CAN THE LOCKDOWN HAVE REDUCED AIR POLLUTION?

It's one of the questions we've been asking ourselves since the beginning of the pandemic.

With COVID-19, a series of strong restrictions began that revolutionized our lifestyle. 

The closure of schools, shops, clubs and subsequently companies are just some of the consequences of this contagious virus. 

However, we managed to find a way to adapt.  

An example is represented by the new form of work organization: lo smart working (work from home). 

This approach to work, unfortunately encouraged by forced closure of businesses, has allowed an ever-increasing number of people to be able to work from home. 

From an initial analysis, this general shutdown of companies has generated less movement of people, and a consequent reduction in means of transport. 

Less circulation of vehicles and closure of companies, in other words less pollution. 

It didn't really go that way. 

Through the study of one of the areas most affected by the pandemic, the Padano Basin, it has been demonstrated that this perception does not correspond to reality.

Il Life Preparation project, which has been studying the air quality of the Padano Basin since 2017, with the aim of carrying out actions to improve conditions in compliance with European and national legislation, has published a series of reports that highlight the effects of the measures implemented to deal with the epidemic. 

The first two have actually highlighted a reduction in some pollutants in the Po basin area, produced by industrial activities, traffic, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx, which have decreased, but remained present) and PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 micrometers). Nitrogen oxides, together with ammonia, are called pollutants primary, i.e. compounds which, by interacting with other pollutants present in the air (as well as with sunlight, oxygen, etc.), generate further compounds, called secondary.

The third in-depth analysis of the chemical composition of particulate matter in two periods (pre lockdown elockdown) compared to the years 2019 and 2020. 

However, what has emerged is a decrease in pollutants due to traffic, but unfortunately there has also been an increase in particulate matter coming from the use of domestic heating systems (due to greater confinement of people in their homes). 

Furthermore, the component consisting of ammonia (NH3) remained unchanged. 

The pollutants secondary instead, they show no variation.

In essence, the reduction of a part of the pollutants is not enough to obtain an appreciable change in particulate matter packaging.

Le improvement actions to be undertaken must concern activities that contribute to producing the pollutants primary, in particular agriculture, traffic, industrial activities. 

Then, in this way, we will be able to aim at an attempt to reduce pollution for the benefit of the community.

We at EB SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT are also available for these issues.

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