Statistical evaluation of selected air quality parameters influenced by COVID-19 lockdown
Air pollution has become a serious concern for its potential health hazard, however, often got less attention in developing countries, like Bangladesh. It is expected that worldwide lockdown due to COVID-19 widespread cause reduction in environmental pollution in particularly the air pollution: howe...
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2020-06-01
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| Series: | Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management |
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| Online Access: | https://www.gjesm.net/article_40292_483ee32b857f94d47f46629eacf48840.pdf |
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| author | M.H. Masum S.K. Pal |
| author_facet | M.H. Masum S.K. Pal |
| author_sort | M.H. Masum |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Air pollution has become a serious concern for its potential health hazard, however, often got less attention in developing countries, like Bangladesh. It is expected that worldwide lockdown due to COVID-19 widespread cause reduction in environmental pollution in particularly the air pollution: however, such changes have been different in different places. In Chittagong, a city scale lockdown came in force on 26 March 2020, a week after when first three cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Bangladesh. This study aims to statistically evaluate the effects of COVID-19 lockdown (26 March to 26 April 2020) on selected air quality pollutants and air quality index s. The daily average concentrations of air pollutants PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub> and CO of Chittagong city during COVID-19 lockdown were statistically evaluated and were compared with dry season data averaging over previous 8 years (2012 to 2019). During lockdown, except NO<sub>2</sub>, all other pollutants studied showed statistically significant decreasing trend. During the COVID-19 shutdown notable reduction of 40%, 32% and 13% compared to the daily mean concentrations of these previous dry season were seen for PM<sub>2.5</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub>, respectively. The improvement in air quality index value was found as 26% in comparison to the previous dry season due to less human activities in COVID-19 shutdown. The factor analysis showed that AQI in Chittagong city is largely influenced by PM<sub>10 </sub>and PM<sub>2.5 </sub>during COVID-19 shutdown. The lesson learnt in this forced measure of lockdown is not surprising and unexpected. It is rather thought provoking for the decision makers to tradeoff the tangible air quality benefits with ongoing development strategies’ that was often overlooked directly or indirectly. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-647704348c0e447da04d7da46a091d4d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2383-3572 2383-3866 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | GJESM Publisher |
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| series | Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-647704348c0e447da04d7da46a091d4d2025-02-02T00:45:49ZengGJESM PublisherGlobal Journal of Environmental Science and Management2383-35722383-38662020-06-016Special Issue (Covid-19)859410.22034/GJESM.2019.06.SI.0840292Statistical evaluation of selected air quality parameters influenced by COVID-19 lockdownM.H. Masum0S.K. Pal1Department of Civil Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Chatttogram, BangladeshDepartment of Civil Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Chatttogram, BangladeshAir pollution has become a serious concern for its potential health hazard, however, often got less attention in developing countries, like Bangladesh. It is expected that worldwide lockdown due to COVID-19 widespread cause reduction in environmental pollution in particularly the air pollution: however, such changes have been different in different places. In Chittagong, a city scale lockdown came in force on 26 March 2020, a week after when first three cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Bangladesh. This study aims to statistically evaluate the effects of COVID-19 lockdown (26 March to 26 April 2020) on selected air quality pollutants and air quality index s. The daily average concentrations of air pollutants PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub>, SO<sub>2</sub> and CO of Chittagong city during COVID-19 lockdown were statistically evaluated and were compared with dry season data averaging over previous 8 years (2012 to 2019). During lockdown, except NO<sub>2</sub>, all other pollutants studied showed statistically significant decreasing trend. During the COVID-19 shutdown notable reduction of 40%, 32% and 13% compared to the daily mean concentrations of these previous dry season were seen for PM<sub>2.5</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub>, respectively. The improvement in air quality index value was found as 26% in comparison to the previous dry season due to less human activities in COVID-19 shutdown. The factor analysis showed that AQI in Chittagong city is largely influenced by PM<sub>10 </sub>and PM<sub>2.5 </sub>during COVID-19 shutdown. The lesson learnt in this forced measure of lockdown is not surprising and unexpected. It is rather thought provoking for the decision makers to tradeoff the tangible air quality benefits with ongoing development strategies’ that was often overlooked directly or indirectly.https://www.gjesm.net/article_40292_483ee32b857f94d47f46629eacf48840.pdfair pollutionair quality index (aqi)bangladeshcoronavirus disease (covid-19)lockdown |
| spellingShingle | M.H. Masum S.K. Pal Statistical evaluation of selected air quality parameters influenced by COVID-19 lockdown Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management air pollution air quality index (aqi) bangladesh coronavirus disease (covid-19) lockdown |
| title | Statistical evaluation of selected air quality parameters influenced by COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_full | Statistical evaluation of selected air quality parameters influenced by COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_fullStr | Statistical evaluation of selected air quality parameters influenced by COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_full_unstemmed | Statistical evaluation of selected air quality parameters influenced by COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_short | Statistical evaluation of selected air quality parameters influenced by COVID-19 lockdown |
| title_sort | statistical evaluation of selected air quality parameters influenced by covid 19 lockdown |
| topic | air pollution air quality index (aqi) bangladesh coronavirus disease (covid-19) lockdown |
| url | https://www.gjesm.net/article_40292_483ee32b857f94d47f46629eacf48840.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mhmasum statisticalevaluationofselectedairqualityparametersinfluencedbycovid19lockdown AT skpal statisticalevaluationofselectedairqualityparametersinfluencedbycovid19lockdown |