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. Your email address will not be published. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. The Ecologist is an environmental news and analysis website with a focus on environmental, social and economic justice. In Nepal, around 8,700 people, mainly women and children, die prematurely each year due to illnesses related to indoor air pollution from solid biomass fuel burning [8]. 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. Nepali lawmakers tend to shun study and researchwith rare exceptions, Healthy youth presence perks up Lumbini Provincial Assembly. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. 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. The average exposure for the officers was 51.2 g/m 3, with an hourly maximum of more than 500 g/m 3. 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.. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate inthe city. 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. The Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award recognizes students whose application of science demonstrates the betterment of the environment and/or public health. In Nepal, a Cabinet decision last year adopted the Department of Environments guidelines for air pollution to declare a health emergency if AQI exceeded 300 meaning the government can ban open burning, close factories, and take measures to reduce vehicles on the roads. 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. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu To receive the magazine, become a member now. 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. But there is a difference between the nature of air pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu, said Tuladhar. For example, an EIA for a major highway would need . 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. Recently the government has decided that the plastics that are less than 40 microns will be banned from use from the month of Shrawan 2078. The moves sets the stage for the agency to issue tighter controls on mercury, a neurotoxin emitted by power plants. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. 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. Other global AQI measurement sites likeIQAirput Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. . The values between 151 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy. 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. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road conditionof older vehicles istriggeringair quality problems in the valley. The views expressed in the articles published on this site may not necessarily reflect those of the trust, its trustees or its staff. Nifty-129.. NSE Gainer-Large Cap . 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. Introduction. 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. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. The traffic on the most part seemed to move along without any fuss. 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. 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. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. Butair pollution issues are continue to increase. 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. 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. Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. The agency, along with local and . 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. Other global AQI measurement sites like. Therefore, it is advised that everyone should avoid all outdoor exertions. climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. Though the readings slowly became less alarming after the morning hours, at 10:00 am and onwards, the readings for Simara was still lingering above 300; others (stations mentioned above) showed the index between 151 to 200. 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 ). I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. says that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. We human beings have been using the natural resources profusely. Getting prepared now will make that transition smoother. The haze has become a part of our environment, impeding our view and lowering our visibility. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. The moves reflect residents deep-seated mistrust of government screenings of toxic chemicals and fears of long-term effects from the train derailment. 22 September 2021. Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous levels. Change to compound, We took a tour of the most amazing Chateau during our holiday, which we discovered . by accident.a. Sign up for our WEEKLY newsletters - and never miss out on the amazing news and comment articles we publish. The country of 30 . 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 quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. 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. However, the vast portion of pollution is generated locally. 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. "And it wasn't just the . With neighbouring India and China committed to manufacturing only electric automobiles by 2030, Nepal will be forced to go electric. Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. Air pollution is even more dangerous than previously thought, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned . D espite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandu's air quality has worsened in the past two years. 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. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. 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. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. And residents of the capital who smoke get a double whammy. The birds identified as having the disease, named . People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. The government should ban the use of old vehicles. When a vehicle passes by, dust is released into the air and pollutes the clothes that are kept for selling and the customers do not like the polluted ones. The 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. EIAs must be submitted to Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) for approval, whereas IEEs can be approved by other relevant ministries. We see fog in the morning and haze in the afternoon due to local dust pollution in the winter season.. - . UNICEF, on Wednesday, issued a statement calling for urgent action to address this air quality crisis in South Asia. The victims of air pollutionurgently requirean appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. I have started wearing a mask whenever Im outdoors.. Prices range from Rs10 to Rs10,500. systema In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled road release huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. Spain. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Our environment determines our health and civilization. There are dozens of varieties of masks available in the market, along with air purifiers that cost more than Rs130,000. The World Health Organisation ('WHO') has reported that PM2.5 levels of particulate matter in urban areas of Nepal . purely b. wisely c. competentlyd. 12 February 2021. In Press, Journal Pre-proof, Available online 25 February 2023. put Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. Similarly, Dhangadhi was third in line to have the most degraded air quality among the list of stations measuring the AQI. 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. Three members of the Paudel family followed suit, but they never gave much thought to the quality of the air they were breathing in. 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. Benchmarks . (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The theme for World Environment Day (5 June) is #BeatAirPollution. 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. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. 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. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets . People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. 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. 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). Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around 3.5 million. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used in Kathmandu. 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. The World Health Organisation (WHO)s guidelines state that AQI should be below 35, and the concentration of particles below 2.5 microns should be below 25 g/mover a 24 hour period. The analysis, based on more than 100 recent peer-reviewed studies, detected over 120 unique PFAS compounds in these animals . Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local, said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. By Sophie Wodzak,Emily Cochrane and Lisa Friedman. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu Kakhara Madhyam Pvt. 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. 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. Efforts for improving air quality should be of utmost priority now so that safety of citizens' health can be ensured. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. In recent years, cities in the Tarai have become infamous for the poor quality of their air, mostly because of the heavy presence of industries, dust from construction, and also trans-boundary pollution. The entire population is more likely to be affected. Nestled between China and India - two of the world's biggest polluters - Nepal often . 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. Rivers, ponds and lakes should not be polluted because it affects animals and plants lives too. We chartered a train to Glasgow for COP26 and took 500 people with us. It has a negative impact on various environmental aspects which directly or indirectly affect the quality of human health. of tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. 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 . Or, download a free sample copy of a past issue of Resurgence & Ecologist. The study sounds the alarm that the growing global problem, which scientists are only beginning to understand, requires urgent and immediate action. Legal provisions should be made in order for people to manage solid wastes properly. 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.. In this level of air quality, everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked Nepal 177th out of 180 countries. 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. Air pollution frequently causes osteoporosis, heart attacks, dementia and kidney diseases. 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. Macrotech Developers Ltd. 997.35 152.6. 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. There are dozens of types of masks available in Kathmandu. 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. A breakdown of whats known, and whats not, about the incident and its aftermath. Additionally, problems like littering and excessive carbon emissions are causing problems for both people and the environment. Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. Environmental pollution is one of the greatest threats of the world today. Pollution means decline of the original qualities of the elements of the environment like air, water, land, etc. With New Delhi and parts of northern India suffering under hazardous pollution levels, Nepal needs to take heed and prepare accordingly, environmental activists say. The leaves of plants are covered in dust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. How to clean up Kathmandus air, Anil Chitrakar, Poisoning the air we breathe, Sonia Awale. Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. 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. 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 . That said, old diesel vehicles are contributing significantly to the poor air quality in the city. The website is owned and published by The Resurgence Trust, an educational charity. Strong laws related to environment should be made and implemented. AQI levels in north India and Nepal on 5 January at 8AM showing Kathmandu's much higher pollution levels compared to New Delhi. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Of six environmental problems facing the U.S., Americans remain most worried about those that affect water quality. Q : Which country has the highest number of time zones. Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vansaccountedfor 92 percentof total registered vehicles in Bagmatiby the end of 2014-15. 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. 2426/077-78 2426/077-78 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 . But this winter, the haze barely let us see through it. 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. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around3.5 million. 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. 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. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Rather than benefits, morning walks could have serious health impacts, Sunil said. 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. The government should really take a closer look at what their decision might lead the environment and the whole country to in the future. Thepolluter pays' principlewas introduced in1972 in order to address this issue. "I don't remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past," Khadka told Reuters. The strategy guiding the work for The Ecologist for the years 2023 to 2026 has now been published. Officials at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. 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. Iturges the polluters to pay for thedamage done to the natural environment. Also, news . 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. Also, news from United Nations. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. Students participate in activities such as program evaluation and monitoring, public health surveillance, program development, risk assessments and analysis, development of policy briefs . . In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. 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. China will be the host nation and will showcase its dramatic progress in cutting pollution. (left). Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. 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.. Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. Thanks for contacting us. This company thinks bacteria can help fix fashion's water pollution problem. That compares with the governments standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. 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. From his home in Kathmandus Chabahil, Basudevs walks take him around Pashupatinath Temple and the Guheshwori area. Afforestation should begin and deforestation should come to an end. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. 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. This is also indicated in maroon. 18/11/2022. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . Officials for the railroad company pulled out hours earlier, infuriating some residents who said they wanted answers from the company. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel inthe valley. A visit to East Palestine from the head of the E.P.A. 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. Only a year ago, snow clad mountains shone brightly in the winter and we could see the mountains and hills clearly. In Nepal, COPD is the second major cause of death after Ischemic Heart Diseases. Air pollution regularly exceeds recommended safe levels. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. Nepal isn't short of water, thanks to the monsoon rains and the rivers that bring meltwater down from the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack. Ltd. Mhepi-16, Kathmandu, Nepal Company Reg. Between 301 and 400 (maroon), the air quality is at a hazardous level; it has more severe health implications. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. 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 On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy.
Kofi Cockburn Nba Mock Draft 2022, Mexico Vs Honduras 2022 Tickets, How Strong Is Rocksett, Articles N