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10,000 deaths from air pollution in China prevented by coronavirus lockdown, study finds

Commuters make their way along an expressway during rush hour in Beijing, Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. According to Chinese state media, the average concentration of PM2.5 fine air pollutants in Beijing in August was at the lowest level ever recorded for that month. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Wuhan experienced a 63% decline in air pollution levels during the COVID-19 lockdown. (PA)

A new study has found China prevented around 10,000 air pollution-related deaths after closing down industrial activity and travel during coronavirus lockdown.

The results of the report from the University of Birmingham, published in The Conversation, revealed a 63% reduction in “nitrogen dioxide concentrations” in Wuhan, the country’s epicentre of COVID-19, while residents were ordered to stay at home between 23 January and 8 April.

Research conducted by professors Matt Cole, Bowen Liu and Robert Elliot said the lockdown “may have prevented 496 deaths in Wuhan” and “10,822 in China as a whole”.

It even claimed the total number of saved lives “may even outweigh the official Chinese death toll from COVID-19 itself”, which currently stands at 4,933.

Security personnel are briefed at the Hankou railway station on the eve of its resuming outbound traffic in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Chinese authorities are moving to lift an 11-week lockdown of Wuhan, allowing residents to once again travel in and out of the sprawling city where the coronavirus pandemic began. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A report from the University of Birmingham said the Wuhan lockdown may have prevented "10,822 air- pollution deaths in China as a whole”. (AP)

The Chinese government closed down much of its industrial activity and restricted air and car travel to limit the spread of the killer virus.

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As such, levels of concentrated pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that are usually influenced by weather conditions such as “wind speed, wind direction and temperature” that significantly “affect local pollution concentrations” were down.

Researchers used machine-learning techniques to strip out the effects of weather on pollution levels – or “weather normalised” levels – to show the levels of uninfluenced raw pollution levels in Wuhan.

Tourists walk along the wall of the Forbidden City on a day with high levels of air pollution in Beijing, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. Although Chinese state media recently reported that Beijing's levels of PM2.5 air pollutants in 2019 had fallen in comparison to previous years, air quality indices soared to levels considered hazardous in China's capital on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
High levels PM2.5 air pollutants in China have been a serious concern in the country in recent years, caused by high levels of traffic and manufacturing. (AP)

It said that Wuhan was locked down ahead of 29 other cities in China, with results showing the city “experienced a significant reduction in concentrations of NO₂ and particulate matter (PM10) – sometimes known as floating dust – as a result of the lockdown.”

NO2 levels experienced in Wuhan during the two weeks before other cities went into lockdown fell by 63% while floating dust concentrations sharply fell by 35%.

However, not all aspects of air quality improved, with the research showing that “significant reductions in concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) or carbon monoxide (CO) were found”.

The report also went on to say that it was not only China that had experienced “significant” drops in pollution levels “as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns”.

It highlighted that in the UK, concentrations of NO2 “reguarly exceed WHO guidelines” - although it pointed out it was “less frequently and by a smaller magnitude” than levels recorded in China.

A study in late March, conducted by scientists from the University of York, analysed data from the London Air Quality Network and UK Automatic Urban and Rural Network.

File photo dated 10/04/15 of air pollution over London. More than one in 19 deaths in UK towns and cities is linked to air pollution - and the figures are much worse for people living in the south, according to Centre for Cities charity.
Pollutants in major UK cities have fallen to levels lower than the average of the past five years during the coronavirus pandemic. (PA)

It showed pollutants had fallen to levels lower than the average of the past five years.

Monitoring of European cities, many of which are in lockdown over the pandemic, by the European Environment Agency also reveals large decreases in air pollution, particularly NO2.

The reduction in nitrogen dioxide in UK and European cities is likely to be caused by lower levels of traffic, as well as decreased industrial and fuel burning activity, experts said.

Motorists drive on the M25 near Heathrow Airport after the announcement of plans to bring the country out of lockdown.
Congestion on major roads such as the M25 was reported for the first time this week, since the UK lockdown came into effect on 23 March. (PA)

Britain's roads saw an increase in traffic this week, as amended coronavirus lockdown rules meant some workers could return to their jobs.

Commuters took to roads and public transport networks after Boris Johnson advised those who need to return to working away from home to do so, in a public address on Sunday night.

Congestion on major roads such as the M25 was reported for the first time since the UK entered lockdown on 23 March.

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