- E-ISSN: 2223-506X
-
oa The improvement in PM2.5 levels in Education City, Doha, Qatar during the COVID-19 lockdown was limited and transient
- Source: QScience Connect, Volume 2022, Issue Issue 1, سبتمبر ٢٠٢٢, 3
-
- ٢١ ديسمبر ٢٠٢١
- ١٧ يناير ٢٠٢٢
- ٢٨ فبراير ٢٠٢٢
ملخص
Background: The COVID-19 lockdown reduced anthropogenic activities worldwide and therefore provided a unique opportunity to investigate the factors that impact air pollution. Here, we investigated the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in Education City, Doha, Qatar. Methods: Ambient air samples were collected in real time from two stations within Education City during 2019 and 2020. PM2.5 data collected from four different seasons during the lockdown were compared with their corresponding pre-lockdown levels. Results: No significant changes in PM2.5 levels were observed during the spring and fall seasons. A 10% decline in the PM2.5 level was observed post-lockdown in the summer season, whereas a 33% increase in the PM2.5 level was observed post-lockdown during the winter season. Conclusion: The decline in PM2.5 levels in Education City during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown was transient and modest. No significant decline in PM2.5 levels was detected for most of the year. Therefore, anthropogenic activities (vehicular and industrial) could have had season-dependent effects on ambient PM2.5 levels within Education City.
