Analyses on COVID-19 and Air Pollution in India

This post is a compilation of ongoing research and analyses on COVID-19, air pollution and health. Please note that updates will be made to the document every few days. You can refer to the a related document with a list of studies & analyses from around the world here.

Before you dig in, here are a few quick resources highlighting the importance of sound science with regards to COVID-19 and air pollution: 

• Go slow to go fast: A plea for sustained scientific rigor in air pollution research during the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Air pollution, COVID-19 and death: The perils of bypassing peer review
• A Skeptic’s Guide to Ecologic Studies during a Pandemic

Research Papers

• Effect of restricted emissions during COVID-19 on air quality in India
• Effect of lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic on air quality of the megacity Delhi, India
• The Influence of COVID-19 on Air Quality in India: A Boon or Inutile 
• The impact of COVID-19 as a necessary evil on air pollution in India during the lockdown
• Epigrammatic study on the effect of lockdown amid Covid-19 pandemic on air quality of most polluted cities of Rajasthan (India)
• Temporary reduction in fine particulate matter due to ‘anthropogenic emissions switch-off’ during COVID-19 lockdown in Indian cities
• Effect of meteorological parameters on spread of COVID-19 in India and air quality during lockdown
• COVID-19 Pandemic and City-Level Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Reduction for Urban Centres of India
• Social and Travel Lockdown Impact Considering Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on Air Quality in Megacities of India: Present Benefits, Future Challenges and Way Forward 
• Impact of lockdown measures during COVID-19 on air quality– A case study of India 
• Decline in PM2.5 Concentrations over Major Cities Around the World Associated with COVID-19
• Impact of lockdown on air quality in India during COVID-19 pandemic
• COVID-19: air pollution remains low as people stay at home
• Air pollution and COVID-19: Is the connect worth its weight?
• Air quality during the COVID-19: PM2.5 analysis in the 50 most polluted capital cities in the world
• Indoor air pollution (IAP) and pre-existing morbidities among under-5 children in India: are risk factors of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)?
• Air pollution aggravating COVID-19 lethality? Exploration in Asian cities using statistical models
• Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) from Vehicular Emission Could Increase the COVID-19 Pandemic Fatality in India: A Perspective
• Air quality during COVID-19 lockdown: Blessing in disguise

• Impact of lockdown measures during COVID-19 on air quality– A case study of India 
• Impact of lockdown on air quality in India during COVID-19 pandemic 
• Examining Effects of the COVID-19 National Lockdown on Ambient Air Quality across Urban India  
• Significant impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on urban air pollution in Kolkata (India) and amelioration of environmental health
• Comparative study on air quality status in Indian and Chinese cities before and during the COVID-19 lockdown period
• Diurnal and temporal changes in air pollution during COVID-19 strict lockdown over different regions of India
• PM2.5 diminution and haze events over Delhi during the COVID-19 lockdown period: an interplay between the baseline pollution and meteorology
• Air pollution improvement and mortality rate during COVID-19 pandemic in India: global intersectional study
• COVID-19 pandemic persuaded lockdown effects on environment over stone quarrying and crushing areas
• Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on air quality in Chandigarh, India: Understanding the emission sources during controlled anthropogenic activities
• Assessment of Air Quality Changes in the Four Metropolitan Cities of India during COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown
• COVID-19 and its impact on environment: Improved pollution levels during the lockdown period – A case from Ahmedabad, India
• A study on variation of atmospheric pollutants over Bhubaneswar during imposition of nationwide lockdown in India for the COVID-19 pandemic
• Understanding the lockdown impact in Delhi due to COVID-19 by using micro level temporal analysis of six criteria pollutants

Analyses and Reports

• Data Analysis: How Has the Lockdown Changed the Pollution Over North India?
• Part II: How Did Lockdown 2 Change the Pollution Over India’s Cities? Access the data here.
• The impact of stubble burning and poor air quality in India during the time of COVID-19
• COVID-19 Impact On Air Quality In 10 Major Cities
• COVID-19 impact and policy responses in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
• Air pollution drops in India following lockdown
• Pursuing a Clean Air Agenda in India During the COVID Crisis (opinion piece in HT)
• Air quality trends and lessons learnt in India during the COVID lockdowns
• In India, air quality has been improving despite the COVID-19 lockdown
• Communicating air pollution-linked risks in India in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
• A report on the impact of lockdown on ambient air quality (CPCB)

Data dashboards

• EPIC/University of Chicago tracker to quantify the impact of COVID on electricity consumption & air pollution (PM)

Media reports

• Is the Covid-19 Lockdown Really Decreasing Air Pollution In India?
• Why We Need to Look Beyond City Limits for Clean Air in Indian Cities
• The Coronavirus Offers a Radical New Vision for India’s Cities
• India coronavirus: Can the Covid-19 lockdown spark a clean air movement?
• Witnessing the future through the coronavirus lockdown 
• Coronavirus: While Indians were rejoicing over clear blue skies, indoor pollution was rising
• Mumbai’s vehicular pollution dropped by three-fourth during lockdown period: Study
• India’s abysmal air quality makes its poor more vulnerable to Covid-19
• To counter the Covid-19 pandemic, bring more poor into the LPG net
• A moment of clarity 
• Lockdown air: less NO2, same PM2.5 and more urban ozone
• COVID-19: Study points to 3-pronged approach to mitigate airborne transmission
• Lockdown Impacts: As Ambient Air Improved, Did a Spike in Indoor Pollution Go Unnoticed?
• Delhi and Mumbai’s high Covid tally linked to severe air pollution levels, say experts

To add your analysis to this list, please contact us at indiaaq[at]gmail[dot]com.