Abstract
Air pollution in the megacities of low and middle income (LMIC) countries has risen to the levels of public health hazards forcing them to take emergency measures, such as issuing red alerts and vehicle-rationing interventions (VRI). Using in-situ and high-resolution satellite data, this research shows that VRI reduced particulate matter (PM) ≤ 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics. However, VRsI implemented in 2015 and 2016 in Beijing and in 2016 in Delhi were ineffective in improving air quality. The effects of VRI were short lived, for example 54% of the cleaning in Beijing disappeared within two weeks after the Olympics, and Delhi witnessed a 34% increase in PM2.5 during the two weeks after the interventions.
Highlights
Our image of rising smoke from chimneys, once used to be a symbol of prosperity, began to shatter with the discovery and understanding of its hazardous health effects
Events like the 1952 London Smog proved catastrophic to human health, such events led to the establishment of legislation to improve air quality
Ambient air quality in high income countries (HIC) has improved dramatically, e.g., airborne particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) in the US declined by 41% from 2000 to 2017 (EPA, 2018)
Summary
Our image of rising smoke from chimneys, once used to be a symbol of prosperity, began to shatter with the discovery and understanding of its hazardous health effects. The 1952 London Smog is believed to have cause more than 4,000 excess deaths (Hunt et al, 2003; Bell et al, 2004). Events like the 1952 London Smog proved catastrophic to human health, such events led to the establishment of legislation (for example, the Clean Air Act in 1956 in the United Kingdom and in 1970 in the United States) to improve air quality. Ambient air quality in high income countries (HIC) has improved dramatically, e.g., airborne particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) in the US declined by 41% from 2000 to 2017 (EPA, 2018). A recent study showed that ambient air pollution alone accounts for more than 3 million premature deaths worldwide (Lelieveld et al, 2015; WHO, 2016). Air pollution in the megacities of these countries has risen to the levels of public health hazards forcing
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
