SINGAPORE - Singapore's air quality has improved as a result of reduced economic and social activities brought about by the coronavirus outbreak.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said key pollutant levels have been falling even before the circuit breaker measures were implemented in April.

The levels fell further after the measures designed to break the chain of infections kicked in on April 7.

According to the NEA, the average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) level in the two weeks before the circuit breaker period was 17ug/m3 (micrograms - or one-millionth of a gram - per cubic metre of air) - down from 27ug/m3 same time last year.

"Preliminary analysis shows that in the two weeks since the circuit breaker measures were introduced, there was a further improvement in air quality, with the average level of NO2 decreasing to 13ug/m3," the NEA said.

"This is probably due to a reduction in vehicular traffic with some businesses implementing work-from-home practices prior to the circuit breaker, as well as the slowing down of industrial activities in tandem with the global economic situation."

For instance, oil refineries, one of the top polluters here, have pared down output in the light of the pandemic.

The NEA said the average levels of PM10 and PM2.5 (particulate matter the size of 10 and 2.5 microns in size), carbon monoxide (CO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) had fallen by between 8 per cent and 43 per cent.

After circuit breaker measures kicked in, these pollutant levels fell further, but by "less than 1 per cent".

Absolute readings for these four pollutants were unavailable at the time of writing, but the NEA said all the daily pollutant levels are now "within World Health Organisation air quality guidelines".

Singapore has long been unable to meet some of these guidelines, especially for particulate matter.

All five pollutants are hazardous to health, with elevated levels linked to several respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as strokes and cancers.

A study published in the European Heart Journal last year estimated that up to 8.8 million premature deaths a year around the world are linked to air pollution, with the average reduction in lifespan at around three years.

Ironically, the coronavirus-induced lockdowns are reducing that death toll.

In a report released on April 30, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air said European countries under lockdown have seen 11,000 fewer deaths in April compared to the same period last year.

This, it said, was because of a sharp drop in fossil fuel pollution.

But experts reckon the situation may be short-lived.

Dr Koh Tieh Yong, associate professor of atmospheric science at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said the main sources of nitrogen dioxide here are vehicular traffic and oil refining.

"Traffic volume fell noticeably due to work-from-home practices, while global demand for petroleum products decreased due to economic slowdown," he said.

"However, the current improvements are transient."

He said when Covid-19 measures are lifted, air quality will revert to what it was before.

"This is because our transport and industrial technologies have not changed. For sustained improvements in urban air quality, we need to make revolutionary changes," he said.

"For example, the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and the predominant use of renewable energy in generating electricity and powering industries."

To this end, he said the economic stimulus by governments the world over in response to Covid-19 "comes at an opportune time".

"Major greenhouse gas-emitting industries have the capacity to reconsider their energy options as their energy consumption now is anomalously low, allowing them to redesign their technological base to tap into new energy sources."

As to when economic and social activities will return to pre-pandemic levels, Nanyang Business School Adjunct Associate Professor Zafar Momin said the reversal will be "gradual".

Manufacturing for instance, could restart fairly quickly, but "restaurants and bars, conferences and seminars, religious congregations, and large sporting events may reopen much more slowly".

Public transport, he reckons, will "ramp up as economic sectors reopen".

But Dr Momin said tourism "may struggle for the longest time to return to pre-Covid normalcy", which means fewer commercial flights, a contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gases.