The overview of air quality of Konya during COVID-19 lockdown periods

Turkey confirmed its first COVID-19 case on March 11, 2020 and confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed >10000 in two weeks. Turkish government implemented restrictions including closure of businesses, travel restrictions, and age-based lockdowns as of late March. To battle the ongoing surge in cases, full weekend lockdowns were introduced at metropolitan cities between March 11^th to May 3^rd. As a result of these measures, community mobility in Turkey decreased more than 75%. In this study, air quality of Konya metropolitan city was assessed for PM₁₀ and NO₂ for 4-week periods of April 6^th to May 3^rd in 2017-2020. Hourly concentrations of PM₁₀ and NO₂ were obtained from a national air quality network station and concentrations of these pollutants for the 2020 period compered with the same periods of 2017-2019. Significant declines were observed for PM₁₀ and NO₂ in 2020 period compared with 2017-2019 periods. PM₁₀ concentration was declined 56% in 2020 with absolute decrease of 24.7 µg/m³. NO₂ was also declined significantly with an 84.2% reduction and with absolute decrease of 97.2 µg/m³. Measures taken to battle the COVID-19 virus have decreased the airborne pollutant levels as in many parts have world. Control measures that can keep the air pollution at a sustainable low level need to be taken.