Analysis of Air Pollutants in Covid 19 Pandemic Lockdown- A case study of Bareilly, UP, India

ABSTRACT

The contemporary world is dealing with the rise of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Globally, as on 14 September 2020, there have been 28,918,900 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 922,252 deaths, reported to WHO with the cases still on the rise. In India, as a preventive measure, complete lockdown was imposed all over the country from 25th March, 2020 which has significantly reduced the vehicular movement. Bareilly was reported among the seven most air polluted cities of Uttar Pradesh where PM10 was almost four times the annual standard of 60 μg/m3 averaging 226 μg/m3 for the year 2015 and 2016.The city Bareilly of State Uttar Pradesh do not have too much of industries and therefore industries cannot be blamed. Alternatively, vehicular or construction emission sources could not be ruled out and it can be concluded that primary sources of air pollution could be either automobiles or incomplete construction work. The present study is focused on monitoring of air pollutants PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2, at Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh and analyzed during the lockdown period due to pandemic COVID 19 from three monitoring stations. In the first week of lockdown, i.e. from 25th March 2020 to 31st March 2020 the PM10 and PM2.5 concentration averaged 60μg/m3 and 47 μg/m3 respectively which is below the NAAQS average limits of 80μg/m3 and 60μg/m3 respectively. Whereas the concentrations of gaseous pollutants SO2 and NO2 was found to be much below the monthly NAAQS limits of 60 μg/m3 averaging 21μg/m3 and 15μg/m3 respectively. In April 2020, the vehicular movement was minimum and the level of air pollutants, PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2, were found to be 54μg/m3, 41μg/m3, 19μg/m3 and 14μg/m3 respectively which is minimum in the six months of study from January 2020 to June 2020 and lowest in comparison to the air quality data of last 25 years.It can therefore be concluded that vehicular emissions contribute significantly for air pollution in Bareilly city.