Abstract:
This discussion paper looks into the COVID-19 induced
lockdown on the air quality of the five most polluted cities
in India. There were significant reductions in the concentrations
of particulate matter, 2.5 mm and 10 mm, NO2,
and CO during lockdown compared to that in 2019. Even
then, the levels of particulate matter never reached the target
specified by the World Health Organization. There was
an increase in the concentrations of O3 at some cities,
which may be attributed to the alterations in the photostationary
cycle due to change in the concentration of
nitrogen oxides and volatile organic carbons.
