Environment/Climate Change
Effect of social restriction intensity during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on air pollution: A natural experiment Karen P. Ayala* Aníbal A. Teherán Teherán Teherán Teherán Teherán Teherán anibal.teheran@juanncorpas.edu.co
To improve air quality, regulatory actions targeting road traffic and industrial emissions must be implemented. This study determined the effect size (ES, Cohen’s δ) and the significance of progressive quarantine restrictions (Levels NQ+, SQ++, FQ+++) on air pollution in Bogotá, Colombia, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A natural experiment showed that, during SQ and FQ phases, concentrations of [PM10, 20.2 µg/m3; PM2.5, 8.03 µg/m3; SO2, 1.61 µg/m3] and [PM10, 23.2 µg/m3, PM2.5, 8.84 µg/m3], respectively, were significantly lower than during equivalent pre-pandemic periods (year 2019; p <0.001). Effect sizes were larger during FQ (PM10: -1.220, PM2.5: -6.05) than during SQ (PM10: -1.180, PM2.5: -0.252, SO2: -0.388). Although pollutant concentrations remained below regulatory thresholds (environmentally significance), the ES for [PM10 µg/m3; PM2.5 µg/m3] were larger during SQ and FQ. These findings support public health strategies aimed at strengthening the control of emission sources that degrade air quality, particularly those increasing [PM10, PM2.5], Moreover, the introduction of the concept of “environmentally significant” effects may further improve decision-making and address environmental problems that affect human well-being.
