On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy. Minnesota moves to crack down on catalytic converter thefts | AP News The garbage should be properly disposed and managed. 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. Iturges the polluters to pay for thedamage done to the natural environment. Thanks for contacting us. Yet, 2022 could prove to be a seminal year for the environment, with . These are the key points that needs to be followed in order to bring a positive change in the environment. 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. 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. Sunil Paudel, Basudevs son, stopped going on morning walks last year after learning that Kathmandus air quality was reaching unsafe levels. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. In . Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. The country of 30 . In Kathmandu, a struggle for water amid worsening floods World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh recently concluded that surgical masks blocked 80% of particles sized 0.007 microns. 30 Mar 2021. The COP27 sponsor's products were the most commonly found items by volunteers researching plastic pollution. 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. A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. Ever since the lockdown started in Nepal, there has been a . US to tighten water regulations for meat processing plants Kathmandu has dangerous levels of air and water pollution, making certain regions of the city nearly unlivable. Submissions Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. The paradox of air pollution in the Kathmandu valley Kathmandu air pollution hits record high | Nepali Times Three members of the Paudel family followed suit, but they never gave much thought to the quality of the air they were breathing in. Kathmandu Valley has seen a rapid increase in vehicle numbers in the last 15 years. Air pollution is slashing years off the lives of billions, report finds The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep . (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The theme for World Environment Day (5 June) is #BeatAirPollution. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. Yours sincerely, Rajesh. Efforts for improving air quality should be of utmost priority now so that safety of citizens' health can be ensured. . 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. 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. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. 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. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking | Nepali Times In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. The leaves of plants are covered indust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. at Phora Darbar. 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 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 there is a difference between the nature of air pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu, said Tuladhar. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. Q : Only continent in the world without a desert is. Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. With neighbouring India and China committed to manufacturing only electric automobiles by 2030, Nepal will be forced to go electric. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. 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. Take your pick, but remember the best thing is to reduce the source of pollution. Similarly, a University of Massachusetts study found that the good old surgical mask blocked 60% of 0.03 micron particles, and over 90% of 1 micron and 2.5 micron particles. This is a very great decision taken by the government. From his home in Kathmandus Chabahil, Basudevs walks take him around Pashupatinath Temple and the Guheshwori area. "Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. Pollution from India unlikely to reach Kathmandu, but Nepal needs to Environmental issues in Nepal - Wikipedia Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vansaccountedfor 92 percentof total registered vehicles in Bagmatiby the end of 2014-15. Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . However, two years later, the action plan has neither been finalised nor enforced. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)ranked Nepal 177thout of 180 countries. ? Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. We all have been well aware about the problem of environmental pollution which has been very petrifying to the living beings. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. Department of Information Registration No. This is what we learned. Letter to the editor of The Rising Nepal about the environmental AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration of particulate matter below 10 and 2.5 microns, carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen dioxide and ground ozone. 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. 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. The leaves of plants are covered in dust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. Basudev Paudel is in his late fifties and at his age, he believes that regular morning walks are important for keeping healthy. Students participate in activities such as program evaluation and monitoring, public health surveillance, program development, risk assessments and analysis, development of policy briefs . 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. 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]. Or, download a free sample copy of a past issue of Resurgence & Ecologist. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. Submissions This can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. Air pollution: Even worse than we thought - WHO - BBC News The latest edition of Resurgence & Ecologist is out now, and available to buy. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. With New Delhi and parts of northern India suffering under hazardous pollution levels, Nepal needs to take heed and prepare accordingly, environmental activists say. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. 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. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. The moves reflect residents deep-seated mistrust of government screenings of toxic chemicals and fears of long-term effects from the train derailment. As we see the readings from air quality metres located in various stations of the country, we find that Simara has the poorest air quality. Coca-Cola is named world's worst plastic polluter for a fifth year. What's in the Air of Nepal? Filling Gaps in Pollution Data 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.. But air pollution issues are continue to increase. Last modified on Fri 3 Mar 2023 20.17 EST. We are mainly responsible for the destructive changes in the environment. Concerns over respiratory illnesses related to environmental toxins on The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. 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. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets . Nepal's schools close as air pollution hits alarming levels 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. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. There are dozens of types of masks available in Kathmandu. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around 3.5 million. 18/11/2022. 2426/077-78 Nepal is a landlocked nation with the current population of over 27 million people. "Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road conditionof older vehicles istriggeringair quality problems in the valley. 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. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Of six environmental problems facing the U.S., Americans remain most worried about those that affect water quality. Thenumberofvehiclesin the valley during the last two decades has increasedninefold,and reached 922,900 in total during 2015, according to the Department of Transport Management inNepal. Similarly, household air pollution (HAP) was over 18-folds higherduring our survey in 2007 than the WHO recommended guidelines . Microplastic pollution in urban Lake Phewa, Nepal: the first report on However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. Department of Information Registration No. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. By Leah Douglas. 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. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 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. The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds. PDF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NEPAL.doc - t-kougei.ac.jp One of those rivers is the Melamchi, about 25 . 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 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. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. El descarrilamiento en East Palestine, Ohio, se ha convertido en uno de los incidentes ms mediticos y ms politizados de su tipo en los ltimos aos. The gendered impacts of indoor air pollution in Nepal's - ICIMOD 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 . 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. 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. Pollution in Nepal - 724 Words | 123 Help Me Once again, Kathmandu breathes world's most polluted air, AQI hits 303. The traffic on the most part seemed to move along without any fuss. The birds identified as having the disease, named . 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. 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. Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. Q I have started wearing a mask whenever Im outdoors.. Sign up for our WEEKLY newsletters - and never miss out on the amazing news and comment articles we publish. In this level of air quality, everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Thereportsays that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. New Study Finds Ocean Pollution a Threat to Human Health Nepal isn't short of water, thanks to the monsoon rains and the rivers that bring meltwater down from the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack. Since the festival of Diwali ended last week, the air quality in New Delhi has drastically deteriorated, resulting in air pollution levels reaching nearly 10 times healthy limits. Colorifix thinks bacteria can fix fashion's water pollution problem Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poor, in northern India and the Tarai was already the. In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. The Threat of Ambient Air Pollution in Kathmandu, Nepal - ResearchGate Sonia Awale May 31, 2019. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. Plastic waste is a growing menace, and a wasted opportunity Air Pollution and Your Health - National Institute of Environmental International breweries are polluting Nepalese rivers 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). The governments standard level is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. For example, an EIA for a major highway would need . Environment News, Earth News, Global Warming, Wild Life, Carbon Trading Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local, said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. Donate to The Ecologist and support high impact environmental journalism and analysis. The government, which has been engulfed in a crisis within the ruling party after Prime Minister K P Oli dissolved the Lower House and called for snap polls in April-May, seems to be too distracted to pay attention to the converging crises of Covid-19 and air pollution. 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. Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. put Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. Get access to nearly 50 years of journalism at the Ecologist Archive. Nepal closes schools as air pollution hits alarming levels - Al Jazeera 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. The coverage of environmental issues in FM radios in Nepal: the current 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. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. 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. 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. Kathmandus AQI has remained at the Maroon Hazardous level for two days in a row. This company thinks bacteria can help fix fashion's water pollution problem. Our environment determines our health and civilization. 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]. Green sticker = green light to pollute, Sonam Choekyi Lama. ? 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.

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