While skies clear, indoor air pollution rises in locked-down India

Kerala, with an increase of 20 tons a day in PM 2.5 emissions, Maharashtra (15 tons/day), West Bengal (14 tons/day) are emerging as the biggest indoor emitters among states

While Indians rejoiced over clear, pollution-free skies during the nationwide lockdown to contain Covid-19, which is still partially in force, they paid little heed to a silent killer that may have grown more dangerous during this time: household or indoor air pollution (HAP).

The lockdown from March 25, 2020, which saw more meals being cooked at home than usual, may have led to an almost 2%--or about 150 tons per day--increase in total household PM 2.5 emissions in India, according to the preliminary findings of a yet-to-be published study by the World