Impacts of COVID-19 on Air Quality in India

Verma, R. L.; Kamyotra, Jatinder Singh

doi:10.4209/aaqr.200482

Cited by 25 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…[61] Satellite images showed a significant reduction in surface CO concentration during the lockdown (Figure 2). Nationwide average CO concentration was observed to drop upto$21% during lockdown (25th Mar-30th Apr 2020) over prelockdown (25th Feb-24th Mar 2020) [11]. As per studies, CO concentration dropped by 15% during Jan-May 2020 over 2019 at Kolkata [34].…”

Section: Carbon Monoxide (Co)mentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In such a situation, the national-level lockdown during 2020 to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus came up as a natural experiment to simulate the sensitivity of air pollutants. Several reports showed a significant plummet in primary emission sources or SLCPs (>30%) leading to the emergence of the blue sky after several decades in India [11,15,16]. Furthermore, a recent model-based study by our group predicted the drastic decline in fine particulate pollutant level during the lockdown had potentially avoided 73,853-92,116 mortalities during April-June 2020 that might have surpassed the fatality due to the pandemic [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…In addition, both ground-based and satellite measurements over Gadanki revealed a decrement of $17% of AOD during lockdown over 2019 [36]. AOD at 550 nm from January-April 2020 (source: [11]).…”

Section: Aerosol Optical Depth (Aod)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Table 1 depicts the mean percentage change in PM loading over different Indian cities. A study over India with data from 200 air monitoring stations revealed PM10 and PM2.5 concentration decreased by 33% and 34% respectively, during lockdown (25th Mar-30th Apr 2020) as compared to the normal days (25th Feb-24th Mar 2020) [11]. New Delhi, the capital of India with the most hazardous air pollution level showed a drastic decline in PM10 and PM2.5 concentration (>50%) during the confinement period [21].…”

Section: Particulate Matter (Pm)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main sources contributing to air pollution in India are transportation, industrial emission, commercial and residential biomass burning, coal-burning for energy production, agricultural stubble burning, brick kilns, municipal waste burning, etc. [10,11]. Besides, the use of solid fuel such as wood, cow dung cakes, agricultural residue, coal, charcoal for cooking purposes in rural India is adding an extra burden of pollutants to the air [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The giant increase in COVID-19 infection across India forced the government to impose strict lockdown in order to curb the pandemic. Although the stringent restrictions crippled India’s economy and poor people’s livelihood, it significantly improved the air quality of most of the polluted cities of India and rejuvenated the atmosphere. Thus, the major objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of lockdown on pollutants prevailing in the atmosphere. A prominent decline in primary pollutants such as Particulate matter (PM), Black carbon (BC), Oxides of nitrogen (NOx), Carbon monoxide (CO) is observed across the country. However, lockdown had a trifling impact on Sulphur dioxide (SO2) concentration over some parts of India due to the constant operation of coal-fired thermal plants as a part of essential service. Furthermore, the sudden decline in NOx concentration disturbed the complex atmospheric chemistry and lead to an enhancement of surface ozone (O3) (secondary pollutant) in many cities of India. Thus, lockdown emerged as a unique opportunity for the atmospheric researchers, policymakers as well as stakeholders to collect baseline data of pollutants and their major sources. This will help to set new targets of air quality standards and to develop various mitigation processes to combat air pollution.

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Section: Carbon Monoxide (Co)mentioning

confidence: 96%