{"id":11206,"date":"2020-06-17T17:55:31","date_gmt":"2020-06-17T09:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/?p=11206"},"modified":"2021-05-20T19:52:32","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T11:52:32","slug":"covid-19-slashes-pm2-5-in-indias-6-biggest-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/blog\/covid-19-slashes-pm2-5-in-indias-6-biggest-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Lockdown Slashes PM2.5 in India’s 6 Biggest Cities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recent news reported<\/a> that the coronavirus lockdown is causing dramatic reduction in air pollution across India due to coronavirus lockdown. This is good news for lungs across the subcontinent, since Indian cities often make news as some of the most polluted in the world<\/a>. Some cities average PM2.5 ten times the WHO annual limit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lockdown and Air Pollution: The Hard Data<\/h3>\n

Smart Air analyzed PM2.5 data from US Embassy<\/a> and Central Pollution Control Board for Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. We compared how air quality changed before the lockdown (March 1st to March 24th) versus during the lockdown (March 25th to May 17th).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The data shows improvement in air quality across all these cities during the lockdown. Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai saw the biggest drops in PM2.5. Kolkata saw pollution drop a stunning 54%.<\/p>\n

Air Quality Improves in all Major Cities During Lockdown<\/h3>\n

Delhi<\/h4>\n

Famous for its air pollution<\/a>, Delhi saw PM2.5 fall 36% during the lockdown.<\/p>\n

\"Delhi<\/a><\/p>\n

Kolkata Sees Significant Air Improvement<\/h4>\n

Kolkata saw this biggest improvement in air quality. Despite this improvement, the citizens of Kolkata are still breathing an average of 3 times the WHO annual limit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Kolkata<\/a><\/p>\n

Mumbai<\/h4>\n

During the lockdown period, Mumbai also saw air quality improvement. Mumbai\u2019s, PM2.5 fell by 43%.\"Mumbai<\/a><\/p>\n

Chennai<\/h4>\n

Chennai\u2019s average PM2.5 went from 22 micrograms before the lockdown to 16 micrograms after the lockdown. Overall, people in Chennai were breathing 27% less pollution in the lockdown.<\/p>\n

\"Chennai<\/a><\/p>\n

Hyderabad<\/h4>\n

Hyderabad experienced the least change in their air quality during the lockdown at just 6%.<\/p>\n

\"Hyderbad<\/a><\/p>\n

Bangalore<\/h4>\n

Nearby Bangalore saw its air quality change similar to Hyderabad. PM2.5 dropped just 6% during the lockdown.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Bottom Line: India\u2019s PM2.5 Levels During COVID-19 Lockdown<\/h3>\n

Despite the improvement in air quality, PM2.5 in all six of India’s biggest cities are above the WHO annual limit.<\/p>\n

\"Pollution<\/p>\n

Long-term exposure to PM2.5 above 10 micrograms has been shown to increase cardiopulmonary and lung cancer mortality. According to the WHO\u2019s Air Quality Guidelines<\/a>, this link has been established with more than 95% confidence.<\/p>\n

WATCH: The Harmful Effects of PM2.5<\/h3>\n
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5 Things You Should Know about PM2.5 Air Pollution<\/div><\/div>
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