Even during lockdown, household cooking contributed to CO levels in Delhi and Mumbai: Study

Despite 90 per cent vehicles remaining off the roads in India during the summer months of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, the expected ‘near-zero’ pollution level was not achieved in the megacities of Delhi and Mumbai, once again highlighting the need for long-term and effective measures to curb pollution.

A joint study, undertaken by scientists from the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar, has concluded that Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels during the lockdown in these cities had dropped compared to normal days. However, this could not touch the lowest or ‘near-zero’ pollution level, due to continuing contributions made by CO fumes emitted from household cooking.