<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Governments worldwide have established lockdowns to limit the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The restrictions on travel and reduction of economic activity have led to a temporary improvement in air quality in several countries, especially in urban areas. This study investigates the changes in concentration levels of air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and bacterial aerosol) in the Upper Silesia Region of Southern Poland, during three periods: pre (March 2018 and 2019), during (March 2020, and 2021) and post-COVID-19 lockdown period (March 2022 and 2023). Our findings indicate that COVID-19 restrictions had a moderate impact on PM10 levels in comparison to pre- and post-COVID-19 periods. PM2.5 during lockdown was significantly lower than in the pre-COVID period and not significantly higher after COVID. PM10 and PM2.5 average concentrations decreased during COVID-19 restrictions by 27.8% and 12.7%, respectively. Compared with the results from the pre-COVID-19 phase, the reductions in NO2 and SO2 during the lockdown were 9.5% and 34.0%. Among other pollutants, bacterial aerosol (BA) concentrations also decreased during the lockdown by 23.0%, compared to the results from the pre-COVID-19 period.
</abstract>

Governments worldwide have established lockdowns to limit the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The restrictions on travel and reduction of economic activity have led to a temporary improvement in air quality in several countries, especially in urban areas. This study investigates the changes in concentration levels of air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and bacterial aerosol) in the Upper Silesia Region of Southern Poland, during three periods: pre (March 2018 and 2019), during (March 2020, and 2021) and post-COVID-19 lockdown period (March 2022 and 2023). Our findings indicate that COVID-19 restrictions had a moderate impact on PM10 levels in comparison to pre- and post-COVID-19 periods. PM2.5 during lockdown was significantly lower than in the pre-COVID period and not significantly higher after COVID. PM10 and PM2.5 average concentrations decreased during COVID-19 restrictions by 27.8% and 12.7%, respectively. Compared with the results from the pre-COVID-19 phase, the reductions in NO2 and SO2 during the lockdown were 9.5% and 34.0%. Among other pollutants, bacterial aerosol (BA) concentrations also decreased during the lockdown by 23.0%, compared to the results from the pre-COVID-19 period.

Ambient Air Quality in Upper Silesia Region Pre-During, and Post-COVID-19 Periods

Department of Technologies and Installations for Waste Management, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering

Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Governments worldwide have established lockdowns to limit the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The restrictions on travel and reduction of economic...

Ambient Air Quality in Upper Silesia Region Pre-During, and Post-COVID-19 Periods

Published Online: Dec 31, 2023

Page range: 135 - 148

Received: May 25, 2023

Accepted: Nov 10, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2023-0057

Keywords
Air quality, COVID-19, PM, PM, NO, SO, Bacterial aerosol

© 2023 Ewa Brągoszewska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Ambient Air Quality in Upper Silesia Region Pre-During, and Post-COVID-19 Periods

Published Online: Dec 31, 2023

Page range: 135 - 148

Received: May 25, 2023

Accepted: Nov 10, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2023-0057

KeywordsAir quality, COVID-19, PM, PM, NO, SO, Bacterial aerosol

© 2023 Ewa Brągoszewska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Air quality, COVID-19, PM, PM, NO, SO, Bacterial aerosol