Abstract
Backgrounds: Abundant research has shed light on how climate change instigates and propels the spread of infectious diseases. Recently published literature reported that global epidemic of COVID-19 has reduced air pollutant emissions in several metropolises due to lockdown measures. This study aims to compare the ambient particulate matter concentrations in Taiwan in the past year during the same time frame. Methods: We examined air quality in 17 counties from Taiwan; concentrations of PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 detected by low-cost air quality sensors (LCS) from January to March of 2019 and 2020, were analyzed to demonstrate the spatiotemporal pattern air pollution prior to and during the COVID-19 outbreak. We examined monitoring data from 674 LCS and calculated monthly and seasonal mean levels, as well as Wilcoxon signed-rank test to assess whether changes in concentrations were statistically significant. Particulate matter concentrations detected by another type of LCS, hereafter denoted as microsensors, were also analyzed. Results: Ambient concentrations of PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 in January of 2019 did not differ significantly from those detected in 2020. However, decreases in PM2.5 levels in February of 2020 reached statistical significance when we compared to levels detected in February of the previous year (30.35 10.38 and 28.13 8.22 μg/m3, p =0.027). Differences in monthly mean PM2.5 concentrations detected by microsensors were also statistically significant (22.57 7.05 and 21.61 7.13 μg/m3, p =0.035). As the pandemic progressed and social distancing encouraged, decreases in levels of PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 in March of 2020 were statistically significant (p=0.004, p=0.0002, p<0.001). Similar decreases were detected by microsensors across Taiwan, with levels of PM2.5 decreased from 24.40 to 21.39 μg/m3, p<0.001). Conclusion: Initial analysis showed even though Taiwan did not enforce full nationwide lockdown amidst COVID-19 pandemic, reductions in anthropogenic activities have lowered air pollution levels.
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