Katarzyna Lindner-Cendrowska
Articles
How Covid-19 pandemic influenced air quality in Polish cities – lessons from three lockdowns
Geographia Polonica (2022) vol. 95, iss. 3, pp. 255-274 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0235
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine how COVID-19 pandemic influenced air quality in the chosen Polish cities. Data on nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, fine and coarse particulate matter concentrations from air quality monitoring stations was used to compare pollutants levels during the pandemic and in the 5-year pre-pandemicperiod. The impact of the pandemic on the air quality has been analysed using linear mixed effect models, adjusting for long-term, seasonal and weekly trends and meteorological conditions. Results showed that during the pandemic, until the second lockdown only nitrogen oxides levels were significantly reduced (up to 20%), while when again loosening restrictions the rebound effect led to 20-30% increase of all analysed pollutants.
Keywords: air pollution, COVID-19, lockdown, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter
[klindner@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN
[k.leziak@uw.edu.pl], Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies University of Warsaw Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warsaw: Poland
[broede@ifado.de], Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo) Ardeystrasse 67, 44139 Dortmund: Germany
Geographia Polonica (2021) vol. 94, iss. 2, pp. 167-182 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0199
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess biothermal conditions in the selected Polish health resorts for specific forms of climatic therapy. We calculated Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) for ten-year period (2008-2017) and then added adjustment terms, taking into account changes in metabolic rates during various physical activities from resting to vigorous exercise. The adjusted UTCI values increased with rising activity, implying that warmer parts of the year were unsuitable for intensive forms of climatotherapy. These results demonstratethat the UTCI adjustment procedure provides well-balanced assessments of bioclimatic conditions for the purpose of climatic treatment considering the level of activity.
Keywords: UTCI, thermal comfort, metabolic heat production, climatic therapy, health resorts
[klindner@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN
[broede@ifado.de], Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo) Ardeystrasse 67, 44139 Dortmund: Germany