[ad_1]
Amid the coronavirus blockade, countries around the world reported a significant drop in air pollution and witnessed better air quality.
According to the World Air Quality Index, countries such as the United States, Spain, Italy, China, France, Mexico and the United Kingdom have reported a drop in the level of NO2 levels in April compared to the same period last year . The most significant improvement in air quality was observed in New Delhi.
Amid the blockade, India’s national capital reported a drop in its NO2 levels. Nitrogen dioxide or NO2 is a gas emitted by motor vehicles and factories primarily, and therefore a drop in its level was indicative of reduced human activity outside the home amid blockage of the coronavirus.
According to an analysis by experts from the Nonprofit Center for Science and the Environment, days after the coronavirus blockade went into effect on March 25 in India, the level of particle contamination fell by almost 60 % in New Delhi.
According to the Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research System (SAFAR), air quality in the national capital on Tuesday (April 21) was registered in the ‘satisfactory’ category with PM10 to 68 and PM2.5 to 35. The total The air quality index in the national capital was around 68, as mentioned on the SAFAR website on Tuesday. This is a sharp drop in air pollution for the national capital that generally registers a “poor” to “severe” air quality level with an AQI ranging from 100 to 300 and even more in the colder months.
It is even predicted that air quality may touch the “good” level in the national capital.
“The overall Delhi AQI is satisfactory category on April 21 morning as planned. The SAFAR model suggests that the AQI is likely to improve further towards the lower end of the satisfactory category (may touch a good category) by April 22, ”the website mentioned.
Just a couple of months ago in February, the level of pollution in the national capital was deteriorating. Overall air quality in the first week of February was in the “very poor” category with the Air Quality Index (AQI) coupling at around 300, SAFAR reported.
But experts fear clean air and immaculate skies won’t be here to stay once the blockade is lifted. Selected commercial and economic activities resumed across the country on April 20. Although the Delhi administration decided not to relax the blockade restrictions in the national capital, some neighboring states lifted some restrictions.
Experts fear that a return to the pre-closure situation, where factories resume operations and vehicles get stuck on the roads again, pollution levels will rise again.
“Currently, we have clean air due to the blockage, but this respite is short-term. After the restrictions are lifted and human activities begin, there will be a sudden increase in air pollution, “said TK Joshi, a member of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) working group on air pollution and Cheers to HT’s trade publication, Mint.
PM10 and PM2.5 are particles (particulates) present in the air that are classified as pollutants and can harm human health. PM10 is particulate matter 10 microns or less in diameter, while PM2.5 is particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter.
