A significant drop in Air Pollution levels in the last 18 days of COVID-19 lockdown in Delhi-NCR

Study in Press IJCP May 2020 Issue

India

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Author : Dr K K Aggarwal President CMAAO and HCFI and Dr Anil Kumar, Director HCFI

New Delhi, April 12, 2020 :

About 60% reduction in air pollution levels (PM10 and PM2.5 average values -24 hourly) in Delhi-NCR after 18 days of lockdown.

During worldwide COVID – 19 lockdown, lack of human activities have proven healthy for the planet’s well-being as multiple locations around the world, that was previously known for their severe air pollution levels have shown significant improvement.

Stringency index: for India is 100. In this data is collected on 13 indicators.

1. Closure of Schools
2.  Closure of workplaces
3. Cancelling public events
4. Closing public transports
5. Launching public communication strategies
6.  Restriction of internal movements
7. International travel control
8. Fiscal measures
9. Monetary measures
10. Emergency investment in health care
11. Investment in vaccine
12. Testing policy
13. Contact tracing

Like other major cities in India, Delhi-NCR has seen a drastic drop in these suffocating pollution levels since Delhi-NCR has undergone a full lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Delhi-NCR has always been one of the highest air-polluted regions in India as Delhi-NCR has faced excessive levels of harmful microscopic particulate matter known as PM 2.5, and of Nitrogen Dioxide. The air pollution caused by all the soot and smoke from the factories and vehicles on the roads has become a very serious health issue. PM 2.5, which is smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, is insanely dangerous as it can get lodged deep inside the lungs and pass into other parts of the body through the bloodstream, causing health risks. While NO2 is a toxic gas causing inflammation of the airways at higher concentrations.

In Delhi, lockdown is effective from 23-03-2020 and almost no movement of people and vehicles on roads in the last 18 days (only vehicles related to essential services are moving on roads). This has resulted in improved air quality in Delhi. In Delhi, prominent pollutants are PM10 and PM2.5. As per the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management – Delhi-NCR, the comparison of average values (24 hourly) of PM10 and PM2.5 in Delhi- NCR from 21-03-2020 to 09-04-2020 are as follows:

Comparison of PM10 average values (24 hourly) before and after a lockdown in Delhi- NCR:

Comparison of PM2.5 average values (24 hourly) before and after a lockdown in Delhi- NCR:

The lockdown enforced due to the COVID-19 has shown it is possible to tackle air pollution issues, only what’s needed is political will, societal interventions and strict enforcement.

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