Investigating the Impact of Virtual Education on Air Pollution Indicators in Tehran during the COVID-19 Outbreak

This research aims to investigate the effect of virtual education during the COVID-19 outbreak on air pollution indicators in Tehran. The study uses quantitative methods, including One-Way ANOVA, to analyze the air pollution indicators before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on air pollution indicators in Tehran from 2018, 2019, and 2020 were collected from Tehran Air Control Company and compared using statistical tests. The year 2019 represents virtual education, while 2018 and 2020 represent face-to-face education. The examined indicators include particulate matters with a diameter less or equal than 2.5μ (PM2.5), SO2, NOX (i.e., NO2 and NO), O3, and CO. The results of variance analysis show significant differences in the PM2.5and NOX indices between virtual and face-to-face training days. Follow-up tests by Toki and Scheffé indicate that in 2019, when education was fully virtual, the levels of these pollutants were lower compared to 2018 and 2020. However, there were no significant differences in the SO2, O3, and CO indices during the days of virtual education compared to the years before and after. This suggests that virtual education during the COVID-19 outbreak contributed to pollution reduction by reducing traffic to educational organizations and its indirect effects.