Reuters. 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 ). In . 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. 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. Letter to the editor of The Rising Nepal about the environmental Environmental Health issues are a not major risk factors for the Global Burden of Diseases. Required fields are marked *. 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. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. Environment News, Earth News, Global Warming, Wild Life, Carbon Trading One of the cheapest energy sources. 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. Modern day Nepal is one of the most polluted and impoverished places in the world. Introduction. New Study Finds Ocean Pollution a Threat to Human Health Once again, Kathmandu breathes world's most polluted air, AQI hits 303. 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. 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. Kathmandu valley requireshalf of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. Plastic overconsumption and mismanagement of plastic waste is a growing menace, causing landfills to overflow, choking rivers, and threatening marine ecosystems. Such particles will not reach Kathmandu because it is surrounded by hills. The CPV power plant operates in Woodbridge N.J. on Feb. 27, 2023. Furthermore, the life expectancy in the Kathmandu Valley is four years less than that of other Nepalese regions. 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. Air pollution in Kathmandu - The Ecologist Thanks for contacting us. 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. Write an article to be published in a local newspaper in about 100 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 environment has been in a better condition. PAUL, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Senate voted Thursday to make it harder for thieves to sell stolen catalytic converters, a crime that has skyrocketed across the country in recent years. Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. To receive the magazine, become a member now. The level between 401 and 500 is very hazardous. Students participate in activities such as program evaluation and monitoring, public health surveillance, program development, risk assessments and analysis, development of policy briefs . The average exposure for the officers was 51.2 g/m 3, with an hourly maximum of more than 500 g/m 3. Q : Only continent in the world without a desert is. 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.. For example, an EIA for a major highway would need . By Sophie Wodzak,Emily Cochrane and Lisa Friedman. The PM 10 concentration in major cities such as Kathmandu is . Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. The COP27 sponsor's products were the most commonly found items by volunteers researching plastic pollution. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local, said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. According to AQ AirVisual, a Swiss group that collects air-quality data from around the world, the annual average PM2.5 level for Kathmandu in 2018 was 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3), an increase from 45.9 g/m3 in 2017. Rivers, ponds and lakes should not be polluted because it affects animals and plants lives too. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. Department of Information Registration No. 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. 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. Ltd. Mhepi-16, Kathmandu, Nepal Company Reg. Kakhara Madhyam Pvt. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Find out about our mission, and our team, here. Similarly, household air pollution (HAP) was over 18-folds higherduring our survey in 2007 than the WHO recommended guidelines . 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. 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. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around 3.5 million. 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. We've received your submission. systema Researchers at the University of Edinburgh recently concluded that surgical masks blocked 80% of particles sized 0.007 microns. Independent lab testing finds elevated level of chemical of concern in Minnesota moves to crack down on catalytic converter thefts | AP News This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. 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. This can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained: Many businesses have gone down due to high amount of road dust. The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which . The website is owned and published by The Resurgence Trust, an educational charity. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. Nepal closes schools as air pollution hits alarming levels - Al Jazeera Only a year ago, snow clad mountains shone brightly in the winter and we could see the mountains and hills clearly. 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. 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. 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.. We can classify pollution in many categories such as soil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise . With New Delhi and parts of northern India suffering under hazardous pollution levels, Nepal needs to take heed and prepare accordingly, environmental activists say. 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 . Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. 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. Environmental pollution is one of the greatest threats of the world today. 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. 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. Submissions Taking action to tackle the pollution in Nepal Nepal isn't short of water, thanks to the monsoon rains and the rivers that bring meltwater down from the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack. At a time when Kathmandus, AQI was hitting record highs on Tuesday morning, with 438, the New Delhi suburb of Noida recorded less than 151 (. This year, I have already started feeling different. In 2000 / 2001 there were 24,003 vehicles registered in Kathmandu and this has increased dramatically to 79,822 in 2015 / 2016. , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". SAMPLE 2. Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. One of those rivers is the Melamchi, about 25 . For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service, : Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after. 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. Officials for the railroad company pulled out hours earlier, infuriating some residents who said they wanted answers from the company. 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. 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. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. The World Health Organization (WHO) reportsfine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is aroundtentimes higher than the WHO limit. Phoenix Motorcars wins grant with Houston Metro and EasyMile for This is a very unpleasant decision. We see fog in the morning and haze in the afternoon due to local dust pollution in the winter season.. As women play a significant role in the management and use of energy sources for household cooking, they are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution [7]. , , , , . Air pollution is slashing years off the lives of billions, report finds at Phora Darbar. "Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. 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.. The Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award recognizes students whose application of science demonstrates the betterment of the environment and/or public health. AQI levels in north India and Nepal on 5 January at 8AM showing Kathmandu's much higher pollution levels compared to New Delhi. 2022: Emergency mode for the environment - UNEP The garbage should be properly disposed and managed. 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. 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. "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. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. There are cloth masks and surgical ones, some are disposable but many use replaceable filters. Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vansaccountedfor 92 percentof total registered vehicles in Bagmatiby the end of 2014-15. Kathmandu has dangerous levels of air and water pollution, making certain regions of the city nearly unlivable. 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. Department of Information Registration No. 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. hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. Ocean pollution poses a clear and present danger to human health and well-being, according to a new study from an international group of researchers. . 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 . If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. The environment of the industrial areas should be properly managed by the industries and concerned agencies. and a White House pledge to lend more support were met with skepticism in the community. The World Health Organisation ('WHO') has reported that PM2.5 levels of particulate matter in urban areas of Nepal . WASHINGTON - Today the Environmental Working Group published an analysis of peer-reviewed data that for the first time shows the global scope of contamination by the "forever chemicals" known as PFAS, which may be harming over 330 wildlife species around the world.. . There are dozens of varieties of masks available in the market, along with air purifiers that cost more than Rs130,000. Basudev Paudel is in his late fifties and at his age, he believes that regular morning walks are important for keeping healthy. Pollution from India unlikely to reach Kathmandu, but Nepal needs to Plastic waste is a growing menace, and a wasted opportunity Whilstthis shows an improvement over the course of one year, when observing datataken from the capital city . The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. 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 Air pollution crisis in South Asia causing massive loss of pregnancies Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained:Manybusinesseshavegone down due to high amount of road dust. 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. Most make various performance claims based on lab tests but factors like the masks fit play important roles. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. "I don't remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past," Khadka told Reuters. That said, old diesel vehicles are contributing significantly to the poor air quality in the city. Ever since the lockdown started in Nepal, there has been a . 1. To The Editor The . 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. climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. 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. Air pollution hits alarming levels in Nepal, schools closed 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 in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley - The Borgen Project Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. - . The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous levels.