May 23 - July 29
Pittsburgh and Air Pollution: A Study of Criteria Gases and Particulate Matter During COVID-19 Lockdown
Justina Arena (California University of Pennsylvania), Dr. Ian Chang (OU/SoM), Dr. Lan Gao (OU/SoM), & Dr. Jens Redemann (OU/SoM)
What is already known:
- Covid 19 lockdown caused a nationwide pause in human activities granting us a unique opportunity to observe pollutants with minimal anthropogenic pollutant emissions in a natural laboratory
- In previous studies, ground-based monitoring reflects a reduction in pollutant emissions during the standard six-week lockdown period March-April 2020
- Pittsburgh has a long history poor air quality and higher incidences of respiratory illnesses.
- Satellite data can be used to observed pollutant trends and transport as criteria gases are often carried by the winds.
What this study adds:
- Correlates with previous studies about a reduction in pollutants during COVID-19 lockdown
- Areas with varied topography and socioeconomical communities like Pittsburgh will have differences in number of pollutants. Meteorological factors such as wind can also have an impact, and more research is needed to verify if these factors had an influence in pollutants during the lockdown period.
- Satellite data indicates similar reduction trends, but it does have limitations as it does not separate between source-based and transport pollutants.
- Observing reduced pollutants opens discussions on the future of clean air, COVID-19 mitigation efforts, and societal and policy changes
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic and early mitigation efforts of stay-at-home periods have offered a unique opportunity to study anthropogenic pollution. Poor air quality affects human health, and COVID-19 can exacerbate existing respiratory conditions. The Greater Pittsburgh Metropolis (Allegheny County, Pennsylvania) has experienced poor air quality throughout its history, and this makes Pittsburgh an ideal location to study pollution trends. Using ground-based Environmental Protection Agency AirData at four locations with varied socioeconomic statuses within Allegheny County, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) were observed for pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 trends. The datasets exhibit a reduction of pollutants during the COVID-19 period. Post-COVID levels rebounded to pre-COVID levels, theorizing anthropogenic pollution trends. These trends are consistent with NO2 and SO2 measurements from the space-based Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) data. Meteorological variants provided from AirData such as wind and temperature were analyzed and compared with the pollutant gases, however no conclusive relationship could be found with this data. This study can open the benefits of dual monitoring for pollution trends and COVID-19 while engaging possibilities on modifying human activities to reduce pollutants.