COVID-19 lockdown: a rare opportunity to establish baseline pollution level of air pollutants in a megacity, India.

ABSTRACT: This paper analyses air quality data from megacity Delhi, India, during different periods related to the COVID-19, including pre-lockdown, lockdown and unlocked (post-lockdown) (2018-2020) to determine what baseline levels of air pollutants might be and the level of impact that could be anticipated under the COVID-19 lockdown emission scenario. The results show that air quality improved significantly during the lockdown phases, with the most significant changes occurring in the transportation and industrially dominated areas. A pronounced decline in PM_{2.5 and} PM₁₀ up to 63% and 58%, respectively, was observed during the lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period in 2020. When compared to 2018 and 2019, they were lower by up to 51% and 61%, respectively, dropping by

SUBMITTER: Sahoo PK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7899058 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature