WATERLOO REGION - A local atmospheric chemist has already determined a definite improvement in the region's air quality since social distancing measures have been enforced.

Dr. Hind Al-Abadleh specializes in atmosphere, aerosols and climate change at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is studying the effect of social distancing on air quality in southern Ontario.

With help from one of her students, she is comparing levels of pollutants at four of the province's air quality monitoring stations: near highway 401 in west Toronto, in downtown Toronto, downtown Hamilton and Kitchener's station near Victoria Park.

Her preliminary findings comparing the weeks of February 3 to March 14 with March 16 to April 9 when social distancing measures were enacted, show a definite decrease in levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Kitchener, and both Toronto stations. Hamilton's station appears unchanged.

With social distancing measures enforced, people are driving less, and industry is producing less. This means fewer pollutants will be released into the air, and Dr. Al-Abadleh says she expects to see a continuing increase in air quality.

"I am expecting that if the trend is real, then it will persist with reductions and it will persist during the lockdown as people are working from home and businesses are closed," Al-Abadleh says.

For her study, Al-Abadleh will be comparing the averages of pre-COVID19 levels of air pollutants in January, February and March 2020 with levels during the pandemic when social distancing measures were put in place. As the weeks continue, she will compile the additional information and continue the study once the social distancing measures have been lifted to compare pre, during and post-pandemic levels.

Ontario maintains a network of 38 air-quality monitoring stations across the province. They each report hourly levels of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter on the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks website, airqualityontario.com

The measurements are used to calculate Ontario's air quality health index which rates how hazardous air quality is for human health at each station.

Al-Abadleh is especially interested in seeing the behaviour of particulate matter in the coming weeks.

Particulate matter, or PM2.5, is any material in the air measuring less than 2.5 microns (one micron is one millionth of a metre). Something this size easily infiltrates the human respiratory system, and anyone with respiratory illness as well as children, are vulnerable.

Ontario estimates 22 per cent of particulate matter comes from the transportation sector. Other major sources include residential, industrial processes and smelters. However, Al-Abadleh says dust trapped over the winter in snow, along with pollen, are both naturally occurring large sources of particulate matter, and are lifted in to the air come spring.

Any combustion creates nitrogen oxides (NOx), often nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen oxides irritate the lungs, contribute to lake acidification and damage trees and crops. Ontario estimates the transportation sector contributes 69 per cent of the province's nitrogen oxides.

Air quality in Ontario is most hazardous in June, July and August when heatwaves create smog episodes. Smog, or ground-level ozone (O3), is created when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds combine in the presence of sunlight.

Smog irritates humans' respiratory system and eyes, has been linked to increased hospitalizations, interferes with photosynthesis in plants, and reduces visibility. Ontario estimates road vehicles and the transportation sector contribute 35 per cent of the province's volatile organic compounds.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...