[ad_1]
New Delhi: As Covid-19 spread across the continents, governments around the world resorted to blockades and movement restrictions to promote social distancing and as a measure to contain the pandemic.
Starting from China, where the new virus first originated in Wuhan, countries like Italy, France, and Germany in Europe, India, and the United States have implemented some form of blockade.
With most businesses closed, construction activities halted, and human movements minimal, the global economy is facing its worst crisis in nearly a century due to the pandemic and the resulting blockades. However, the same restrictions have helped improve the air quality of some of the world’s most polluted cities.
According to air quality data compiled by IQAir during a three-week blackout period, air pollution levels (read PM2.5 levels) decreased in most cities around the world compared to the same period of the year past.
For example, PM2.5 levels in Delhi between March 23 and April 13 averaged 32.8 µg / m³, a 60% improvement over the same period last year. The same decrease was calculated at 55% compared to the 4-year average of PM 2.5 levels.
According to the standards of the US Environmental Protection Agency. USA (EPA), PM 2.5 to 12 levels are considered ‘good’, considered ‘moderate’ between 12 and 35, ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ between 35 and 55,’ unhealthy ‘between 55 and 150,’ Very little healthy ‘between 150 and 250, and’ dangerous’ beyond that.
The annual average exposure threshold according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is 10 µg / m³. Given that India is one of the world’s most polluted countries, “an average resident is exposed to air pollution that exceeds the WHO target of annual PM2.5 exposure by more than 500 percent.”
The same scale by Indian standards is measured as ‘good’ up to 50, ‘moderate’ between 50 and 100, ‘poor’ between 100 and 200, ‘very poor’ between 200 and 300, ‘severe’ between 300 and 400, and ‘dangerous’ beyond that.
As in Delhi, PM2.5 levels in Mumbai averaged almost 28 µg / m³ between March 23 and April 13, a 34% reduction in 2019 and a 43% reduction in the 4-year average during the same period. time frame.
Both Mumbai and Delhi recorded their best air quality for March recorded in 2020. “The number of Delhi’s ‘unhealthy’ days in terms of air quality during the shutdown fell from 68% to 17%, while it plummeted from 22.5% to 0.4% for Mumbai, “according to the IQair report.
Wuhan in China witnessed a 50% decrease in PM2.5 levels during the shutdown between February 3-24. Even during its 10-week total shutdown, the city witnessed its “cleanest air on record for February and March” in 2020.
It should be noted that the study chose a period of three weeks for each city to reflect the period in which the strictest blockade measures were implemented or, during longer blockade periods, such as in Wuhan, to coincide with the “peak” of the day reported cases of COVID-19.
In the United States, Los Angeles, on the west coast, witnessed that its longest stretch of clean air met WHO guidelines.
Overall, Los Angeles PM2.5 levels fell more than 30% during the block compared to the same time last year and improved more than 50% compared to the 4-year average.
In Europe, London and Madrid saw an improvement of 9% and 11% in their PM2.5 levels, respectively, compared to last year between March 23 and April 13.
By contrast, Rome in Italy, which was the first country in Europe to impose a blockade in response to the pandemic, witnessed a 30% increase in PM2.5 levels.
“Domestic heating is a major source of air pollution in Rome … The increased reliance on residential heating systems, coupled with cold air investments that trap particulate pollution in the atmosphere, may explain the PM2 gains .5 in the city compared to 2019. ” the study said.
(All graphics courtesy of AirVisual IQAir)
Support the daily wage earners who have been most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Click here to contribute to the cause. #IndiaGives
The Daily Bulletin News18 Coronavirus COVID-19: Get your copy here.
Subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow us Twitter,
Instagram
Facebook,
Telegram,
TikTok and in
Youtube
First Anniversary Offer: Sign up for the Moneycontrol PRO Annual Plan for ₹ 1 / – per day for the first year and claim exclusive benefits worth ₹ 20,000. Coupon Code: PRO365
[ad_2]
