Effect of COVID-19-restrictive measures on ambient particulate matter pollution in Yangon, Myanmar.
10.1186/s12199-021-01014-3
- Author:
Win-Yu AUNG
1
;
PAW-MIN-THEIN-OO
1
;
Zaw-Lin THEIN
1
;
Sadao MATSUZAWA
2
;
Takehiro SUZUKI
2
;
Yo ISHIGAKI
3
;
Akihiro FUSHIMI
2
;
Ohn MAR
1
;
Daisuke NAKAJIMA
2
;
Tin-Tin WIN-SHWE
4
Author Information
1. Department of Physiology, University of Medicine 1, Kamayut Township, 11014, Yangon, Myanmar.
2. Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan.
3. Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, The University of Electro-communication, Chofu, Tokyo, 182-8585, Japan.
4. Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan. tin.tin.win.shwe@nies.go.jp.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Air quality;
COVID-19;
Mobile PM Sensor;
Stay-At-Home;
Telework;
Yangon
- MeSH:
Air Pollution/analysis*;
COVID-19/epidemiology*;
Humans;
Myanmar/epidemiology*;
Pandemics;
Particulate Matter/analysis*;
SARS-CoV-2
- From:Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
2021;26(1):92-92
- CountryJapan
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND:Particulate matter (PM) is recognized as the most harmful air pollutant to the human health. The Yangon city indeed suffers much from PM-related air pollution. Recent research has interestingly been focused on the novel subject of changes in the air quality associated with the restrictive measures in place during the current coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The first case of COVID-19 in Myanmar was diagnosed on March 23, 2020. In this article, we report on our attempt to evaluate any effects of the COVID-19-restrictive measures on the ambient PM pollution in Yangon.
METHODS:We measured the PM concentrations every second for 1 week on four occasions at three study sites with different characteristics; the first occasion was before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the remaining three occasions were while the COVID-19-restrictive measures were in place, including Stay-At-Home and Work-From-Home orders. The Pocket PM
RESULTS:The results showed that there was a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in both the PM
CONCLUSIONS:We concluded that the restrictive measures which were in effect to combat the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the ambient PM concentrations. The changes in the PM concentrations are considered to be largely attributable to reduction in anthropogenic emissions as a result of the restrictive measures, although seasonal influences could also have contributed in part. Thus, frequent, once- or twice-weekly Stay-At-Home or Telework campaigns, may be feasible measures to reduce PM-related air pollution. When devising such an action plan, it would be essential to raise the awareness of public about the health risks associated with air pollution and create a social environment in which Telework can be carried out, in order to ensure active compliance by the citizens.
