Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous 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. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. 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. New disease caused by plastics discovered in seabirds Site By: Hiti Design, On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at the. The polluter pays' principle was introduced in 1972 in order to address this issue. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports fine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is around ten times higher than the WHO limit. Q Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. The moves sets the stage for the agency to issue tighter controls on mercury, a neurotoxin emitted by power plants. Ltd. Mhepi-16, Kathmandu, Nepal Company Reg. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 However, two years later, the action plan has neither been finalised nor enforced. 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 CPV power plant operates in Woodbridge N.J. on Feb. 27, 2023. 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 Threat of Ambient Air Pollution in Kathmandu, Nepal - Hindawi hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. Southwesterly winds have carried in some clouds with dust particles, mainly in the western parts of Tarai districts like Kanchanpur, Banke and Bardiya, Poudel told the Post. says that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. Globally, air pollution results in around sevenmillion deaths annually. 2022: Emergency mode for the environment. The study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, found that in polluted urban areas, reducing air pollution could do as much as completely eliminating smoking would to lower rates of the 12 types of cancer most commonly associated with smoking, including lung cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer . 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. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate in the city. purely b. wisely c. competentlyd. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. 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). And even though the nature of pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu is varied, Nepal needs to learn to deal with its own toxic air. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. Submissions The government slashed taxes on electric vehicles, butmuch of the supporting infrastructure required, likecharging facilities, uninterrupted electric supply and adequate parking lots, has not even been planned. The average exposure for the officers was 51.2 g/m 3, with an hourly maximum of more than 500 g/m 3. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. New Study Finds Ocean Pollution a Threat to Human Health Air pollution frequently causes osteoporosis, heart attacks, dementia and kidney diseases. Write a newspaper article on environmental pollution in Nepal to be published in a newspaper. Environmental news, a monthly report on Global - Warm Heart Worldwide 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. Adriana Paulo de Sousa Oliveira, Paula Assemany, Lidiane Covell, Maria Lcia Calijuri. Local pollution in Nepali border towns with high vehicular emissions and industrial pollution could increase due to pollution coming from across the border, he said. Similarly, Dhangadhi was third in line to have the most degraded air quality among the list of stations measuring the AQI. at Phora Darbar. In Nepal, 35,000 people die annually due to illnesses caused by polluted air. 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 environment has been in a better condition. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . 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). Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. ? In this level of air quality, everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. 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 ). Nepal is a landlocked nation with the current population of over 27 million people. The same report ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country in the world. This index is coloured red. of tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. Your email address will not be published. Strong laws related to environment should be made and implemented. 18/11/2022. and a White House pledge to lend more support were met with skepticism in the community. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. The transport sector further contributes 30 percent of PM10 particles, which are smaller than a grain of sand and can easily pass through the hairs in our nose, second only to the construction sector, which emits 53 percent of the total PM10. 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. 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. It has a negative impact on various environmental aspects which directly or indirectly affect the quality of human health. A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. The values between 151 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy. 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.. Air pollution has had a massive impact on Nepalese people. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained:Manybusinesseshavegone down due to high amount of road dust. 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. But there is a difference between the nature of air pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu, said Tuladhar. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets . By Leah Douglas. 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. Yet, 2022 could prove to be a seminal year for the environment, with . The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which . Nepal closes schools as air pollution hits alarming levels - Al Jazeera Implication of Air Pollution on Health Effects in Nepal: Lessons from "I don't remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past," Khadka told Reuters. The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. This year, I have already started feeling different. 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. US to Toughen Water Pollution Rules for Meat Plants The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. While the quality of air in some of these places has degraded tremendously, air quality in other places is becoming increasingly unhealthy. "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. Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 8 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. 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. 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,. 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. Environment pollution in Nepal - Why this advert is dangerous to people and nature and shows advertising needs new controls. Indeed, a long-term solution requires policy level intervention and coordination between all branches of government. The country of 30 . Independent lab testing finds elevated level of chemical of concern in Efforts for improving air quality should be of utmost priority now so that safety of citizens' health can be ensured. A visit to East Palestine from the head of the E.P.A. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. It urges the polluters to pay for the damage done to the natural environment. put Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. Other global AQI measurement sites likeIQAirput Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. 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. 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. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking. The environment of the industrial areas should be properly managed by the industries and concerned agencies. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to update its water pollution rules for slaughterhouses for the first time in nearly 20 years, the agency announced on Wednesday, following a lawsuit from environmental groups arguing current standards are too weak, according to Reuters. Q : Emu bird is found in the country. newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal Posted by July 3, 2022 morenci area schools staff on newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal 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. Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . 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. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking | Nepali Times D espite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandu's air quality has worsened in the past two years. From his home in Kathmandus Chabahil, Basudevs walks take him around Pashupatinath Temple and the Guheshwori area. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. Department of Information Registration No. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)ranked Nepal 177thout of 180 countries. 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. Hundreds of thousands are sheltering in tents, breathing air thick with pollutants unleashed from tombs of rubble, fearful that a new disaster could strike at any moment. For example, an EIA for a major highway would need . Winter inversion, vehicular emission, wildfires, and cross-border industrial pollution have combined to give Kathmandu Valley the worst air quality among cities in the world this week, adding to the risk of respiratory complications for Covid-19 patients. International breweries are polluting Nepalese rivers The birds identified as having the disease, named . 30 Mar 2021. This can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. Thepolluter pays' principlewas introduced in1972 in order to address this issue. Despite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandus air quality has worsened in the past two years. To receive the magazine, become a member now. One hour later, at 9:00 am, the air quality at Simara was recorded at 354; second on the list was Bhaisepati in Lalitpur at 196 and third was Dhagadhi at 195 (Department of Environment). 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. 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. , , , , . Q : Only continent in the world without a desert is. 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 leaves of plants are covered indust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. PDF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NEPAL.doc - t-kougei.ac.jp Find out about our mission, and our team, here. According to Poudel, the pollution level in the border towns of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar can slightly influence pollution along the border area. How to clean up Kathmandus air, Anil Chitrakar, Poisoning the air we breathe, Sonia Awale. Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. 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. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. Thereportsays that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. Health alert must be imposed on everyone as everybody is prone to experience more serious health effects. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters. Rather than benefits, morning walks could have serious health impacts, Sunil said. The Art of Dealing with Breaking Up: Get over those blues and Take Break-Ups Lightly. Taking action to tackle the pollution in Nepal The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. Environmental Issues and pollution in Nepal - Earth's Edge EPA to award $250 million in IRA funds to reduce climate pollution 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 news agency. 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. 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. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. We are mainly responsible for the destructive changes in the environment. 2426/077-78 Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. The views expressed in the articles published on this site may not necessarily reflect those of the trust, its trustees or its staff. Our environment determines our health and civilization. Get access to nearly 50 years of journalism at the Ecologist Archive. Macrotech Developers Ltd. 997.35 152.6. climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. Plastic pollution on course to double by 2030 | UN News 2022: Emergency mode for the environment - UNEP Department of Information Registration No. Furthermore, the life expectancy in the Kathmandu Valley is four years less than that of other Nepalese regions. Quantifying the socio-economic impact of air pollution on a country will be vital in raising awareness among the public as well as policy makers and leaders, but as we have seen in Nepal it does not immediately lead to policy change. A Love Beyond Measure: The Unforgettable Reunion, , . Air pollution hits alarming levels in Nepal, schools closed essay on environmental pollution in 250 words-Nepal-2022 Kathmandu valley requireshalf of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. Officials for the railroad company pulled out hours earlier, infuriating some residents who said they wanted answers from the company. 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. 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. A breakdown of whats known, and whats not, about the incident and its aftermath. But poor air quality from as far as New Delhi cannot penetrate deep into Nepal.. Air pollution crisis in South Asia causing massive loss of pregnancies The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate inthe city. Pollution in Nepal - 724 Words | 123 Help Me Once again, Kathmandu breathes world's most polluted air, AQI hits 303. 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 traffic on the most part seemed to move along without any fuss. The Threat of Ambient Air Pollution in Kathmandu, Nepal - ResearchGate PM2.5, or Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns thick, are among the most dangerous of air particles as they can get past the nose and throat to enter the lungs and even the bloodstream. Non-smokers in Kathmandu are now suffering from diseases that you would expect to see afflicting chain smokers. Letter to the editor of The Rising Nepal about the environmental 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. Apex court orders acceptance of writ against PM, dubbed one of the most polluted cities in the world, air pollution levels reaching nearly 10 times healthy limits, 22 of the worlds most polluted cities in 2018, ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country, PM2.5 level for Kathmandu in 2018 was 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3, deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley, Overextraction and shrinking open spaces cause groundwater depletion in Kathmandu Valley, As season of forest fires starts, authorities alert public to risks, History and politics of Nepals school education, Insurgency-era victims of sexual crimes still unheard. In 2000 / 2001 there were 24,003 vehicles registered in Kathmandu and this has increased dramatically to 79,822 in 2015 / 2016. This may collapse the whole ecosystem in general. US to tighten water regulations for meat processing plants The victims of air pollutionurgently requirean 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. 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 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. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality by emitting huge quantities of smoke into the ambient environment. Between 301 and 400 (maroon), the air quality is at a hazardous level; it has more severe health implications. For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . 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 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. More than 65% of all deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in 2019 were linked to air pollution in Nepal. An article by three Brazilian researchers published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research aims to contribute to progress in this field by proposing a novel perspective on particle . The index stood at 214 as per DoE's data. , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". FEATURED FUNDS. Air Pollution in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley - The Borgen Project Despite the fact that most people in our country are breathing the air with such perilous level pollution, we still lack the vigour to act responsibly against the situation. Air pollution is a chronic problem in . The agency, along with local and . Introduction. 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.