Healthy Soch
- The levels of NO2 and ozone across India are within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
- No clear relationship observed between current air quality vs confirmed COVID-19 cases in India.
New Delhi, April 29, 2020:
During COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown enforced, countries across the world have reported a significant drop in air pollution and witnessed improvement in air quality.
In India, the most significant improvement in air quality during lockdown was observed in cities across Indo-Gangetic plain as in most of the normal days, particularly in winter months, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5 levels) and NO2 values are high in Indo-Gangetic plain due to geographical location and other factors, including very high population density and spread of industrial clusters.
As per an earlier analysis done by Team of HCFI, after 11 days of COVID-19 lockdown, the level of particulate pollution (particulate matter, PM10 and PM2.5) dropped by nearly 60% in Delhi. PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometres or less in diameter) and PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter) are particles present in the air that are classified as pollutants and can harm human health. The deadliest particle in Delhis foul air is PM 2.5 (primarily comes from combustion – fires, automobiles and power plants), which increases the likelihood of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Across the globe, studies have been conducted to get a clear relationship between air pollution exposure and COVID-19 confirmed cases as high levels of air pollution can cause damage to the lungs and thus makes one more susceptible to either getting the infection or to getting complications from COVID-19. The World Economic Forum also said that people living with poor air quality may be more susceptible to COVID-19 disease.
A recent study w.r.t. exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in the United States by Xiao Wu et.al of Dept. of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA, indicates that coronavirus patients in areas with high levels of air pollution before the pandemic, have increased odds of dying from the infection than patients in cleaner parts of the country. This study offers the first clear association between long-term exposure to pollution and COVID-19 death rates.
The authors in above study found that an increase of only 1 μg/m3 in PM2.5 is associated with a 15% increase in the COVID-19 death rate. Results are statistically significant and robust to secondary and sensitivity analyses. They have concluded that a small increase in long-term exposure to PM2.5 leads to a large increase in COVID-19 death rate. The study results highlight the importance of continuous enforcement of existing air pollution regulations to protect human health both during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
Though, presently, we have observed clean air due to the lockdown in India but this respite is for a short-term period. After the restrictions are lifted and human activities start, there will be a sudden rise in air pollution. But, the lockdown during COVID-19 has shown ways to tackle air pollution issues, only what’s needed is political will, societal interventions and strict enforcement.
-Dr KK Aggarwal
President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA
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