Effect of COVID-19 Prevention Measures on Air Quality in Thailand

Kaewrat, Jenjira; Janta, Rungruang

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2020.06.0344

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…2, even though there were slight local emissions. Along with such local emissions, long-range transported biomass burning and low atmospheric dispersion conditions could have also contributed to generate such peaks, as has been reported in similar studies (Kaewrat and Janta, 2020;Wetchayont, 2021).…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptsupporting

confidence: 54%

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Air Quality Improvement during COVID-19 Lockdown in Bangkok Metropolitan, Thailand: Effect of the Long-range Transport of Air Pollutants

Wetchayont

Hayasaka

Khatri

2021

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Lockdown measures have been adopted in many countries worldwide due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, including in Thailand. Air quality improvements with regard to restrictions of daily movement among Bangkok people have been reported. This study explores the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and long-range pollution on air quality in Bangkok Metropolitan, Thailand by using ground-based and satellite measurements such as MODIS and TROPOMI data. Moreover, the results project some possible future trends of air quality in Bangkok Metropolitan. The 24-hr average concentrations of PM2.5, O3, NO2, CO and SO2 were compared between the periods of Normal, Lockdown and New Normal. PM2.5 concentrations increased by 20.56% during the Normal period and decreased by-15.79% and-23.34% during the Lockdown and New Normal periods, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017-2019. There were also significant decreasing trends in O 3 :-7.13% and 4.72%; and CO-8.01% and 23.59% during the Lockdown and New Normal periods, respectively, while NO2 and SO2 concentrations showed increasing trends during the three periods. The MODIS and TROPOMI data analyses indicate the COVID-19 outbreak has had significant positive impact on surface pollution, but no impact on upper atmospheric pollution due to added pollution from long-range transport. The results also demonstrate that surface air pollution had a combination effect from biomass burning, traffic, industrial and household sources during the Lockdown period, except for SO2 concentrations, which were attributed to long-range transport pollution loading. In some cases, a negative impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on air pollution can be observed due to certain activities increasing within Bangkok Metropolitan. Additionally, the results also show that changing the lifestyle into a 'new normal' for people in Bangkok after the Lockdown period has had a positive effect on air pollution.

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Section: Accepted Manuscriptsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…Thus, it was one of the first countries to remark on a reduction of pollutant emissions. As reported by Stratoulias and Nuthammachot (2020) and Kaewrat and Janta (2020), major pollutants showed a significant reduction of 20%-50% over metropolitan cites in Thailand during the Lockdown period.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 56%

Air Quality Improvement during COVID-19 Lockdown in Bangkok Metropolitan, Thailand: Effect of the Long-range Transport of Air Pollutants

Wetchayont

Hayasaka

Khatri

2021

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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“…For Thailand, no larger difference in PM 2.5 concentration was observed due to the wildfire episode causing smoke loading (Venter et al 2020 ). However, just considering the lockdown period (March–May 2020), 26–55% reduction in PM 2.5 was reported by Kaewrat and Janta ( 2021 ) compared to pre-lockdown.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Assessment and valuation of health impacts of fine particulate matter during COVID-19 lockdown: a comprehensive study of tropical and sub tropical countries

Bherwani

Kumar

Musugu

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Graphical abstract A novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to challenge the whole world. The disease has claimed many fatalities as it has transcended from one country to another since it was first discovered in China in late 2019. To prevent further morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19, most of the countries initiated a countrywide lockdown. While physical distancing and lockdowns helped in curbing the spread of this novel coronavirus, it led to massive economic losses for the nations. Positive impacts have been observed due to lockdown in terms of improved air quality of the nations. In the current research, ten tropical and subtropical countries have been analysed from multiple angles, including air pollution, assessment and valuation of health impacts and economic loss of countries during COVID-19 lockdown. Countries include Brazil, India, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Validated Simplified Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm (SARA) binning model is used on data collated from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) for particulate matters with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) for all the countries for the month of January to May 2019 and 2020. The concentration results of PM 2.5 show that air pollution has drastically reduced in 2020 post lockdown for all countries. The highest average concentration obtained by converting aerosol optical depth (AOD) for 2020 is observed for Thailand as 121.9 μg/m 3 and the lowest for Mexico as 36.27 μg/m 3 . As air pollution is found to decrease in the April and May months of 2020 for nearly all countries, they are compared with respective previous year values for the same duration to calculate the reduced health burden due to lockdown. The present study estimates that cumulative about 100.9 Billion US$ are saved due to reduced air pollution externalities, which are about 25% of the cumulative economic loss of 435.9 Billion US$. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-021-13813-w.

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“…Malaysia has been well served by studies of air pollution in the classroom [28,[61][62][63], with Thailand [64,65] and Indonesia [66] also representing tropical climates, where schools are often highly ventilated. Abidin et al [28] suggest that particulate matter was often from agricultural or non-vehicle sources.…”

Section: Classroomsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure of Malaysian Children to Air Pollutants over the School Day

Ezani

Brimblecombe

2022

Urban Science

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Children are sensitive to air pollution and spend long hours in and around their schools, so the school day has an important impact on their overall exposure. This study of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and its surroundings assesses exposure to PM2.5 and NO2, from travel, play and study over a typical school day. Most Malaysian children in urban areas are driven to school, so they probably experience peak NO2 concentrations in the drop-off and pick-up zones. Cyclists are likely to receive the greatest school travel exposure during their commute, but typically, the largest cumulative exposure occurs in classrooms through the long school day. Indoor concentrations tend to be high, as classrooms are well ventilated with ambient air. Exposure to PM2.5 is relatively evenly spread across Selangor, but NO2 exposure tends to be higher in areas with a high population density and heavy traffic. Despite this, ambient PM2.5 may be more critical and exceed guidelines as it is a particular problem during periods of widespread biomass burning. A thoughtful adjustment to school approach roads, design of playgrounds and building layout and maintenance may help minimise exposure.

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Effect of COVID-19 Prevention Measures on Air Quality in Thailand

Cited by 8 publications

References 14 publications

Air Quality Improvement during COVID-19 Lockdown in Bangkok Metropolitan, Thailand: Effect of the Long-range Transport of Air Pollutants

Air Quality Improvement during COVID-19 Lockdown in Bangkok Metropolitan, Thailand: Effect of the Long-range Transport of Air Pollutants

Assessment and valuation of health impacts of fine particulate matter during COVID-19 lockdown: a comprehensive study of tropical and sub tropical countries

Exposure of Malaysian Children to Air Pollutants over the School Day

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