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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the new
coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, struck India on January 30, 2020, in Kerala,
with the first positive case, forcing a 4-month nation-wide lockdown
from March 25 to May 31, 2020, followed by a period of unlocking.
Unfortunately, in the month of March 2021, India was hit by a major
second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a state-wide
lockdown. Lockdown was a curse for India’s 1.39 billion people, yet
it was a blessing for the environment. Because of the disastrous
spread of coronavirus and consequent shutdown, many manmade
activities were halted, allowing the ecosystem to flourish. The
present article highlights the impacts of both the lockdowns on
ambient air quality of Lucknow, Capital city of most polluted state
in India. Air quality index (AQI) values for four hazardous air
pollutants (particulate matter2.5 [PM2.5], NO2, SO2, and CO) were
monitored and evaluated in the Lalbagh area of Lucknow during
various phases of 1st and 2nd lockdown and the AQI value of PM2.5
were further converted into concentration term (µg/m3) to analyze a
24 h average variation. The lowest concentration of PM2.5 was
measured at 41.5 µg/m3 during the first lockdown and 11.5 µg/m3
during the second lockdown, resulting in a reduction in levels of
PM2.5. During the first lockdown, the highest and lowest recorded
AQI values for gaseous pollutants, namely, NO2, SO2, and CO, were
35, 3, 10 and 0, 1 and 5, while during the second lockdown, the
highest and lowest recorded AQI values were 30, 9, 20 and 20, 1,and
5, respectively. Explanatory explanations for the positive influence
of meteorological discoveries in enhancing air quality during 1st
lockdown and 2nd lockdown are also established in this study. |
