Traffic-related air pollution reduction at UK schools during the Covid-19 lockdown
| Autor: | Enda T Hayes, Louis Brown, Jo Barnes |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Technology
Environmental Engineering 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Science Air pollution Context (language use) 010501 environmental sciences NO2 medicine.disease_cause 01 natural sciences Sustainability & Climate Change Article Road transport Air Pollution Environmental health Lockdown Environmental monitoring medicine Humans Environmental Chemistry Child Road traffic Air quality index Waste Management and Disposal Nitrogen dioxide 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Air Pollutants Government Schools SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Pollution Air Quality Management Resource Centre United Kingdom England Communicable Disease Control Particulate Matter Health & Wellbeing Business Environmental Monitoring |
| Zdroj: | The Science of the Total Environment |
| ISSN: | 0048-9697 1879-1026 |
| Popis: | Elevated urban Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is a consequence of road traffic and other fossil-fuel combustion sources, and the road transport sector provides a significant contribution to UK NO2 emissions. The inhalation of traffic-related air pollution, including NO2, can cause a range of problems to human health. Due to their developing organs, children are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of air pollution inhalation. Accordingly, schools and associated travel behaviours present an important area of study for the reduction of child exposure to these harmful pollutants. COVID-19 reached the UK in late January 2020. On the 23rd of March that year, the UK government announced a nationwide stay-at-home order, or lockdown, banning all non-essential travel and contact with people outside of their own homes. The lockdown was accompanied by the closure of schools, public facilities, amenities, businesses and places of worship. The current study aims to assess the significance of nationwide NO2 reductions at schools in England as a consequence of the lockdown in order to highlight the benefits of associated behavioural changes within the context of schools in England and potential child exposure. NO2 data were collected from all AURN (Automatic Urban and Rural Network) monitoring sites within 500 m of nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England. A significant reduction of mean NO2 concentrations was observed in the first month of the UK lockdown at background (−35.13%) and traffic (−40.82%) sites. Whilst lockdown restrictions are undoubtedly unsustainable, the study results demonstrate the possible reductions of NO2 at schools in England and potential reductions of child exposure that are achievable when public behaviours shift towards active travel, work from home policies and generally lower use of polluting vehicles. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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