Air pollution got worse during lockdown in many countries, study finds

University of Chicago reports little change in global average particulate pollution in 2020, with increases in areas such as India

Lockdowns imposed to stop the spread of Covid led to virtually no change" in global average particulate pollution levels during 2020, and in some of the most populous countries pollution increased, according to a study.

Analysis of revised satellite-derived data on PM2.5 levels, which measure minuscule and dangerous airborne particles, suggests that the economic lockdowns imposed across many parts of the world brought clear skies to some areas only temporarily.

According to the research by the Air Quality Life Index, based at the University of Chicago, the global population weighted-average PM2.5 level declined from 27.7 to just 27.5 g/m3 between 2019 and 2020, remaining more than five times the WHO's guideline, which was revised last year to 5 g/m 3.