The impact of COVID-19 as a necessary evil on air pollution in India during the lockdown

Environ Pollut. 2020 Nov;266(Pt 1):115080. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115080. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Abstract

The study objective is to contemplate the effectiveness of COVID-19 on the air pollution of Indian territory from January 2020 to April 2020. We have executed data from European Space Agency (ESA) and CPCB online portal for air quality data dissemination. The Sentinel - 5 P satellite images elucidate that the Air quality of Indian territory has been improved significantly during COVID-19. Mumbai and Delhi are one of the most populated cities. These two cities have observed a substantial decrease in Nitrogen Dioxide (40-50%) compared to the same period last year. It suggests that the emergence of COVID-19 has been proved to a necessary evil as being advantageous for mitigating air pollution on Indian territory during the lock-down. The study found a significant decline in Nitrogen Dioxide in reputed states of India, i.e., Delhi and Mumbai. Moreover, a faded track of Nitrogen Dioxide can be seen at the Maritime route in the Indian Ocean. An upsurge in the environmental quality of India will also be beneficial for its neighbor countries, i.e., China, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.

Keywords: Air pollution; COVID-19; Environment; India; Nitrogen dioxide emissions.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Air Pollution / analysis*
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • China
  • Cities
  • Coronavirus Infections*
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Humans
  • India
  • Indian Ocean
  • Iran
  • Pakistan
  • Pandemics*
  • Particulate Matter / analysis
  • Pneumonia, Viral*
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter