Surface Ozone in the Atmosphere of Moscow during the COVID-19 Pandemic

We present the results from monitoring surface ozone in the atmosphere of Moscow in 2020 and 2021 under lockdown conditions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. These two years significantly differed in meteorological conditions and the level of anthropogenic environmental load. A level of surface O-3 concentrations, relatively low for a megalopolis, was observed in Moscow in 2020. The annual average concentration was 28 mu g/m(3), and the annual maximal concentration was 185 mu g/m(3). That was due to relatively cool summer with the low content of pollutants in atmospheric air. Intense heat waves were observed in the megalopolis during summer 2021 under the conditions of a blocking anticyclone, when the daytime temperatures rose to 35 & DEG;C. Combined with higher atmospheric air pollution, this resulted in unusually high O-3 concentrations. The annual average concentration was 48 mu g/m(3), and the annual maximal concentration was 482 mu g/m(3).

The Association of High COVID-19 Cases and Mortality with Anomalous High Surface Ozone Concentration in Moscow City in Summer 2021

Aim: to compare statistical data on the frequency of COVID-19 and deaths from it with the ozone content in the surface atmosphere of Moscow in the summer of 2021. Materials and methods. We used data on the frequency of daily COVID-19 cases and mortality from COVID-19 in Moscow in 2020-2021 published by Rospotrebnadzor. Data on the ozone content in the surface layer of the atmosphere were obtained by an automatic monitoring station using a chemiluminescent analyzer. Results. The waves of high frequency of COVID-19 cases and mortality from COVID-19 in Moscow in the summer of 2021 were compared with abnormally high concentrations of ozone in the surface atmosphere of the megalopolis. Variations of these parameters were found to be markedly correlated. The coefficients of correlation of the COVID-19 cases and mortality with the concentration of ground-level ozone were 0.59 (p < 0.01) and 0.60 (p < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion. The observed noticeable relationship may be due to the combined pathological effect of high concentrations of ozone and the SARS-CoV-2 on the respiratory and circulatory organs, which can lead to both easier transmission of infection and a more severe course of the disease with increased mortality. © 2022 Russian Journal of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Coloproctology

Surface Ozone in the Atmosphere of Moscow during the COVID-19 Pandemic

: We present the results from monitoring surface ozone in the atmosphere of Moscow in 2020 and 2021 under lockdown conditions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. These two years significantly differed in meteorological conditions and the level of anthropogenic environmental load. A level of surface O3 concentrations, relatively low for a megalopolis, was observed in Moscow in 2020. The annual average concentration was 28 μg/m3, and the annual maximal concentration was 185 μg/m3. That was due to relatively cool summer with the low content of pollutants in atmospheric air. Intense heat waves were observed in the megalopolis during summer 2021 under the conditions of a blocking anticyclone, when the daytime temperatures rose to 35°C. Combined with higher atmospheric air pollution, this resulted in unusually high O3 concentrations. The annual average concentration was 48 μg/m3, and the annual maximal concentration was 482 μg/m3. © 2022, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.

Surface Ozone Concentration in Russia in the Second Half of 2020

We present information on ozone concentration in the surface air layer in the second half of 2020. Data were obtained at 13 stations located in different regions of Russia. We estimated the excess over hygienic standards of the Russian Federation, both in the second half of the year and throughout 2020. It is shown that the daily average maximum permissible concentration of ozone is regularly exceeded at all stations. There are cases of exceeding the one-time maximum permissible concentration.

Anomalous Dynamics of Tropospheric Ozone in the Spring of 2020 in Central Russia

Anomalously low ozone concentrations in the surface atmosphere in central Russia were recorded in spring of 2020. The increase in the ozone content usual for spring due to a seasonal increase in the temperature and light was followed by a monotonic decrease. The maximum daily values of surface ozone concentrations averaged over the month in April 2020 were three times less than the values recorded at the same time in 2019. Both a decrease in regional background ozone concentrations in the near-surface atmosphere and a decrease in the intensity of its photochemical formation were observed. The most probable cause of the observed phenomenon is a decrease in combustion product emissions into the atmosphere in China, Europe, and Russia due to the introduction of special regimes in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.