A take-home message from COVID-19 on urban air pollution reduction through mobility limitations and teleworking

The rigorous traffic limitations during COVID-19 have forced many people to work from home, reaching an outstanding degree of teleworking and reduction in air pollution. This exceptional situation can be examined as a large-scale pilot test to determine the potential of improving urban air quality through teleworking. Based on observed traffic reductions during the COVID-19 lockdown in Barcelona, we formulate socio-occupational scenarios, with various configurations of teleworking, and simulate them using the chemistry transport model WRF-Chem with multi-layer urban scheme. By intensifying teleworking to 2, 3, and 4 days a week, averaged NO₂ concentrations are reduced by 4% (–1.5 µg m⁻³), 8% (–3 µg m⁻³), and 10% (–6 µg m⁻³), respectively, while O₃ increases moderately (up to 3 µg m⁻³). We propose that teleworking be prioritized and promoted as an effective contribution towards reduction of long-term urban air pollution and short-term pollution peaks.