15 COVID-19 Pandemic: An Unprecedented Blessing for Nature
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properly strategised measures for the environment will surely restore and sustain the
nature on a longer run.
15.2 Impact of Quarantine Lockdown on the Ecology
Today, if one talks about the course of human development on Earth, the term pollution tags along with the revolution of food and machinery industries, science and
technology, buildings and infrastructure, etc. It seems that whatever resources human
has utilised for sustenance on the planet, each resource has suffered from degradation. With passing time, the list of devastation by human activities seems to keep
growing in the form of air pollution, water pollution, light pollution, noise pollution
and destruction of other life forms. In the twenty-first century, a sight of clear sky, a
fresh clean wisp of air, crystal shining water, vastness of forests, whistling of birds,
fluttering butterflies seemed to exist only as thoughts in people’s mind especially
those living in the urban areas. Though numerous meetings, discussions, conferences, and mass awareness drives are periodically held around the globe to save the
ecology and natural resources; however, insignificant outcomes, as compared to the
expected results, were achieved in the end. But the year 2020 turned out to be a
blessing in disguise for the environment as the quarantine lockdown gives time to
our Earth to breathe again and replenish itself. The impact of quarantine lockdown
is assessed by monitoring of the ecology which is discussed below.
15.2.1 Impact on Air Quality
A human can survive without water and food for a few days, but without air can
manage to live only up to a maximum time of 3 minutes. The air that we inhale consists
of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), water vapour (varying from 0.01 to 4%), 0.93%
argon, 0.039% carbon dioxide and trace amounts of dust particles as well as other
gases including methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Any imbalance (either increase
or decrease) in the quantities of these air constituents or addition of other substances
from human sources causes depletion of air quality. The degraded atmosphere can
cause severe repercussion on human health without discriminating on the basis of
gender, age and economic conditions. Even other living organisms whether flora
or fauna (particularly aerobic life forms) are affected by the depleted air quality.
Apte et al. [12] using data from the Global Burden of Disease project estimated a
reduction in the average global life expectancy at birth by approximately one year
due to PM 2.5 exposure in 2016. The monitoring of atmospheric composition and
quality of air is given importance on the occurrence of an event at the regional or
global level that may influence the ambient air status. Studies suggested a possible
relationship between concentrations of air pollutants and risk of COVID-19 disease.
Scientists worldwide are assessing the impact of ceased industrial and transportation
353
properly strategised measures for the environment will surely restore and sustain the
nature on a longer run.
15.2 Impact of Quarantine Lockdown on the Ecology
Today, if one talks about the course of human development on Earth, the term pollution tags along with the revolution of food and machinery industries, science and
technology, buildings and infrastructure, etc. It seems that whatever resources human
has utilised for sustenance on the planet, each resource has suffered from degradation. With passing time, the list of devastation by human activities seems to keep
growing in the form of air pollution, water pollution, light pollution, noise pollution
and destruction of other life forms. In the twenty-first century, a sight of clear sky, a
fresh clean wisp of air, crystal shining water, vastness of forests, whistling of birds,
fluttering butterflies seemed to exist only as thoughts in people’s mind especially
those living in the urban areas. Though numerous meetings, discussions, conferences, and mass awareness drives are periodically held around the globe to save the
ecology and natural resources; however, insignificant outcomes, as compared to the
expected results, were achieved in the end. But the year 2020 turned out to be a
blessing in disguise for the environment as the quarantine lockdown gives time to
our Earth to breathe again and replenish itself. The impact of quarantine lockdown
is assessed by monitoring of the ecology which is discussed below.
15.2.1 Impact on Air Quality
A human can survive without water and food for a few days, but without air can
manage to live only up to a maximum time of 3 minutes. The air that we inhale consists
of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), water vapour (varying from 0.01 to 4%), 0.93%
argon, 0.039% carbon dioxide and trace amounts of dust particles as well as other
gases including methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Any imbalance (either increase
or decrease) in the quantities of these air constituents or addition of other substances
from human sources causes depletion of air quality. The degraded atmosphere can
cause severe repercussion on human health without discriminating on the basis of
gender, age and economic conditions. Even other living organisms whether flora
or fauna (particularly aerobic life forms) are affected by the depleted air quality.
Apte et al. [12] using data from the Global Burden of Disease project estimated a
reduction in the average global life expectancy at birth by approximately one year
due to PM 2.5 exposure in 2016. The monitoring of atmospheric composition and
quality of air is given importance on the occurrence of an event at the regional or
global level that may influence the ambient air status. Studies suggested a possible
relationship between concentrations of air pollutants and risk of COVID-19 disease.
Scientists worldwide are assessing the impact of ceased industrial and transportation