Abstract

Particulate pollution poses a great threat to the health quality of humans and has been found to have caused many respiratory
problems and may also influence diabetes mellitus. This study is aimed to establish a connection between the mortality statistics
and the PM2.5 concentration and discuss the variation trend during the first and the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in
India. The air quality index related to PM2.5 was recorded from September 1, 2020, to September 30, 2020, and April 1, 2021, to
May 31, 2021. Mortality trend during this duration was plotted with respect to the PM2.5 concentration for three heavily polluted
Indian cities, namely, Delhi, Lucknow, and Mumbai. The correlation (R2 value) in Delhi during the second wave of COVID-19
was only 8.21%. During the first and second waves, the correlation in Lucknow was 0.18% and 5.49%, respectively. During the
first wave of COVID-19 in Mumbai, a 1.94% correlation was seen. Because of the poor correlation values, no well-defined link
between mortality and PM2.5 concentration could be established. The R2 values of 26.91% and 25.59% for Delhi during the first
wave and Mumbai during the second wave, respectively, exhibit a clear link between mortality and PM2.5 concentrations. This
paper attempts at establishing a relationship between PM2.5 concentration and mortality with regard to the first and second wave
of the pandemic.