We analyzed these variations related to communities in the vicinity of the airports. Also, we examined the impact of these pollutants on the morbidity and mortality rate of the COVID-19 virus.
Our study shows that: air pollution reduced in communities around the airport during the lockdown and low operations; areas downwind and in the vicinity of the airport recorded high incidence and mortality during the pandemic. These changes in pollution, incidence, and mortality are represented in charts available in the research study.
Air pollution is a critical issue in urban cities. While air pollution has been reduced in some cities, its effect on human health is considerable. In this study, data for air pollutants, mainly oxides of Nitrogen and Particulate matter, was observed for variations before and during the pandemic lockdown from three airports in two countries.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Study Theoretical Framework
4. Methodology
5. Discussion – The Cases
5.1 London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
5.2 JFK Airport (New York)
5.3 Los Angeles International Airport
6. Relationship between the Case Airports and Health
7. Reducing Airport Pollution
8. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This study aims to investigate the complex relationship between airport operations, air pollution levels, and their subsequent impact on public health, specifically focusing on the morbidity and mortality rates associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in communities located near major international airports.
- The impact of airport-related pollutants on environment and respiratory health.
- Variations in air quality levels pre- and post-lockdown across three major hubs.
- The correlation between proximity to airports and elevated COVID-19 infection rates.
- Application of the differential distribution theory to explain health inequalities.
- Operational and policy-based strategies for mitigating aviation-related pollution.
Excerpt from the Book
Introduction
There is a strong connection between air pollutants (such as Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Particulate matter (PM), and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) and anthropogenic activities. These pollutants resulting from burning fossil fuel and other related activities affect the environment and public health. Studies showed that air pollutants such as PM (with an anaerobic diameter of 2.5 or less), CO and SO2, can increase the risk of Influenza related diseases, a severe respiratory infectious disease caused by the influenza virus. PM, a mixture of particles and droplets in the air, can raise the virus attachment to respiratory epithelial cells and deposit deep in the lung due to the small size and larger surface-to-volume ratio. Chronic exposure to some of these anthropogenic pollutants harms the human respiratory system and, in extreme cases, causes death. This exposure worsens the global pandemic, increasing death liability and rate.
Similarly, there is compelling research and public interest in the roles of major hubs such as industrial and transportation in the exposure and spread of pollutants to residents within proximity of these hubs. Policymaking and enforcement have long focused on transportation related pollution from the road; public transports, private cars, and trucks. However, the aviation transportation hub has attracted much attention. In particular, is the impact of their operations on surrounding communities. Beyond the debate on air travel and emission on climate change, the impact on local and surrounding communities is currently receiving the attention of health experts and researchers. It has become more severe with the advent of the Coronavirus.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Provides the context on the link between anthropogenic air pollutants and public health, introducing the research problem during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Background: Examines how airport operations contribute to environmental pollution, the associated economic and health costs, and existing regulatory challenges.
3. Study Theoretical Framework: Introduces the differential distribution theory as the primary lens to analyze how air pollution exposure and health burdens are distributed among local communities.
4. Methodology: Outlines the empirical and scientific literature review approach used to analyze secondary data and compare pollution trends across selected international airports.
5. Discussion – The Cases: Presents data from Heathrow, JFK, and Los Angeles International Airport to demonstrate how fluctuating flight operations influenced air quality and health outcomes.
6. Relationship between the Case Airports and Health: Discusses the empirical findings linking spatial proximity to airports with increased severity of respiratory-related COVID-19 impacts.
7. Reducing Airport Pollution: Reviews existing pollution control measures and proposes operational improvements to mitigate the aviation sector's impact on local air quality.
8. Conclusion: Summarizes the study's findings regarding the connection between air pollution and infectious disease risk, advocating for integrated policy interventions.
Keywords
Air pollution, pollutants, COVID-19, airport operations, community health, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, respiratory illness, environmental justice, air quality index, flight restrictions, public health policy, morbidity, mortality, aviation industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research examines the relationship between aviation-related air pollution and the health outcomes of local communities, with a specific focus on how these pollutants influenced the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the environmental impact of major transportation hubs, differential health susceptibility among residents, the role of airborne particles in virus transmission, and policy measures to reduce aviation emissions.
What is the main objective of this study?
The primary goal is to establish the theoretical and practical impacts of airport operations on air quality and to correlate these findings with the morbidity and mortality rates observed in neighborhoods near these airports during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
This study utilizes an empirical and scientific literature review, synthesizing secondary environmental and health data to compare air quality variations before and during pandemic-induced flight bans.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers individual case studies of Heathrow, JFK, and Los Angeles airports, the theoretical framework concerning air pollution distribution, and strategies for reducing airport-related pollutant emissions.
Which keywords help characterize this work?
The study is best described by terms such as air pollution, COVID-19, airport, particulate matter, environmental justice, and human respiratory health.
How does the distance from an airport correlate with air pollution levels?
The study supports the idea that pollution concentration is inversely proportional to the distance from an airport, meaning residents living closer to the facility face higher levels of pollutants.
How do airport operations relate to the severity of COVID-19?
The research concludes that communities with higher exposure to airport-related air pollutants exhibited higher infection fatality rates, suggesting that pollutants increase the risk of severe respiratory responses to the virus.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Mr Akeju (Autor:in), 2020, Airport Pollution. A case study of 3 Airports, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1457365
