148
R. S. Sharma et al.
criteria of a healthy working environment. Various other effects other than hearing
impairment are increased stress, high blood pressure, fatigue, stomach ulcers, stress,
sleep disturbance, aggression, and anxiety. High volume increases adrenaline levels
resulting in increased blood pressure and stress. The problems are well analyzed but
the solutions are probably not easy to accomplish since the contradiction in thoughts
differs in legislation, guidance, and documents [8].
6.3 Comparison Between Pre and Active Lockdown
Conditions
6.3.1 Air Pollution
As the world got affected by the deadly virus (COVID-19), this resulted in isolation
of more than 3.9 billion people living in 90 different countries across the globe; which
ultimately lead to the shutdown of all forms of transports, factories, markets, and other
social and economic activities [54]. This caused a lot of problems in the human lives,
affecting their social life, global mobility, and economy. But for the environment this
lockdown for the humans came out as a boon; as the major parameters of pollution
began to show improvements. This enhanced the overall air quality around the globe
as the air pollution levels experienced a steep decline in an unparalleled way and
provided new opportunities to study air pollution and various ways to control it
when the lockdown gets lifted [65]. A healthy human life needs clean air with an
adult individual breathing almost 20 m
3 of air each day. But according to the reports of
WHO [69], right now air pollution has become a substantial environmental health risk
on the earth causing premature death of seven million people annually, worldwide.
Number of deaths caused by air pollution stands quite less than the other causes
of deaths such as diseases like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and also road accidents
combined together. The severity of air pollution in our environment can be determined
easily by the data that shows 9 out of 10 people breathe air with high levels of
pollutants [69]. It is estimated that each individual dies 28 years earlier of their
actual lifespan than they would do if they inhale fresh and clean air. Along with the
health issues air pollution also affects our economy and is one of the potent causes
in the degradation of the environment [33].
Developing countries (India and China) experience the worst effects of air
pollution and also the underdeveloped countries (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Nepal, etc.). Around 94% of the deaths caused due
to air pollution occur in countries with low and middle incomes. Besides
this the South East Asia and Western Pacific regions carries maximum
burden with 2.4 and 2.2 million annual deaths, respectively. In Africa the number of
deaths is around 980,000 followed by the Eastern Mediterranean region and the least
R. S. Sharma et al.
criteria of a healthy working environment. Various other effects other than hearing
impairment are increased stress, high blood pressure, fatigue, stomach ulcers, stress,
sleep disturbance, aggression, and anxiety. High volume increases adrenaline levels
resulting in increased blood pressure and stress. The problems are well analyzed but
the solutions are probably not easy to accomplish since the contradiction in thoughts
differs in legislation, guidance, and documents [8].
6.3 Comparison Between Pre and Active Lockdown
Conditions
6.3.1 Air Pollution
As the world got affected by the deadly virus (COVID-19), this resulted in isolation
of more than 3.9 billion people living in 90 different countries across the globe; which
ultimately lead to the shutdown of all forms of transports, factories, markets, and other
social and economic activities [54]. This caused a lot of problems in the human lives,
affecting their social life, global mobility, and economy. But for the environment this
lockdown for the humans came out as a boon; as the major parameters of pollution
began to show improvements. This enhanced the overall air quality around the globe
as the air pollution levels experienced a steep decline in an unparalleled way and
provided new opportunities to study air pollution and various ways to control it
when the lockdown gets lifted [65]. A healthy human life needs clean air with an
adult individual breathing almost 20 m
3 of air each day. But according to the reports of
WHO [69], right now air pollution has become a substantial environmental health risk
on the earth causing premature death of seven million people annually, worldwide.
Number of deaths caused by air pollution stands quite less than the other causes
of deaths such as diseases like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and also road accidents
combined together. The severity of air pollution in our environment can be determined
easily by the data that shows 9 out of 10 people breathe air with high levels of
pollutants [69]. It is estimated that each individual dies 28 years earlier of their
actual lifespan than they would do if they inhale fresh and clean air. Along with the
health issues air pollution also affects our economy and is one of the potent causes
in the degradation of the environment [33].
Developing countries (India and China) experience the worst effects of air
pollution and also the underdeveloped countries (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Nepal, etc.). Around 94% of the deaths caused due
to air pollution occur in countries with low and middle incomes. Besides
this the South East Asia and Western Pacific regions carries maximum
burden with 2.4 and 2.2 million annual deaths, respectively. In Africa the number of
deaths is around 980,000 followed by the Eastern Mediterranean region and the least