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Current IssueEditorial BoardOnline First ArticlesArchive

Reviewer Article

volume 36 issue 1 (march 2021) : 1-6,   Doi: 10.18805/BKAP264

A Review on Fog and Smog: Impact, Mode of Action and Remedial Measures under COVID-19 Pandemics 

Y
Yogesh Kumar
R
Rakesh Kumar
M
Munish Leharwan
M
Mamta Bhardwaj
1Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institutes, Karnal-132 001, Haryana, India.

  • Submitted29-01-2021|

  • Accepted16-06-2021|

  • First Online 26-06-2021|

  • doi 10.18805/BKAP264

Cite article:- Kumar Yogesh, Kumar Rakesh, Leharwan Munish, Bhardwaj Mamta (2021). A Review on Fog and Smog: Impact, Mode of Action and Remedial Measures under COVID-19 Pandemics. Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Patrika. 36(1): 1-6. doi: 10.18805/BKAP264.

ABSTRACT

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus pandemic: the Sars-Cov-2 virus (COVID-19) is a threat to the population’s health. A positive correlation has been observed between the spread of the virus and air pollution, which is one of the greatest challenges of our millennium. COVID-19 could have an air transmission and atmospheric particulate matter could create a suitable environment for transporting the virus at greater distances than those considered for close contact. Smog is formed when pollutants like nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds that are released from automobiles, industries and burning of rice crop residues (parali) and fossil fuels interact with sunlight (WHO, 2016). In this context, COVID-19 could also have an airborne transmission and particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 which is Fine particulates of 2.5 micrometer or 10 micrometer less are also among the pollutants found in smog and haze) could act as a carrier through the aerosol, conveying the virus and increasing its spread. It prove a direct correlation between current high air pollution levels and incidence of COVID-19, high pollution levels might also increase the risk of contracting COVID-19. One of the most pressing and urgent problems  is that polluted air can severely endanger human health and life. Individual residents who are affected  by smog pollution can often do very little to prevent it, but they can apply adaptive and protective  measures to reduce  their risk. Elderly and people experiencing any cardiac or respiratory illness are more prone to harmful effects of smog (Sierra Vargas et al., 2012). These measures are minimal exposure to outdoor air but if exposure is inescapable than a facemask should be worn. Those people who are affected with cardio-vascular disease and its allied patients should increase the dosage of medication on their physician’s advice to prevent worsening of disease. Supplements and food containing antioxidants like omega 3 fatty acids when added to diet may help against oxidative stress caused by pollutants (Xing et al., 2016). Therefore, it is crucial to minimize the negative effects of smog by wearing mask and reduced the environmental pollution by adopting eco-friendly products.

REFERENCES

  1. Critchfield, H.J. (1987). General Climatology, edn 4, 453 pp. Prentice- hall of India pvt. Ltd. New Delhi.
  2. IARI. (2012). Crop residues management with conservation agriculture: Potential, constraints and policy needs (pp. vii + 32). New Delhi: Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
  3. Jain, N., Bhatia, A. and Pathak, H. (2014). Emission of air pollutants from crop residue burning in India. Aerosol and Air Quality Research. 14(1): 422-430.https://ghsl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ghs_bu2019 .php.
  4. Mittal, S.K., Singh, N., Agarwal, R., Awasthi, A. and Gupta, P.K. (2009). Ambient air quality during wheat and rice crop stubble burning episodes in Patiala. Atmospheric Environment. 43(2): 238-244.
  5. Nagarajan, S. (2005). Can India produce enough wheat even by 2020? Current Science. 89(9): 1467-1471.
  6. Pandey, A.C., Singh, S.K. and Nathawat, M.S. (2010). Waterlogging and flood hazards vulnerability and risk assessment in IGP. Natural Hazards. 55(2): 273-289.
  7. Ravindra, K., Singh, T. and Mor, S. (2019a). Emissions of air pollutants from primary crop residue burning in India and their mitigation strategies for cleaner emissions. Journal of cleaner production. 208: 261-273.
  8. Ravindra, K., Singh, T., Mor, S., Singh, V., Mandal, T.K., Bhatti, M.S., Gahlawat, S.K., Dhankhar, R., Mor, S. and Beig, G. (2019b). Real-time monitoring of air pollutants in seven cities of North India during crop residue burning and their relationship with meteorology and transboundary movement of air. Science of the total environment. 690: 717-729.
  9. Sierra Vargas, M.P., Teran, L.M. (2012) Air pollution: Impact and prevention. Respirology (Carlton, Vic). 17(7): 1031-1038. Doi:10.1111/j.1440-1843. 2012. 02213.x.
  10. Uzoigwe, J.C., Prum, T., Bresnahan, E., Garelnabi, M. (2013). The Emerging Role of Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution in Cardiovascular Disease. North American Journal of Medical Sciences. 5(8): 445-453. Doi:10.4103/1947-2714.117290. 
  11. World Health Organization. (2016). Ambient (outdoor) air quality and health. Fact sheet no. 313. (Online) September. (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/).
  12. Xing, Y.F., Xu, Y.H., Shi, M.H., Lian, Y.X. (2016). The impact of PM 2.5 on the human respiratory system. Journal of Thoracic Disease. 8 (1): E69-E74. Doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2016.01.19.
  13. Jagran Josh Patrika (2017). https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/what-is-smog-and-how-it-is-harmful-for-us-in-hindi-1484828612-2.
  14. Dainik Jagran (2020). https://www.jagran.com/features/saptrang-8545768.html.
  15. Stubble combustion in India: a factor in increasing air pollution https://www.dhyeyaias.com/hindi/current-affairs/perfect- 7-magazine/stubble-burning.
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    Reviewer Article

    volume 36 issue 1 (march 2021) : 1-6,   Doi: 10.18805/BKAP264

    A Review on Fog and Smog: Impact, Mode of Action and Remedial Measures under COVID-19 Pandemics 

    Y
    Yogesh Kumar
    R
    Rakesh Kumar
    M
    Munish Leharwan
    M
    Mamta Bhardwaj
    1Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institutes, Karnal-132 001, Haryana, India.

    • Submitted29-01-2021|

    • Accepted16-06-2021|

    • First Online 26-06-2021|

    • doi 10.18805/BKAP264

    Cite article:- Kumar Yogesh, Kumar Rakesh, Leharwan Munish, Bhardwaj Mamta (2021). A Review on Fog and Smog: Impact, Mode of Action and Remedial Measures under COVID-19 Pandemics. Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Patrika. 36(1): 1-6. doi: 10.18805/BKAP264.

    ABSTRACT

    On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus pandemic: the Sars-Cov-2 virus (COVID-19) is a threat to the population’s health. A positive correlation has been observed between the spread of the virus and air pollution, which is one of the greatest challenges of our millennium. COVID-19 could have an air transmission and atmospheric particulate matter could create a suitable environment for transporting the virus at greater distances than those considered for close contact. Smog is formed when pollutants like nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds that are released from automobiles, industries and burning of rice crop residues (parali) and fossil fuels interact with sunlight (WHO, 2016). In this context, COVID-19 could also have an airborne transmission and particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 which is Fine particulates of 2.5 micrometer or 10 micrometer less are also among the pollutants found in smog and haze) could act as a carrier through the aerosol, conveying the virus and increasing its spread. It prove a direct correlation between current high air pollution levels and incidence of COVID-19, high pollution levels might also increase the risk of contracting COVID-19. One of the most pressing and urgent problems  is that polluted air can severely endanger human health and life. Individual residents who are affected  by smog pollution can often do very little to prevent it, but they can apply adaptive and protective  measures to reduce  their risk. Elderly and people experiencing any cardiac or respiratory illness are more prone to harmful effects of smog (Sierra Vargas et al., 2012). These measures are minimal exposure to outdoor air but if exposure is inescapable than a facemask should be worn. Those people who are affected with cardio-vascular disease and its allied patients should increase the dosage of medication on their physician’s advice to prevent worsening of disease. Supplements and food containing antioxidants like omega 3 fatty acids when added to diet may help against oxidative stress caused by pollutants (Xing et al., 2016). Therefore, it is crucial to minimize the negative effects of smog by wearing mask and reduced the environmental pollution by adopting eco-friendly products.

    REFERENCES

    1. Critchfield, H.J. (1987). General Climatology, edn 4, 453 pp. Prentice- hall of India pvt. Ltd. New Delhi.
    2. IARI. (2012). Crop residues management with conservation agriculture: Potential, constraints and policy needs (pp. vii + 32). New Delhi: Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
    3. Jain, N., Bhatia, A. and Pathak, H. (2014). Emission of air pollutants from crop residue burning in India. Aerosol and Air Quality Research. 14(1): 422-430.https://ghsl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ghs_bu2019 .php.
    4. Mittal, S.K., Singh, N., Agarwal, R., Awasthi, A. and Gupta, P.K. (2009). Ambient air quality during wheat and rice crop stubble burning episodes in Patiala. Atmospheric Environment. 43(2): 238-244.
    5. Nagarajan, S. (2005). Can India produce enough wheat even by 2020? Current Science. 89(9): 1467-1471.
    6. Pandey, A.C., Singh, S.K. and Nathawat, M.S. (2010). Waterlogging and flood hazards vulnerability and risk assessment in IGP. Natural Hazards. 55(2): 273-289.
    7. Ravindra, K., Singh, T. and Mor, S. (2019a). Emissions of air pollutants from primary crop residue burning in India and their mitigation strategies for cleaner emissions. Journal of cleaner production. 208: 261-273.
    8. Ravindra, K., Singh, T., Mor, S., Singh, V., Mandal, T.K., Bhatti, M.S., Gahlawat, S.K., Dhankhar, R., Mor, S. and Beig, G. (2019b). Real-time monitoring of air pollutants in seven cities of North India during crop residue burning and their relationship with meteorology and transboundary movement of air. Science of the total environment. 690: 717-729.
    9. Sierra Vargas, M.P., Teran, L.M. (2012) Air pollution: Impact and prevention. Respirology (Carlton, Vic). 17(7): 1031-1038. Doi:10.1111/j.1440-1843. 2012. 02213.x.
    10. Uzoigwe, J.C., Prum, T., Bresnahan, E., Garelnabi, M. (2013). The Emerging Role of Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution in Cardiovascular Disease. North American Journal of Medical Sciences. 5(8): 445-453. Doi:10.4103/1947-2714.117290. 
    11. World Health Organization. (2016). Ambient (outdoor) air quality and health. Fact sheet no. 313. (Online) September. (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/).
    12. Xing, Y.F., Xu, Y.H., Shi, M.H., Lian, Y.X. (2016). The impact of PM 2.5 on the human respiratory system. Journal of Thoracic Disease. 8 (1): E69-E74. Doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2016.01.19.
    13. Jagran Josh Patrika (2017). https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/what-is-smog-and-how-it-is-harmful-for-us-in-hindi-1484828612-2.
    14. Dainik Jagran (2020). https://www.jagran.com/features/saptrang-8545768.html.
    15. Stubble combustion in India: a factor in increasing air pollution https://www.dhyeyaias.com/hindi/current-affairs/perfect- 7-magazine/stubble-burning.
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