Assessment of air quality changes during COVID-19 partial lockdown in a Brazilian metropolis: from lockdown to economic opening of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictive measures are taken by several cities around the world, as well as Rio de Janeiro, reducing routine activities in large urban centers and primary pollutant emissions. This study aims to assess air quality during this partial lockdown through O, CO, and PM concentrations and meteorological data collected in five air quality monitoring stations spread over the whole city, considering the substantial changes in city routine. The period evaluated starts in March 2020, when the partial lockdown was decreed, and ends in September 2020, when economic opening ended.

A Review on Atmospheric Analysis Focusing on Public Health, Environmental Legislation and Chemical Characterization.

Atmospheric pollution has been considered one of the most important topics in environmental science once it can be related to the incidence of respiratory diseases, climate change, and others. Knowing the composition of this complex and variable mixture of gases and particulate matter is crucial to understand the damages it causes, help establish limit levels, reduce emissions, and mitigate risks. In this work, the current scenario of the legislation and guideline values for indoor and outdoor atmospheric parameters will be reviewed, focusing on the inorganic and organic compositions of particulate matter and on biomonitoring.