The years 2020-21 are some of the most challenging years experienced by humankind. While the people of Earth recover from the hard blow of COVID-19, they also witnessed several large-scale wildfires. As a result, we observed both the positive and negative impacts on the ambient air quality. The wildfire occurrences severely deteriorated the air quality. In contrast, country-wide complete and partial lockdowns accounted for cleaner air in some regions. The lockdown provided a clean window to air and atmosphere for self-cleansing. Several government authorities took the opportunity to work on their clean air programs. As a result, the use of alternative monitoring systems like low-cost sensor-based devices has become more common.

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Ambient Air Quality and
COVID-19

2. Significance of Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors in NCAP
INTRODUCTION
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Country-wise lockdowns were imposed across the world to fight the global pandemic:
COVID-19.
All the following activities were shutdown with few exceptions:
Construction Activities Industries Vehicular
Activities

3. Significance of Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors in NCAP
LOCKDOWN AND AIR QUALITY
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It is the largest global experiment
ever into air quality.
“
”
- Professor Paul Monks
According to the COVID-19 Air Quality
Report by IQAir
9 out of 10 global cities experienced
PM2.5 reductions.

4. Significance of Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors in NCAP
AIR QUALITY: EUROPE
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A study conducted by
European Space Agency
(ESA)
supports that the
shutdowns across the
world were responsible for
improved air quality.

5. Significance of Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors in NCAP
AIR QUALITY: ASIA
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Significantly improved
air quality over India
and China.

6. Air pollution in India has caused losses
up to Rs 7 lakh crore ($95 billion).
- Confederation of Indian Industries
(CII) and the UK-based non-profit
Clean Air fund.
Significance of Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors in NCAP
POST-LOCKDOWN
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“
”
As the industries started
operating, and the routine
vehicular activities resumed, the
air quality started degrading.

7. COVID-19 TRANSMISSION Significance of Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors in NCAP
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Airborne transmission is considered to be the most fatal
for COVID-19.
A study conducted by the researchers from Harvard TH
School of Public Health in Boston found that people with
higher exposure to PM2.5 have a higher chance to get
infected by COVID-19.
Several other studies support that aerosol transmission of
SARS-CoV-2 is plausible, and the plausibility score (weight
of combined evidence) is 8 out of 9.

8. OIZOM’S WEBINARS Significance of Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors in NCAP
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