COVID-19: A Spectio-temporal analysis of Air quality status in Coking Coalfields of India due to nationwide lockdown in India

Abstract

A novel infectious corona virus disease (COVID-19) was identified in the month of December 2019. It has now been announced as a worldwide pandemic by theWorld Health Organization. COVID-19 pandemic has positive impacts on the environmental pollutants. Inpresentwork,Coalfield areas of JhariaCoalfields (JCF), India have been takenas a case study to evaluate the effect of the lockdown on air quality at 10 locations. This study had been selected to estimate the reduction in concentration of pollutants like PM10, PM2.5, SO2, andNOx during 3 Seasons (summer, Post-Monsoon andwinter season) in the year 2019 in comparison to the concentration during the lockdown period i.e. from April 2020 to June 2020. The study areas selected was as fire affected and non-fire affected areas of Jharia Coalfield to identify the contribution of pollutants in the mining area to establish the baseline concentration of Business as usual (BAU) vs. the lockdown condition. The average reduction in concentration of PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NOx was observed as 18%, 14%, 22% and 26% respectively during the lockdown period in comparison with the annual average concentration. As observed, the AQI value at the selected monitoring sites in JCF was 1.5 times higher in comparison to the lockdown period. This study will provide the confidence to the regulatory body for strict implementation of the applicable air quality standard/policies in the mining areas. The study will also provide confidence to the regulatory body in making emission control strategies for improvement of environmental conditions and human health.