Impact of air pollution on human activities: Evidence from nine million mobile phone users

To measure the effects of air pollution on human activities, this study applies statistical/econometric modeling to hourly data of 9 million mobile phone users from six cities in China’s Zhejiang Province from December 18 to 21, 2013. Under a change in air quality from “Good” (Air Quality Index, or AQI, between 51 and 100) to “Heavily Polluted” (AQI between 201 to 300), the following effects are demonstrated. (i) Consistent with the literature, for every one million people, 1, 482 fewer individuals are observed at parks, 95% confidence interval or CI (−2, 229, −735), which represents a 15% decrease. (ii) The number of individuals at shopping malls has no statistically significant change. (iii) Home is the most important location under worsening air quality, and for every one million people, 63, 088 more individuals are observed at home, 95% CI (47, 815, 78, 361), which represents a 19% increase. (iv) Individuals are on average 633 meters closer to their home, 95% CI (529, 737); as a benchmark, the median distance from home ranges from 300 to 1900 meters across the cities in our sample. These effects are not due to weather or government regulations. We also provided provisional evidence that individuals engage in inter-temporal activity substitutions within a day, which leads to mitigated (but not nullified) effects of air pollution on daily activities.

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Analysis of Spatial-Temporal Characteristics of the PM2.5 Concentrations in Weifang City, China

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10092960 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 2960 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Yixiao Li ◽

Zhaoxin Dai ◽

Xianlin Liu

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

Human Activities ◽

Contemporary Society ◽

Spatial Characteristics ◽

Temporal Characteristics ◽

Temperature And Precipitation ◽

Hourly Data ◽

The Government

Air pollution, which accompanies industrial progression and urbanization, has become an urgent issue to address in contemporary society. As a result, our understanding and continued study of the spatial-temporal characteristics of a major pollutant, defined as 2.5-micron or less particulate matter (PM2.5), as well as the development of related approaches to improve the environment, has become vital. This paper studies the characteristics of yearly, quarterly, monthly, daily, and hourly PM2.5 concentrations, and discusses the influencing factors based on the hourly data of nationally controlled and provincially controlled monitoring stations, from 2012 to 2016, in Weifang City. The main conclusion of this study is that the annual PM2.5 concentrations reached a peak in 2013. With efficient aid from the government, this value has decreased annually and has high spatial characteristics in the northwest and low spatial characteristics in the southeast. Second, the seasonal and monthly PM2.5 concentrations form a U-shaped trend, meaning that the concentration is high in the summer and low in the winter. These trends are highly relevant to the factors of plantation, humidity, temperature, and precipitation. Third, within a week, higher PM2.5 concentrations appear on Mondays and Saturdays, whereas the lowest concentration occurs on Wednesdays. It can be inferred that PM2.5 concentrations tend to be highly dependent on human activities and living habits. Lastly, there are hourly discrepancies within the peaks and troughs depending on the month, and the overall daytime PM2.5 concentrations and reductive rates are higher in the daytime than in the nighttime.

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Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambient Air Quality in China: Atox Quasi-difference-in-difference Approach

10.21203/rs.3.rs-220044/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tuo ZHANG ◽

Maogang Tang

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Human Activities ◽

Ambient Air ◽

World Health ◽

Static And Dynamic Analysis ◽

Premature Deaths ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Health Organization ◽

Pollution Emissions

Abstract The novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) outbreak has provided a distinct opportunity to explore the mechanisms by which human activities affect air quality and pollution emissions. We conduct a quasi-difference-in-differences (DID) analysis of the impacts of lockdown measures on air pollution during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in China. Our study covers 367 cities from the beginning of the lockdown on January 23, 2020 until April 22, two weeks after the lockdown in epicenter was lifted. Static and dynamic analysis of the average treatment effects of treated effects is conducted for the air quality index (AQI) and six criteria pollutants. The results indicate that, first, on average, the AQI decreased by about 7%. However, it was still over the threshold of the World Health Organization (WHO). Second, we detect heterogeneous changes in the level of different pollutants, which suggests heterogeneous impacts of the lockdown on human activities: carbon monoxide (CO) had the biggest drop of about 30% and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) had the second-biggest drop of 20%. In contrast, ozone (O3) increased by 3.74% due to the improvement of visibility. We project that it would reduce the premature deaths related to air pollution by 150 thousand nationwide during the research period, which is much larger than the death due to COVID-19 infections. Third, air pollution rebounded immediately after the number of infections dropped, which indicates a swift recovery of human activities. This study provides insights for the implementation of environmental policies in China and other developing countries.JEL codes: Q51, Q52, Q53

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Historical reconstruction of background air pollution over France for 2000–2015

10.5194/essd-2021-182 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elsa Real ◽

Florian Couvidat ◽

Anthony Ung ◽

Laure Malherbe ◽

Blandine Raux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Transport Model ◽

Annual Data ◽

Chemistry Transport Model ◽

Hourly Data ◽

Background Measurement ◽

Health Related ◽

Background Air

Abstract. This paper describes a 16-year datasets of air pollution concentrations and air quality indicators over France. Using a kriging method that combines background measurements of air quality and modeling with the Chemistry Transport Model CHIMERE, hourly concentrations of NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5 are produced with a spatial resolution about 4 kilometers. Regulatory indicators (annual average, SOMO35, AOT40 etc…) are also calculated from these hourly data. NO2 and O3 datasets cover the period 2000–2015, as well as PM10 annual data. PM10 hourly concentrations are not available from 2000 to 2007 due to known artefact in PM10 measurements. PM2.5 data are only available from 2009 because of the lack of measurement stations before. The overall dataset has been evaluated over all the years through a cross-validation process against background measurement stations (rural, sub-urban and urban), to account for the data fusion between measurement and models in the method. Results are very good for PM10, PM2.5 and O3. It shows an overestimation of NO2 concentrations in rural area, while background NO2 values in urban areas are well represented. Maps of the main indicators are shown over years and trends are calculated. Finally, country exposure and trends of three main health related indicators: yearly averaged PM2.5 NO2 and SOMO35 are calculated. The DOI link for the dataset is http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5043645 (Real et al., 2021). We hopethat the publication of this dataset in open access will facilitate further studies on the impacts of air pollution.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambient Air Quality in China: A Quasi-Difference-in-Difference Approach

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073404 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3404

Author(s):

Tuo Zhang ◽

Maogang Tang

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Human Activities ◽

Ambient Air ◽

World Health ◽

Static And Dynamic Analysis ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Health Organization ◽

The Impact

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has provided a distinct opportunity to explore the mechanisms by which human activities affect air quality and pollution emissions. We conduct a quasi-difference-in-differences (DID) analysis of the impacts of lockdown measures on air pollution during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Our study covers 367 cities from the beginning of the lockdown on 23 January 2020 until April 22, two weeks after the lockdown in the epicenter was lifted. Static and dynamic analysis of the average treatment effects on the treated is conducted for the air quality index (AQI) and six criteria pollutants. The results indicate that, first, on average, the AQI decreased by about 7%. However, it was still over the threshold set by the World Health Organization. Second, we detect heterogeneous changes in the level of different pollutants, which suggests heterogeneous impacts of the lockdown on human activities: carbon monoxide (CO) had the biggest drop, about 30%, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) had the second-biggest drop, 20%. In contrast, ozone (O3) increased by 3.74% due to the changes in the NOx/VOCs caused by the decrease in NOx, the decrease of O3 titration, and particulate matter concentration. Third, air pollution levels rebounded immediately after the number of infections dropped, which indicates a swift recovery of human activities. This study provides insights into the implementation of environmental policies in China and other developing countries.

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VALORIZATION OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT OF SOUTH SERBIA FROM THE AIR QUALITY ASPECT

Knowledge International Journal ◽

10.35120/kij28041329m ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 1329-1333

Author(s):

Miodrag Šmelcerović

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Urban Environment ◽

Pollution Sources ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Limit Values ◽

Cause And Effect ◽

Sources Of Pollution

The protection of the environment and people’s health from negative influences of the pollution of air as a medium of the environment requires constant observing of the air quality in accordance with international standards, the analysis of emission and imission of polluting matters in the air, and their connection with the sources of pollution. Having in mind the series of laws and delegated legislations which define the field of air pollution, it is necessary to closely observe these long-term processes, discovering cause-and-effect relationships between the activities of anthropogenic sources of emission of polluting matters and the level of air degradation. The relevant evaluation of the air quality of a certain area can be conducted if the level of concentration of polluting matters characteristic for the pollution sources of this area is observed in a longer period of time. The data obtained by the observation of the air pollution are the basis for creation of the recovery program of a certain area. Vranje is a town in South Serbia where there is a bigger number of anthropogenic pollution sources that can significantly diminish the air quality. The cause-and-effect relationship of the anthropogenic sources of pollution is conducted related to the analysis of systematized data which are in the relevant data base of the authorized institution The Institute of Public Health Vranje, for the time period between the year of 2012. and 2017. By the analysis of data of imission concentrations of typical polluting matters, the dominant polluting matters were determined on the territory of the town of Vranje, the ones that are the causers of the biggest air pollution and the risk for people’s health. Analysis of the concentration of soot, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides indicates their presence in the air of Vranje town area in concentrations that do not exceed the permitted limit values annually. The greatest pollution is caused by the soot content in the air, especially in the winter period when the highest number of days with the values above the limit was registered. By perceiving the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, it is clear that the concentration of polluting matters can be decreased only by establishing control over anthropogenic sources of pollution, and thus it can be contributed to the improvement of the air quality of this urban environment.

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Improving the Protection of Children Against Air Pollution Threats in Romania � The RokidAIR Project Approach and Future Perspectives

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.17.4.5563 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 841-846

Author(s):

Hai-Ying Liu ◽

Daniel Dunea ◽

Mihaela Oprea ◽

Tom Savu ◽

Stefania Iordache

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Health Effects ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Behavioural Change ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Warning System ◽

Personal Exposure ◽

Mobile Technologies ◽

Quality Maps

This paper presents the approach used to develop the information chain required to reach the objectives of the EEA Grants� RokidAIR project in two Romanian cities i.e., Targoviste and Ploiesti. It describes the PM2.5 monitoring infrastructure and architecture to the web-based GIS platform, the early warning system and the decision support system, and finally, the linking of air pollution to health effects in children. In addition, it shows the analysis performance of the designed system to process the collected time series from various data sources using the benzene concentrations monitored in Ploiesti. Moreover, this paper suggests that biomarkers, mobile technologies, and Citizens� Observatories are potential perspectives to improve data coverage by the provision of near-real-time air quality maps, and provide personal exposure and health assessment results, enabling the citizens� engagement and behavioural change. This paper also addresses new fields in nature-based solutions to improve air quality, and studies on air pollution and its mental health effects in the urban areas of Romania.

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Subtle Changes or Dramatic Perceptions of Air Pollution in Sydney during COVID-19

Environments ◽

10.3390/environments8010002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 2

Author(s):

Peter Brimblecombe ◽

Yonghang Lai

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

New South ◽

Human Mobility ◽

Ground Level ◽

Physical Reality ◽

Social Perceptions ◽

Search Terms ◽

South Wales ◽

Significant Difference

The COVID-19 pandemic made it critical to limit the spread of the disease by enforcing human isolation, restricting travel and reducing social activities. Dramatic improvements to air quality, especially NO2, have often characterised places under COVID-19 restrictions. Air pollution measurements in Sydney in April 2019 and during the lockdown period in April 2020 show reduced daily averaged NO2 concentrations: 8.52 ± 1.92 and 7.85 ± 2.92 ppb, though not significantly so (p1~0.15) and PM2.5 8.91 ± 4.94 and 7.95 ± 2.64 µg m−3, again a non-significant difference (p1~0.18). Satellite imagery suggests changes that parallel those at ground level, but the column densities averaged over space and time, in false-colour, are more dramatic. Changed human mobility could be traced in increasing times spent at home, assessed from Google Mobility Reports and mirrored in decreased traffic flow on a major road, suggesting compliance with the restrictions. Electricity demand for the State of New South Wales was low under lockdown in early April 2020, but it recovered rapidly. Analysis of the uses of search terms: bushfires, air quality, haze and air pollution using Google Trends showed strong links between bushfires and pollution-related terms. The smoke from bushfires in late 2019 may well have added to the general impression of improved air quality during lockdown, despite only modest changes in the ground level measurements. This gives hints that successful regulation of air quality requires maintaining a delicate balance between our social perceptions and the physical reality.

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Quantifying Air Pollutant Variations during COVID-19 Lockdown in a Capital City in Northwest China

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12060788 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 788

Author(s):

Rong Feng ◽

Hongmei Xu ◽

Zexuan Wang ◽

Yunxuan Gu ◽

Zhe Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Vehicle Emissions ◽

Motor Vehicle ◽

Northwest China ◽

Air Pollutant ◽

Capital City ◽

Air Pollution Control ◽

Motor Vehicle Emissions

In the context of the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), strict lockdown policies were implemented to control nonessential human activities in Xi’an, northwest China, which greatly limited the spread of the pandemic and affected air quality. Compared with pre-lockdown, the air quality index and concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and CO during the lockdown reduced, but the reductions were not very significant. NO2 levels exhibited the largest decrease (52%) during lockdown, owing to the remarkable decreased motor vehicle emissions. The highest K+ and lowest Ca2+ concentrations in PM2.5 samples could be attributed to the increase in household biomass fuel consumption in suburbs and rural areas around Xi’an and the decrease in human physical activities in Xi’an (e.g., human travel, vehicle emissions, construction activities), respectively, during the lockdown period. Secondary chemical reactions in the atmosphere increased in the lockdown period, as evidenced by the increased O3 level (increased by 160%) and OC/EC ratios in PM2.5 (increased by 26%), compared with pre-lockdown levels. The results, based on a natural experiment in this study, can be used as a reference for studying the formation and source of air pollution in Xi’an and provide evidence for establishing future long-term air pollution control policies.

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Surface and Satellite Observations of Air Pollution in India during COVID-19 Lockdown: Implication to Air Quality

Sustainable Cities and Society ◽

10.1016/j.scs.2020.102688 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 102688

Author(s):

Yogesh Sathe ◽

Pawan Gupta ◽

Moqtik Bawase ◽

Lok Lamsal ◽

Falguni Patadia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Satellite Observations

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Morpho-Physio-Biochemical Attributes of Roadside Trees as Potential Tools for Biomonitoring of Air Quality and Environmental Health in Urban Areas

Land ◽

10.3390/land10030236 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 236

Author(s):

Ha Na You ◽

Myeong Ja Kwak ◽

Sun Mi Je ◽

Jong Kyu Lee ◽

Yea Ji Lim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Environmental Health ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Biochemical Parameters ◽

Lipid Peroxide ◽

Platanus Occidentalis ◽

Physiological Variables ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

Species Specific

Environmental pollution is an important issue in metropolitan areas, and roadside trees are directly affected by various sources of pollution to which they exhibit numerous responses. The aim of the present study was to identify morpho-physio-biochemical attributes of maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba L.) and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) growing under two different air quality conditions (roadside with high air pollution, RH and roadside with low air pollution, RL) and to assess the possibility of using their physiological and biochemical parameters as biomonitoring tools in urban areas. The results showed that the photosynthetic rate, photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiencies, and photochromic contents were generally low in RH in both G. biloba and P. occidentalis. However, water-use efficiency and leaf temperature showed high values in RH trees. Among biochemical parameters, in G. biloba, the lipid peroxide content was higher in RH than in RL trees, but in P. occidentalis, this content was lower in RH than in RL trees. In both species, physiological activities were low in trees planted in areas with high levels of air pollution, whereas their biochemical and morphological variables showed different responses to air pollution. Thus, we concluded that it is possible to determine species-specific physiological variables affected by regional differences of air pollution in urban areas, and these findings may be helpful for monitoring air quality and environmental health using trees.

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