Going through the COVID-19 pandemic is a nightmare in many ways. We won't rehash all the life changes we've all had to endure. There was, however, one silver lining that many of us missed while hunkering down at home: the world experienced a dramatic increase in air quality because of the dramatic decrease in air pollution.

COVID-19 forced much of the world to shut down and embrace the work-from-home lifestyle. This significantly reduced commuting and traffic, one of the major contributors to air pollution. A study published in Environmental Research found that global levels of nitrogen dioxide, a gaseous air pollutant, decreased by 60% when lockdowns were enforced across the globe in early 2020. They also saw a 31% decrease in other small air pollutants (called particulate matter) but a 4% increase in the air pollutant ozone.

Better air quality could not have come at a better time since there was also buzz that air pollution exacerbates COVID-19 infection rates and illness. But beyond that immediate benefit, scientists are gaining enthusiasm for the possible long-term health effects of living in a world with cleaner air.

Cleaning Up the Air

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution contributes to over 4 million deaths worldwide. It has been linked to developing different types of cancers, heart disease, and respiratory disease and infections. A recent study published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice now also connects the possible development of diabetes to air pollution. Because of the detrimental effects of pollution on health, many countries have created policies to decrease exposure to toxic air. Though global efforts have positively impacted air quality, the COVID-19 lockdowns have proven that we can do much better.

Because the world can't stay in perpetual lockdown, everyone has a part to play in keeping air pollution down during and after the pandemic. We've now experienced a tremendous benefit, for air quality and health, of reduced driving and traffic. And this wouldn't have been possible without mass participation.

Aside from getting out of the car, there are other ways we can cleanup the air. A paper published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society highlighted some other meaningful ways to improve the air we breathe.

• Use air filters or air purifiers. Studies have shown that air filters can reduce certain particulate matter and allergens in the air. These filtration systems have also helped reduce illness and death during disastrous events like the recent wildfires.
• Use face masks. Their use is more common now, but face masks were primarily used to prevent exposure to air pollutants before the pandemic. The masks' filtration ability depends on what kind it is and what it's made of. N95 and N99 masks have the highest filtration rates, filtering 95% and 99% particles in the air. Regardless, most masks filter the air, even if just a little.
• Make home improvements. We rarely think about the objects in our home contributing to the pollution problem. But they do. Stoves with "improved combustion efficiency and ventilation" help with keeping pollution low within the home. Also, heating systems can contribute to air quality, so selecting a less polluting one, like heat pumps, can improve air quality.