Abstract
Lucknow is one of the most polluted metro-city in India with increasing vehicular density and fuel consumption in the last three decades. The study was conducted during years 2019–2021 for measurement of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), respirable particulate matter (PM10), and noise levels at nine selected sites; 4 residential, 4 commercial, and 1 industrial, encompassing prior-to-lockdown, during-lockdown, and after-lockdown periods. Values of PM10 for prior-to-lockdown, during-lockdown, and after-lockdown period ranged from 133.2 to 197.4, 77.0 to 135.0, and 91.4 to 148.0 µg/m3, respectively while values of PM2.5 were 66.5 to 93.6, 41.9 to 67.5 and 49.5 to 98.6 µg/m3, respectively. Corresponding values of SO2 ranged from 8.7 to 12.8, 5.5 to 7.6, and 11.4 to 17.6 µg/m3, respectively while values of NO2 were 24.6 to 57.0, 20.5 to 32.8, and 26.1 to 43.8 µg/m3, respectively. Order of the trace metals associated with PM2.5 is Co < Cd < As < Cr < Ni < Cu < Pb < Mn < K < Zn, Co < Cd < As < Cr < Cu < Ni < Pb < Mn < Zn < K and Cd < Co < As < Cr < Cu < Ni < Pb < Mn < K < Zn in the same periods. Statistical data evidenced that the air quality of the city witnessed drastic improvement during the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO AIRQ + was utilized to calculate attributable health risk and post-neonatal disease burden; showing 1447 ± 768 estimated number of cases attributable to ambient PM10 per lakh of population. Regulatory authorities need to establish new benchmarks for the prevention and management of public health risks for urban resilience and environmental management for episodic events in the near future.
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The authors show heartfelt gratitude to the Director, CSIR- IITR for permitting to carry forward the current research work. Dr Satyakam Patnaik and Dr P N Saxena are genuinely appreciated for providing access to necessary instrumentation facilities. Manuscript number IITR/SEC/MS/2023/12 is provided by CSIR- IITR.
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AK and PS performed data curation, graph, map preparation, statistical analysis and wrote the original draft of manuscript. AAS performed data curation and preparing metal table. BS, AHK and GCK conceptualized, proofread and supervised the work. All authors read and approved the final submission.
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Kumar, A., Saxena, P., Siddiqui, A.A. et al. Impact of lockdown (COVID-19) and unlocking period on ambient air quality and human health in Lucknow city, India. J Atmos Chem 80, 271–289 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-023-09451-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-023-09451-w