Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

COVID-19 PANDEMIC: EFFECTS ON AIR QUALITY IN SOUTHERNSTATES OF INDIA

J. Sathya, P. Kanakarani, J. Gayathri and M. Babu

Abstract

Environmental pollution causes major health hazards. Especially the important air pollutants such as HighParticulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) cause health problems.However such pollutants have significantly reduced during COVID-19 lockdown period due to closure offactories and reduction in transport. The present study attempts to analyze the variations in the air pollutantsin the Southern States of India from 2013 to 2021. The data pertaining to the study period was collectedfrom National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). It attempts to compare the air qualitystandards of the Sothern States of India between pre- pandemic and post– pandemic period. The same hasbeen compared with the air quality of India.The data relating to Tamil Nadu represents the data of the fivemajor cities of Tamil Nadu Viz. Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem and Trichy. Between the pre –pandemic and post-pandemic period a significant reduction is observed in all the three types of pollutantsin all the five major cities in Tamil Nadu.