Vadodara: Air quality had significantly improved in two-most critically polluted industrial clusters of Gujarat – Ankleshwar and Vapi – during Covid-19 induced lockdown.
A study done by a team of researchers from M S University, Goa University and Canada-based McGill University has revealed this.
The researchers have used pollutant data of 2019 and 2020 compiled by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The paper has been published in Nature’s prestigious journal - Scientific Reports.
“We had compared the pollutant data of the period between March 25 to June 15, 2019 and the corresponding period in 2020 when the lockdown was imposed,” said Ritwik Nigam from the School of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Goa University.
“Due to the lockdown measures, industrial activities, manufacturing, power and transport sectors had almost come to a halt. The pollution levels in the atmosphere, which was burdened by the alarming anthropogenic activities, had come as a respite to the environment,” said Nigam.
The lead author was part of the research team that included Kanvi Pandya from MSU, Alvarinho Luis from National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa, Raja Sengupta from McGill University and Kotha Mahender from Goa University.
“We found gradual to rapid reduction in concentrations of particulate matters - PM10 and PM2.5 – due to restrictions on construction activities, lesser road traffic movement and curb on industrial combustion activities,” he said.
“Similarly, there was significant reduction in carbon monoxide levels, a pollutant which results due to incomplete burning of fossil fuels. And there was significant reduction in sulphur dioxide, a pollutant which spreads due to burning of coal, petrol and diesel, fossil fuels,” the paper states.
The researchers observed that there was a drastic reduction in nitrous oxide by 80 %.
“There was more than 91% reduction in Vapi and 80 % in Ankleshwar in NO2 levels while the improvement in air quality index was over 50%,” said Nigam.
But after phase one of unlock in June last year, the concentration of pollutants started increasing as industrial activities and transportation resumed.