Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Pollution Over the Megacity Delhi, India: An Impact Of COVID-19 Lockdown


Affiliations
1 PG and Research Department of Environmental Science, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore 641 014, India
 

In this study, we investigate the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic on PM2.5 levels in the national capital city Delhi, India. PM2.5 and meteorological data from 35 ground-based monitoring stations over Delhi city are utilized for the present study. Geographic Information System-based spatial interpolation method was employed to analyse the spatial pattern of PM2.5 from January to April 2020 and compared with that of preceding years (2018–19). The findings indicate that the PM2.5 level has reduced significantly during the lockdown period. About 40% of reduction in PM2.5 concentrations is observed when compared to the prelockdown phase. Exclusively between 25 March and 30 April, about 94.44% of days were within the NAAQS 24-h standard limit of 60 μg/m3. The significant role of meteorology in the dispersal of PM2.5 over Delhi is clear from the correlation analysis. A strong negative correlation (r = –0.546) between the Temp and PM2.5 indicates the better dispersion of air pollutants during high-temperature conditions. A higher reduction in PM2.5 has been observed in Central, Northern and Eastern parts of the megacity. The present study provides insights to policymakers to prepare and implement future policy measures for controlling air pollution levels in the megacity.

Keywords

Air Pollution, COVID-19, Lockdown, Particulate Matter.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • WHO ambient (outdoor) air quality database Summary results, update 2018, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland, 2018.

  • WHO global urban ambient air pollution database (update 2016), Geneva, Switzerland, 2016.

  • Balakrishnan, K. et al., The impact of air pollution on deaths, disease burden, and life expectancy across the states of India: the global burden of disease study 2017. Lancet Planetary Health, 2019, 3(1), e26–e39.

  • Todorović, I., Air pollution sharply falls worldwide on COVID-19 lockdowns, 2020; https://balkangreenenergynews.com/air-pollutionsharply-falls-worldwideon-covid-19-lockdowns/ (accessed on 27 April 2020).

  • WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard, WHO, 2020; https://covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/ (accessed on 7 November 2020).

  • Chen, Q. X., Huang, C. L., Yuan, Y. and Tan, H. P., Influence of COVID-19 event on air quality and their association in Mainland China. Aerosol Air Qual. Res., 2020, 20, 1541–1551.

  • Wu, X., Nethery, R. C., Sabath, B. M., Braun, D. and Dominici, F., Exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in the United States. medRxiv, 2020.

  • Gerretsen, I., How air pollution exacerbates Covid-19. BBC Future Planet, 2020; https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200427how-air-pollutionexacerbates-covid-19 (accessed on 28 April 2020).

  • Census of India, Population Census 2011 India, 2011; http://census2011.co.in/ (accessed on 10 May 2020).

  • Delhi Statistical Handbook, Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Govt of NCT of Delhi, 2017, p. 379.

  • Final Economy survey of Delhi 2018–19, Planning Department, Government of NCT Delhi, 2019.

  • Kumar, P., Gulia, S., Harrison, R. M. and Khare, M., The influence of odd–even car trial on fine and coarse particles in Delhi. Environ. Pollut., 2017, 225, 20–30.

  • Chowdhury, S., Dey, S., Di Girolamo, L., Smith, K. R., Pillarisetti, A. and Lyapustin, A., Tracking ambient PM2.5 build-up in Delhi national capital region during the dry season over 15 years using a high-resolution (1 km) satellite aerosol dataset. Atmos. Environ., 2019, 204, 142–150.

  • Goel, R. and Pant, P., Vehicular pollution mitigation policies in Delhi. Econ. Polit. Wkly, 2016, 51(9), 41.

  • Chandra, B. P. et al., Odd–even traffic rule implementation during winter 2016 in Delhi did not reduce traffic emissions of VOCs, carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide. Curr. Sci., 2018, 114(6), 000–000.

  • Central Control Room for Air Quality Management – All India. Central Pollution Control Board, Government of India, 2020; https://app.cpcbccr.com/ccr/#/caaqmdashboard-all/caaqm-landing/ caaqm-comparison-data

  • Technical Specifications for Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (CAAQM) Station (Real Time). Central Pollution Control Board East Arjun Nagar, Shahdara, 2019; https://jspcb.nic.in/upload/5d6f49fd8daebCAAQMSGuideline.pdf (accessed on 10 August 2020).

  • George, M. P., Sharma, S. K., Mandal, T. K. and Kotnala, R. K., Simultaneous measurements of ambient NH3 and its relationship with other trace gases, PM2.5 and meteorological parameters over Delhi, India. MAPAN, 2019, 34(1), 55–69.

  • Hama, S. M. et al., Four-year assessment of ambient particulate matter and trace gases in the Delhi-NCR region of India. Sustain. Cities Soc., 2020, 54, 102003.

  • Government of India issues orders prescribing lockdown for containment of COVID-19 epidemic in the country, Ministry of Home Affairs, Press Information Bureau, Government of India, 2020; https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=200655 21. MHA Order Dt. 30.5.2020 with guidelines on extension of LD in Containment Zones and phased reopening, Ministry of Home Affairs, 2020.

  • Rahman, S. R. A., Ismail, S. N. S., Raml, M. F., Latif, M. T., Abidin, E. Z. and Praveena, S. M., The assessment of ambient air pollution trend in Klang Valley, Malaysia. World Environ., 2015, 5(1), 1–11.


Abstract Views: 375

PDF Views: 125




  • Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Pollution Over the Megacity Delhi, India: An Impact Of COVID-19 Lockdown

Abstract Views: 375  |  PDF Views: 125

Authors

M. Arunkumar
PG and Research Department of Environmental Science, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore 641 014, India
S. Dhanakumar
PG and Research Department of Environmental Science, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore 641 014, India

Abstract


In this study, we investigate the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic on PM2.5 levels in the national capital city Delhi, India. PM2.5 and meteorological data from 35 ground-based monitoring stations over Delhi city are utilized for the present study. Geographic Information System-based spatial interpolation method was employed to analyse the spatial pattern of PM2.5 from January to April 2020 and compared with that of preceding years (2018–19). The findings indicate that the PM2.5 level has reduced significantly during the lockdown period. About 40% of reduction in PM2.5 concentrations is observed when compared to the prelockdown phase. Exclusively between 25 March and 30 April, about 94.44% of days were within the NAAQS 24-h standard limit of 60 μg/m3. The significant role of meteorology in the dispersal of PM2.5 over Delhi is clear from the correlation analysis. A strong negative correlation (r = –0.546) between the Temp and PM2.5 indicates the better dispersion of air pollutants during high-temperature conditions. A higher reduction in PM2.5 has been observed in Central, Northern and Eastern parts of the megacity. The present study provides insights to policymakers to prepare and implement future policy measures for controlling air pollution levels in the megacity.

Keywords


Air Pollution, COVID-19, Lockdown, Particulate Matter.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv120%2Fi2%2F304-312