A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. Subsequent increase in number of vehicles is one of the main culprits of air pollution [ 33, 34 ]. "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 values between 151 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy. In this level of air quality, everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. News about Air Pollution, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times. 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. But air pollution issues are continue to increase. Taking action to tackle the pollution in Nepal In Press, Journal Pre-proof, Available online 25 February 2023. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. No: 289512/78/079 VAT No: 610271654 Editor Ashok Silwal Email nepalnamcha@gmail.com, Copyright 2023, , All Rights Reserved | Designed with. Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. A visit to East Palestine from the head of the E.P.A. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained:Manybusinesseshavegone down due to high amount of road dust. Air pollution has been a major problem of 21st century for both developed and developing world. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Of six environmental problems facing the U.S., Americans remain most worried about those that affect water quality. Rather than benefits, morning walks could have serious health impacts, Sunil said. Air pollution has had a massive impact on Nepalese people. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 Similarly, Dhangadhi was third in line to have the most degraded air quality among the list of stations measuring the AQI. Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. Basudev Paudel is in his late fifties and at his age, he believes that regular morning walks are important for keeping healthy. As the new year gets underway, the world continues to grapple with a number of familiar challenges - the continued COVID-19 pandemic, resurgent wildfires, enduring crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. ? In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vansaccountedfor 92 percentof total registered vehicles in Bagmatiby the end of 2014-15. The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. 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 US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal Posted by July 3, 2022 morenci area schools staff on newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal 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 entire population is more likely to be affected. This is what we learned. In 2017, solar electricity costs dropped from $0.28 to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour for utility-scale photovoltaic solar power. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. South Asia News: KATHMANDU: Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home. 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. There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. 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 Kathmandu Valley has seen a rapid increase in vehicle numbers in the last 15 years. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 I know..mom's got a lock on literally everythin so y we gotta wait..! The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. Modern day Nepal is one of the most polluted and impoverished places in the world. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to update its water pollution rules for slaughterhouses for the first time in nearly 20 years, the agency . 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. 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. 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. Nifty-129.. NSE Gainer-Large Cap . Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous levels. Nepali lawmakers tend to shun study and researchwith rare exceptions, Healthy youth presence perks up Lumbini Provincial Assembly. On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at theUS Embassy measuring stationat Phora Darbar. This index is coloured red. 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. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. 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. Nestled between China and India - two of the world's biggest polluters - Nepal often . The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. 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. , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". Whilstthis shows an improvement over the course of one year, when observing datataken from the capital city . A Love Beyond Measure: The Unforgettable Reunion, , . Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu Located between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters, the Himalayan nation is seeing the worst pollution levels since 2016. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around3.5 million. 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. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used in Kathmandu. But the Narayani's problems go back further. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. 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. Kathmandu valley requireshalf of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. We chartered a train to Glasgow for COP26 and took 500 people with us. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. A breakdown of whats known, and whats not, about the incident and its aftermath. The smoke generated from the wildfires worsened the pollution, according to an officer at the Division. The agency, along with local and . D espite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandu's air quality has worsened in the past two years. 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. The measurement between 201 and 300 is said to be very unhealthy (purple) and states 'health warnings of emergency conditions'. 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.. 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 . 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. 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. It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. 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. 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. By Sophie Wodzak,Emily Cochrane and Lisa Friedman. The Ecologist is an environmental news and analysis website with a focus on environmental, social and economic justice. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained: Many businesses have gone down due to high amount of road dust. The environment of the industrial areas should be properly managed by the industries and concerned agencies. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . 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. 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. 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. Macrotech Developers Ltd. 997.35 152.6. 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. 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. 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. 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]. But this winter, the haze barely let us see through it. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . Download the latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 8 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) provide clear evidence of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health, at even lower concentrations than previously understood. The Art of Dealing with Breaking Up: Get over those blues and Take Break-Ups Lightly. 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. Last modified on Fri 3 Mar 2023 20.17 EST. Afforestation should begin and deforestation should come to an end. 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. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. 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 . . 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. Introduction. Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. says that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. 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. That compares with the governments standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road conditionof older vehicles istriggeringair quality problems in the valley. Only a year ago, snow clad mountains shone brightly in the winter and we could see the mountains and hills clearly. Non-smokers in Kathmandu are now suffering from diseases that you would expect to see afflicting chain smokers. While the quality of air in some of these places has degraded tremendously, air quality in other places is becoming increasingly unhealthy. The government should really take a closer look at what their decision might lead the environment and the whole country to in the future. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate in the city. systema Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. "I don't remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past," Khadka told Reuters. Nepal is a landlocked nation with the current population of over 27 million people. However, the vast portion of pollution is generated locally. EIAs must be submitted to Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) for approval, whereas IEEs can be approved by other relevant ministries. That said, old diesel vehicles are contributing significantly to the poor air quality in the city. For example, an EIA for a major highway would need . Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking. Indeed, a long-term solution requires policy level intervention and coordination between all branches of government. The victims of air pollutionurgently requirean appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. The government has also decided to sell the natural minerals like sand, rocks, mud etc to India. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. Research on microplastic concentration in aquatic environment is attracting scientists from developing countries, but in Nepal no information regarding microplastic in freshwater system is available. The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. Our environment determines our health and civilization. 18/11/2022. Microplastics are man-made pollutants which have been detected in surface water and groundwater. Prices range from Rs10 to Rs10,500. The World Health Organisation ('WHO') has reported that PM2.5 levels of particulate matter in urban areas of Nepal . I would be very thankful to you if you publish my article on your esteemed daily.Hope the government will take immediate action on this matter. The major effect of air pollution can be mainly observed in the cities such as Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Lumbini. When will women lead big political parties? Environmental Health issues are a not major risk factors for the Global Burden of Diseases. Most make various performance claims based on lab tests but factors like the masks fit play important roles. Benchmarks . 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. Adriana Paulo de Sousa Oliveira, Paula Assemany, Lidiane Covell, Maria Lcia Calijuri. 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.. Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. 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 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. Strong laws related to environment should be made and implemented. Butair pollution issues are continue to increase. 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. The COP27 sponsor's products were the most commonly found items by volunteers researching plastic pollution. The garbage should be properly disposed and managed. According to the World Air Quality Report, Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted capital city in the world, based on its average yearly PM2.5 level. Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. Department of Information Registration No. Sunil Paudel, Basudevs son, stopped going on morning walks last year after learning that Kathmandus air quality was reaching unsafe levels. The Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award recognizes students whose application of science demonstrates the betterment of the environment and/or public health. There are dozens of varieties of masks available in the market, along with air purifiers that cost more than Rs130,000. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around 3.5 million. The same report ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country in the world. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. 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. 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. (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. The level between 401 and 500 is very hazardous. There is now growing fear that the toxic air of India, which had 22 of the worlds most polluted cities in 2018, will reach Nepal and cause a similar health panic, especially as the country itself has been struggling to check its air pollution levels. We can classify pollution in many categories such as soil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise . It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. And residents of the capital who smoke get a double whammy. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. We see fog in the morning and haze in the afternoon due to local dust pollution in the winter season.. The index stood at 214 as per DoE's data. 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. The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. This company thinks bacteria can help fix fashion's water pollution problem. 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. 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. This year, I have already started feeling different. Your email address will not be published. Why this advert is dangerous to people and nature and shows advertising needs new controls. It urges the polluters to pay for the damage done to the natural environment. At times, it feels like my eyes are burning, said 34-year-old Sunil. In Nepal, COPD is the second major cause of death after Ischemic Heart Diseases. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service, : Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after. Reuters. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. - . 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. 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. 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. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. Air pollution is even more dangerous than previously thought, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned . 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. Plastic overconsumption and mismanagement of plastic waste is a growing menace, causing landfills to overflow, choking rivers, and threatening marine ecosystems. Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local, said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. In . Q : Emu bird is found in the country. There are dozens of types of masks available in Kathmandu. We need to be extra careful because by the time we reach peak pollution levels, we will be gearing up to launch Visit Nepal 2020, said Tuladhar. Coca-Cola is named world's worst plastic polluter for a fifth year. 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. 2022: Emergency mode for the environment. 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. 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. FEATURED FUNDS. For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts. 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 first step in controlling air pollution is with electric public transport because vehicular emissions make up the majority of pollutants in Kathmandus air, says environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar. But there is a difference between the nature of air pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu, said Tuladhar. Spain. The leaves of plants are covered indust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission.

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