Lockdown as an Empirical Strategy to Curb Air Pollution: Evidence from a Quasi‐Natural Experiment

In this study, three approaches namely parallel, sequential, and multiple linear regression are applied to analyze the local air quality improvements during the COVID‐19 lockdowns. In the present work, the authors have analyzed the monitoring data of the following primary air pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). During the lockdown period, the first phase has most noticeable impact on airquality evidenced by the parallel approach, and it has reflected a significant reduction in concentration levels of PM10 (27%), PM2.5 (19%), NO2 (74%), SO2 (36%), and CO (47%), respectively. In the sequential approach, a reduction in pollution levels is also observed for different pollutants, however, these results are biased due to rainfall in that period. In the multiple linear regression approach, the concentrations of primary air pollutants are selected, and set as target variables to predict their expected values during the city's lockdown period.The obtained results suggest that if a 21‐days lockdown is implemented, then a reduction of 42 µg m−3 in PM10, 23 µg m−3 in PM2.5, 14 µg m−3 in NO2, 2 µg m−3 in SO2, and 0.7 mg m−3 in CO can be achieved.

Lockdown as an Empirical Strategy to Curb Air Pollution: Evidence from a Quasi‐Natural Experiment

In this study, three approaches namely parallel, sequential, and multiple linear regression are applied to analyze the local air quality improvements during the COVID-19 lockdowns. In the present work, the authors have analyzed the monitoring data of the following primary air pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). During the lockdown period, the first phase has most noticeable impact on airquality evidenced by the parallel approach, and it has reflected a significant reduction in concentration levels of PM10 (27%), PM2.5 (19%), NO2 (74%), SO2 (36%), and CO (47%), respectively. In the sequential approach, a reduction in pollution levels is also observed for different pollutants, however, these results are biased due to rainfall in that period. In the multiple linear regression approach, the concentrations of primary air pollutants are selected, and set as target variables to predict their expected values during the city's lockdown period.The obtained results suggest that if a 21-days lockdown is implemented, then a reduction of 42 mu g m(-3) in PM10, 23 mu g m(-3) in PM2.5, 14 mu g m(-3) in NO2, 2 mu g m(-3) in SO2, and 0.7 mg m(-3) in CO can be achieved.

Coronaviruses: An overview with special emphasis on COVID-19 outbreak with musculoskeletal manifestations.

An acute respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus, namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), began spreading across China in late December 2019. The disease gained global attention as it spread worldwide. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many studies have focused on the impact of the disease on conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disorders, and renal malfunction. However, few studies have focused on musculoskeletal disorders related to COVID-19 infection. In this review, we update the current knowledge on the coronavirus with special reference to its effects during and after the pandemic on musculoskeletal aliments, which may inform clinical practice.

A state-of-the-art review on WWTP associated bioaerosols: Microbial diversity, potential emission stages, dispersion factors, and control strategies.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) associated bioaerosols have emerged as one of the critical sustainability indicators, ensuring health and well-being of societies and cities. In this context, this review summarizes the various wastewater treatment technologies which have been studied with a focus of bioaerosols emissions, potential emission stages, available sampling strategies, survival and dispersion factors, dominant microbial species in bioaerosols, and possible control approaches. Literature review revealed that most of the studies were devoted to sampling, enumerating and identifying cultivable microbial species of bioaerosols, as well as measuring their concentrations. However, the role of treatment technologies and their operational factors are investigated in limited studies only. Moreover, few studies have been reported to investigate the presence and concentrations of air borne virus and fungi in WWTP, as compared to bacterial species. The common environmental factors, affecting the survival and dispersion of bioaerosols, are observed as relative humidity, temperature, wind speed, and solar illumination. Further, research studies on recent episodes of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 virus) pandemic also revealed that continuous and effective surveillance on WWTPs associated bioaerosols may led to early sign for future pandemics. The evaluation of reported data is bit complicated, due to the variation in sampling approaches, ambient conditions, and site activities of each study. Therefore, such studies need a standardized methodology and improved guidance to help informed future policies, contextual research, and support a robust health-based risk assessment process. Based on this review, an integrated sampling and analysis framework is suggested for future WWTPs to ensure their sustainability at social and/or health associated aspects.