Since the outbreak of COVID-19 reached Delhi, India’s slums in Spring 2021, crematoriums needed to be expanded to car parking lots, parks, and other open areas that did not have flue gas filtering systems. In order to determine whether an association between human cremations and air pollution exists, air pollutant data from India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Delhi’s Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) was analyzed in conjunction with Johns Hopkins University global COVID-19 statistics. Three time periods were chosen based on mobility trends and daily new COVID deaths: Low pre-Peak (&lt;50), Peak (&gt;300), and Decreasing post-Peak (&lt;103). This study shows the spike in PM2.5 and PM10 during the analysis periods is likely due to the increased cremation during the Peak daily new deaths. External factors such as industries and farming may have also added to increasing particulate matter levels. Furthermore, seasonal variations could cause the difference in particulate matter concentrations. Conversely, CO, NO2, O3, and SO2 were not significantly different in the Peak period for 2021, compared to pre- and post-Peak.

Impact of increased cremations from COVID-19 on Delhi, India's air quality

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.