Abstract
Lockdown measures applied in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic spread to Italy in the period March 13th–May 4th strongly limited the social and industrial activities with consequent effects on the air pollution. Here we report a study on the influence of the lockdown measures on the air quality in the city of Naples (Italy). The comparison of the levels of various gaseous pollutants (C6H6, CO, NO2 and SO2) and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1) at ground level as well as of atmospheric aerosol properties registered by remote sensing techniques during the lockdown period with the values observed in the earlier months and during the same period of the previous year is used to gain interesting information on the environmental impact of the human activities. Our findings show a rather significant reduction of the pollution due to NO2 (49–62%) in urban as well as in green suburban area, while CO and SO2 showed a more important reduction in urban or industrial districts of the city (50–58% and 70%, respectively). Particulate matter at ground level is also affected but to a more limited extent (29–49%). Nevertheless, characterization of atmospheric aerosol columnar properties suggests an interesting variation of its composition. The observed features have been associated to the strong meteorological interference from Saharan Dust in the Mediterranean area also affecting the city of Naples.
Highlights
In the beginning of the year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached Europe and lockdown actions were progressively applied in various countries
11000 100 r( m) strongly restricted human social and industrial activities. These limitations were mainly aimed at contrasting the epidemic diffusion by imposing people confinement, but public transport and economic activity reduction or halting were accompanied by a sizeable diminution of vehicles traffic and industrial production
Ground level measurements from four reference air quality stations located in various points in the City of Naples allowed assessing the levels of C6H6, CO, NO2, and SO2, as well as of PM2.5 and PM10
Summary
In the beginning of the year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached Europe and lockdown actions were progressively applied in various countries. In Italy, prevention and control actions to limit and reduce the epidemic effects were settled down from March 13th to May 4th, 2020. During this period, the national quarantine significantly limited people movement except for necessity situations, specific jobs, and health issues. Recent studies address the variation in the air quality during lockdown periods in cities or regional areas by means of satellite observations and/or local data (Mahato et al, 2020; Nakada et al, 2020; Tobías et al, 2020; Xu et al, 2020b; Zambrano-Monserrate et al, 2020). An almost two-fold reduction of NO2 and threefold decrease of particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10) was observed in the city of Barcelona (Spain) during lockdown using Copernicus and local data of atmospheric
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