Effects of Lockdown due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Air Quality at Latin America’s Largest Open-pit Coal Mine

Abstract

Particulate Matter is the main pollutant produced in open-pit mining operations. Its emission into the atmosphere is strongly associated with adverse health effects in the surrounding communities. The objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the particulate matter (PM) levels in the Northern, Central, and Southern Zones of the largest open-pit coal mine in Latin America. We analyzed and compared daily data on PM10 and PM2.5 before and during the emergency shutdown from the week of March 6 through April 13, 2020, while comparing daily values from the combined product of the Terra-Aqua/MODIS satellites to elucidate the effects of the closure. Unlike other sites monitored globally, we observed an increase in the average PM 10 concentrations in the Northern Zone (13-38%) and Southern Zone (4-7%) of the coal mine. Additionally, PM2.5 concentrations increased in the Southern Zone by up to 43% throughout the lockdown when compared to daily records prior to the commencement of mandatory isolation. PM10 concentrations in the Central Zone decreased (26-31%) in the course the lockdown. Further, higher aerosol optic depth (AOD) values (≥0.4) were evident over the Central and Southern study areas during the lockdown, as well as significant AOD loads upwind and downwind of the coal production pits. Wetter (up to 3.5%), warmer (up to 0.3 K), reduced planetary boundary layer height (up to 0.11 km), wind field variability, and biomass burning in rural areas determine the spatial-temporal behavior of PM. The reduction of emissions from PMmining activities was almost compensated by changes in meteorology and external sources. These results provide a baseline for regulators to establish future mitigation plans.

Environmental Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of Bogotá, 2020

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study carried out about a city in Latin America exploring the effects of the COVID-19 on environmental matrices, including effects on water, air quality, mobility patterns, and waste production. Some studies explored descriptively the effects of the pandemic on air quality in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico [35][36][37][38], while others reported the effects of deforestation patterns in Brazil and Peru [39]. Nevertheless, information related to solid waste production and water quality is scarce.…”

Variability of Air Pollutant Concentrations and Their Relationships with Meteorological Parameters during COVID-19 Lockdown in Western Macedonia

“…Scientific studies regarding the effects of lockdown on ambient air quality mainly focus on urban areas where the major human mobility restriction policies were implemented [7][8][9]. Additionally, areas with industrial, electricity generation, and coal-mining activities experienced a temporary reduction in their operations because of lockdown, with a possible impact on air quality [10,11]. In Poland, where coal dominates electricity production, its share in power production during the pandemic was reduced by 24% [10].…”

“…Filonchyk et al (2021) analysed the PM 2.5 , PM 10 , SO 2 , and NO 2 concentrations in Polish cities during March-April 2020 and attributed their reductions to the reduced activity of power plants, among other restriction policies [10]. Arregocés et al (2021) studied the effects of lockdown on particle air pollution at the Cerrejón mine, which is Latin America's largest open-pit coal mine, and found increasing trends in their concentrations mainly attributed to weather conditions [11]. Ranjan et al (2020) investigated the changes in aerosol optical depth (AOD) level during lockdown phases over urban and mining regions in India.…”