A Healthy Benefit of COVID-19
In April, 2020 in India, a possibility occurred that was only possible 30 years ago, you could see the Himalaya Mountains from the city of Delhi. This became possible due to the reduced air pollution caused by the stay at home order in response to the COVID-19 virus. Here in Georgia, a similar occurrence had happened within the same time frame. Before going into more detail, I will explain the overall measurements of pollution, or particle pollution, which have to do with particle matter. Particle matter is measured in two diameter scales 10 and 2.5 micrometers, the size of these PM’s are no bigger than dust particles. However, can come in the forms such as smoke, mist, gasoline and other pollutants, with 2.5 micrometers being small enough to enter the lungs undetected in small numbers. PM’s around 10 and beyond are usually large enough for an individual to notice something is in their airway, or to be caught by your nose hairs.
Particle pollution by the EPA division in Georgia is measured from levels zero to 500, pollutants above the level of 50 become unhealthy for anyone with breathing and health issues. Though surprisingly, Georgia has not gone past even the 100 level in several years and is not even in the top 15 of the most polluted cities in the United States. But from April to just before early June, according to State Climatologist Bill Murphy of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. The number of these particle pollutants significantly went down from the average 40 plus level in pollution such as nitrogen dioxide at the beginning of the year to a level ten, five and even two. The closest to perfectly clean air Georgia has ever experienced on record. Regardless of the shelter in place, many individuals have continued to partake in outdoor activities for exercise and I was curious to know if they had noticed a difference in air quality over that period.
Time Frame of April
Michael Jones, a man I came across taking a break at Freedom Park near downtown, gave me his personal opinion on the matter. “I’ve definitely noticed a difference in the air, I usually run around the track at the park at Ponce. It’s hasn’t been so combobulated at all lately and it’s a lot safer to cross the streets, though it is starting to get back to the way it was before Corona.” He said with a small laugh. Another, Jessica Guadalupe who I also found taking a break closer to ponce market, had a slightly different story. “Honestly, I haven’t noticed to much of a difference in cleaner air. I go up to Western Carolina most of the time for a peaceful run with real clean air that you won’t find here, though it has been a lot safer and less crowded which I’m grateful for, I just wish it was for a better reason.” At the very least, you can say that the streets had become a safer place to walk on and at the most, the planet has had an opportunity to heal itself and show us a better world we can live in. Perhaps we should take more time to find a way to keep it that way.
