Abstract
Air pollution poses a grave health risk and is a matter of concern for researchers around the globe. Toxic pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a result of industrial and transport sector emissions and need to be analysed at the current scenario. After the world realised the effect of COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the globe proposed complete lockdown to contain the spread. The present research focuses on analysing the gaseous pollution scenarios, before and during lockdown through satellite (Sentinel-5P data sets) and ground-based measurements (Central Pollution Control Board’s Air Quality Index, AQI) for 8 five-million plus cities in India (Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Pune). The long-term exposure to NO2 was also linked to pandemic-related mortality cases across the country. An average of 46% reduction in average NO2 values and 27% improvement in AQI was observed in the eight cities during the first lockdown phase with respect to pre-lockdown phase. Also, 53% of Corona positive cases and 61% of fatality cases were observed in the eight major cities of the country alone, coinciding with locations having high long-term NO2 exposure.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
