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A vulnerability-based approach to human-mobility reduction for countering COVID-19 transmission in London while considering local air quality

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Eskandari Torbaghan, Mehran 
Parlikad, Ajith Kumar 

Abstract

An ecologic analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between air pollution, and COVID-19 cases and fatality rates in London. The analysis demonstrated a strong correlation (R2>0.7) between increment in air pollution and an increase in the risk of COVID-19 transmission within London boroughs. Particularly, strong correlations (R2>0.72) between the risk of COVID-19 fatality and NO2 and PM2.5 pollution concentrations were also found. Although this study assumed the same level of air pollution across a particular London borough, it demonstrates the possibility to employ air pollution as an indicator to rapidly identify the vulnerable regions within a city. Such an approach can inform the decisions to suspend or reduce the operation of different public transport modes within a city. The methodology and learnings from the study can thus aid public transport to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak by adopting different levels of human-mobility reduction strategies based on the vulnerability of a given region.

Description

Keywords

Air pollution, COVID-19, Human mobility, Nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), Particulate matter (PM(2.5)), Transport, Air Pollutants, Air Pollution, Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, Cities, Coronavirus Infections, Humans, London, Nitrogen Dioxide, Pandemics, Particulate Matter, Pneumonia, Viral, SARS-CoV-2

Journal Title

Science of the Total Environment

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0048-9697
1879-1026

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N021614/1)
Technology Strategy Board (920035)