Unexpected reduction in ozone levels in a mid-size city during COVID-19 lockdown

• Published in: International journal of environmental health research Vol. 32; no. 8; pp. 1801 - 1814
• Main Authors: Tavella, Ronan Adler, Fernandes, Caroline Lopes Feijo, Penteado, Julia Oliveira, De Lima Brum, Rodrigo, Florencio Ramires, Paula, Coutelle Honscha, Laiz, Dos Santos, Marina, Volcão, Lisiane Martins, Muccillo-Baisch, Ana Luíza, Da Silva Júnior, Flavio Manoel Rodrigues
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.08.2022; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Air pollution; COVID-19; Evaluation; Health risks; Health services; Nitrogen dioxide; Ozone; Pandemics; passive sampling; Reduction; Risk assessment; Samplers; SARS-Cov-2; Shelter in place; passive sampling; Air pollution; SARS-Cov-2; ozone
• ISSN: 0960-3123; 1369-1619
• DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1917526

The current study evaluated ozone levels through passive samplers installed in 4 different points in a medium-sized city (Rio Grande, Brazil) with naturally low NO 2 levels during a week of COVID-19 lockdown. Additionally, we evaluated the consequences of this response with regard to human health risk assessment and reduction of hospital admissions and ozone-related deaths. The reduction in ozone levels, one month after the implementation of containment measures, varied between 26 and 64% (average of 44%), in the different studied sites. The reduction of human mobility during the pandemic reduced the levels of ozone in Rio Grande city and consequently will bring benefits to health services in the municipality. This unexpected reduction in O 3 levels must be related to the low 'natural' levels of NO 2 in the city, which make the contribution of other precursors important for the fluctuation of O 3 levels.