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R. S. Sharma et al.
pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, O 3 , SO 2 , CO, hydrocarbons, and NO 2 as compared
to the pre-lockdown phase, same consequences were also obtained in case issues
related to the soil pollution. Also recent observations suggest that the ozone hole at
Earth’s polar regions has begun to heal. These changing statistics of pollution rate
can help us in the exploration of various public and private views, which could further
encourage us to adopt better pollution controlling strategies; highlighting and also
examining different social, economical, and technical challenges related to industrial
pollution.
Keywords Lockdown · COVID-19 · Pollution · Environmental impact · Industrial
pollution · Air quality
6.1 Introduction
From the scratch of human history the world has faced numerous pandemic situations which have led to heavy casualties in the past. History of pandemic goes
ages before industrial revolution; from every pandemic disease world majorly faced
various other problems like poverty, economic crisis, health-related issues. etc. And
now in this twenty-first century, with the advancement of the modern world, COVID19 pandemic has hit very hard globally in the end of 2019 (December, 2019) [61].
Novel corona disease (COVID-19) is highly contagious that resulted due to recently
evolved virus emerging from the city of Wuhan, Hubei mainland province of China
[39]. The disease is caused by a novel lineage B beta coronavirus better known as
SARS-CoV2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) [53]. Emerging
from Wuhan, the virus took no time to spread across the globe. According to the
WHO’s report updated on July 23, 2020, there are 14,731,563 confirmed cases of
COVID-19 while 611,284 has lost their life from 216 countries and most of the fatalities were reported in America (WHO report 2020 dated 07-22-2020). Due to the high
spreading rate of this virus by the means of personal contact, respiratory droplets of
infected people, privation of proper treatment and unavailability of a vaccine, several
countries imposed complete lockdown to break the infectious chain, and maintain
social distancing hence reducing the rate of casualties.
Ultimately, all the human activities, industries, schools, religious, and sports activities ceased and the economic crises rose drastically to a point that even developed
countries failed to stand against this virus. Normal life of people halts around the
globe since February 2020 [70]. However, other than negative aspects there are also
some positive facets of this global pandemic as it has been proved by various studies
that the principle factor responsible for pollution in this sphere is due to uncontrolled
anthropogenic activities [56]. From the very start of industrial revolution, environmental pollution increased vigorously affecting our hydrosphere, lithosphere as well
as our atmosphere and causing major health risks to humans, animals as well as
to our mother Earth. Before the COVID-19 outbreak [32] the pollution levels were
continuously reaching the threshold, due to ever existing issues like traffic, modern
R. S. Sharma et al.
pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, O 3 , SO 2 , CO, hydrocarbons, and NO 2 as compared
to the pre-lockdown phase, same consequences were also obtained in case issues
related to the soil pollution. Also recent observations suggest that the ozone hole at
Earth’s polar regions has begun to heal. These changing statistics of pollution rate
can help us in the exploration of various public and private views, which could further
encourage us to adopt better pollution controlling strategies; highlighting and also
examining different social, economical, and technical challenges related to industrial
pollution.
Keywords Lockdown · COVID-19 · Pollution · Environmental impact · Industrial
pollution · Air quality
6.1 Introduction
From the scratch of human history the world has faced numerous pandemic situations which have led to heavy casualties in the past. History of pandemic goes
ages before industrial revolution; from every pandemic disease world majorly faced
various other problems like poverty, economic crisis, health-related issues. etc. And
now in this twenty-first century, with the advancement of the modern world, COVID19 pandemic has hit very hard globally in the end of 2019 (December, 2019) [61].
Novel corona disease (COVID-19) is highly contagious that resulted due to recently
evolved virus emerging from the city of Wuhan, Hubei mainland province of China
[39]. The disease is caused by a novel lineage B beta coronavirus better known as
SARS-CoV2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) [53]. Emerging
from Wuhan, the virus took no time to spread across the globe. According to the
WHO’s report updated on July 23, 2020, there are 14,731,563 confirmed cases of
COVID-19 while 611,284 has lost their life from 216 countries and most of the fatalities were reported in America (WHO report 2020 dated 07-22-2020). Due to the high
spreading rate of this virus by the means of personal contact, respiratory droplets of
infected people, privation of proper treatment and unavailability of a vaccine, several
countries imposed complete lockdown to break the infectious chain, and maintain
social distancing hence reducing the rate of casualties.
Ultimately, all the human activities, industries, schools, religious, and sports activities ceased and the economic crises rose drastically to a point that even developed
countries failed to stand against this virus. Normal life of people halts around the
globe since February 2020 [70]. However, other than negative aspects there are also
some positive facets of this global pandemic as it has been proved by various studies
that the principle factor responsible for pollution in this sphere is due to uncontrolled
anthropogenic activities [56]. From the very start of industrial revolution, environmental pollution increased vigorously affecting our hydrosphere, lithosphere as well
as our atmosphere and causing major health risks to humans, animals as well as
to our mother Earth. Before the COVID-19 outbreak [32] the pollution levels were
continuously reaching the threshold, due to ever existing issues like traffic, modern