Qualitative and quantitative analyses of impact of COVID-19 on sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Indian subcontinent with a focus on air quality

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading all over the world in a short time. It originated from Wuhan City of China in the late 2019. Proper vaccines have still been in progress; the spread of the virus is contracted by lockdown and social distancing protocols. These lockdowns resulted in significant benefits, improving the quality of air and reducing the level of environmental pollution. In this context, the study proposes to identify the air quality in the region and its relation with COVID-19-affected people in metropolitan cities of India during COVID-19 lockdowns using a geographical information system (GIS), where over 90% of commercial and industrial sites and 100% school and colleges were closed. The study outcomes highlight the areas encountering high levels of pollution under the pre-lockdown scenario and have seen a higher number of cases. The relation is most evident for PM_2.5, which is responsible for respiratory disorders and is the place of attack of SARS-CoV-2. This approach provides comparable outcomes with other decision-making tools. Our primary precedence should be to develop communities to enable people to remain healthy and stay. Healthy societies are crucial not only for people's health, but also for sustainable development. Centered on GIS is concealed; moreover, it is very flexible to use by policymakers.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Fine particulate matter; GIS; Ozone (O3); SDGs; Thiessen polygon.

Fig. 1

Air quality levels in regional scale: a particle of 2.5 mm or less (PM_2.5) (December 1, 2020–March 24, 2020); b particle of 2.5 mm or less (PM_2.5) (March 25, 2020–May 30, 2020); c ozone (O₃) (December 1, 2020–March 24, 2020) and d ozone (O₃) (March 25, 2020–May 30, 2020)

Fig. 2

Variation in air quality index in six Indian states during three lockdown periods (from December 1, 2019, to March 25, 2020, and from March 26, 2020, to May 30, 2020)