But poor air quality from as far as New Delhi cannot penetrate deep into Nepal.. D espite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandu's air quality has worsened in the past two years. Required fields are marked *. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. Barun Poudel, a senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division, says that the chances of pollution travelling as far north as Kathmandu from Indian cities are slim, but that Nepali cities bordering India have already seen some impacts. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking cigarettes., Solution to pollution, Pallavi Pant and Anobha Gurung. Use of pesticides and fertilizers must be controlled. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. Nepal Air Quality Index (AQI) and Air Pollution information | IQAir New Study Finds Ocean Pollution a Threat to Human Health Anupamaas Nidhi Shahs off-screen glam looks, Top 10 T'wood actresses of the 80s and 90s, Shraddha Das rocks the thigh-high slit trend, Live: PM addresses post-budget webinar on Green Growth, Oscars to have Crisis Team after Will Smith slapgate, Adani's older brother plays key role at embattled dynasty, Terms of Use and Grievance Redressal Policy. In 2017, solar electricity costs dropped from $0.28 to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour for utility-scale photovoltaic solar power. hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. Atmospheric greenhouse gases reach record high, latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. Dust from construction works, exhaust from old, poorly maintained vehicles and smoke from coal-burning brick kilns blend in a murky haze that hangs over the ancient city of four million people, raising the risk of cancer, stroke, asthma and high blood pressure, experts say. Plastic pollution: Effects on environment - The Himalayan Times Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. As reported by the World Bank, Nepal is one of the poorest nations in the world with an estimated GDP per capita of US$470. ? Department of Environment on January 5 had released a statement mentioning about the change in weather condition in the country and increasing level of pollution in Kathmandu valley. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . The measurement between 201 and 300 is said to be very unhealthy (purple) and states 'health warnings of emergency conditions'. 1. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. Sunil Paudel, Basudevs son, stopped going on morning walks last year after learning that Kathmandus air quality was reaching unsafe levels. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used in Kathmandu. Minnesota moves to crack down on catalytic converter thefts | AP News With a staggering 42 percent of the population living below the poverty line and only 27 percent with improved access to sanitation, there are quite a number of issues facing Nepal. The gendered impacts of indoor air pollution in Nepal's - ICIMOD Looking at the air quality data over the last few years, it appears that Nepal made amarked improvement from 2018 to 2019, with a PM2.5 reading of 54.15 g/m beingrecorded as an average over 2018 as compared to 44.46 g/m in 2019. In Cities, Reducing Air Pollution Could Lower Cancer Rates At Similar . The company's plan to a second gas-fired power plant next to the existing one is being opposed by residents of the mainly minority and low-income communities around the plant who say an environmental justice law signed over two years ago by New Jersey Gov. Efforts for improving air quality should be of utmost priority now so that safety of citizens' health can be ensured. Plastic pollution in oceans and other bodies of water continues to grow sharply and could more than double by 2030, according to an assessment released on Thursday by the UN Environment Programme ( UNEP ). How to clean up Kathmandus air, Anil Chitrakar, Poisoning the air we breathe, Sonia Awale. The index stood at 214 as per DoE's data. For example, an EIA for a major highway would need . That said, old diesel vehicles are contributing significantly to the poor air quality in the city. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters. Prices range from Rs10 to Rs10,500. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. Air pollution regularly exceeds recommended safe levels. Measurement of air quality through the Air Quality Index (AQI) in city areas of the centralised valley, along with few areas of the Tarai region, shows that air pollution has become rampant. Letter to the editor of The Rising Nepal about the environmental Write a newspaper article on environmental pollution in Nepal to be published in a newspaper. In Nepal and Kathmandu the annual premature death due to air pollution hit 37,399 and 9943 respectively, according to a Republica news report published on 23 November 2019. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. The visibility in Kathmandu valley has degraded to a significant level. At this level of air quality, it is better that active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. From his home in Kathmandus Chabahil, Basudevs walks take him around Pashupatinath Temple and the Guheshwori area. The environment has been in a better condition. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked Nepal 177th out of 180 countries. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause many of the health conditions associated with increased vulnerability to Covid-19, such as diabetes and chronic heart and lung diseases, said theState of Global Air 2020released last October. Despite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandus air quality has worsened in the past two years. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. Nepal's schools close as air pollution hits alarming levels These two are just representative examples of millions of people who are directly or indirectly affected by dust, a burning issue of the twenty first century. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets . A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. At a time when KathmandusAQI was hitting record highs on Tuesday morningwith 438, the New Delhi suburb of Noida recorded less than 151 (AQI World map, below). A Love Beyond Measure: The Unforgettable Reunion, , . Average life expectancy is reduced by at least four years in the worst-affected areas like Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan and other parts of the Tarai. Majorities express "a great deal" of worry about the pollution of both drinking water (56%) and rivers, lakes and reservoirs (53%). Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. Rather than benefits, morning walks could have serious health impacts, Sunil said. Other global AQI measurement sites like. This is what we learned. There are cloth masks and surgical ones, some are disposable but many use replaceable filters. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around 3.5 million. There is now growing fear that the toxic air of India, which had 22 of the worlds most polluted cities in 2018, will reach Nepal and cause a similar health panic, especially as the country itself has been struggling to check its air pollution levels. AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration . Q : Emu bird is found in the country. Environmental Issues and pollution in Nepal - Earth's Edge Though the readings slowly became less alarming after the morning hours, at 10:00 am and onwards, the readings for Simara was still lingering above 300; others (stations mentioned above) showed the index between 151 to 200. Ltd. Mhepi-16, Kathmandu, Nepal Company Reg. At a time when Kathmandu's AQI was hitting record highs on Tuesday morning with 438, the New Delhi suburb of Noida recorded less than 151 ( AQI World map, below). At the same hour, Bhaktapur's air quality degraded as low as 347 (according to The World Air Quality Project) while as per DoE's data it stood at 348. To receive the magazine, become a member now. Why this advert is dangerous to people and nature and shows advertising needs new controls. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . In 2000 / 2001 there were 24,003 vehicles registered in Kathmandu and this has increased dramatically to 79,822 in 2015 / 2016. We all have been well aware about the problem of environmental pollution which has been very petrifying to the living beings. The Threat of Ambient Air Pollution in Kathmandu, Nepal - Hindawi systema Vehicular emissions or traffic related particulate matter has serious health effects such as increased respiratory disease, reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac arrhythmias, heart disease etc. Air qualities in cities like Birgunj, Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa get worse due to local air pollution, supported by stagnation of air in this season where there is an inversion of temperature, a reversal of the normal behaviour of temperature in the troposphere, said Poudel, the meteorologist. By Sophie Wodzak,Emily Cochrane and Lisa Friedman. New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) provide clear evidence of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health, at even lower concentrations than previously understood. The leaves of plants are covered in dust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. In Kathmandu, a struggle for water amid worsening floods Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. When will women lead big political parties? Q : Which one is the capital of Spain. Poor air quality in Kathmandu and inside rural homes due to smoky kitchen fires kill far more people across South Asia than SARS-CoV-2. (left). Our aim is to educate and inform as many people as possible about the wonders of nature, the crisis we face and the best solutions and methods in managing that crisis. Photo Courtesy: Department of Environment/Air Quality Montoring, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 9 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. The governments standard level is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. of tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. "And it wasn't just the . In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. US to Toughen Water Pollution Rules for Meat Plants Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . That compares with the governments standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Getting prepared now will make that transition smoother. "I don't remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past," Khadka told Reuters. Around 100 people die every day in Nepal because of air pollution. Electrified public transport would have been a good place to start, but 6 months after Prime Minister KP Oli launched an electric mobility action plan to turn at least 20% of public vehicles into battery-operated ones by 2020, progress has been slow. Arjun Khadka, 65, who owns a grocery store in Kathmandu, said he experienced itching and burning sensations in the eyes and nose which could be due to pollution. On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy. Tags: environment, pollution, Philippines Coronavirus Bulletin Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Rivers, ponds and lakes should not be polluted because it affects animals and plants lives too. The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. As people fear another wave of Covid-19 a year after the government first imposed restrictions in the country, another health concern related to respiratory illnesses caused by toxins in the environment has come to the fore. The EPI recently found Nepal to have the worst air pollution in the world. Butair pollution issues are continue to increase. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate inthe city. Similarly, a University of Massachusetts study found that the good old surgical mask blocked 60% of 0.03 micron particles, and over 90% of 1 micron and 2.5 micron particles. Adriana Paulo de Sousa Oliveira, Paula Assemany, Lidiane Covell, Maria Lcia Calijuri. Nepal is a landlocked nation with the current population of over 27 million people. Microplastic pollution in urban Lake Phewa, Nepal: the first report on Q : Only continent in the world without a desert is. The same report ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country in the world. Macrotech Developers Ltd. 997.35 152.6. Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School According to the 2017 Air Quality Management Action Plan for Kathmandu Valley, the transport sector contributes over 30 percent of total suspended particles (TSP), or 20,072 tonnes, into the air. We could barely see the birds flying around before but nowadays we can see the birds chirping and flying up in the sky due to decrease in air pollution. The World Health Organisation (WHO)s guidelines state that AQI should be below 35, and the concentration of particles below 2.5 microns should be below 25 g/mover a 24 hour period. Air pollution is also the main environmental risk factor for non-communicable diseases like cancers and lung diseases, concludes a recent report by the NCD Alliance and the Forum of International Respiratory Scientists: The challenge is great, but the cure is straight-forward it must be met by national, regional, local and personal responses. Air pollution crisis in South Asia causing massive loss of pregnancies This is a very unpleasant decision. Air pollution is slashing years from billions of people's lives around the world and is a greater threat to life expectancy than smoking, HIV/AIDS or war, a report published Wednesday shows.. "This also adds to the risk of COVID-19," said Sher Bahadur Pun, a doctor at a tropical and infectious disease hospital in the capital. Air pollution is cutting more than 2 years from billions of - CNN