Abstract
A novel infectious disease (COVID-19) was identified in the late months of 2019, with human to human transmission, and rapidly spread in the world, which now has turned into a global pandemic. The coronavirus (COVID-19) is extremely threatening world public health problem. Up-till now, more than 200 countries and states had been affected by this pandemic. The number of contagions and deaths still increasing day by day. Different steps have been taken worldwide to control COVID-19. Countries all over the world have applied specific type of lockdown in order to control / slow down the intensity of infection and mitigate it. This lockdown due to COVID-19 not only smashed the economic growth but also exert a positive impact on the environment and improves the level of air quality in the city/country. This study was carried out for investigation of air quality before and during the periods of lockdown levied to reduce the spread of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the environment of Karachi city. Concentrations of four pollutant parameters (PM<sub>10</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub> and CO) were used to calculate the results according to the criteria of Air Quality Index (AQI). We have analyzed data collected from fourteen different monitoring locations along the busy roads in commercial, residential and industrial areas of Karachi during the lockdown period. Data were compared to the five-year monthly mean and to the four-week before the partial lockdown. The results proved that during lockdown air quality is significantly improved. Among the selected pollutants, concentrations of PM<sub>10</sub> have observed maximum reduction (50%) in comparison to the before lockdown period. In compare to the last year (i.e. 2019) during the said time period the reduction of PM<sub>10</sub> is as high as about 60%. Among other pollutants, SO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub> and CO the level have also reduced about 60-70% during lockdown period. About 40% to 50% improvement in air quality is identified just after four days of commencing lockdown. Overall, the study is assumed to be a useful tool to the regulatory bodies to control the air quality and also explained its relation to health hazards to provide awareness in the society.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus is a new born virus that has never been identified before
They have observed amazingly improvements in the air quality index of the city linked with social distancing measures, and decreasing use of vehicle transit
Present study was carried out to estimate the concentrations of ambient air pollution with PM10 size fractions by using Air Quality Index (AQI) at fourteen different locations in Karachi
Summary
The novel coronavirus is a new born virus that has never been identified before. This coronavirus is one of the main virus that target on the lungs and infected the respiratory tract or bronchial system of the human being [1]. In Feb 2020, due to cluster of cases (COVID-19), which rapidly increase in surrounding areas, countries and in the world the outbreak turned into global epidemic [6], By March 2020 the virus has spread globally and was declared as global pandemic, (WHO) name this as acute respiratory infection lead to Pneumonia with the symptoms of high fever, dry cough and dyspnea [7, 8]. This coronavirus reached in Pakistan in the month of February of this year, 2020. The first case of this COVID-19 disease was reported and confirmed in February 26, 2020 in Journal of Health and Environmental Research 2020; 6(3): 93-97
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