The sharp drop in economic activity as part of the efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus has resulted in zero traffic congestion and a significant reduction in industrial activity, which has significantly improved Israel's air quality, the Environmental Protection Ministry reported over the weekend.
The concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the atmosphere has fallen to 30% below average levels, it said, according to financial daily Globes.
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The ministry's national air monitoring system examined the ratios in of NO2 and fine particle matter, which result from transportation and industry over the past week – since the limitations on the economy were imposed – and compared them to the average in recent months.
The results indicated that "the concentrations of NO2 dropped by 10 micrograms per cubic meter to 35.5 micrograms per cubic meter between January 1, 2020 and March 11, 2020. The average concentration during March 12-March 16 was measured at 25 micrograms per cubic meter, a 30% reduction," the ministry said.
White the reports stressed that it is impossible, at this time, to determine the decline in NO2 levels stems solely from the reduction in emissions of pollutants from transportation, the data was consistent across all the monitoring stations checked.
