COVID-19 Lockdowns in Industrial Areas and Outdoor Climatology Indices

Abstract

The study focuses on the ambient air pollutants levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in two major industrial estates. The data was collected from different Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified laboratories. The results revealed that before the COVID-19 pandemic or lockdown the levels of ambient air pollutants were above the Punjab Environment Quality Standards (PEQs) limit, during lockdown conditions these were within PEQs limits. The change was gradual due to a decline in emissions coming from different sources like vehicles and industries during the period of COVID-19 and limited human movement within the study area. The Sunder Industrial Estate (SIE) was less polluted as compared to Quaid e Azam Industrial Estate (QIE), but in the case of different pollutants, some pollutants in SIE were high compared with QIE. It was observed that the ambient air pollutants meditations will reduce regularly and keep declining to the least limit during the COVID-19 induced lockdowns. In crux, the quality of ambient air in the study area improved notably during the lockdown registering reduced concentrations of NOx, SO 2 , SPM, CO, and PM emissions, resulting in health benefits for the population.