Lockdown Amid COVID-19 Ascendancy over Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution Anomaly

Abstract

Air is a diverse mixture of gaseous and suspended solid particles. Several new substances are being added to the air daily, polluting it and causing human health effects. Particulate matter (PM) is the primary health concern among these air toxins. The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed the fact that particulate pollution affects human health more severely than other air pollutants. The spread of air pollution and viruses, two of our millennium’s most serious concerns, have been linked closely. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can spread through the air, and PM could act as a host to spread the virus beyond those in close contact. Studies on COVID-19 cover diverse environmental segments and become complicated with time. As PM pollution is related to everyday life, an essential awareness regarding PM-impacted COVID-19 among the masses is required, which can help researchers understand the various features of ambient particulate pollution, particularly in the era of COVID-19. Given this, the present work provides an overview of the recent developments in COVID-19 research linked to ambient particulate studies. This review summarizes the effect of the lockdown on the characteristics of ambient particulate matter pollution, the transmission mechanism of COVID-19, and the combined health repercussions of PM pollution. In addition to a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the lockdown, its rationales—based on topographic and socioeconomic dynamics—are also discussed in detail. The current review is expected to encourage and motivate academics to concentrate on improving air quality management and COVID-19 control.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on particulate matter oxidative potential at urban backgroundversustraffic sites

“…, travel restrictions) was not enough to offset other pollution sources and, potentially, the impact of secondary aerosol formation could be a more important driver of the increased pollution levels during the lockdown period. 6,66…”

“…65 Overall, the decrease in vehicular emissions and mobility (i.e., travel restrictions) was not enough to offset other pollution sources and, potentially, the impact of secondary aerosol formation could be a more important driver of the increased pollution levels during the lockdown period. 6,66 In a reference background site in France, an existing longterm decreasing trend in PM has been observed over the years. 11 This has been attributed to the decreasing traffic emissions, likely due to the improvement of regulations restricting vehicular emissions, especially in bigger cities.…”

“…In Morocco, the decrease in local emissions was exceeded by regional and/or transboundary pollution resulting in an increase in pollution levels during the lockdown period (65). Overall, the decrease in vehicular emissions and mobility (i.e., travel restrictions) were not enough to offset other pollution sources and, potentially, the impact of secondary aerosol formation could be a more important driver of the increased pollution levels during lockdown period (6,66).…”

“…1 Most of the previous studies have focused on the impact of these lockdown measures on ambient air concentrations of key pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), and ozone (O 3 ) levels. [2][3][4][5][6][7] In the meantime, there has been very limited information on the oxidative potential (OP) of PM, an emerging health-based exposure metric, during these lockdown periods. 8 Atmospheric PM can originate from anthropogenic and natural sources.…”

The Nexus Between COVID-19 Factors and Air Pollution

“…As pollution concentrations grow, so do the number of respiratory infections. 9 In the contemporary global environment, where economic operations are rising, pollutants are increasing at a quicker rate. Pollution from the environment causes a wide variety of illnesses.…”