疫情期间欧洲多国空气污染水平大幅下降

The level of air pollution in London, Rome, Milan and Paris has fallen sharply since coronavirus lockdown measures have forced people indoors and off the roads.

Levels of particulate matter, which can come from road transport and burning fuel, as well as nitrogen dioxide, which comes primarily from vehicle exhausts, are low across London.

The U.K. capital’s levels of ultra-fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, are currently around half that would be normally recorded at this time of the year.

The city’s level of nitrogen dioxide has also been lower than the average for the previous five years, scientists say. Both pollutants have fallen by around a half since a peak in mid-February, according to data from the London Air Quality Network, analyzed by the National Center for Atmospheric Science.

Meanwhile, European Environment Agency (EEA) data confirmed a 50 percent decrease in air pollutant concentrations in Rome and Milan.

A Paris air quality monitoring agency has also recorded up to a 30 percent decline in overall air pollution levels.

As daily life grinds to a halt in the U.K. due to restricted movement to control the spread of COVID-19, air quality has improved due to a sharp reduction in traffic.

“Air quality has started to improve in many U.K. cities, mirroring what has been seen in other countries that have restricted travel and levels of outdoor activity,” said Professor Alastair Lewis from the National Center for Atmospheric Science, University of York.

“This is primarily a consequence of lower traffic volumes, and some of the most obvious reductions have been in nitrogen dioxide, which comes primarily from vehicle exhaust.

“However, fine particles (PM2.5) have also reduced significantly.”

While nitrogen dioxide is mainly emitted from vehicle exhausts, sources of particulate matter are more varied, ranging from road transport to burning fuel.

Air pollution is linked to health problems including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases and infections, as well as stunting the growth of children’s lungs.

As levels of traffic pollution have plummeted with many countries in lockdown, exposure to pollutants is reduced by people staying off the streets and in their homes.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【封锁】 fēngsuǒ

lockdown an emergency measure or condition in which people are temporarily prevented from entering or leaving a restricted area or building (such as a school) during a threat of danger

【废气】fèiqì

exhaust the waste gas from an engine, especially a car’s

因新冠肺炎疫情封锁措施，多地民众被迫待在家中，不再上街，伦敦、罗马、米兰和巴黎的空气污染水平大幅下降。

在伦敦，来自公路运输和燃料燃烧的颗粒物，以及主要来自汽车尾气的二氧化氮的含量都很低。

目前伦敦的超细颗粒物（PM 2.5）水平约为往年同期正常水平的一半。

科学家表示，伦敦空气中的二氧化氮水平也低于过去5年的平均水平。

根据英国国家大气科学中心分析的伦敦空气质量网络数据，这两种污染物的水平自2月中旬达到峰值以来，已下降了约一半。

与此同时，欧洲环境署的数据证实，罗马和米兰的空气污染物浓度下降了50%。

巴黎一家空气质量监测机构的数据显示，巴黎的整体空气污染水平下降了30%。

在英国，为了控制新冠病毒的传播，人们被限制出行，日常生活逐渐陷入停滞，而随着交通流量的急剧减少，空气质量也得以改善。

约克大学国家大气科学中心的阿拉斯泰尔▪刘易斯教授说：“英国许多城市的空气质量已经开始改善，这与其他限制旅行和户外活动的国家情况一致。”

“这主要是交通流量减少的结果，而二氧化氮的减少最为明显，二氧化氮主要来自汽车尾气。不过PM2.5也显著减少。”

虽然二氧化氮主要来自汽车尾气，但颗粒物的来源更为多样，包括道路运输和燃烧燃料等。

空气污染与健康问题有关，包括中风、心脏病、肺癌以及呼吸道疾病和感染，还会阻碍儿童肺部的发育。

随着多国实行封闭措施，交通污染水平大幅下降。人们远离街道并待在家里，减少了接触污染物的机会。(chinadaily.com.cn)