15 COVID-19 Pandemic: An Unprecedented Blessing for Nature
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we need to understand that there is a need for further significant research for understanding/unravelling the behaviour of secondary pollutants in relation to multiple
influencing factors such as changes in chemical precursors, reaction mechanism and
meteorological parameters.
Deteriorated air causes morbidity and mortality among humans. Global report
states air pollution as the fifth leading risk factor for mortality worldwide contributing
to nearly 1 death in every 10 person [1]. In humans, air pollution is known to cause
many long-term and short-term health effects such as asthma, cancer, cardiovascular
mortality, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertensive disease,
respiratory mortality, etc. [27, 54, 55] among humans. The relation between the
inhaled quality of air and human health is so-well established that several air quality
indices have been developed for evaluating the level of threat to human health based
on the magnitude of air quality status. The recent improvement in air quality across
many countries and regions due to the quarantine measures has paved the scope for
research in better understanding of the effects of improved air on the mortality rate
and risk to human health from COVID-19 disease. A study attributed the decreased air
pollution as the reason behind diminished cause-specific mortality during the largescale quarantine period in China [56]. They calculated that the declined concentration
of daily NO 2 and PM 2.5 pollutants, during the control measures, potentially avoided
8911 NO 2 -related deaths and 3214 PM 2.5 -related deaths. There are also evident
studies from London [28], California [57], England [58], Northern Italy [59] and
USA [60] on the existence of significant correlation between the short-term exposure to air pollutants such as NO 2 and PM 2.5 and COVID-19 disease cases and fatality
rate. It is established that exposure to air pollution can compromise respiratory functions and therefore exacerbate the risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19 [60,
61]. Moreover, the adherence of the COVID-19 virus on PM could aid long-range
transmission of the virus [62]. State of Global Air Report [1] states that in 2017
more than 90% of people worldwide live in areas exceeding the WHO Guideline for
healthy air. Therefore, the need for adoption of better strategies and implementation
of result-oriented policies is required to maintain the current temporarily improved
air quality status on long-run basis.
15.2.2 Impact on Water Quality
Hydrosphere, which is one of the primary spheres of the Earth, covers 71% surface
area of the planet. Major portion (97%) of Earth’s water is locked as salty oceans while
the remaining percentage of freshwater comprises of polar icecaps, rivers, streams,
lakes and groundwater. However, only about 0.024% is readily available for human
utilisation. Historians have always acknowledged the close association of emergence
and flourishing of civilisations with the existence of a nearby major water source such
as River Indus (Indus Valley Civilisation) and River Nile (Nile Valley Civilisation),
etc. Water has the unique ability to purify and replenish itself on Earth via various
processes involved in the ‘hydrological cycle’. The quality and quantity of water has
361
we need to understand that there is a need for further significant research for understanding/unravelling the behaviour of secondary pollutants in relation to multiple
influencing factors such as changes in chemical precursors, reaction mechanism and
meteorological parameters.
Deteriorated air causes morbidity and mortality among humans. Global report
states air pollution as the fifth leading risk factor for mortality worldwide contributing
to nearly 1 death in every 10 person [1]. In humans, air pollution is known to cause
many long-term and short-term health effects such as asthma, cancer, cardiovascular
mortality, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertensive disease,
respiratory mortality, etc. [27, 54, 55] among humans. The relation between the
inhaled quality of air and human health is so-well established that several air quality
indices have been developed for evaluating the level of threat to human health based
on the magnitude of air quality status. The recent improvement in air quality across
many countries and regions due to the quarantine measures has paved the scope for
research in better understanding of the effects of improved air on the mortality rate
and risk to human health from COVID-19 disease. A study attributed the decreased air
pollution as the reason behind diminished cause-specific mortality during the largescale quarantine period in China [56]. They calculated that the declined concentration
of daily NO 2 and PM 2.5 pollutants, during the control measures, potentially avoided
8911 NO 2 -related deaths and 3214 PM 2.5 -related deaths. There are also evident
studies from London [28], California [57], England [58], Northern Italy [59] and
USA [60] on the existence of significant correlation between the short-term exposure to air pollutants such as NO 2 and PM 2.5 and COVID-19 disease cases and fatality
rate. It is established that exposure to air pollution can compromise respiratory functions and therefore exacerbate the risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19 [60,
61]. Moreover, the adherence of the COVID-19 virus on PM could aid long-range
transmission of the virus [62]. State of Global Air Report [1] states that in 2017
more than 90% of people worldwide live in areas exceeding the WHO Guideline for
healthy air. Therefore, the need for adoption of better strategies and implementation
of result-oriented policies is required to maintain the current temporarily improved
air quality status on long-run basis.
15.2.2 Impact on Water Quality
Hydrosphere, which is one of the primary spheres of the Earth, covers 71% surface
area of the planet. Major portion (97%) of Earth’s water is locked as salty oceans while
the remaining percentage of freshwater comprises of polar icecaps, rivers, streams,
lakes and groundwater. However, only about 0.024% is readily available for human
utilisation. Historians have always acknowledged the close association of emergence
and flourishing of civilisations with the existence of a nearby major water source such
as River Indus (Indus Valley Civilisation) and River Nile (Nile Valley Civilisation),
etc. Water has the unique ability to purify and replenish itself on Earth via various
processes involved in the ‘hydrological cycle’. The quality and quantity of water has