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Changes in Ultrafine Particle Concentrations near a Major Airport Following Reduced Transportation Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2022; American Chemical Society; Volume: 9; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1021/acs.estlett.2c00322

2328-8930

Sean C. Mueller, Neelakshi Hudda, Jonathan I. Levy, John L. Durant, Prasad Patil, Nina F. Lee, Ida Weiss, Tyler Tatro, Tiffany Duhl, Kevin Lane,

Aviation Industry Analysis and Trends

Mobility reductions following the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States were higher, and sustained longer, for aviation than ground transportation activity. We evaluate changes in ultrafine particle (UFP, Dp < 100 nm, a marker of fuel-combustion emissions) concentrations at a site near Logan Airport (Boston, Massachusetts) in relation to mobility reductions. Several years of particle number concentration (PNC) data prepandemic [1/2017–9/2018] and during the state-of-emergency (SOE) phase of the pandemic [4/2020–6/2021] were analyzed to assess the emissions reduction impact on PNC, controlling for season and wind direction. Mean PNC was 48% lower during the first three months of the SOE than prepandemic, consistent with 74% lower flight activity and 39% (local)–51% (highway) lower traffic volume. Traffic volume and mean PNC for all wind directions returned to prepandemic levels by 6/2021; however, when the site was downwind from Logan Airport, PNC remained lower than prepandemic levels (by 23%), consistent with lower-than-normal flight activity (44% below prepandemic levels). Our study shows the effect of pandemic-related mobility changes on PNC in a near-airport community, and it distinguishes aviation-related and ground transportation source contributions.