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. 2020 Sep:11:100491.
doi: 10.1016/j.biteb.2020.100491. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Indirect implications of COVID-19 towards sustainable environment: An investigation in Indian context

Mohit Somani  1 , Abhishek N Srivastava  1 , Shiva Kumar Gummadivalli  1 , Aparna Sharma  1
Affiliations

Indirect implications of COVID-19 towards sustainable environment: An investigation in Indian context

Mohit Somani et al. Bioresour Technol Rep. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Efficacious transmittal of COVID-19 has compelled numerous countries worldwide to embrace temporary yet dramatic measures such as locking down entire cities, restricting all forms of transportation, imposing lockdowns, maintaining social distancing etc. These actions have considerably enhanced the quality of ambient air and water. India, being a densely populated country, imposed a strict nationwide lockdown mandate since the last week of March 2020. This paper discusses the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on several aspects of environment broadly in Indian scenario. The forward course of action in the present and probable scenarios has also been addressed. As the disease spread is still underway, lockdown restrictions yet to be lifted and the availability of metadata hitherto being restrictive, firm deductions and explications could not be made. This case study i.e. observing the effects of lockdown, is a unique opportunity to understand how the environment reacts to sharp reductions in anthropogenic activity.

Keywords: Air pollution; GHG Emissions; Lockdown; Waste Management; Water pollution.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Unlabelled Image
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Variations in pollutant concentrations across different phases of lockdown (L1, L2 and L3) in 4 megacities of India.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Water quality characteristics of middle (Uttar Pradesh stretch) and lower (West Bengal stretch) reaches of river Ganga.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of water quality parameters of Yamuna before and during lockdown (CPCB, 2020b) (a) Change in pH of Yamuna River before and after the lockdown restrictions (b) Change in DO and EC of Yamuna River before and after the lockdown restrictions (c) Change in BOD and COD of Yamuna River before and after the lockdown restrictions.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Waste reaching landfills before and during the lockdown period.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Noise quality data from several cities of India before and during Lockdown (Source: Pre-lockdown data- http://www.cpcbenvis.nic.in/noise_quality_data.html; during lockdown data- aqi.in (Average of 13 April- 13 May 2020)).
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Change in the emission of CO2 during COVID-19 and some past events (adopted from https://www.carbonbrief.org/).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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