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While asked about the poorest air quality index of the capital city, Shankar Prasad Poudel, information officer for the Department of Environment, said that three major factors have affected the air quality of the Valley. 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. 18/11/2022. Macrotech Developers Ltd. 997.35 152.6. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters. There will be very less production of crops and the economy of the whole country can go downhill by this negative decision made by the government. Fri 3 Mar 2023 06.19 EST. Indeed, a long-term solution requires policy level intervention and coordination between all branches of government. FEATURED FUNDS. In addition, residential and commercial-scale solar electricity expenses have dropped from $0.52 to $0.16 and $0.40 to $0.11 per kilowatt-hour, respectively. Some air pollution is not seen, but its pungent smell alerts you. The smoke generated from the wildfires worsened the pollution, according to an officer at the Division. The report highlights dire consequences for health, the economy, biodiversity and the climate. The garbage should be properly disposed and managed. The agency, along with local and . A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. Mass media have been a critical avenue to reach, communicate, and influence people on the alarming intensity and frequency of environmental problems [1, 2, 3].The world is facing a multitude of environmental problems, ranging from biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, spread of the vector-borne diseases and climate change at varying spatial and temporal scales [4]. In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poor, in northern India and the Tarai was already the. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking cigarettes., Solution to pollution, Pallavi Pant and Anobha Gurung. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. The leaves of plants are covered in dust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. The views expressed in the articles published on this site may not necessarily reflect those of the trust, its trustees or its staff. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. I know..mom's got a lock on literally everythin so y we gotta wait..! This trend is increasing rapidly and it is estimated that urban population will reach 60 million by 2040 [ 32 ]. Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poorair qualityin northern India and the Tarai was already thereducing average lifespanof tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. How to clean up Kathmandus air, Anil Chitrakar, Poisoning the air we breathe, Sonia Awale. This level is considered hazardous, and can lead to serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly, [along with] serious risk of respiratory effects in general population, according to the United States Environment Protection Agency. 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. The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. 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. For example, an EIA for a major highway would need . The index stood at 214 as per DoE's data. 30 Mar 2021. 12 February 2021. 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. Kathmandu has dangerous levels of air and water pollution, making certain regions of the city nearly unlivable. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. We are mainly responsible for the destructive changes in the environment. Due to the industrial revolution from the late 20th century the environment has been polluted to such an extent that now it has become a global issue. It has a negative impact on various environmental aspects which directly or indirectly affect the quality of human health. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel inthe valley. 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. 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. A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. There are dozens of varieties of masks available in the market, along with air purifiers that cost more than Rs130,000. 1. If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. 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 . The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which . 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. Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. 'We need to transform our commitment into action that will have an impact on the gases that drive climate change.'. 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. We human beings have been using the natural resources profusely. 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. The haze has become a part of our environment, impeding our view and lowering our visibility. The entire population is more likely to be affected. Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. . 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. For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts. The analysis, based on more than 100 recent peer-reviewed studies, detected over 120 unique PFAS compounds in these animals . All of these vehicles degrade the air quality by emitting huge quantities of smoke into the ambient environment. The EPI recently found Nepal to have the worst air pollution in the world. 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. This indicates, around a quarterof the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. 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. A visit to East Palestine from the head of the E.P.A. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale 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. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. The major effect of air pollution can be mainly observed in the cities such as Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Lumbini. 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. "We found that the pollution exposure was really, really high, suggesting potential for substantial health impacts of air pollution in this region," says Gurung, who is now a doctoral candidate at F&ES. Other global AQI measurement sites like. Nepal's Environment Protection Rules 2020 (2077) lists projects that need IEEs under Schedule 2, and those that need EIAs under Schedule 3. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This year, I have already started feeling different. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate inthe city. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around3.5 million. hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. This index is coloured red. 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. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Submissions Ever since the lockdown started in Nepal, there has been a little more positive change in the environment since the vehicles are barely on the road and people dont travel much. The Kathmandu Post : Find the latest breaking news from Nepal, opinion & analysis on Nepali politics, business, culture & arts, sports, movies, food & travel, books, education, auto & more at kathmandupost.com 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. But air pollution issues are continue to increase. 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 From his home in Kathmandus Chabahil, Basudevs walks take him around Pashupatinath Temple and the Guheshwori area. A breakdown of whats known, and whats not, about the incident and its aftermath. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. Double whammy: air pollution and Covid-19, Photo: MONIKA DEUPALA n the past eight months of this, ir quality across Nepal has been deteriorating over the years., The first step in reducing air pollution is to let. 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. once done will text u on pint nd ins, I saw a fantastic film yesterday. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. The environment has been in a better condition. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. The visibility in Kathmandu valley has degraded to a significant level. 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. Butair pollution issues are continue to increase. A Love Beyond Measure: The Unforgettable Reunion, , . On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at theUS Embassy measuring stationat Phora Darbar. Your email address will not be published. says that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. Sunil Paudel, Basudevs son, stopped going on morning walks last year after learning that Kathmandus air quality was reaching unsafe levels. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked Nepal 177th out of 180 countries. Nepal isn't short of water, thanks to the monsoon rains and the rivers that bring meltwater down from the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack. 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. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. The government has declared a public health emergency, asking schools to shut down and residents to avoid outdoor physical activities, especially during morning and late evening. Thepolluter pays' principlewas introduced in1972 in order to address this issue. 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. 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. There are dozens of types of masks available in Kathmandu. 25th Jan, 2023. 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 has had a massive impact on Nepalese people. Get access to nearly 50 years of journalism at the Ecologist Archive. Environmental Health issues are a not major risk factors for the Global Burden of Diseases. 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.. systema AQ AirVisual, on Thursday, also ranked Kathmandu the ninth most polluted city in the world, with PM2.5 levels reaching 139 g/m3the level at which the air becomes unhealthy for sensitive groups, as per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality Index. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. Environmental pollution is one of the greatest threats of the world today. Despite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandus air quality has worsened in the past two years. Other global AQI measurement sites likeIQAirput Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. To receive the magazine, become a member now. Your email address will not be published. This is what we learned. 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. 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. It said that air pollution is dependent on weather system, and due to this fact, the pollution may last for some time or may worsen further with the passing of time. Non-smokers in Kathmandu are now suffering from diseases that you would expect to see afflicting chain smokers. 2022: Emergency mode for the environment. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. , , , , . Modern day Nepal is one of the most polluted and impoverished places in the world. Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vansaccountedfor 92 percentof total registered vehicles in Bagmatiby the end of 2014-15. put Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. There are cloth masks and surgical ones, some are disposable but many use replaceable filters. Air pollution is even more dangerous than previously thought, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned . About three months later, at the present time, the pollution seems to have worsened. Kathmandu Valley has seen a rapid increase in vehicle numbers in the last 15 years. Kakhara Madhyam Pvt. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. New Delhi has seen a sudden spike whereas Kathmandu witnesses a gradual increase in pollution level starting from November and reaching peak levels in January.. 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. As AQ AirVisual data shows, PM2.5 levels in Kathmandu saw a continuous rise last yearfrom 65.6 g/m3 in November, followed by 91.9 g/m3 in December, 92.5g/m3 in January and peaking at 96.3 g/m3 in February. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. Q : Which country has the highest number of time zones. Rivers, ponds and lakes should not be polluted because it affects animals and plants lives too. Therefore, this study investigates the presence and abundance of microplastic in lake surface water . The derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals upended a region of Ohio where generations of families could afford to buy acres of land, raise livestock and plant gardens. This is also indicated in maroon. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Of six environmental problems facing the U.S., Americans remain most worried about those that affect water quality. 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. Nepali lawmakers tend to shun study and researchwith rare exceptions, Healthy youth presence perks up Lumbini Provincial Assembly. 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 high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate in the city. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu 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. EIAs must be submitted to Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) for approval, whereas IEEs can be approved by other relevant ministries. In 2017, solar electricity costs dropped from $0.28 to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour for utility-scale photovoltaic solar power. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Photo Courtesy: Department of Environment/Air Quality Montoring, President candidate Poudel reaches RSP office seeking votes, US, Russia hold highest-level talks since Ukraine invasion, Scathing report on Nepal's security controls, In Pictures: Air Pollution continues its grip over Kathmandu Valley, China acknowledges Sino-Indian brawl at Galwan Valley from last year for the first time, Covid vaccination drive in Nepal could be affected with Indian govt halting AstraZeneca export. climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. This may collapse the whole ecosystem in general. The statement declared that the level of pollution in the valley is increasingly -- especially in the mornings and the evenings -- creating negative implications on people's health. Bhushan Tuladhar, an environmentalist who closely watches levels of air pollution in the country, agrees that there is a minimal chance of pollution from Delhi and northern India reaching Kathmandu, although cities in the Tarai are already dealing with poor air quality coming from across the border. Q : Emu bird is found in the country. 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. Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. The World Health Organisation ('WHO') has reported that PM2.5 levels of particulate matter in urban areas of Nepal . There will be complications in irrigation facility, deforestation will take place and landslides may occur, the water resources will get soaked. 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. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . ONTARIO, Calif., Sept. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kickstarting the autonomous bus revolution in the US, the city of Houston is set to receive the first Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Buy America-compliant mid-size autonomous bus in the US. Also, news from United Nations. Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local," said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local, said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. Controlling tobacco in Nepal is already such a big challenge, butKathmandus degrading air quality has doubled the disease burden, says health activist Shanta Lall Mulmi. While the quality of air in some of these places has degraded tremendously, air quality in other places is becoming increasingly unhealthy. 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 number of vehicles in the valley during the last two decades has increased ninefold, and reached 922,900 in total during 2015, according to the Department of Transport Management in Nepal. In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. 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. But the Narayani's problems go back further. Advertisement 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. 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. 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. 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,. Officials for the railroad company pulled out hours earlier, infuriating some residents who said they wanted answers from the company. A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained:Manybusinesseshavegone down due to high amount of road dust. The air in Kathmandu, already dubbed one of the most polluted cities in the world, gets worse once the winter sets in. Many scientists and environmental specialists all over the world have studied the harmful effect of plastic in detail and all of them are of the same view regarding the degree of harm they represent. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. But poor air quality from as far as New Delhi cannot penetrate deep into Nepal.. Most make various performance claims based on lab tests but factors like the masks fit play important roles. Department of Information Registration No. One of the cheapest energy sources. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. Find out more. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. We know what we're looking at when brown haze settles over a city, exhaust billows across a busy highway, or a plume rises from a smokestack. In Press, Journal Pre-proof, Available online 25 February 2023. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The theme for World Environment Day (5 June) is #BeatAirPollution. Nepal is a landlocked nation with the current population of over 27 million people. The moves sets the stage for the agency to issue tighter controls on mercury, a neurotoxin emitted by power plants. 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. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . A recent study by scientists from Peking University (China) and the University of Connecticut (USA) [1] has revealed that 1 in 15 lost pregnancies in South Asia may be due to air . Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road conditionof older vehicles istriggeringair quality problems in the valley. By Sophie Wodzak,Emily Cochrane and Lisa Friedman.