Virus Prompts California to Study Air Pollution, Public Health

California regulators are seizing on a chance to study the public health effects of air pollution, as stay-at-home orders and drops in freight traffic related to the coronavirus pandemic have presented a unique research opportunity.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued statewide orders in March closing nonessential businesses, banning large gatherings, and ordering residents to stay home. Shipping and freight transportation traffic also fell due to the lockdown, bringing clear skies, empty roads, and more people working from home—aspects of California life previously thought to be nearly impossible.

The California Air Resources Board is taking notice, with an eye on environmental ...