Kathmandus AQI has remained at the Maroon Hazardous level for two days in a row. KATHMANDU Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. The EPI recently found Nepal to have the worst air pollution in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) reportsfine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is aroundtentimes higher than the WHO limit. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. This is a grave threat to public health, the government should have declared an emergency and taken urgent measures to curb pollution, says environmental expert Bhushan Tuladhar. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . Minnesota moves to crack down on catalytic converter thefts | AP News editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around3.5 million. Air pollution is a silent killer and while it is difficult to quantify its heath impact, hospitalisation due to serious respiratory diseases has increased sharply in recent years, says chest specialist Raju Pangeni at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu. put Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel inthe valley. Independent lab testing finds elevated level of chemical of concern in 'A waste of time and money': Why are EIAs so ineffective in Nepal? Kathmandu air pollution hits record high | Nepali Times The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. 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 traffic on the most part seemed to move along without any fuss. Advertisement The government, which has been engulfed in a crisis within the ruling party after Prime Minister K P Oli dissolved the Lower House and called for snap polls in April-May, seems to be too distracted to pay attention to the converging crises of Covid-19 and air pollution. 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. Haze engulfs Kathmandu valley as the air pollution increases to unhealthy levels, on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. Site By: Hiti Design, The first step in reducing air pollution is to let, Nepali scientist returns to pinpoint hazards of dirty air, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IudF3qNM-xE&feature=youtu.benobha Gurung could have had a distinguished international career in, Sonia Awale s winter sets in and air quality deteriorates,. A paper published in the December 2000 volume of the International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences on pollution in the Narayani placed the blame squarely on the Gorkha Brewery (and a paper mill that has since closed down) for much of the pollution in Nepal's third-largest river. Take your pick, but remember the best thing is to reduce the source of pollution. Environmental Health issues are a not major risk factors for the Global Burden of Diseases. The World Health Organisation ('WHO') has reported that PM2.5 levels of particulate matter in urban areas of Nepal . Furthermore, the life expectancy in the Kathmandu Valley is four years less than that of other Nepalese regions. 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. In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. This index is coloured red. Other global AQI measurement sites likeIQAirput Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. The birds identified as having the disease, named . Water In Crisis - Spotlight Nepal - The Water Project Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. Air pollution is a chronic problem in the rapidly growing capital city of Kathmandu and an additional headache for the government that is struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic. EIAs must be submitted to Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) for approval, whereas IEEs can be approved by other relevant ministries. PM2.5 levels of 403.72 g/m3 were recorded at 7pm on November 4 in Nepalgunj, the highest for the country in the past week. 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. Groundbreaking map shows toxic 'forever chemicals' in more than 330 Sunil Paudel, Basudevs son, stopped going on morning walks last year after learning that Kathmandus air quality was reaching unsafe levels. 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. El descarrilamiento en East Palestine, Ohio, se ha convertido en uno de los incidentes ms mediticos y ms politizados de su tipo en los ltimos aos. "Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. Find out more. Legal provisions should be made in order for people to manage solid wastes properly. Q Nepal isn't short of water, thanks to the monsoon rains and the rivers that bring meltwater down from the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack. 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. Ever since the lockdown started in Nepal, there has been a . In 2000 / 2001 there were 24,003 vehicles registered in Kathmandu and this has increased dramatically to 79,822 in 2015 / 2016. Philippines Scrambles to Contain Oil Spill and Locate Sunken Fuel Tanker The analysis, based on more than 100 recent peer-reviewed studies, detected over 120 unique PFAS compounds in these animals . China will be the host nation and will showcase its dramatic progress in cutting pollution. Says Pallavi Pant, air quality scientist at the Health Effects Institute: Exposures to air pollution have been shown to affect the human bodys immune defence, making an individual more susceptible to respiratory infections such as pneumonia., Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale Air pollution is a chronic problem in the rapidly growing capital city of Kathmandu and an additional headache for the government, which is struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Get access to nearly 50 years of journalism at the Ecologist Archive. A breakdown of whats known, and whats not, about the incident and its aftermath. The average global citizen loses 2.2 years of life with today's levels of air pollution and, if nothing changes, that adds up to . This is a grave threat to public health, the government should have declared an emergency and taken urgent measures to curb pollution, says environmental expert Bhushan Tuladhar. AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration of particulate matter below 10 and 2.5 microns, carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen dioxide and ground ozone. Since the festival of Diwali ended last week, the air quality in New Delhi has drastically deteriorated, resulting in air pollution levels reaching nearly 10 times healthy limits. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets dug up to replace water mains has turned the Valley into a dust bowl. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate inthe city. D espite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandu's air quality has worsened in the past two years. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Human error eyed as cause of Yeti Airlines crash that killed 72 people, 2 Americans, 2 permanent US residents among 72 dead in Nepal plane crash, Father of flight attendant urged her not to work before Nepal crash left 70 dead, Nepal to send data recorder from crash to France. To The Editor The . "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. The 3rd leading cause of death in low and middle-income countries is COPD, 5th leading cause is Lower Respiratory Infections and seventh is Diarrheal diseases. AQI levels in north India and Nepal on 5 January at 8AM showing Kathmandu's much higher pollution levels compared to New Delhi. New Delhis AQI levels, which have been consistently high all winter because of crop residue burning as well as vehicular and industrial pollution, got a respite on Monday because of rainfall. The measurement between 201 and 300 is said to be very unhealthy (purple) and states 'health warnings of emergency conditions'. Environmental Issues and pollution in Nepal - Earth's Edge 'We need to transform our commitment into action that will have an impact on the gases that drive climate change.'. When a vehicle passes by, dust is released into the air and pollutes the clothes that are kept for selling and the customers do not like the polluted ones. The average exposure for the officers was 51.2 g/m 3, with an hourly maximum of more than 500 g/m 3. Required fields are marked *. And with reports of Indias north and its capital New Delhi struggling with extreme air pollution, Sunil wonders how much worse the air will get this winter. US to Toughen Water Pollution Rules for Meat Plants . Espaol. SAMPLE 2. By Leah Douglas. One of the cheapest energy sources. Nepal's schools close as air pollution hits alarming levels Colorifix thinks bacteria can fix fashion's water pollution problem The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. Over the weekend, pollution levels hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. Thefts of the pollution control devices from cars and trucks more than quadrupled from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020, and jumped dramatically again in 2021 . The government should ban the use of old vehicles. Kathmandu: Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. Hemraj Bhattarai is agraduate student from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, and is currently working on air pollution issuesat Kathmandu Center for Research and Education, Nepal. and a White House pledge to lend more support were met with skepticism in the community. Atmospheric greenhouse gases reach record high, latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. We human beings have been using the natural resources profusely. 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. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The theme for World Environment Day (5 June) is #BeatAirPollution. Globally, air pollution results in around sevenmillion deaths annually. Thereportsays that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. purely b. wisely c. competentlyd. systema Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. When you can frame the problem in terms of how many people are dying and how much productivity is lost, then it becomes much more urgent.. A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. In recent years, cities in the Tarai have become infamous for the poor quality of their air, mostly because of the heavy presence of industries, dust from construction, and also trans-boundary pollution. 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. In Nepal and Kathmandu the annual premature death due to air pollution hit37,399 and 9943 respectively,according to aRepublica news report published on 23 November 2019. Nepal, especially Kathmandu, in the current situation, is observing rapid urbaniz 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. Air pollution hits alarming levels in Nepal, schools closed Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. The US Environmental Protection Agency gave the all clear for residents to return home shortly after the February 3 derailment and controlled burn that followed. Why this advert is dangerous to people and nature and shows advertising needs new controls. Only a year ago, snow clad mountains shone brightly in the winter and we could see the mountains and hills clearly. The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. Nepal wildfires cause hazardous smog as pollution levels hit record 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. 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 the. No: 289512/78/079 VAT No: 610271654 Editor Ashok Silwal Email nepalnamcha@gmail.com, Copyright 2023, , All Rights Reserved | Designed with. Since PM2.5 are so small, they are also likely to hang in the air for longer, increasing the chances that they will be inhaled. 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. Pollution from India unlikely to reach Kathmandu, but Nepal needs to 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. Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. Air pollution crisis in South Asia causing massive loss of pregnancies Therefore, it is advised that everyone should avoid all outdoor exertions. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu But there is a difference between the nature of air pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu, said Tuladhar. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. With neighbouring India and China committed to manufacturing only electric automobiles by 2030, Nepal will be forced to go electric. (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. Phoenix Motorcars wins grant with Houston Metro and EasyMile for Fri 3 Mar 2023 06.19 EST. Microplastic pollution in urban Lake Phewa, Nepal: the first report on A general view of a street during a smoggy day as the government has orderedschoolsto close for four days after the air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country, in Kathmandu, Nepal March 30, 2021. To receive the magazine, become a member now. The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep into the lungs, was 214 micrograms per cubic metre in the upscale area of Bhaisepati in Kathmandu on Sunday, Department of Environment data showed.That compares with the government's standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used in Kathmandu. The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep into the lungs, was 214 micrograms per cubic metre in the upscale area of Bhaisepati in Kathmandu on Sunday, Department of Environment data showed. Basudev Paudel is in his late fifties and at his age, he believes that regular morning walks are important for keeping healthy. Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. In Nepal, around 8,700 people, mainly women and children, die prematurely each year due to illnesses related to indoor air pollution from solid biomass fuel burning [8]. In Nepal, a Cabinet decision last year adopted the Department of Environments guidelines for air pollution to declare a health emergency if AQI exceeded 300 meaning the government can ban open burning, close factories, and take measures to reduce vehicles on the roads. 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. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around 3.5 million. 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. The rapid use of fossil fuels, increase in deforestation, unstable use of natural resources, overuse of pesticides and other chemicals, sewage and wastewater, nuclear waste, industrialization, urbanization, use of plastics and a lot more factors contribute to environmental pollution. The moves reflect residents deep-seated mistrust of government screenings of toxic chemicals and fears of long-term effects from the train derailment. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser, News article on environment pollutation in nepal to be published in newspaper, Describe a situation where you made a wrong decision and also explain how did you handle the situation?, Which one is the tallest tower in the world. Modern day Nepal is one of the most polluted and impoverished places in the world. The study sounds the alarm that the growing global problem, which scientists are only beginning to understand, requires urgent and immediate action. Because Nepals national government and municipalities have done little to reduce risk, citizens have adopted their own methods of personal protection: wearing masks, installing air purifiers at home and office, cancelling morning walks, and monitoring air pollution levels on apps before allowing children to play outside. The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan . The funds are the first . AQI level between 0-50 is Good, 51-100 is Moderate, 101-150 is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, 151-200 is Unhealthy, 201-300 is Very Unhealthy, and anything above 301 is regarded as Hazardous. Plastic pollution on course to double by 2030 | UN News Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. Department of Information Registration No. It was interesting to note that despite the manic traffic and lack of infrastructure many city roads were dirt tracks, with no traffic lights evident. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. The moves sets the stage for the agency to issue tighter controls on mercury, a neurotoxin emitted by power plants. We should work for the betterment of the environment because the nature has provided a lot to us and we shouldnt be disgraceful towards it. , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". The air pollution emergency in Kathmandu puts the elderly, those with asthma and other respiratory ailments at high risk, and would be especially dangerous to those with Covid-19. 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. The Biden Administration will make $250 million in grants available to develop strategies to cut climate pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. Adriana Paulo de Sousa Oliveira, Paula Assemany, Lidiane Covell, Maria Lcia Calijuri. New road Kathmandu. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. The rapid use of fossil fuels, increase in deforestation, unstable use of natural resources, overuse of pesticides and other chemicals, sewage and wastewater, nuclear waste, industrialization, urbanization, use of plastics and a lot more factors contribute to environmental pollution. 2022: Emergency mode for the environment - UNEP Afforestation should begin and deforestation should come to an end. The same report ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country in the world. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. 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. Scavengers help keep world clean, but left to plead for CO Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Greys Anatomy alum Isaiah Washington retiring from acting: The haters have won, Max Scherzer's first look at the new pitch clock, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. Officials at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. US to tighten water regulations for meat processing plants This is a very great decision taken by the government. A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds. Use of pesticides and fertilizers must be controlled. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. According to Tuladhar, New Delhi was able to immediately swing into action because it had an action plan to deal with the crisis. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Climate & Environment - The Kathmandu Post Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vans accounted for 92 percent of total registered vehicles in Bagmati by the end of 2014-15. Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poor, in northern India and the Tarai was already the. Moreover, Kathmandu is ranked as one of the most polluted cities in Asia:according to the airvisual.com, Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted city. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. Air Pollution and Your Health - National Institute of Environmental This company thinks bacteria can help fix fashion's water pollution problem. On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy. In Press, Journal Pre-proof, Available online 25 February 2023. Of course, a masks effectiveness depends on how well it fits on the face, but a simple, disposable surgical mask can be more cost-effective than those fancy looking expensive ones. Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. We can develop our own action plan to combat air pollution and also introduce other measures like enforcing green stickers for vehicles, among many others.. hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. Prices range from Rs10 to Rs10,500. It may bring various adverse impact to the environment. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NEPAL Prof. Dr. Meen B. Poudyal Chhetri a and Anil Shakyab a Disaster Preparedness Network, Kathmandu, Nepal b Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Government of Nepal ABSTRACT Environmental degradation is a very big problem in Nepal which is causing human health
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