The Effect of Applied Public Policies in Struggle with Covid-19 on Air Pollution: An Empirical Analysis for the Marmara Region

Abstract

This study is intended to examine whether the public policies implemented in struggle with Covid-19 virus, which emerged in Wuhan, China and spread to a significant part of the world in a short time, caused a change in the air pollution level of the Marmara Region. Using PM10, O3, NO2 and SO2 air pollutants between April 2018 and March 2021, the change in air pollution was analyzed with ANOVA F-Test and Kruskall-Wallis H Test. As a result of the evaluation, it was determined that thanks to the implemented public policies, air pollution improved in terms of PM10, O3 and NO2 and that there was an increase in SO2 levels. From this point of view, it was observed that there was a partial improvement in the air pollution of the Marmara Region.