Potential impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on environmental parameters

Abstract

COVID-19 had an impact on the daily life, human activities, various sectors, and the environment. Accordingly, the aim of this research was to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (COVID-19 PL) on the environmental parameters. The studied environmental parameters were solid waste, noise, air, water, wastewater (WW), soil and green areas, natural environment and resources, light pollution, radiation pollution, energy and others. The main environmental issues were divided into seventy sub-parameters. Results revealed that COVID-19 PL increased a number of parameters, such as domestic and hospital wastes, noise at home, aquatic life and water quality, domestic WW amount, green areas, animal and birds movement, natural energy, rodents etc.; while, it decreased several factors for instance commercial/industrial solid waste, traffic and outdoor noises, air pollution and particles, water contamination, WW production, cutting trees and hunting, fuel extraction and mining, artificial light and radiation, fuel combustion, tourist etc. Alternatively, some parameters, such as black water, natural radiation, and normal lighting remained as before COVID-19 PL. Positive, nil, and negative impacts of the parameters on the environment due to COVID-19 PL were 81.43 %, 5.71 %, and 12.86 %, respectively. Positive impacts of the COVID-19 PL on the environment were greater than negative influences and lockdown was regarded as a respiration of the natural environment. Currently, prediction of seasonal impact on spreading COVID-19 is difficult.