Did the Pandemic-Induced Lockdown help in Improving the Health of COPD Patients?

The year 2020 has been a rollercoaster ride for the world. With economies crashing, entire countries in lockdown and a near-unheard of desolation silence all day, all this seems like a scene from a sci-fi movie, except the fact that we’re in it. There are, however, some good bits about the pandemic-induced lockdown too.

According to the WHO, nearly 3 million people around the world die every year due to air pollution alone. Of those who survive, nearly 80% are exposed to harmful pollutants and suffer from diseases such as asthma, COPD and lung cancer. This situation is much worse in developing countries, where up to 98% of the cities fall short of WHO air quality standards.

Within two to three weeks of the lockdown being announced, most major cities around the world witnessed a drop of up to 60% in air pollution levels. NO₂ pollution levels in cities like New York and New Delhi dropped drastically as road and air transport were grounded. The AQI in these cities has fallen to nearly 30- or 40-year lows.

Polluted cities are now inching close to their unpolluted cousins in terms of air quality due to vehicular movement and industrial activity being nearly zero. This has come as a boon to patients suffering from respiratory illnesses like COPD, as they are able to breathe in clean, fresh air without using their oxygen concentrators for the first time in decades.

As nature begins to heal itself from the destruction caused by us, our lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans have clearer water and many rivers considered “dead” by environmentalists are brimming with life. Low pollution levels have helped people get access to cleaner, pollutant-free water, helping them feel better and be healthier.

The pandemic also gave us a way to peek into the future with cleaner transportation systems. Somewhat akin to a massive science experiment, all fossil fuel vehicles were off the road during the lockdown, and we could see what our environs would feel like with just electric transport.

People have also learned how to live without vehicles, and many cities have already started to witness a 50-60% reduction in traffic despite relaxations in the lockdown. If this trend continues, we will soon see a marked decrease in AQI, ensuring fresh, clean air for us and our future generations to come.