Research: the air won't be cleaner without cars

This conclusion was made by Scottish scientists after reducing the number of cars along the Covid-19.

According to a study cited by the British edition of Auto Express, the air will remain so dirty even if the number of cars on the roads is significantly reduced. In Scotland, the number of cars in the first month of isolation from coronavirus fell by 65%. However, this did not lead to significant improvements in air quality, scientists from the University of Stirling found.

They analyzed the levels of air pollution with fine PM2.5 dust particles, which have the greatest impact on human health. The tests were carried out in 70 different locations in Scotland from 24 March (the day after the announcement of measures against the epidemic in the UK) to 23 April 2020. The results were compared with data for the same 31-day periods over the previous three years.

In year 2,5, the geometric mean concentration of PM6,6 was found to be 2020 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Despite the huge difference in the number of cars on the road, this result was broadly the same as in 2017 and 2018 (6,7 and 7,4 μg, respectively).

In 2019, the PM2.5 level was significantly higher at 12.8. However, scientists attribute this to a meteorological phenomenon in which fine dust from the Sahara desert affected air quality in the United Kingdom. If you do not take into account this fact, then last year the level of PM2,5 was about 7,8.

The researchers concluded that the level of air pollution remains the same, but the level of nitrogen dioxide is decreasing. However, people spend more time in their homes, where air quality can be poor due to the release of harmful particles from cooking and tobacco smoke.

“It was thought that fewer cars on the road could lead to less air pollution and in turn reduce the incidence of comorbidities. However, our study, unlike in Wuhan and Milan, found no evidence of reduced fine air pollution in Scotland along with lockdown from the pandemic,” says Dr Ruraid Dobson.

“This shows that vehicles are not a significant contributor to air pollution in Scotland. People may be at greater risk of poor air quality in their own homes, especially if readyCooking and smoking take place in enclosed and poorly ventilated areas,” he added.