factorization model. The results showed that PM₁₀, NO₂ and SO₂ reduced by 86.97%, 83.38%, and 88.60% respectively during the lockdown sampling phase. The highest mean elemental concentration reduction was found in Mn (97.47%) during the lockdown. The inter-correlation among the pollutants exhibited a significant association indicating that they originate from the same source. The metals like Mn and Cu were found at a higher concentration during the lockdown phase corresponding to vehicular emissions. The comparative analysis of the elemental profile of PM₁₀ concluded that the lockdown effectuated in reduction of the majority of elements present in an aerosol enveloping metropolitan like Kolkata.     

Response of organic aerosol characteristics to emission reduction in Yangtze River Delta region

● The emission reduction causes significant change in organic aerosol composition. ● The atmospheric oxidizing capacity improved during emission reduction. ● The mixed oxygenated organic aerosol contributed higher during emission reduction. Organic aerosol (OA) is a major component of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) with complex composition and formation processes influenced by various factors. Emission reduction can alter both precursors and oxidants which further affects secondary OA formation. Here we provide an observational analysis of secondary OA (SOA) variation properties in Yangtze River Delta (YRD) of eastern China in response to large scale of emission reduction during Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays from 2015 to 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic period from January to March, 2020. We found a 17% increase of SOA proportion during the COVID lockdown. The relative enrichment of SOA is also found during multi-year CNY holidays with dramatic reduction of anthropogenic emissions. Two types of oxygenated OA (OOA) influenced by mixed emissions and SOA formation were found to be the dominant components during the lockdown in YRD region. Our results highlight that these emission-reduction-induced changes in organic aerosol need to be considered in the future to optimize air pollution control measures.     

深圳市2022年春季新冠疫情管控期间空气质量分析

短期减排是我国城市应对大气污染事件的重要应急管控手段,但短期减排的效益尚未得到完善分析.2022年3月14～20日,广东省深圳市为抑制新冠疫情传播实施了全市管控,为评估短期减排对华南城市春季空气质量的影响提供独特机会.结合深圳市高精度环境空气质量监测与气象观测等多源数据,分析了深圳市管控期间前后的空气质量变化.此次管控前和管控期中均有部分日期天气形势静稳,局地污染水平主要反映本地排放,有利于分析本地减排的影响.观测与WRF-GC区域化学模拟都表明,与珠三角周边城市相比,深圳市管控期间由于市内交通源排放显著减少,深圳市二氧化氮(NO₂)浓度降低(-26±9.5)%,可吸入颗粒物(PM₁₀)浓度降低(-28±6.4)%,细颗粒物(PM_2.5)浓度降低(-20±8.2)%,但臭氧(O₃)浓度无显著变化[(-1.0±6.5)%].TROPOMI卫星观测的甲醛和二氧化氮柱浓度数据对比表明,2022年春季珠三角臭氧光化学主要受挥发性有机物(VOCs)浓度控制,对氮氧化物浓度降低不敏感,反而可能因氮氧化物对臭氧滴...     

中国大气环境治理的新启示--来自武汉疫情管控期间的自然实验

在武汉疫情管控期间,企业经济活动和机动车活动水平明显大幅下降,大部分污染源基本停止排放,意味着在此期间全国各地区应该出现优良天气,但是事实上在我国部分地区却出现了严重雾霾天气,这种反预期现象引起人们的普遍关注,甚至怀疑我国大气环境治理是否存在失误。根据这种反预期现象,提出环境污染应当是由流量污染和存量污染共同决定的猜想。为验证这一猜想,分别假设了两种情况:第一种只有流量污染,第二种既有流量污染又有存量污染,并用武汉疫情管控前后的实际排放数据模拟得到空气质量状况,寻找雾霾形成的规律,然后与武汉疫情管控前后实际监测数据进行对比,确定反预期现象的原因。实际数据和模拟数据对比发现,实际情况与假设1不符,与假设2相符。据此认为,大气污染是由当期排放的污染与积累的存量污染共同决定。在此基础上,进一步分析存量污染造成的经济损失,分析表明:2007年被低估1.64亿元,到2017年被低估3.83亿元;在消散率为0.05、贴现率为0.01时,流量、存量和流量与存量损失的差额分别为6.5亿元、50.5亿元和44.0亿元,这意味着2007—2017年总的经济损失被低估44.0亿元。在消散率为0.3、贴现率为0.1时,流量、存量和流量与存量损失的差额分别为4.6亿元、10.5亿元和5.9亿元,这意味着2007—2017年总的经济损失被低估5.9亿元。研究发现,长期累积形成的存量污染是一个被忽视的大气污染源,从而解释了在武汉疫情管控期间低水平经济活动条件下仍然会出现重度大气污染的经验事实。其政策含义在于,制定反污染政策需要根据存量污染的特征进一步完善相关政策设计。