Impact on air quality due to Corona measures

Less nitrogen dioxide, but more particulate matter

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), we are currently enjoying healthier air thanks to reduced traffic emissions. However, recent measurements have shown that the improved air quality is not solely due to the Corona measures. Air quality is determined by various indicators, including particulate matter and $NO_2$ .

The quality also depends on several factors such as weather conditions and air flowing in from abroad. When the wind comes from the East, as has often been the case in recent weeks, we deal with heavily polluted air from the German Ruhr industrial area. In this case, there is a sharp increase in the number of particulate matter particles.

When there is a lot of rain and wind—think of the storms and incessant rain showers in February—it has a beneficial effect on the reduction of particulate matter and $NO_2$ . Moreover, the storms at that time came from the West, bringing in pure sea air.

Because of this, the air quality measurements during the period before the lockdown were even more positive than during the lockdown itself.

Traffic-Related Air Pollution

“Those nitrogen dioxides are the best indicators for traffic and for local pollution,” says Joeri Thijs, air quality specialist at Greenpeace. During the lockdown period, the amount of $NO_2$ in Brussels decreased by 40%, according to measurements by the European Environment Agency. This was largely due to the reduction in traffic by a staggering 50%.

However, because we have seen less rain and wind during this period, there is an increased concentration of particulate matter. If the weather were the same all year round, we would truly be able to measure the full impact of the lockdown—and the results would potentially be even more positive!

Ultimately, we can conclude that the Corona measures have a beneficial effect on traffic-related air pollution.

What will the post-corona era look like?

Will everyone go back to using the car just to go to the bakery around the corner? Will traffic jams become a daily occurrence again? Will everyone resume commuting to work en masse? Or will some positive aspects remain?

Some tips to do your bit for better air quality

Habit

Now that we have a bit more time than usual, take advantage of it by making as many trips as possible by bike! Try to make this habit your own. Research shows that people who are fit and move more have a better immune system and a better chance of suppressing the coronavirus and other diseases (Steven Van Gucht, 2020).

Quickly buy a bike , or make use of bike leasing through your employer .

Planning

Would you like to commute to work with a lease bike, but you're not looking forward to lugging your laptop and lunchbox every day? Prepare your things the night before and put everything in a pannier! No more struggling with a backpack, and plenty of time to have breakfast in the morning.

Rain is okay

Leaving when it's raining isn't nice. But with a decent pair of rain pants and a raincoat, it's actually pleasant to enjoy the fresh air. Besides, we benefit from even better air quality when it rains! Really not a fan of the water? Perhaps teleworking is possible on those days?

Reward yourself

Most likely, your employer provides a bicycle allowance. Save this up for a year and reward yourself with a city trip, a Michelin-starred dinner... or, uh, a new lease bike ?

Hopefully, despite these unusual times and the heavy crisis, we can still take some positive aspects with us into the future.