Variability of fine and inhalable particles in controlled and unbridled anthropogenic activities: from a perspective of lockdown containment measures in Visakhapatnam city

Rapid industrialization and urbanization contributed to deteriorating air quality via the pollutants generated through industrial and concomitant activities. Air quality has an impact on human health, especially respiratory and heart related diseases. The present study attempts to analyze the average concentrations of fine particulate matter of the sizes PM2.5 and PM10 in Visakhapatnam city of Andhra Pradesh state of India. The study infers that the PM2.5 and the PM10 are predominantly dominated by the increasing vehicular traffic and the pollutants released by industrial activities including port. The seasonal variations of PM2.5 and PM10 ratios showed the dominance of anthropogenic aerosols because of industrialization and heavy traffic in the city. The impact of lockdown as a preventive measure to contain COVID-19 during the period 25th March 3rd May 2020 improved air quality significantly which can be clearly seen in day and night time concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 during summer season. The study finds that day and night time average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 are low in summer in comparison to the other seasons. The impact of lockdown as a preventive measure in COVID-19 pandemic period covering the period 25th March 3rd May 2020 is conspious and the lockdown containment measures improved the air quality significantly which can be inferred from the day and the night time concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 during summer season.

Appraisal of variation in particulate pollution loading with a change induced by anthropogenic cultural activity over a south Indian city-Visakhapatnam

The study focusses on the variation of air quality assessed from mass concentrations of air pollutants in the year 2020 (particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3)) amidst COVID-19 restrictions on firework activity during Diwali festive period in Visakhapatnam city. The results are compared with 2018 and 2019. The results indicate that the firework activity affected ambient air quality. The effect is lower in 2020 than in 2018 and even in 2019. In 2019, the effect is lower compared to 2018 due to the washout of pollutants caused by unusual rains on those days.