Vitruvio: International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability (Dec 2020)

A vision on air pollution in cities and the human effect

  • Javier Cárcel-Carrasco,
  • Elisa Peñalvo-López,
  • María Carmen Carnero,
  • Jaime Langa-Sanchís

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4995/vitruvio-ijats.2020.14607
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. 2
pp. 57 – 70

Abstract

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The human effect on air quality in cities and the evolution of air pollution is obvious, due to economic activity, vehicle traffic, etc. The situation created indirectly by COVID-19, has caused many countries to impose during certain periods restriction of movement and stoppage of economic activities, which has allowed us to observe the instant effect that occurs on the air quality in cities. This article discusses what the observed effect has been, focusing on the early moments of the pandemic (January 2020 to March 2020), with an analysis of the situation from its origin in China to its arrival in Europe and more specifically the situation created in Spain. After the analysis of the situation, it can be seen the large reduction of pollutants in the air of different cities, and in particular in Spain, which came to reduce about 80%. All this leads us to the observation of how human activity can greatly influence air pollution.

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