India’s cultural heritage: Air quality effects amidst COVID-19 lockdown and seasonal variability

Abstract

India, one of the most dynamic ancient civilizations, possesses a multitude of historical artifacts, with 37 of its notable architectural structures recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Yet, the ever-changing climate, especially air pollution, expedites the natural deterioration of historic sites and diminishes their aesthetic appeal, causing socio-economic damage.With this in mind, the current study aims at offering a logical scienti c foundation for the implications of air pollution, seasonal shifts, and COVID-19 on 14 signi cant historical places in India during the year 2019-20. The highest amounts of atmospheric pollution and an AQI of 102-141 were observed in Delhi, making it the most polluted city, and intensi es the risk of cultural sites to corrode and deteriorate. In general, winter season had elevated levels of NO 2 and particle pollution (PM2.5, PM10), whereas summer had the higher levels of O 3 . However, during the lockdown period of 5 months, the particulate matter concentration sharply declined by 70%, which otherwise remains constant over the year. Depending on different geographic locations and anthropogenic factors, dose-response statistics indicate that the corrosion threats to historic limestone and sandstone buildings are at an all-time high situation in the majority of the sites. On the other hand, various air quality management challenges are also discussed in the paper, along with the information on available approaches or government initiatives and e cient approaches to protect heritage sites against rapid degradation across the country. Conclusively, the present research provides a sound scienti c foundation to advance adequate policy-making on risk management and an effective national mandate to guard cultural heritage sites against corrosion.