Pilot Study of Air Quality during Pre and Post COVID-19 Lockdown: An Inadvertent Assistance to the Environment

The main object of this study was to examine the levels of air quality in Karachi, Pakistan, before and during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd wave of lockdown period levied to control the spread of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the environment of Karachi city. Momentous improvement in the air quality has been found during the ‘Lockdown’ being implemented due to the Corona Virus Disease (COVID -19) pandemic in Karachi city. Concentrations of trace gases and particulate matter were used to calculate the results according to the criteria of USEPA. We have analyzed data from fourteen different locations along the busy roads in commercial, residential and industrial areas of Karachi during the period of lockdown. Data were compared to the before lockdown (BL) and during the complete lockdown (CL 1stwave), smart lockdown (SL 2nd wave) and again complete lockdown (CL-2 3rd wave) of COVID pandemic. The results show drastic reductions in criteria pollutants (PM10, CO, SO2 and NOx) concentrations in all the selected area during lockdown period. This study explained the level of air quality and its relation to prepare alternative plans to mitigate the air pollutants and to improve the environment of urban areas.