DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

30 March, 2020
5 Min Read

Improved Air Quality during COVID-19

Improved Air Quality during COVID-19

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Environment

The nationwide lockdown, to prevent COVID-19, has led to minimal air pollution in over 90 cities including Delhi.

Environmentalists have welcomed the reduction in pollution and have urged the government to treat it as a wake-up call and stop the development at the cost of the environment.

Key Points

During the lockdown, the government has asked the people to avoid unnecessary travel which has significantly reduced the traffic movement.
Other factors which have contributed to the improved air quality are shutting down of industries and construction sites and rains.
According to the centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the measures against COVID-19 have led to a drop in:
- PM2.5
  - It is an atmospheric Particulate Matter of diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, which is around 3% of the diameter of a human hair.
  - It causes respiratory problems and also reduces visibility. It is an endocrine disruptor that can affect insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity thus contributing to diabetes.
- Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)
  - NOx pollution is mainly caused due to a high motor vehicle traffic and can increase the risk of respiratory conditions.
Generally in March, pollution is in the moderate category in the Air Quality Index while currently, it is in the satisfactory or good category.
- Under the good category, pollution is considered to be at the lowest and the air is believed to be the healthiest to breathe.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data:
- Air quality in the National Capital Territory of Delhi is presently in the good category.
- Kanpur, which has high pollution levels normally, is in the satisfactory category.
- 92 other cities with CPCB monitoring centres have recorded minimal air pollution, with the air quality ranging between good and satisfactory.

Observations and Suggestions:
- The low AQI and the blue skies prove that air pollution was mostly anthropomorphic (man-made), which can be reduced by conscious efforts.
- Reducing air pollution by rapidly slowing down the economy is not an ideal way so mindful use of technologies and low-emission alternatives can be opted to minimise the pollution.
- It was also emphasised that air pollution weakens the lungs so countries like India with higher pollution and lower nutrition levels will be more affected by COVID-19 leading to higher morbidity and deaths.

Air Quality Index

The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality.
It focuses on health effects one might experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air.
AQI is calculated for eight major air pollutants:
- Ground-level ozone
  - It is also found in the stratosphere and protects from ultraviolet (UV) rays, while in the troposphere (ground level) it acts as a pollutant.
  - It is not a primary pollutant but a secondary one.
  - Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the air but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight.
- PM10
- PM2.5
- Carbon monoxide
- Sulfur dioxide
- Nitrogen dioxide
- Ammonia
- Lead
Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in India.

Source: TH

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