Impact of Particulate Matter on Pre- and Post-Covid Lockdown in the Wards of Urban Jaipur

ABSTRACT

The impact of air pollutants on human health is a major issue that developing nations are facing in last decade. Effect of particulate matter especially PM2.5 and PM10 has been severely affecting mortality and morbidity in Rajasthan state as per global lead medical journal Lancet recent publication. Twelve air pollutant-monitoring sta tions in Jaipur city are not enough to predict the exact concentration of air pollutants in each of the 91 wards of Jaipur. In absence of accurate concentration at micro level, it becomes a major challenge for urban planners to remedial strategies. In this paper through GIS spatial distribution, a comparative study of particulate matter at each of the 91 wards during pre-lockdown for the year 2019 and post-lockdown 2020 was done. Results for 2020 showed slightly less pollution;similarly, air purity index, an indicator for healthier environment, was determined for each ward. © 2023 Scientific Publishers. All rights reserved.