Reality of Life and Environmental Changes after COVID-19 Pandemic in India

Abstract

The main industrial sources of emissions have decreased or completely stopped during the lockdown era, which helped reduce the pollution load [10]It is also found that, the concentration of pH, electric conductivity [EC], DO, BOD and chemical oxygen demand [COD] has reduced almost 1-10%, 3366%, 45-90%, and 33-82% respectively in different monitoring stations during the lockdown in comparison to the pre-lockdown period [11] [ ]the number of flights and vehicular movements around the world has significantly decreased due to travel restrictions, which have consequently lowered the level of noise pollution [ ]a sudden rise and proper management of hazardous waste has become an important problem for the local waste management authorities * According to recent published literature, SARS-CoV-2 viruses are reported to exist on cardboard every day and on plastics and stainless steel for up to 3 days [19] [ ]hospitalgenerated waste should be adequately handled to minimise more infection and environmental contamination, which is now a global concern * Though, experts and responsible authorities suggest for the proper disposal and segregation of household organic waste and plastic based protective equipment [hazardous medical waste], but mixing up these wastes increases the risk of disease transmission, and exposure to the virus of waste workers [20] * Massive amounts of disinfectants have recently been used to destroy the SARS-CoV-2 virus in highways, industrial, and residential areas [ ]after the Partition of India in 1947, India witnessed the second-largest reverse mass in its history