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Batomen B, Macpherson A, Lewis J, Howard A, Ruth Saunders N, Richmond S, Anne Harris M, Saskin R, Zagorski B, Macarthur C, Fuselli P, Rothman L. Vulnerable road user injury trends following the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto, Canada: An interrupted time series analysis. JOURNAL OF SAFETY RESEARCH 2024; 89:152-159. [PMID: 38858038 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2024.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic altered traffic patterns worldwide, potentially impacting pedestrian and bicyclists safety in urban areas. In Toronto, Canada, work from home policies, bicycle network expansion, and quiet streets were implemented to support walking and cycling. We examined pedestrian and bicyclist injury trends from 2012 to 2022, utilizing police-reported killed or severely injured (KSI), emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization data. METHODS We used an interrupted time series design, with injury counts aggregated quarterly. We fit a negative binomial regression using a Bayesian modeling approach to data prior to the pandemic that included a secular time trend, quarterly seasonal indicator variables, and autoregressive terms. The differences between observed and expected injury counts based on pre-pandemic trends with 95% credible intervals (CIs) were computed. RESULTS There were 38% fewer pedestrian KSI (95%CI: 19%, 52%), 35% fewer ED visits (95%CI: 28%, 42%), and 19% fewer hospitalizations (95%CI: 2%, 32%) since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A reduction of 35% (95%CI: 7%, 54%) in KSI bicyclist injuries was observed, but However, ED visits and hospitalizations from bicycle-motor vehicle collisions were compatible with pre-pandemic trends. In contrast, for bicycle injuries not involving motor vehicles, large increases were observed for both ED visits, 73% (95% CI: 49%, 103%) and for hospitalization 108% (95% CI: 38%, 208%). CONCLUSION New road safety interventions during the pandemic may have improved road safety for vulnerable road users with respect to collisions with motor vehicles; however, further investigation into the risk factors for bicycle injuries not involving motor vehicles is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brice Batomen
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Alison Macpherson
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeremy Lewis
- School of Occupational and Public Health Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew Howard
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Sarah Richmond
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - M Anne Harris
- School of Occupational and Public Health Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Linda Rothman
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; School of Occupational and Public Health Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Ríos-Fernández JC, González-Caballín JM, Meana-Fernández A, Gutiérrez-Trashorras AJ. Residual energy use and energy efficiency improvement of European supermarket facilities during the post-COVID and energy crisis period. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29781. [PMID: 38698978 PMCID: PMC11064066 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Supermarkets are significant consumers of electricity and contribute to the generation of associated pollutant emissions. This will help to mitigate the impact of increased energy costs on the prices of products sold in supermarkets. Therefore, it is essential to reduce energy consumption, starting with the equipment that consumes the most electricity, such as refrigeration, and using the residual thermal energy generated in supermarkets. This paper discusses the impact of rising energy costs in the post-Covid era and during the energy crisis. It evaluates the environmental and energy benefits of implementing energy improvements and utilizing residual energy in real supermarkets. The analysis takes into account the socio-economic characteristics of the EU-27 countries, which affect the economic feasibility of these measures. This would prevent the release of 122 tons of CO2 per year for each supermarket, resulting in energy savings of around 70 % or 305 kWh/m2. The required investments would have a payback period of 4 years.
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Lyu L, Peng H, An C, Sun H, Yang X, Bi H. An insight into the benefits of substituting polypropylene with biodegradable polylactic acid face masks for combating environmental emissions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167137. [PMID: 37734618 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Mask waste can affect the natural environment and human health. In this study, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of two types of face masks (Polylactic acid (PLA) and Polypropylene (PP)) was first performed to evaluate the environmental impacts from production to end-of-life, and then, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were estimated for each life stage. The GHG emissions for one functional unit of PP and PLA face masks were estimated to be 6.27E+07 and 5.06E+07 kg CO2 eq, respectively. Explicitly, PLA mask production emissions are 37 % lower as compared to those for PP masks. Packaging has been recognized as a major GHG source throughout the product's life cycle. This study may provide a new insight into the environmental benefits of reducing GHG emissions within PLA face mask life cycles. Biodegradable and environmentally friendly materials can be used in the manufacturing and packaging of face masks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxiang Lyu
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - He Peng
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Chunjiang An
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada.
| | - Huijuan Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaohan Yang
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Huifang Bi
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
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4
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Oduniyi OS, Riveros JM, Hassan SM, Çıtak F. Testing the theory of Kuznet curve on environmental pollution during pre- and post-Covid-19 era. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12851. [PMID: 37553418 PMCID: PMC10409723 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38962-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Covid-19 has brought about significant changes in people's daily lives, leading to a slowdown in economic activities and the implementation of restrictions and lockdowns. As a result, there have been noticeable effects on the environment. In this study, we examine the impact of Covid-19 total cases on the monthly average of carbon monoxide emissions in developed economies known for heavy pollution, covering the period from 2014 to 2023. We apply the Ambiental Kuznets curve approach to analyze the data. By employing different panel estimation techniques such as fixed effects and Driscoll-Kraay regressions, we observe a marked shift in environmental dynamics during the post-Covid era. This shift alters the statistical significance of the N-shaped Kuznets curve, rendering the relationship between economic activity and environmental impact non-significant. Interestingly, the Covid-related variables utilized in the various estimations are not statistically significant in explaining the long-term environmental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John M Riveros
- Estudios Y Evaluación de La Gestión Pública Colombian, Colombia, USA
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Rudke AP, Martins JA, Hallak R, Martins LD, de Almeida DS, Beal A, Freitas ED, Andrade MF, Koutrakis P, Albuquerque TTA. Evaluating TROPOMI and MODIS performance to capture the dynamic of air pollution in São Paulo state: A case study during the COVID-19 outbreak. REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT 2023; 289:113514. [PMID: 36846486 PMCID: PMC9941323 DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2023.113514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric pollutant data retrieved through satellite sensors are continually used to assess changes in air quality in the lower atmosphere. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies started to use satellite measurements to evaluate changes in air quality in many different regions worldwide. However, although satellite data is continuously validated, it is known that its accuracy may vary between monitored areas, requiring regionalized quality assessments. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate whether satellites could measure changes in the air quality of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, during the COVID-19 outbreak; and to verify the relationship between satellite-based data [Tropospheric NO2 column density and Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD)] and ground-based concentrations [NO2 and particulate material (PM; coarse: PM10 and fine: PM2.5)]. For this purpose, tropospheric NO2 obtained from the TROPOMI sensor and AOD retrieved from MODIS sensor data by using the Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) algorithm were compared with concentrations obtained from 50 automatic ground monitoring stations. The results showed low correlations between PM and AOD. For PM10, most stations showed correlations lower than 0.2, which were not significant. The results for PM2.5 were similar, but some stations showed good correlations for specific periods (before or during the COVID-19 outbreak). Satellite-based Tropospheric NO2 proved to be a good predictor for NO2 concentrations at ground level. Considering all stations with NO2 measurements, correlations >0.6 were observed, reaching 0.8 for specific stations and periods. In general, it was observed that regions with a more industrialized profile had the best correlations, in contrast with rural areas. In addition, it was observed about 57% reductions in tropospheric NO2 throughout the state of São Paulo during the COVID-19 outbreak. Variations in air pollutants were linked to the region economic vocation, since there were reductions in industrialized areas (at least 50% of the industrialized areas showed >20% decrease in NO2) and increases in areas with farming and livestock characteristics (about 70% of those areas showed increase in NO2). Our results demonstrate that Tropospheric NO2 column densities can serve as good predictors of NO2 concentrations at ground level. For MAIAC-AOD, a weak relationship was observed, requiring the evaluation of other possible predictors to describe the relationship with PM. Thus, it is concluded that regionalized assessment of satellite data accuracy is essential for assertive estimates on a regional/local level. Good quality information retrieved at specific polluted areas does not assure a worldwide use of remote sensor data.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Rudke
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Federal University of Technology - Paraná, Av. Dos Pioneiros, 3131, 86036-370 Londrina, Brazil
| | - J A Martins
- Federal University of Technology - Paraná, Av. Dos Pioneiros, 3131, 86036-370 Londrina, Brazil
| | - R Hallak
- Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 1226, Cidade Universitária, 05508-090, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - L D Martins
- Federal University of Technology - Paraná, Av. Dos Pioneiros, 3131, 86036-370 Londrina, Brazil
| | - D S de Almeida
- Federal University of Technology - Paraná, Av. Dos Pioneiros, 3131, 86036-370 Londrina, Brazil
- Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz, Km 235, SP310, 13565-905, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - A Beal
- Federal University of Technology - Paraná, Av. Dos Pioneiros, 3131, 86036-370 Londrina, Brazil
| | - E D Freitas
- Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 1226, Cidade Universitária, 05508-090, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M F Andrade
- Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 1226, Cidade Universitária, 05508-090, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - P Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - T T A Albuquerque
- Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Post Graduation Program on Environmental Engineering - Federal University of Espírito Santo, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, 29075-910 Vitória, Brazil
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6
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Li D, Lasenby J. Investigating impacts of COVID-19 on urban mobility and emissions. CITIES (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 135:104246. [PMID: 36811025 PMCID: PMC9935275 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2023.104246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted human activities in a way never documented in modern history. The prevention policies and measures have abruptly changed well-established urban mobility patterns. In this context, we exploit different sources of urban mobility data to gain insights into the effects of restrictive policies on the daily mobility and exhaust emissions in pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Manhattan, the most densely populated borough in New York City, is chosen as the study area. We collect data generated by taxis, sharing bikes, and road detectors between 2019 and 2021, and estimate exhaust emissions using the COPERT (Computer Programme to calculate Emissions from Road Transport) model. A comparative analysis is conducted to identify important changes in urban mobility and emission patterns, with a particular focus on the lockdown period in 2020 and its counterparts in 2019 and 2021. The results of the paper fuel the discussion on urban resilience and policy-making in a post pandemic world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duo Li
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK
- Department of Engineering, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
| | - Joan Lasenby
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK
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7
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Lara DVR, Pfaffenbichler P, Rodrigues da Silva AN. Modeling the resilience of urban mobility when exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative system dynamics approach. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2023; 91:104411. [PMID: 36683862 PMCID: PMC9847366 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2023.104411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In December 2019, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was detected in Wuhan, China. Due to the rapid spread of the disease, containment measures were adopted, which caused unprecedent shifts in individual mobility. Although some studies explored the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel patterns and resilience of transport systems based on different analysis techniques, there is a lack of studies addressing the impacts of the pandemic on the sustainability and resilience of urban mobility systems using in-depth and holistic methods, such as system dynamics. This research aims to characterize the dynamics present in urban mobility systems when exposed to pandemics and analyze the changes needed for systems to increase their resilience to pandemics using qualitative system dynamics modeling. The framework comprises the characterization of cause-and-effect relationships and the creation of systems' causal loop diagrams (CLD) in their basic state of functionality, when affected by pandemics, and still operating owing to its resilience. Our findings indicated that the CLD of a resilient system is driven by strategic preparedness and response plans, as well as research and development, which balance the spread of the pandemic and increase support on technological strengths and the activities performed from home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vanessa Rodriguez Lara
- Department of Transportation Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, São Carlos, São Paulo 13566-590, Brazil
| | - Paul Pfaffenbichler
- Department of Landscape, Spatial and Infrastructure Sciences, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter Jordan Straße 82, Vienna, Vienna 1190, Austria
| | - Antônio Nélson Rodrigues da Silva
- Department of Transportation Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, São Carlos, São Paulo 13566-590, Brazil
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8
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Gorji MA, Shetab-Boushehri SN, Akbarzadeh M. Evaluation and improvement of the resilience of a transportation system against epidemic diseases: A system dynamics approach. TRANSPORT POLICY 2023; 133:27-44. [PMID: 36415748 PMCID: PMC9673069 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2022.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The influential role of health protocols in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 disease has led governments to seek effective methods for implementing these protocols in the society. Considering the importance of public transportation system in spread of viruses, this paper introduces and analyzes some methods of inspecting urban public transportation companies using system dynamics approach. First, the base model, which represents the status of a public transportation terminal, was created and validated using a system dynamics simulation approach. Then the impact of two penalty policies, including fixed penalty policy (FPP) and variable penalty policy (VPP) on the violations within the terminal was investigated. The simulation results show that the variable penalty policy significantly reduces the violations of passenger terminal drivers. Next, the extended model was developed which considered several terminals. Finally, by presenting two policies of fixed inspector assignment (FIA) and variable inspector assignment (VIA), the effect of four scenarios of combining inspection and penalties policies was investigated. The simulation results showed that combining the variable penalty and variable inspector assignment policies could significantly reduce terminal violations. Also, the implementation of this policy does not require an additional inspector. The results can help city managers to adopt appropriate inspection policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad-Ali Gorji
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | | | - Meisam Akbarzadeh
- Department of Transportation Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
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9
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Zhang N, Hu T, Shang S, Zhang S, Jia W, Chen J, Zhang Z, Su B, Wang Z, Cheng R, Li Y. Local travel behaviour under continuing COVID-19 waves- A proxy for pandemic fatigue? TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES 2023; 18:100757. [PMID: 36694823 PMCID: PMC9850857 DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2023.100757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 continues to threaten the world. Relaxing local travel behaviours on preventing the spread of COVID-19, may increase the infection risk in subsequent waves of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. In this study, we analysed changes in the travel behaviour of different population groups (adult, child, student, elderly) during four pandemic waves in Hong Kong before January 2021, by 4-billion second-by-second smartcard records of subway. A significant continuous relaxation in human travel behaviour was observed during the four waves of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Residents sharply reduced their local travel by 51.9%, 50.1%, 27.6%, and 20.5% from the first to fourth pandemic waves, respectively. The population flow in residential areas, workplaces, schools, shopping areas, amusement areas and border areas, decreased on average by 30.3%, 33.5%, 41.9%, 58.1%, 85.4% and 99.6%, respectively, during the pandemic weeks. We also found that many other cities around the world experienced a similar relaxation trend in local travel behaviour, by comparing traffic congestion data during the pandemic with data from the same period in 2019. The quantitative pandemic fatigue in local travel behaviour could help governments partially predicting personal protective behaviours, and thus to suggest more accurate interventions during subsequent waves, especially for highly infectious virus variants such as Omicron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Tingrui Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Shujia Shang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Shiyao Zhang
- The Sifakis Research Institute for Trustworthy Autonomous Systems, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wei Jia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jinhang Chen
- Faculty of Information Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Boni Su
- China Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- College of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Reynold Cheng
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuguo Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Hwang K, Papuga SA. COVID-19 pandemic underscores role of green space in urban carbon dynamics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160249. [PMID: 36402337 PMCID: PMC9671673 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
For Detroit Michigan the arrival of COVID-19 led to intensive measures to prevent further spread of the virus resulting in consequent changes in traffic and energy use. We take advantage of these different emission scenarios to explore CO2 dynamics in a postindustrial city with a declining population and increasing green space. We present atmospheric CO2 concentration and net urban ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NUE) from a typical eddy covariance system and canopy greenness from a field camera on the Wayne State University campus in midtown Detroit. We categorized our study period (January 18, 2020-July 31, 2020) into three subperiods associated with the state-wide shelter-in-place order. Our results support that the city was a net carbon source throughout the period, particularly during the shelter-in-place period, although reduced traffic lowered CO2 concentrations and NUE. However, during the post-order period when traffic was highest, atmospheric CO2 concentrations and NUE were lowest, suggesting that the greening of urban vegetation may have greater carbon mitigation potential than lowering anthropogenic carbon emissions through traffic reductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hwang
- Department of Environmental Science and Geology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States of America.
| | - S A Papuga
- Department of Environmental Science and Geology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States of America; Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States of America
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Gu Z, Han J, Zhang L, Wang H, Luo X, Meng X, Zhang Y, Niu X, Lan Y, Wu S, Cao J, Lichtfouse E. Unanswered questions on the airborne transmission of COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2023; 21:725-739. [PMID: 36628267 PMCID: PMC9816530 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-022-01557-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Policies and measures to control pandemics are often failing. While biological factors controlling transmission are usually well explored, little is known about the environmental drivers of transmission and infection. For instance, respiratory droplets and aerosol particles are crucial vectors for the airborne transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the causation agent of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic (COVID-19). Once expectorated, respiratory droplets interact with atmospheric particulates that influence the viability and transmission of the novel coronavirus, yet there is little knowledge on this process or its consequences on virus transmission and infection. Here we review the effects of atmospheric particulate properties, vortex zones, and air pollution on virus survivability and transmission. We found that particle size, chemical constituents, electrostatic charges, and the moisture content of airborne particles can have notable effects on virus transmission, with higher survival generally associated with larger particles, yet some viruses are better preserved on small particles. Some chemical constituents and surface-adsorbed chemical species may damage peptide bonds in viral proteins and impair virus stability. Electrostatic charges and water content of atmospheric particulates may affect the adherence of virion particles and possibly their viability. In addition, vortex zones and human thermal plumes are major environmental factors altering the aerodynamics of buoyant particles in air, which can strongly influence the transport of airborne particles and the transmission of associated viruses. Insights into these factors may provide explanations for the widely observed positive correlations between COVID-19 infection and mortality with air pollution, of which particulate matter is a common constituent that may have a central role in the airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10311-022-01557-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaolin Gu
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Han
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Liyuan Zhang
- School of Water and Environment, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongliang Wang
- Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xilian Luo
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiangzhao Meng
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Zhang
- School of Architecture, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Niu
- School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Lan
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Shaowei Wu
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 People’s Republic of China
| | - Junji Cao
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029 People’s Republic of China
| | - Eric Lichtfouse
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 Shaanxi People’s Republic of China
- CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE, Aix-Marseille University, 13100, Aix-en-Provence, France
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12
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Hwang JK, Na JY, Lee KS, Oh JW, Choi YJ. Seasonal differences in the effects of local concentrations of atmospheric substances and meteorological elements on asthma exacerbation of children in metropolitan area, Korea: A 13-year retrospective single-center study. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1028901. [PMID: 37187585 PMCID: PMC10175777 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1028901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Air pollutants contribute to asthma exacerbation, and the types of air pollutants involved in acute asthma exacerbation may differ depending on climate and environmental conditions. This study aimed to identify factors affecting asthma exacerbation in each of the four seasons so that to prevent acute asthma exacerbation and to establish effective treatment strategies for each season. Methods Pediatric patients aged 0-18 years old hospitalized or admitted to the emergency room for asthma exacerbation at Hanyang University Guri Hospital between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2019 were recruited. The number of asthma exacerbations comprised the total number of patients admitted to the emergency room or hospitalized for asthma and treated with systemic steroids. The association between the number of asthma exacerbations/week and average concentrations of atmospheric substances and meteorological elements in that week were analyzed. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the association between various atmospheric variables and the number of asthma exacerbations. Results The number of asthma exacerbations was found to be associated with the concentration of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤10 μm in that week in autumn. No atmospheric variables exhibited an association in other seasons. Conclusions Air pollutants and meteorological factors affecting asthma exacerbation vary by season. Moreover, their effects may change via their interaction with each other. The results of this study suggest that it will be helpful to establish differentiated measures for each season to prevent asthma exacerbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Kyoon Hwang
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Yoon Na
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Suk Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Won Oh
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Jin Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: Young-Jin Choi
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13
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Rashidi R, Khaniabadi YO, Sicard P, De Marco A, Anbari K. Ambient PM 2.5 and O 3 pollution and health impacts in Iranian megacity. STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND RISK ASSESSMENT : RESEARCH JOURNAL 2023; 37:175-184. [PMID: 35965492 PMCID: PMC9358119 DOI: 10.1007/s00477-022-02286-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The main objectives of this study were to (i) assess variation within fine particles (PM2.5) and tropospheric ozone (O3) time series in Khorramabad (Iran) between 2019 (before) and 2020 (during COVID-19 pandemic); (ii) assess relationship between PM2.5 and O3, the PM2.5/O3 ratio, and energy consumption; and (iii) estimate the health effects of exposure to ambient PM2.5 and O3. From hourly PM2.5 and O3 concentrations, we applied both linear-log and integrated exposure-response functions, city-specific relative risk, and baseline incidence values to estimate the health effects over time. A significant correlation was found between PM2.5 and O3 (r =-0.46 in 2019, r =-0.55 in 2020, p < 0.05). The number of premature deaths for all non-accidental causes (27.5 and 24.6), ischemic heart disease (7.3 and 6.3), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (17 and 19.2), and lung cancer (9.2 and 6.25) attributed to ambient PM2.5 exposure and for respiratory diseases (4.7 and 5.4) for exposure to O3 above 10 µg m-3 for people older than 30-year-old were obtained in 2019 and 2020. The number of years of life lost declined by 11.6% in 2020 and exposure to PM2.5 reduced the life expectancy by 0.58 and 0.45 years, respectively in 2019 and 2020. Compared to 2019, the restrictive measures associated to COVID-19 pandemic led to reduction in PM2.5 (-25.5%) and an increase of O3 concentration (+ 8.0%) in Khorramabad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajab Rashidi
- Department of Occupational Health, Nutritional Health Research Center, School of Health and Nutrition,
Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Yusef Omidi Khaniabadi
- Occupational and Environmental Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO), Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | | | - Khatereh Anbari
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
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14
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Yang C, Wu H, Guo Y, Hao Y, Wang Z. Promoting economic and environmental resilience in the post-COVID-19 era through the city and regional on-road fuel sustainability development. NPJ URBAN SUSTAINABILITY 2022; 2:33. [PMID: 37521772 PMCID: PMC9751518 DOI: 10.1038/s42949-022-00078-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
How to control the global temperature rise within 1.5 °C in the post-COVID-19 era has attracted attention. Road transport accounts for nearly a quarter of global CO2 emissions, and the related sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions also trigger air pollution issues in population-intensive cities and areas. Many cities and states have announced a timetable for phasing out urban-based fossil fuel vehicles. By combining a Markov-chain model with a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, the impacts of on-road energy structural change led by phasing out fossil fuel vehicles in the road transportation sector are evaluated. The impact of automobile emissions (both CO2 and SO2) on the environment is evaluated, taking into consideration of variation between cities, regions, and countries. Two other major driving forces in addition to CO2 emissions reduction in promoting fossil fuel vehicles' transition toward net-zero carbon are identified and analyzed with multiple different indicators. Under the framework of the DSGE model, climate policy instruments' effects on economic development, energy consumption, and their link to economic and environmental resilience are evaluated under exogenous shocks as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuxiao Yang
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Haitao Wu
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yunxia Guo
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yu Hao
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
- Yangtze River Delta Region Academy of Beijing Institute of Technology, Jiaxing, 314001 China
- Sustainable Development Research Institute for Economy and Society of Beijing, Beijing, 100081 China
- Beijing Key Lab of Energy Economics and Environmental Management, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Zhaohua Wang
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
- Research Center for Sustainable Development & Intelligent Decision, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
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15
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Tian X, Huang G, Song Z, An C, Chen Z. Impact from the evolution of private vehicle fleet composition on traffic related emissions in the small-medium automotive city. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 840:156657. [PMID: 35709991 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the emission characteristics in the evolution of private vehicle fleet composition has become a key issue to be addressed to develop appropriate emission mitigation strategies in transportation sector. In this study, the influence of such evolution on on-road emissions was investigated based on a comprehensive dataset encompassing vehicle fleet composition, demographic, economic, and energy features from a representative small-medium automotive city in North America. The decoupling analysis was carried out to assess the dynamic linkage between environmental pressure exerted by the transportation sector and economic growth at both city level and national level in North America. We also developed an approach that supports the long-term traffic-related air pollutant prediction and investigated the potential influence on urban air quality. A sharp upward trajectory was observed in the quantity of SUVs from 2001 to 2018, gradually replacing the dominance of the quantity of four-door cars. There was a significant shift in the GHG emissions emitted from vehicle types used for passenger transport: emissions from SUVs and trucks rose by 374.0% and 69.3%, respectively, whereas emissions from four-door cars, two-door cars, station wagons, and vans all decreased. The changes in vehicle composition, along with the steady trend in GHG emissions from private fleet and decrease in on-road air pollutant concentrations found in Regina, were a response to the establishment of federal fuel economy standards and improved fuel economy. Relative decoupling was observed in aggregate for Regina and Canada in most of the years while both experienced economic downturns and increases in environmental pressure in the form of emissions from 2014 to 2015. The predicted results also demonstrate the high capability of XGboost machine learning algorithm in predicting on-road air pollutant concentrations of CO, PM2.5, and NOX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Tian
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Gordon Huang
- Environmental Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Ziyang Song
- School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada
| | - Chunjiang An
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada.
| | - Zhikun Chen
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
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16
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Wong YJ, Shiu HY, Chang JHH, Ooi MCG, Li HH, Homma R, Shimizu Y, Chiueh PT, Maneechot L, Nik Sulaiman NM. Spatiotemporal impact of COVID-19 on Taiwan air quality in the absence of a lockdown: Influence of urban public transportation use and meteorological conditions. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION 2022; 365:132893. [PMID: 35781986 PMCID: PMC9234473 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 significantly improved the atmospheric environment for lockdown-imposed regions; however, scant evidence exists on its impacts on regions without lockdown. A novel research framework is proposed to evaluate the long-term monthly spatiotemporal impact of COVID-19 on Taiwan air quality through different statistical analyses, including geostatistical analysis, change detection analysis and identification of nonattainment pollutant occurrence between the average mean air pollutant concentrations from 2018-2019 and 2020, considering both meteorological and public transportation impacts. Contrary to lockdown-imposed regions, insignificant or worsened air quality conditions were observed at the beginning of COVID-19, but a delayed improvement occurred after April in Taiwan. The annual mean concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO and O3 in 2020 were reduced by 24%, 18%, 15%, 9.6%, 7.4% and 1.3%, respectively (relative to 2018-2019), and the overall occurrence frequency of nonattainment air pollutants declined by over 30%. Backward stepwise regression models for each air pollutant were successfully constructed utilizing 12 meteorological parameters (R2 > 0.8 except for SO2) to simulate the meteorological normalized business-as-usual concentration. The hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT) model simulated the fate of air pollutants (e.g., local emissions or transboundary pollution) for anomalous months. The changes in different public transportation usage volumes (e.g., roadway, railway, air, and waterway) moderately reduced air pollution, particularly CO and NO2. Reduced public transportation use had a more significant impact than meteorology on air quality improvement in Taiwan, highlighting the importance of proper public transportation management for air pollution control and paving a new path for sustainable air quality management even in the absence of a lockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Jie Wong
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, 520-0811, Japan
| | - Huan-Yu Shiu
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Jackson Hian-Hui Chang
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, 32001, Taiwan
- Preparatory Center for Science and Technology (PPST), Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400, Malaysia
| | - Maggie Chel Gee Ooi
- Institute of Climate Change, National University of Malaysia (UKM), Bangi, 43600, Malaysia
| | - Hsueh-Hsun Li
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Ryosuke Homma
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, 520-0811, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Shimizu
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, 520-0811, Japan
| | - Pei-Te Chiueh
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Luksanaree Maneechot
- Environmental Engineering and Disaster Management Program, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mahidol University Kanchanaburi Campus (MUKA), Kanchanaburi, 71150, Thailand
| | - Nik Meriam Nik Sulaiman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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17
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Gao Y, Levinson D. A bifurcation of the peak: new patterns of traffic peaking during the COVID-19 era. TRANSPORTATION 2022:1-21. [PMID: 36105738 PMCID: PMC9462630 DOI: 10.1007/s11116-022-10329-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This paper analyzes the emergence of two well-defined peaks during the morning peak period in the traffic flow diurnal curve. It selects six California cities as research targets, and uses California employment and household travel survey data to explain how and why this phenomenon has risen during the pandemic. The final result explains that the double-humped phenomenon results from the change in the composition of commuters during the morning peak period after the outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gao
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales Australia
| | - David Levinson
- School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales Australia
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18
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Bakola M, Hernandez Carballo I, Jelastopulu E, Stuckler D. The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on air pollution in Europe and North America: a systematic review. Eur J Public Health 2022; 32:962-968. [PMID: 36074061 PMCID: PMC9494388 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple studies report reductions in air pollution associated with COVID-19 lockdowns. METHODS We performed a systematic review of the changes observed in hazardous air pollutants known or suspected to be harmful to health, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM). We searched PubMed and Web of Science for studies reporting the associations of lockdowns with air pollutant changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and North America. RESULTS One hundred nine studies were identified and analyzed. Several pollutants exhibited marked and sustained reductions. The strongest was NO2 (93% of 89 estimated changes were reductions) followed by CO (88% of 33 estimated pollutant changes). All NOx and benzene studies reported significant reductions although these were based on fewer than 10 estimates. About three-quarters of PM2.5 and PM10 estimates showed reductions and few studies reported increases when domestic fuel use rose during COVID-19 lockdowns. In contrast, O3 levels rose as NOx levels fell. SO2 and ammonia (NH3) had mixed results. In general, greater reductions appeared when lockdowns were more severe, as well as where baseline pollutant levels were higher, such as at low-elevation and in densely populated areas. Substantial and robust reductions in NO2, NO, CO, CO2, PM2.5, PM10, benzene and air quality index pollution occurred in association with COVID-19 lockdowns. O3 levels tended to increase, while SO2 and NH3 had mixed patterns. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows the profound impact of human activity levels on air pollution and its potential avoidability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bakola
- Research Unit for General Medicine and Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Science, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Ireri Hernandez Carballo
- Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.,RFF-CMCC European Institute of Economics and the Environment, Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleni Jelastopulu
- Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - David Stuckler
- Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy.,Department of Social & Political Sciences and Dondena Research Centre, University of Bocconi, Milan, Italy
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19
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Adibfar A, Gulhare S, Srinivasan S, Costin A. Analysis and modeling of changes in online shopping behavior due to Covid-19 pandemic: A Florida case study. TRANSPORT POLICY 2022; 126:162-176. [PMID: 36043031 PMCID: PMC9414037 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of eCommerce and online shopping commenced a new episode in human life and changed trading patterns. Online shopping provided access to a broader range of products and facilitated their delivery, which increased demand. To respond to the increased demand, more heavy commercial vehicles need to be on the roads to deliver orders. This is while the road infrastructure is not ready for such a swift shift, and most roads and bridges were planned and constructed during the 19s when online shopping was not coined yet. The continued increase of heavy vehicles on roads can intensify the deterioration of roads and structures such as bridges. Therefore, there is a significant need for an update on new shopping trends, especially changes in people's behavior due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and to assess if the pandemic permanently changed the trends of in-store and online shopping. This study first examines the NHTS 2017 data to find the attributes that are significant to online shoppers' behavior. Then a survey is developed to scrutinize Covid-19 effects on the online shopping behavior of users before, during, and after the Covid-19 pandemic. 206 records of data are interpreted through descriptive analysis and discrete choice modeling of users' responses to find the most significant attributes affecting their online shopping behavior. The findings of discrete choice modeling and descriptive analysis support that people tend to go back to stores after the pandemic. The findings of this study show that online and in-store shopping would be balanced after the pandemic and would pursue their normal trends as they were before the pandemic. Based on the findings of this study, it is hard to state that online shopping can vanish in-store shopping due to Covid-19. People still need to go to stores to fulfill their needs for the joy of shopping, interactions with other people, and touching the products they would like to buy. Therefore, transportation stakeholders need to pay special attention to both in-store and online shopping for their planning and operation management of ground transportation infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Adibfar
- Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, United States
| | - Siddhartha Gulhare
- Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, United States
| | - Siva Srinivasan
- Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, United States
| | - Aaron Costin
- M.E. Rinker Sr, School of Construction Management, University of Florida, United States
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20
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Baimatova N, Omarova A, Muratuly A, Tursumbayeva M, Ibragimova OP, Bukenov B, Kerimray A. Seasonal Variations and Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions on the Air Quality in the Cities of Kazakhstan. ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES 2022. [PMCID: PMC9395825 DOI: 10.1007/s40710-022-00603-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on different air pollutants in eight cities of Kazakhstan by employing the data from the National Air Quality Monitoring Network. We selected eight cities located in different regions of the country with varied climatic and geographic conditions and emissions sources, providing good conditions for studying the differences in responses of air quality to COVID-19. Due to severe winters, the heating season in Kazakhstan has a significant impact on air quality; therefore, annual winter/spring changes in air quality were also compared. The positive effect of the COVID-19 lockdown (spring 2020) on NO2 and CO levels was observed in 5 and 3 cities, respectively (out of 8). Total Suspended Particles and SO2 exhibited a more complicated response to COVID-19 lockdown: cities had a varying effect. No impact of lockdown measures was observed in industrial cities (Ust-Kamenegorsk and Karagandy), but seasonal changes were significant. In addition, despite some improvements during the lockdown period, the air quality in seven out of eight cities was still below the safety levels. The atmospheric quality in urban areas of Kazakhstan has not improved significantly due to the lockdown measures. This study underscores the importance of imposing stricter air quality emission control over industrial enterprises and coal-fired power plants. Response of air quality to COVID-19 lockdown in eight cities of Kazakhstan was examined The positive effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on NO2 and CO was observed in 5 and 3 cities, respectively The effect of the quarantine measures on SO2 and TSP was different in different cities Industrial cities were not affected by the lockdown, but seasonal changes were significant NO2 and SO2 concentrations exceeded the WHO limits during the COVID-19 lockdown period
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Affiliation(s)
- Nassiba Baimatova
- Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 96a Tole bi Street, 050012 Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Anara Omarova
- Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 96a Tole bi Street, 050012 Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Aset Muratuly
- Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 96a Tole bi Street, 050012 Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Madina Tursumbayeva
- Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 96a Tole bi Street, 050012 Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Olga P. Ibragimova
- Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 96a Tole bi Street, 050012 Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Bauyrzhan Bukenov
- Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 96a Tole bi Street, 050012 Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Aiymgul Kerimray
- Center of Physical-Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 96a Tole bi Street, 050012 Almaty, Kazakhstan
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21
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Abduljabbar RL, Liyanage S, Dia H. A systematic review of the impacts of the coronavirus crisis on urban transport: Key lessons learned and prospects for future cities. CITIES (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 127:103770. [PMID: 35663145 PMCID: PMC9135703 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.103770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on the transport sector worldwide. Lockdown and physical distancing requirements continue to be enforced in many cities leading to severe travel restrictions and travel demand reduction to limit the spread of the disease. This article provides bibliometric evidence-based insights into how the pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of established public transport systems and shared mobility solutions. It shows how some transport interventions can accelerate the shift to sustainable urban mobility practices such as micro-mobility and active transport. To accomplish this, the article examines recent studies (244 publications) from the Scopus database using a rigorous systematic literature review approach covering the period from January 2020 to February 2021. Importantly, the mapping of bibliographic coupling and co-citation analysis showed four heterogeneous clusters representing research efforts into "environment", "travel behavior and mode choice", "public transport", and "interventions". Inductive reasoning is used to analyze the disruptions that cities have encountered worldwide, the rapid interventions that were put in place, the aftershocks and the short and long-term impacts. Finally, the paper summarizes the lessons learned and opportunities ahead, and the challenges that must be overcome. The article also outlines pathways to build on the momentum of sustainable practices as part of a holistic approach for enabling resilient transport solutions for the new urban world.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hussein Dia
- Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
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22
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Wang Z, An C, Lee K, Chen X, Zhang B, Yin J, Feng Q. Physicochemical change and microparticle release from disposable gloves in the aqueous environment impacted by accelerated weathering. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:154986. [PMID: 35395312 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The explosive growth of disposable gloves usage in cities around the world has posed a considerable risk to municipal solid management and disposal during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of the environmental awareness leads to glove waste being discarded randomly and ending up in the soil and/or the ocean ecosystem. To explore the physicochemical changes and environmental behaviors of disposable glove wastes in the aqueous environment, three kinds of glove (latex, nitrile and vinyl) were investigated. The results showed that the physicochemical characteristics of disposable gloves made of different materials were altered to different degrees by UV weathering. Nitrile gloves were more stable than latex and vinyl gloves after being exposed to weathering conditions. Although the chemical structures were not clearly demonstrated through FTIR after weathering, the SEM results showed significant microscopic changes on the surfaces of the gloves. Analysis of the leachate results showed that UV weathered gloves released leachable substances, including microparticles, organic matter, and heavy metals. Latex gloves were more likely to release microparticles and other substances into the water after UV weathering. The release of microparticles from gloves can also be impacted by sand abrasion. The appropriate strategy needs to be developed to mitigate the environmental impact caused by the discarded gloves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Chunjiang An
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada.
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ecosystem Science, Ottawa, K1A 0E6, Canada
| | - Xiujuan Chen
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, A1B 3X5, Canada
| | - Baiyu Zhang
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollutant Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University, St. John's, A1B 3X5, Canada
| | - Jianan Yin
- Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Communities, University of Regina, Regina, S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Qi Feng
- Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G 1M8, Canada
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23
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Lin GY, Chen WY, Chieh SH, Yang YT. Chang impact analysis of level 3 COVID-19 alert on air pollution indicators using artificial neural network. ECOL INFORM 2022; 69:101674. [PMID: 36568861 PMCID: PMC9760264 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In this study, mean monthly and diurnal variations in fine particulate matters (PM2.5), nitrate, sulfate, and gaseous precursors were investigated during the Level 3 COVID-19 alert from May 19 to July 27 in 2021. For comparison, the historical data during the identical period in 2019 and 2020 were also provided to determine the effect of the Level 3 COVID-19 alert on aerosols and gaseous pollutants concentrations in Taichung City. A machine learning model using the artificial neural network technique coupled with a kinetic model was applied to predict NOx, O3, nitrate (NO3 -), and sulfate (SO4 2-) to investigate potential emission sources and chemical reaction mechanism. D during the Level 3 COVID-19 alert, a decrease in NOx concentration due to a decrease in traffic flow under the NOx-saturated regime was observed to enhance the secondary NO3 - and O3 formation. The present models were shown to predict 80.1, 77.0, 72.6, and 67.2% concentrations of NOx, O3, NO3 -, and SO4 2-, respectively, which could help decision-makers for pollutant emissions reduction policies development and air pollution control strategies. It is recommended that more long-term datasets, including water soluble inorganic salts (WIS), precursors including OH radicals, NH3, HNO3, and H2SO4, be provided by regulatory air quality monitoring stations to further improve the prediction model accuracy.
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24
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Mogaji E. Wishful thinking? Addressing the long-term implications of COVID-19 for transport in Nigeria. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH. PART D, TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT 2022; 105:103206. [PMID: 36570333 PMCID: PMC9761280 DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2022.103206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
With their inherent economic and infrastructure challenges, developing countries must assess commuters' travel behaviour and establish whether consumers' desire for sustainable transportation is feasible or merely wishful thinking. Using a qualitative research design, these issues were explored based on semi-structured interviews conducted with 72 participants across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Findings suggest that the desires and dreams of the commuters are great, and they want to reduce their journeys, work from home, and do online shopping. However, when they consider the inherent challenges, they can only hope for a better future. COVID-19 has impacted the ownership or use of motorised and non-motorised transport, but this is also influenced by affordability, convenience, and awareness. Likewise, there are long-term effects on home and work location choices, but this is further influenced by the large informal economy of the country, job accessibility and the infrastructural developments across the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Mogaji
- University of Greenwich, London, UK
- Centre for Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation (CEMRI), Abuja, Nigeria
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25
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Shamsi S, Zaman K, Usman B, Nassani AA, Haffar M, Abro MMQ. Do environmental pollutants carrier to COVID-19 pandemic? A cross-sectional analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:17530-17543. [PMID: 34668140 PMCID: PMC8526356 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly transmitted disease that spreads all over the globe in a short period. Environmental pollutants are considered one of the carriers to spread the COVID-19 pandemic through health damages. Carbon emissions, PM2.5 emissions, nitrous oxide emissions, GHG, and other GHG emissions are mainly judged separately in the earlier studies in different economic settings. The study hypothesizes that environmental pollutants adversely affect healthcare outcomes, likely to infected people by contagious diseases, including coronavirus cases. The subject matter is vital to analyze the preventive healthcare theory by using different environmental pollutants on the COVID-19 factors: total infected cases, total death cases, and case fatality ratio, in a large cross-section of 119 countries. The study employed the generalized least square (GLS) method for robust inferences. The results show that GHG and CO2 emissions are critical factors likely to increase total coronavirus cases and death rates. On the other hand, nitrous oxide, carbon, and transport emissions increase the case fatality ratio through healthcare damages. The study concludes that stringent environmental policies and improving healthcare infrastructure can control coronavirus cases across countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salman Shamsi
- Department of Economics, University of Haripur, Haripur Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Zaman
- Department of Economics, University of Haripur, Haripur Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Bushra Usman
- School of Management, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Abdelmohsen A. Nassani
- Department of Management, College of Business Administration, King Saud University, P.O. Box 71115, Riyadh, 11587 Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Haffar
- Department of Management, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Muhammad Moinuddin Qazi Abro
- Department of Management, College of Business Administration, King Saud University, P.O. Box 71115, Riyadh, 11587 Saudi Arabia
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26
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Chen C, Feng T, Gu X. Role of latent factors and public policies in travel decisions under COVID-19 pandemic: Findings of a hybrid choice model. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2022; 78:103601. [PMID: 35004132 PMCID: PMC8718097 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.103601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Policy measures to control the spread of COVID-19 imposed by different countries have a devastating impact on people's travel behaviors. Differing from the normal situation where general concerns on travel time and cost determine the travel choices, the uncertainty underlying behavior change in the case of a pandemic might be largely attributed to the latent aspects, i.e., social responsibility, risk perception, attitudes, which could diminish the effects of main attributes on travel decisions. Therefore, this paper examines the effects of COVID-19 related policies on individuals' travel choices influenced by the latent aspects. A stated choice experiment was designed to collect people's responses under policy measures to various transportation modes. Results of a hybrid choice model show that COVID-19 related policies significantly affect individuals' transportation mode choice decisions during pandemic situations. The attributes, like travel time and travel cost, which significantly impact travel behavior in normal situations, become less relevant. Moreover, the travel preferences during the pandemic are significantly associated with latent factors of social responsibility, fear of infection, perceived risk, and travel anxiety. In general, public transportation is identified as an insecure alternative compared with other private modes, and people who are more socially responsible tend to travel less during the pandemic. Outcomes of this study could be of value to policymakers and public health emergencies, e.g., government authorities to utilize such knowledge in providing social support for these COVID-19 countermeasures and designing customized policies for specific population groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis for Industrial Equipment, School of Automotive Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, PR China
| | - Tao Feng
- Urban and Data Science, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8511, Japan
- Urban Planning and Transportation, Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600MB, the Netherland
| | - Xiaoning Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis for Industrial Equipment, School of Automotive Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, PR China
- Urban Planning and Transportation, Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600MB, the Netherland
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27
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DeWeese J, Ravensbergen L, El-Geneidy A. Travel behaviour and greenhouse gas emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study in a university setting. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES 2022; 13:100531. [PMID: 35036906 PMCID: PMC8744471 DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2021.100531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The year 2020 was characterized by a marked shift in daily travel patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we know that overall travel decreased, less is known about modal shift among those who continued to travel during the pandemic or about the impact of these travel-behaviour changes on transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. Focusing on a university setting and drawing from a travel survey conducted in Fall 2020 in Montreal, Canada (n = 3358), this study examines modal shifts and quantifies greenhouse gas emissions at three time periods in the year 2020: pre-pandemic, early pandemic, and later pandemic. The pandemic resulted in a sharp reduction in travel to campus. Among those who continued to travel to campus (n = 1580), car-to-final destination mode share almost tripled at the start of the pandemic. The largest modal shift seen was the transition from walking, cycling, and transit, to driving at the beginning of the pandemic. Reductions in overall travel resulted in lower overall transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. However, if modal changes persist once students, staff, and academics return to campus, the transport carbon footprint is projected to increase above pre-pandemic levels. These results highlight the importance of putting in place policies that support a return to sustainable modes as universities and businesses reopen for in-person activities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Léa Ravensbergen
- School of Urban Planning, McGill University, Canada
- School of Urban Planning, Room 415 Macdonald-Harrington Building 815 Rue Sherbrooke O #400, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C2, Canada
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28
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Yang M, Chen L, Msigwa G, Tang KHD, Yap PS. Implications of COVID-19 on global environmental pollution and carbon emissions with strategies for sustainability in the COVID-19 era. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 809:151657. [PMID: 34793787 PMCID: PMC8592643 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of COVID-19 on global environmental pollution since its onset in December 2019 require special attention. The rapid spread of COVID-19 globally has led countries to lock down cities, restrict traffic travel and impose strict safety measures, all of which have implications on the environment. This review aims to systematically and comprehensively present and analyze the positive and negative impacts of COVID-19 on global environmental pollution and carbon emissions. It also aims to propose strategies to prolong the beneficial, while minimize the adverse environmental impacts of COVID-19. It systematically and comprehensively reviewed more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and publications related to the impacts of COVID-19 on air, water and soil pollution, carbon emissions as well as the sustainable strategies forward. It revealed that PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and CO levels reduced in most regions globally but SO2 and O3 levels increased or did not show significant changes. Surface water, coastal water and groundwater quality improved globally during COVID-19 lockdown except few reservoirs and coastal areas. Soil contamination worsened mainly due to waste from the use of personal protective equipment particularly masks and the packaging, besides household waste. Carbon emissions were reduced primarily due to travel restrictions and less usage of utilities though emissions from certain ships did not change significantly to maintain supply of the essentials. Sustainable strategies post-COVID-19 include the development and adoption of nanomaterial adsorption and microbial remediation technologies, integrated waste management measures, "sterilization wave" technology and energy-efficient technologies. This review provides important insight and novel coverage of the environmental implications of COVID-19 in more than 25 countries across different global regions to permit formulation of specific pollution control and sustainability strategies in the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 eras for better environmental quality and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Yang
- Department of Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Department of Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Goodluck Msigwa
- Department of Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
- Environmental Science Program, Division of Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China
| | - Pow-Seng Yap
- Department of Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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29
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Designing the Controller-Based Urban Traffic Evaluation and Prediction Using Model Predictive Approach. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12041992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
As society grows, the urbanized population proliferates, and urbanization accelerates. Increasing traffic problems affect the normal process of the city. The urban transportation system is vital to the effective functioning of any city. Science and technology are critical elements in improving traffic performance in urban areas. In this paper, a novel control strategy based on selecting the type of traffic light and the duration of the green phase to achieve an optimal balance at intersections is proposed. This balance should be adaptable to fixed behavior of time and randomness in a traffic situation; the goal of the proposed method is to reduce traffic volume in transportation, the average delay for each vehicle, and control the crashing of cars. Due to the distribution of urban traffic and the urban transportation network among intelligent methods for traffic control, the multi-factor system has been designed as a suitable, intelligent, emerging, and successful model. Intersection traffic control is checked through proper traffic light timing modeled on multi-factor systems. Its ability to solve complex real-world problems has made multiagent systems a field of distributed artificial intelligence that is rapidly gaining popularity. The proposed method was investigated explicitly at the intersection through an appropriate traffic light timing by sampling a multiagent system. It consists of many intersections, and each of them is considered an independent agent that shares information with each other. The stability of each agent is proved separately. One of the salient features of the proposed method for traffic light scheduling is that there is no limit to the number of intersections and the distance between intersections. In this paper, we proposed method model predictive control for each intersection’s stability; the simulation results show that the predictive model controller in this multi-factor model predictive system is more valuable than scheduling in the fixed-time method. It reduces the length of vehicle queues.
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30
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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Air Quality: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19041950. [PMID: 35206139 PMCID: PMC8871899 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19041950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, several governments imposed severe restrictions on socio-economic activities, putting most of the world population into a general lockdown in March 2020. Although scattered, studies on this topic worldwide have rapidly emerged in the literature. Hence, this systematic review aimed to identify and discuss the scientifically validated literature that evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on air quality. Thus, a total of 114 studies that quantified the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air quality through monitoring were selected from three databases. The most evaluated countries were India and China; all the studies intended to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on air quality, mainly concerning PM10, PM2.5, NO2, O3, CO, and SO2. Most of them focused on the 1st lockdown, comparing with the pre- and post-lockdown periods and usually in urban areas. Many studies conducted a descriptive analysis, while others complemented it with more advanced statistical analysis. Although using different methodologies, some studies reported a temporary air quality improvement during the lockdown. More studies are still needed, comparing different lockdown and lifting periods and, in other areas, for a definition of better-targeted policies to reduce air pollution.
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31
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Assessing the Impacts of Human Activities on Air Quality during the COVID-19 Pandemic through Case Analysis. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 is the latest of many pandemic affecting the world in the past few decades, and it has had a significant impact on the global environment. Some research has analysed the effects of the pandemic on air quality; however, very few studies have employed relationship analytics. In order to analyse the potential relationship between pandemic-related information and air quality data from a more holistic and detailed point of view, we propose a methodology based on pure data analysis. Three types of data were collected, namely air quality index, pandemic-related events, and number of COVID cases. Data were collected from five cities—Wuhan, New York, Seoul, Melbourne, and Singapore—to further analyse the response of air quality index to COVID events, thus revealing how human activity influences air quality from a pandemic perspective. The results show that a potential connection does exist in most cases and provide more evidence showing that air pollution declined during the pandemic. However, the strength of this relationship may also be related to other factors, such as geography, politics, population density, and measures imposed by local authorities, etc. This study provides another perspective to assist stakeholders in improving environmental decision making.
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32
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Chang L, Chen K, Saydaliev HB, Faridi MZ. Asymmetric impact of pandemics-related uncertainty on CO 2 emissions: evidence from top-10 polluted countries. STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND RISK ASSESSMENT : RESEARCH JOURNAL 2022; 36:4103-4117. [PMID: 35873500 PMCID: PMC9288206 DOI: 10.1007/s00477-022-02248-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The recent COVD-19 pandemic has been a major shock, affecting various macroeconomic indicators, including the environmental quality. The question of how the pandemics-related uncertainty will affect the environment is of paramount importance. The study analyzes the asymmetric impact of pandemic uncertainty on CO2 emissions in top-10 polluted economies (China, USA, India, Russia, Germany, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia). Taking panel data from 1996 to 2018, a unique technique, 'Quantile-on-Quantile (QQ)', is employed. CO2 emissions are used as an indicator of environmental quality. The outcomes define how the quantiles of pandemic uncertainty impact the quantiles of carbon emissions asymmetrically by providing an effective paradigm for comprehending the overall dependence framework. The outcomes reveal that pandemic uncertainty promotes environmental quality by lowering CO2 emissions in our sample countries at various quantiles. However, Japan shows mixed findings. The effect of PUN on CO2 is substantially larger in India, Germany, and South Korea and lower in Russia and Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the magnitude of asymmetry in the pandemic uncertainty-CO2 emissions association differs by economy, emphasizing that government must pay particular caution and prudence when adopting pandemics-related uncertainty and environmental quality policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Chang
- School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026 China
| | - Kaiming Chen
- School of Finance and Trade, Wenzhou Business College, Wenzhou, 325035 China
| | - Hayot Berk Saydaliev
- Business School, Suleyman Demirel University, Kaskelen, Almaty, 040900 Kazakhstan
- Research Fellow, Mathematical Methods in Economics, Tashkent State University of Economics, Tashkent, Uzbekistan 100003
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33
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Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Air Quality of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo: Analysis Based on Satellite Data, Monitoring Stations and Records of Annual Average Daily Traffic Volumes on the Main Access Roads to the City. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents an analysis of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the air quality of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP). The effects of social distancing are still recent in the society; however, it was possible to observe patterns of environmental changes in places that had adhered transportation measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Thus, from the analysis of the traffic volumes made on some of the main access highways to the MRSP, as well as the monitoring of the levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), directly linked to atmospheric emissions from motor vehicles–which make up about 95% of air polluting agents in the region in different locations–we showed relationships between the improvement in air quality and the decrease in vehicles that access the MRSP. To improve the data analysis, therefore, the isolation index parameter was evaluated to provide daily information on the percentage of citizens in each municipality of the state that was effectively practicing social distancing. The intersection of these groups of data determined that the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the volume of vehicles on the highways by up to 50% of what it was in 2019, with the subsequent recovery of the traffic volume, even surpassing the values from the baseline year. Thus, the isolation index showed a decline of up to 20% between its implementation in March 2020 and December 2020. These data and the way they varied during 2020 allowed to observe an improvement of up to 50% in analyzed periods of the pollutants PM2.5, CO and NO2 in the MRSP. The main contribution of this study, alongside the synergistic use of data from different sources, was to perform traffic flow analysis separately for light and heavy duty vehicles (LDVs and HDVs). The relationships between traffic volume patterns and COVID-19 pollution were analyzed based on time series.
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34
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Zhou Y, Feng L, Zhang X, Wang Y, Wang S, Wu T. Spatiotemporal patterns of the COVID-19 control measures impact on industrial production in Wuhan using time-series earth observation data. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 75:103388. [PMID: 34608429 PMCID: PMC8482229 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.103388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of the COVID-19 impact on industrial production could improve the estimation of the economic loss and sustainable work resumption policies in cities. In this study, assuming and checking a correlation between the land surface temperature (LST) and industrial production, we applied the BFAST algorithm and linear regression models on multi-temporal MODIS data to derive monthly time-series deviation of LST with a spatial resolution of 1 × 1 km, to quantificationally explore the fine-scale spatiotemporal patterns of the COVID-19 control measures impact on industrial production, within Wuhan city. The results demonstrate that (1) the trend of time-series LST could partly reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on industrial production, and the year-around industrial production was less than expectations, with a fall of 14.30%; (2) the most serious COVID-19 impact on industrial production appeared in Mar. and Apr., then, after the lifting of lockdown, some regions (approximate 4.90%) firstly returned to expected levels in Jun, and almost all regions (98.49%) have completed the resumption of work and production before Nov.; (3) the southwest and south-central had more serious impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximate twice as much as that in the north and suburban, in Wuhan. The results and findings elaborated the spatiotemporal distribution and their changes during 2020 within Wuhan, which could provide a beneficial support for assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of resumption plans for sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya'nan Zhou
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Address: No. 1, Xikang Road, Nanjing 210010, China
| | - Li Feng
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Address: No. 1, Xikang Road, Nanjing 210010, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Aerospace information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yan Wang
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Address: No. 1, Xikang Road, Nanjing 210010, China
| | - Shunying Wang
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Address: No. 1, Xikang Road, Nanjing 210010, China
| | - Tianjun Wu
- School of Science, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China
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35
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Yang C, Hao Y, Irfan M. Energy consumption structural adjustment and carbon neutrality in the post-COVID-19 era. STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND ECONOMIC DYNAMICS 2021; 59:442-453. [PMID: 35317307 PMCID: PMC8506069 DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2021.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Since the spread of COVID-19 pandemic all over the world, a significant recession has broken out with no precedent. China has brought up a new voluntary contribution target that achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. How to achieve climate change mitigation targets without heavily hindering economic development is of great importance in the future. In this study, a Markov chain model is employed to forecast primary energy consumption (PEC) structure and verify whether the carbon intensity target would be achieved under three scenarios with different economic growth rates, such as 6.1%, 4.2%, and 2.3%, respectively. A multi-sector dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model is employed to simulate and evaluate economic development, fossil and non-fossil energy consumption, and CO2 emissions under three scenarios using data calibration according to the Markov chain prediction result. The prediction results from the Markov chain show that energy structural adjustment can help us achieve the carbon intensity target of 2030 under both steady and mid-speed development scenarios. As long as the economic growth rate is higher than 4.2%, the carbon intensity target can be achieved mainly through energy consumption structural change, which provides a way to achieve the carbon neutrality target of 2060. The simulation results from the DSGE model show that energy structural adjustment can also smooth the volatility of the economic fluctuation when exogenous stochastic shocks happened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuxiao Yang
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yu Hao
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Electric Vehicles in Beijing, Beijing 100081, China
- Sustainable Development Research Institute for Economy and Society of Beijing, Beijing 100081, China
- Beijing Key Lab of Energy Economics and Environmental Management, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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36
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Chand S, Yee E, Alsultan A, Dixit VV. A Descriptive Analysis on the Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Road Traffic Incidents in Sydney, Australia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:11701. [PMID: 34770214 PMCID: PMC8583350 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 has had tremendous effects worldwide, resulting in large-scale death and upheaval. An abundance of studies have shown that traffic patterns have changed worldwide as working from home has become dominant, with many facilities, restaurants and retail services being closed due to the lockdown orders. With regards to road safety, there have been several studies on the reduction in fatalities and crash frequencies and increase in crash severity during the lockdown period. However, no scientific evidence has been reported on the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on traffic incident duration, a key metric for crash management. It is also unclear from the existing literature whether the impacts on traffic incidents are consistent across multiple lockdowns. This paper analyses the impact of two different COVID-19 lockdowns in Sydney, Australia, on traffic incident duration and frequency. During the first (31 March-28 April 2020) and second (26 June-31 August 2021) lockdowns, the number of incidents fell by 50% and 60%, respectively, in comparison to the same periods in 2018 and 2019. The proportion of incidents involving towing increased significantly during both lockdowns. The mean duration of crashes increased by 16% during the first lockdown, but the change was less significant during the subsequent lockdown. Crashes involving diversions, emergency services and towing saw an increase in the mean duration by 67%, 16%, and 47%, respectively, during the first lockdown. However, this was not reflected in the 2021 data, with only major crashes seeing a significant increase, i.e., by 58%. There was also a noticeable shift in the location of incidents, with more incidents recorded in suburban areas, away from the central business area. Our findings suggest drastic changes in incident characteristics, and these changes should be considered by policymakers in promoting a safer and more sustainable transportation network in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Chand
- Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia;
| | - Ernest Yee
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia;
| | - Abdulmajeed Alsultan
- Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 16273, Saudi Arabia
| | - Vinayak V. Dixit
- Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia;
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Tran PTM, Adam MG, Balasubramanian R. Assessment and mitigation of toddlers' personal exposure to black carbon before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study in Singapore. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 202:111711. [PMID: 34280416 PMCID: PMC9749899 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Black carbon (BC), an important indicator of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) in urban environments, is receiving increased attention because of its adverse health effects. Personal exposure (PE) of adults to BC has been widely studied, but little is known about the exposure of young children (toddlers) to BC in cities. We carried out a pilot study to investigate the integrated daily PE of toddlers to BC in a city-state with a high population density (Singapore). We studied the impact of urban traffic on the PE of toddlers to BC by comparing and contrasting on-road traffic flow (i.e., volume and composition) in Singapore in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) and in 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic). Our observations indicate that the daily BC exposure levels and inhaled doses increased by about 25% in 2020 (2.9 ± 0.3 μg m-3 and 35.5 μg day-1) compared to that in 2019 (2.3 ± 0.4 μg m-3 and 28.5 μg day-1 for exposure concentration and inhaled dose, respectively). The increased BC levels were associated with the increased traffic volume on both weekdays and weekends in 2020 compared to the same time period in 2019. Specifically, we observed an increase in the number of trucks as well as cars/taxis and motorcycles (private transport) and a decline in the number of buses (public transport) in 2020. The implementation of lockdown measures in 2020 resulted in significant changes in the time, place and duration of PE of toddlers to BC. The recorded daily time-activity patterns indicated that toddlers spent almost all the time in indoor environments during the measurement period in 2020. When we compared different ventilation options (natural ventilation (NV), air conditioning (AC), and portable air cleaner (PAC)) for mitigation of PE to BC in the home environment, we found a significant decrease (>30%) in daily BC exposure levels while using the PAC compared to the NV scenario. Our case study shows that the PE of toddlers to BC is of health concern in indoor environments in 2020 because of the migration of the increased TRAP into naturally ventilated residential homes and more time spent indoors than outdoors. Since toddlers' immune system is weak, technological intervention is necessary to protect their health against inhalation exposure to air pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong T M Tran
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore; Faculty of Environment, University of Science and Technology, The University of Danang, 54 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Lien Chieu District, Danang City, Viet Nam
| | - Max G Adam
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
| | - Rajasekhar Balasubramanian
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore.
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Kovács KD, Haidu I. Effect of Anti-COVID-19 Measures on Atmospheric Pollutants Correlated with the Economies of Medium-sized Cities in 10 Urban Areas of Grand Est Region, France. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 74:103173. [PMID: 36567861 PMCID: PMC9760193 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.103173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Using Sentinel-5P data, this study investigated the magnitude of change in the concentration of air pollutants (NO2, HCHO, SO2, O3, CO, and aerosol index) in the air of ten cities and urban areas of the French region of Grand Est as a result of the first lockdown imposed between March 17, 2020 and May 11, 2020. The results showed that the air quality in the urban environments of Grand Est improved significantly compared to the same period in 2019 without lockdown. NO2, O3, aerosol index and CO were the pollutants that exhibited maximum reductions by an average of -33.98%, -5.94%, -26.82% and -0.66%, respectively (the observed maximum decreases were -54.7%, -7.7%, -13.1%, and -5.3%, respectively). The largest decrease occurred in the Public Establishments of Inter-municipal Cooperation (EPCI, in French: Établissement public de coopération intercommunale) areas of Eurométropole de Strasbourg, CA Colmar, and CA Mulhouse Alsace. The maximum decrease in air pollution first occurred in land cover classes close to cities, followed by built-up urban areas. In this study, a global depollution index known as the atmospheric clearance index (ACI) was developed, which involved several air pollution parameters, and quantitatively analyzed the decrease in contamination levels of the atmosphere in this region. In addition, the correlation between the novel ACI and other population and economic development indices was studied. The results indicated that there was a negative and statistically significant correlation between ACI and population density, gross domestic product, gross value added (GVA) at basic prices, number of employees, and active enterprises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamill Dániel Kovács
- Université de Lorraine, Laboratoire LOTERR-EA7304, Île du Saulcy, 57045 Metz, France
| | - Ionel Haidu
- Université de Lorraine, Laboratoire LOTERR-EA7304, Île du Saulcy, 57045 Metz, France
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Kang Q, Song X, Xin X, Chen B, Chen Y, Ye X, Zhang B. Machine Learning-Aided Causal Inference Framework for Environmental Data Analysis: A COVID-19 Case Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:13400-13410. [PMID: 34559516 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Links between environmental conditions (e.g., meteorological factors and air quality) and COVID-19 severity have been reported worldwide. However, the existing frameworks of data analysis are insufficient or inefficient to investigate the potential causality behind the associations involving multidimensional factors and complicated interrelationships. Thus, a causal inference framework equipped with the structural causal model aided by machine learning methods was proposed and applied to examine the potential causal relationships between COVID-19 severity and 10 environmental factors (NO2, O3, PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, average air temperature, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, and wind speed) in 166 Chinese cities. The cities were grouped into three clusters based on the socio-economic features. Time-series data from these cities in each cluster were analyzed in different pandemic phases. The robustness check refuted most potential causal relationships' estimations (89 out of 90). Only one potential relationship about air temperature passed the final test with a causal effect of 0.041 under a specific cluster-phase condition. The results indicate that the environmental factors are unlikely to cause noticeable aggravation of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also demonstrated the high value and potential of the proposed method in investigating causal problems with observational data in environmental or other fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Kang
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's A1B 3X5, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Xing Song
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's A1B 3X5, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Xiaying Xin
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's A1B 3X5, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Bing Chen
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's A1B 3X5, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Yuanzhu Chen
- School of Computing, Queen's University, Kingston K7L 2N8, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xudong Ye
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's A1B 3X5, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Baiyu Zhang
- Northern Region Persistent Organic Pollution Control (NRPOP) Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's A1B 3X5, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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40
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Evaluation of Air Quality Index by Spatial Analysis Depending on Vehicle Traffic during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Turkey. ENERGIES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/en14185729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
As in other countries of the world, the Turkish government is implementing many preventive partial and total lockdown practices against the virus’s infectious effect. When the first virus case has been detected, the public authorities have taken some restriction to reduce people and traffic mobility, which has also turned into some positive affect in air quality. To this end, the paper aims to examine how this pandemic affects traffic mobility and air quality in Istanbul. The pandemic does not only have a human health impact. This study also investigates the social and environmental effects. In our analysis, we observe, visualize, compare and discuss the impact of the post- and pre-lockdown on Istanbul’s traffic mobility and air quality. To do so, a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach is proposed. Various spatial analyses are performed in GIS with the statistical data used; thus, the environmental effects of the pandemic can be better observed. We test the hypothesis that this has reduced traffic mobility and improved air quality using traffic density cluster set and air monitoring stations (five air pollutant parameters) data for five months. The results shows that there are positive changes in terms of both traffic mobility and air quality, especially in April–May. PM10, SO2, CO, NO2 and NOx parameter values improved by 21.21%, 16.55%, 18.82%, 28.62% and 39.99%, respectively. In addition, there was a 7% increase in the average traffic speed. In order for the changes to be permanent, it is recommended to integrate e-mobility and sharing systems into the current transportation network.
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Laupland KB, Collignon PJ, Schwartz IS. Sleeping with the enemy: Will the COVID-19 pandemic turn the tide of antimicrobial-resistant infections? JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE CANADA = JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE L'ASSOCIATION POUR LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE ET L'INFECTIOLOGIE CANADA 2021; 6:177-180. [PMID: 36337755 PMCID: PMC9615466 DOI: 10.3138/jammi-2021-05-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin B Laupland
- Department of Medicine, Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Intensive Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter J Collignon
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Canberra Hospital, Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Department of Infectious Disease, Medical School, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Ilan S Schwartz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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The Improvement of Air Quality and Associated Mortality during the COVID-19 Lockdown in One Megacity of China: An Empirical Strategy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168702. [PMID: 34444451 PMCID: PMC8391611 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Although the lockdown policy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic indeed improved the air quality and reduced the related health risks, the real effects of the lockdown and its resulting health risks remain unclear considering the effects of unobserved confounders and the longstanding efforts of the government regarding air pollution. We compared air pollution between the lockdown period and the period before the lockdown using a difference-in-differences (DID) model and estimated the mortality burden caused by the number of deaths related to air pollution changes. The NO2 and CO concentrations during the lockdown period (17 days) declined by 8.94 μg/m3 (relative change: 16.94%; 95% CI: 3.71, 14.16) and 0.20 mg/m3 (relative change: 16.95%; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.35) on an average day, respectively, and O3 increased by 8.41 μg/m3 (relative change: 32.80%; 95% CI: 4.39, 12.43); no meaningful impacts of the lockdown policy on the PM2.5, PM10, SO2, or the AQI values were observed. Based on the three clearly changed air pollutants, the lockdown policy prevented 8.22 (95% CI: 3.97, 12.49) all-cause deaths. Our findings suggest that the overall excess deaths caused by air pollution during the lockdown period declined. It is beneficial for human health when strict control measures, such as upgrading industry structure and promoting green transportation, are taken to reduce emissions, especially in cities with serious air pollution in China, such as Shijiazhuang.
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43
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Understanding the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Public Transportation Travel Patterns in the City of Lisbon. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13158342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is creating disruptive changes in urban mobility that may compromise the sustainability of the public transportation system. As a result, worldwide cities face the need to integrate data from different transportation modes to dynamically respond to changing conditions. This article combines statistical views with machine learning advances to comprehensively explore changing urban mobility dynamics within multimodal public transportation systems from user trip records. In particular, we retrieve discriminative traffic patterns with order-preserving coherence to model disruptions to demand expectations across geographies and show their utility to describe changing mobility dynamics with strict guarantees of statistical significance, interpretability and actionability. This methodology is applied to comprehensively trace the changes to the urban mobility patterns in the Lisbon city brought by the current COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, we consider passenger trip data gathered from the three major public transportation modes: subway, bus, and tramways. The gathered results comprehensively reveal novel travel patterns within the city, such as imbalanced demand distribution towards the city peripheries, going far beyond simplistic localized changes to the magnitude of traffic demand. This work offers a novel methodological contribution with a solid statistical ground for the spatiotemporal assessment of actionable mobility changes and provides essential insights for other cities and public transport operators facing mobility challenges alike.
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Benita F. Human mobility behavior in COVID-19: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 70:102916. [PMID: 35720981 PMCID: PMC9187318 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.102916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
This article maps the scientific literature in human mobility behavior in the context of the current pandemic. Through bibliometrics, we analyze the content of published scientific studies indexed on the Web of Science and Scopus during 2020. This enables us the detection of current hotspots and future directions of research. After a co-occurrence of keywords and evidence map analysis, four themes are identified, namely, Land Transport - Operations, Land Transport - Traffic Demand, Air Transport and Environment. We show how air transportation- and environmental-related studies tend to be more mature research whereas the understanding of changes in travel behavior (e.g., telecommuting, preventive measures or health protection behavior) tends to be immature. By using a topic modeling approach, we identify multiple sub-themes within each theme. Our framework adopts a smart literature review approach that can be constantly updated, enabling an analysis of many articles, with little investment of the researcher's time, but also provides high degree of transparency and replicability. We also put forth a research agenda that can help inform and shape transport policy and practice responses to COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Benita
- Engineering Systems and Design, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, 487372, Singapore
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45
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Assessing inequality, irregularity, and severity regarding road traffic safety during COVID-19. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13147. [PMID: 34162894 PMCID: PMC8222385 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91392-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has affected every sector of our society, among which human mobility is taking a dramatic change due to quarantine and social distancing. We investigate the impact of the pandemic and subsequent mobility changes on road traffic safety. Using traffic accident data from the city of Los Angeles and New York City, we find that the impact is not merely a blunt reduction in traffic and accidents; rather, (1) the proportion of accidents unexpectedly increases for "Hispanic" and "Male" groups; (2) the "hot spots" of accidents have shifted in both time and space and are likely moved from higher-income areas (e.g., Hollywood and Lower Manhattan) to lower-income areas (e.g., southern LA and southern Brooklyn); (3) the severity level of accidents decreases with the number of accidents regardless of transportation modes. Understanding those variations of traffic accidents not only sheds a light on the heterogeneous impact of COVID-19 across demographic and geographic factors, but also helps policymakers and planners design more effective safety policies and interventions during critical conditions such as the pandemic.
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46
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Calderon-Tellez JA, Herrera MM. Appraising the impact of air transport on the environment: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES 2021; 10:100351. [PMID: 33754140 PMCID: PMC7969840 DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2021.100351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The spread of the COVID-19 disease caused by the respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has resulted in unpredicted measures restricting daily flights. Although passenger demand for travel has considerably reduced, the pre-existing impacts of gases generated by aeroplane engines on the environment are still substantial. This paper uses a modelling-based scenario analysis to assess the restriction policies relating to air transport in Argentina, Brazil and Colombia during and after the pandemic and their effects on the environment. The simulation results highlight the need to reduce the negative environmental impact produced by the aviation sector and suggest that policymakers should try to focus on creating ways to reduce the impact made by the aviation industry on the environment, through a coordinated environmental policy between countries, including the three that are the subject of the present case study in order to highlight these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Andres Calderon-Tellez
- Science Policy Research Unit - SPRU, University of Sussex Business School, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
- Ejército Nacional, Colombia
| | - Milton M Herrera
- Economic Sciences Research Centre, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
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47
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Poom A, Willberg E, Toivonen T. Environmental exposure during travel: A research review and suggestions forward. Health Place 2021; 70:102584. [PMID: 34020232 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Daily travel through the urban fabric exposes urban dwellers to a range of environmental conditions that may have an impact on their health and wellbeing. Knowledge about exposures during travel, their associations with travel behavior, and their social and health outcomes are still limited. In our review, we aim to explain how the current environmental exposure research addresses the interactions between human and environmental systems during travel through their spatial, temporal and contextual dimensions. Based on the 104 selected studies, we identify significant recent advances in addressing the spatiotemporal dynamics of exposure during travel. However, the conceptual and methodological framework for understanding the role of multiple environmental exposures in travel environments is still in an early phase, and the health and wellbeing impacts at individual or population level are not well known. Further research with greater geographical balance is needed to fill the gaps in the empirical evidence, and linking environmental exposures during travel with the causal health and wellbeing outcomes. These advancements can enable evidence-based urban and transport planning to take the next step in advancing urban livability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Age Poom
- Digital Geography Lab, Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland; Mobility Lab, Department of Geography, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, EE-51003, Tartu, Estonia; Helsinki Institute of Urban and Regional Studies (Urbaria), University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 3, FI-00014, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 3, FI-00014, Finland.
| | - Elias Willberg
- Digital Geography Lab, Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Urban and Regional Studies (Urbaria), University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 3, FI-00014, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 3, FI-00014, Finland.
| | - Tuuli Toivonen
- Digital Geography Lab, Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Urban and Regional Studies (Urbaria), University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 3, FI-00014, Finland; Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 3, FI-00014, Finland.
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48
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Could Air Quality Get Better during Epidemic Prevention and Control in China? An Analysis Based on Regression Discontinuity Design. LAND 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/land10040373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Though many scholars and practitioners are paying more attention to the health and life of the public after the COVID-19 outbreak, extant literature has so far failed to explore the variation of ambient air quality during this pandemic. The current study attempts to fill the gap by disentangling the causal effects of epidemic prevention on air quality in China, measured by the individual pollutant dimensionless index, from other confounding factors. Using the fixed effects model, this article finds that five air indicators, PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, and SO2, significantly improved during the shutdown period, with NO2 showing the most improvement. On the contrary, O3 shows an inverse pattern, that is, O3 gets worse unexpectedly. The positive impact of epidemic prevention on air quality, especially in terms of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, become manifest five days after the resumption of labor, indicated by the result of a regression discontinuity design. These findings are still robust and consistent after the dataset of 2019 as a counterfactual sample is utilized. The findings of this paper make contributions to both environmental governance and pandemic prevention, with relevant guidelines regarding the health and life of the public and governmental behavioral management strategies discussed.
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49
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COVID-19 and Air Pollution: Measuring Pandemic Impact to Air Quality in Five European Countries. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12030290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected the economy, trade, transport, health care, social services, and other sectors. To control the rapid dispersion of the virus, most countries imposed national lockdowns and social distancing policies. This led to reduced industrial, commercial, and human activities, followed by lower air pollution emissions, which caused air quality improvement. Air pollution monitoring data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) datasets were used to investigate how lockdown policies affected air quality changes in the period before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, comparing to the same periods in 2018 and 2019, along with an assessment of the Index of Production variation impact to air pollution changes during the pandemic in 2020. Analysis results show that industrial and mobility activities were lower in the period of the lockdown along with the reduced selected pollutant NO2, PM2.5, PM10 emissions by approximately 20–40% in 2020.
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50
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Facal EP, Manjón IM, Plasencia-Lozano P. Impact of COVID-19 on urban transportation habits in the city of Gijón. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PROCEDIA 2021. [PMCID: PMC8653694 DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2021.11.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed daily habits in terms of mobility, particularly in cities. The fear of prolonged contact with other users on public transport may cause great changes in citizens’ preferences towards transport in private vehicles, motorized or not, and sharing. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in mobility habits based on an online survey in Gijón (Spain) taken at the end of summer 2020, after the first wave, and generation of the so-called “new normality”. This document presents a preview of the main results, related to the vehicles most used by Gijón’s population. The results have allowed us to observe an increase in the use of private vehicles and, consequently, decrease in use of the bus. In addition, the survey sample also demonstrated the scant insertion of PMVs, motorcycles and bicycles in citizens’ preferences. Finally, they also showed gender and age differences in urban mobility.
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