Air pollution in Merseyside has dropped by up to a quarter as people are remaining at home in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
With all but necessary journeys banned and employees strongly encouraged to work from home where possible, local monitoring stations are picking up much lower levels of dangerous air pollutants.
Research carried out by the BBC shared Data Unit found that levels of nitrogen dioxide found that some readings in Merseyside were down by as much as a quarter.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels at the St Helens Linkway are down a quarter compared to the same period last year.
Levels were down by a fifth in Tranmere, Birkenhead, from 13.5 micrograms per cubic metre to 11 micrograms this week.
In Speke, pollution levels were down from 17.3 micrograms last year to 15.3 this week, and pollution on Borough Road in Birkenhead was down by 1.4 micrograms.
The measurements were taken between March 17 and March 24.
Across the UK, 110 out of 160 monitoring stations have seen a drop in the amount of NO2 in the air this week compared to the same time last year.
An estimated 80% of nitrogen dioxide comes from car emissions and thus the falling level is most likely caused by fewer cars being on the road.
On March 16, prime minister Boris Johnson urged everybody in the UK to work from home and avoid pubs and restaurants. On Friday last week schools, pubs, restaurants and other gathering places were ordered to shut.
On March 23, the public in the UK were ordered to stay home except for making necessary journeys to buy food or to go to work for those who are key workers.
