Understanding Air Quality Changes after Implementation of Mitigation Measures during a Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Literature in the United States
Abstract Traffic-related emissions continue to be a significant source of air pollution in the United States (US) and around the globe. Evidence has shown that previous policies implemented to restrict-traffic flows have affected air pollution levels. Thus, mitigation strategies associated with the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220047 |
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| author | Sara McElroy Ambarish Vaidyanathan |
| author_facet | Sara McElroy Ambarish Vaidyanathan |
| author_sort | Sara McElroy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Traffic-related emissions continue to be a significant source of air pollution in the United States (US) and around the globe. Evidence has shown that previous policies implemented to restrict-traffic flows have affected air pollution levels. Thus, mitigation strategies associated with the COVID-19 pandemic that modified population-level mobility patterns provide a unique opportunity to study air pollution change across the US. For instance, to slow the spread of the pandemic, state and local governments started implementing various mitigation actions, including stay-at-home directives, social distancing measures, school closures, and travel restrictions. This scoping review aimed to summarize the existing evidence about how air quality changed through mitigation practices throughout the pandemic in the US. We found 66 articles that fit our inclusion criteria. Generally, the consolidated results revealed that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) decreased across the country. Studies observed mixed directions and magnitudes of change for fine and coarse particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), ozone (O3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Few articles tried to explain this notable heterogeneity in air quality changes by associating contextual factors, such as mobility, traffic flow, and demographic factors. However, all studies agreed that the change in air pollution was nonuniform across the US and even varied within a city. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-de6f892edf0e4aa19d33ce0aec0756b6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-de6f892edf0e4aa19d33ce0aec0756b62025-08-20T03:10:47ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092022-09-01221111910.4209/aaqr.220047Understanding Air Quality Changes after Implementation of Mitigation Measures during a Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Literature in the United StatesSara McElroy0Ambarish Vaidyanathan1Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN USA and Climate and Health Program, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionClimate and Health Program, DEHSP, NCEH, CDC, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAbstract Traffic-related emissions continue to be a significant source of air pollution in the United States (US) and around the globe. Evidence has shown that previous policies implemented to restrict-traffic flows have affected air pollution levels. Thus, mitigation strategies associated with the COVID-19 pandemic that modified population-level mobility patterns provide a unique opportunity to study air pollution change across the US. For instance, to slow the spread of the pandemic, state and local governments started implementing various mitigation actions, including stay-at-home directives, social distancing measures, school closures, and travel restrictions. This scoping review aimed to summarize the existing evidence about how air quality changed through mitigation practices throughout the pandemic in the US. We found 66 articles that fit our inclusion criteria. Generally, the consolidated results revealed that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) decreased across the country. Studies observed mixed directions and magnitudes of change for fine and coarse particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), ozone (O3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Few articles tried to explain this notable heterogeneity in air quality changes by associating contextual factors, such as mobility, traffic flow, and demographic factors. However, all studies agreed that the change in air pollution was nonuniform across the US and even varied within a city.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220047COVID-19Air pollutionMitigation measuresMobilityPublic health interventions |
| spellingShingle | Sara McElroy Ambarish Vaidyanathan Understanding Air Quality Changes after Implementation of Mitigation Measures during a Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Literature in the United States Aerosol and Air Quality Research COVID-19 Air pollution Mitigation measures Mobility Public health interventions |
| title | Understanding Air Quality Changes after Implementation of Mitigation Measures during a Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Literature in the United States |
| title_full | Understanding Air Quality Changes after Implementation of Mitigation Measures during a Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Literature in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Understanding Air Quality Changes after Implementation of Mitigation Measures during a Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Literature in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding Air Quality Changes after Implementation of Mitigation Measures during a Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Literature in the United States |
| title_short | Understanding Air Quality Changes after Implementation of Mitigation Measures during a Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Literature in the United States |
| title_sort | understanding air quality changes after implementation of mitigation measures during a pandemic a scoping review of literature in the united states |
| topic | COVID-19 Air pollution Mitigation measures Mobility Public health interventions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220047 |
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