article thumbnail

Studies find global COVID-19 lockdowns have significantly reduced PM2.5 and NO2 pollution, but ozone up

Green Car Congress

Levels of two major air pollutants have been reduced significantly since lockdowns began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a secondary pollutant—ground-level ozone—has increased in China, according to new research. The week of Chinese New Year holiday is indicated by the red lantern shown inset panels (b) and (h).

Ozone 291
article thumbnail

Harvard/Nanjing study: China’s war on PM2.5 pollution is causing more severe ozone pollution

Green Car Congress

In early 2013, the Chinese government declared a war on air pollution and began instituting stringent policies to regulate the emissions of PM 2.5. pollution is falling, harmful ground-level ozone pollution is on the rise, especially in large cities. Over the course of five years, PM 2.5 But the rapid reduction of PM 2.5

Ozone 262
article thumbnail

Study suggests future climate changes to worsen air quality for >85% of China’s population; ~20k+ additional deaths each year

Green Car Congress

A study by a team of researchers from China, the US and Germany suggests that future climate change may worsen air quality for more than 85% of China’s population, leading to an additional 20,000 deaths each year. and ozone exposure, respectively. and ozone exposure, respectively. —Hong et al.

article thumbnail

Study: ozone levels higher across China than in other countries tracking the air pollutant

Green Car Congress

In China, people breathe ozone-laden air two to six times more often than people in the United States, Europe, Japan, or South Korea, according to a new international study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. 2017 for one ozone metric. The inset shows ozone trends in Beijing (red) and Los Angeles (blue).

Ozone 199
article thumbnail

TOAR shows present-day global ozone distribution and trends relevant to health; public database

Green Car Congress

Ozone levels across much of North America and Europe dropped significantly between 2000 and 2014. People living in parts of southern Europe, South Korea and southern Japan and China also experienced more than 15 days a year of ozone levels above 70 ppb. Trends in daily maximum ozone levels (known as 4MDA8) at urban and non-urban sites.

Ozone 255
article thumbnail

China study connects ozone pollution to cardiovascular health

Green Car Congress

Exposure to ozone, long associated with impaired lung function, is also connected to health changes that can cause cardiovascular disease such as heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke, according to a new study of Chinese adults. They monitored indoor and outdoor ozone levels, along with other pollutants.

Ozone 170
article thumbnail

International study of role of soots impact on Arctic climate

Green Car Congress

Scientists from the US, Norway, Russia, Germany, Italy and China are participating in a study examining the potential role of black carbon, or soot, on the rapidly changing Arctic climate. The Arctic climate is changing faster than some scientists expected. In addition to its impacts on snow and ice, black carbon is an air pollutant.

Climate 199