Whereas the lockdown between March and Might restricted individuals indoors, this caused a optimistic – a serious lower within the metropolis’s air air pollution ranges in comparison with previous few years.
From the ‘passable’ to ‘reasonable’ air high quality in the identical interval final yr and in 2018, the extent remained ‘good’ this yr (see field), as per figures shared by the Chandigarh Air pollution Management Committee (CPCC) just lately.
That is excellent news for Chandigarh amid the Covid-19 pandemic when scientists have contended that extended publicity to air air pollution results in a continual inflammatory response even among the many younger and wholesome, which can translate into greater Covid loss of life charges in cities with extra air pollution, as seen in north Italy.
On the flip aspect, on June 1, when a lot of the curfew restrictions had been lifted in Chandigarh, the AQI jumped to the ‘passable’ degree at 56, whereas a day earlier than on Might 31, the air high quality was ‘good’ with an AQI of 35. The typical AQI for June hovered round 57.
The air high quality is measured by the air high quality index (AQI). Lesser the AQI rely, higher the air high quality. An AQI between 0-50 is taken into account good, 51-100 passable, 101-200 reasonable, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 extreme.
The typical AQI in March through the lockdown was 51 (34 through the lockdown interval). However, final yr throughout the identical interval, it was practically double at 83.
Compared to April 2019, when AQI was 91, this yr, the air high quality improved vastly with a median of 42. Equally, AQI in Might this yr was 66 towards 113 final yr.
“Owing to the lockdown interval imposed from March 24 to Might 30, main air pollution have been restricted. There was progressive enchancment in general air high quality through the lockdown interval,” the CPCC report states.
“This alteration will be attributed to restricted industrial and business actions, minimal vehicular congestion and nil development actions,” it provides.
Proper earlier than the lockdown began, the AQI was largely underneath the ‘passable’ class and shifted to ‘good’ class because the curfew interval progressed.