The Covid-19 pandemic allowed humanity to rethink several key social issues. One of them was the impact of humans on air quality and how much our lives actually depend on its quality. Learn more about this topic and the air quality map in this article!
Covid vs. air quality
The answer to the question of whether lockdown has affected air quality (visible on air quality maps) is not clear. On the one hand, less mobility meant that automobile traffic did not generate as many exhaust fumes. Reduced industrial activity also had a positive effect on air quality, which was especially evident globally on air quality maps when China or India closed at the start of the lockdown. Suddenly, one could see Himalayas on the horizon that had not been seen for decades. Reduced mobility and a slowdown in factory activity have thus had an impact on air quality, but a small one, since pollution is primarily a “credit” to the heating of buildings. The persistence of high concentrations of harmful particulate matter in the air is particularly dangerous to health in this pandemic era. Many medical experts point out that smog probably contributes to the ease of contracting coronavirus. People who live in a smoggy environment are more predisposed to contract diseases of the cardiovascular system, the nervous system and, above all, the respiratory system, which is crucial in the era of pandemics. If the body is weakened and has concomitant diseases, the course of COVID-19 automatically becomes more severe.
Why is it worth following air quality maps?
It’s worth following air quality maps because they help us know what the air quality is currently like in our area. You may not even be aware of the quality of the air you breathe. Awareness of such things can contribute to changing habits and improving our habits that affect the environment.
