30 Mar 2021. A breakdown of whats known, and whats not, about the incident and its aftermath. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. With a staggering 42 percent of the population living below the poverty line and only 27 percent with improved access to sanitation, there are quite a number of issues facing Nepal. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The birds identified as having the disease, named . To receive the magazine, become a member now. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . 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 . On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at theUS Embassy measuring stationat Phora Darbar. Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . And with reports of Indias north and its capital New Delhi struggling with extreme air pollution, Sunil wonders how much worse the air will get this winter. 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. The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep . Nepal's Environment Protection Rules 2020 (2077) lists projects that need IEEs under Schedule 2, and those that need EIAs under Schedule 3. 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. Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution . There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel inthe valley. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 Hourly AQI data showed Simara's air quality as very hazardous at 8:00 am. Additionally, problems like littering and excessive carbon emissions are causing problems for both people and the environment. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. 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 visibility in Kathmandu valley has degraded to a significant level. 18/11/2022. Adriana Paulo de Sousa Oliveira, Paula Assemany, Lidiane Covell, Maria Lcia Calijuri. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. The major effect of air pollution can be mainly observed in the cities such as Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Lumbini. Or, download a free sample copy of a past issue of Resurgence & Ecologist. Air pollution has been a major problem of 21st century for both developed and developing world. Health alert must be imposed on everyone as everybody is prone to experience more serious health effects. 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. put Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. 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. 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. More than 65% of all deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in 2019 were linked to air pollution in Nepal. 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. 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. Furthermore, the life expectancy in the Kathmandu Valley is four years less than that of other Nepalese regions. Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. We all have been well aware about the problem of environmental pollution which has been very petrifying to the living beings. 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. A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds. Q : Only continent in the world without a desert is. Rather than benefits, morning walks could have serious health impacts, Sunil said. The CPV power plant operates in Woodbridge N.J. on Feb. 27, 2023. 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. 2426/077-78 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. The COP27 sponsor's products were the most commonly found items by volunteers researching plastic pollution. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. 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. 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. The PM 10 concentration in major cities such as Kathmandu is . D espite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandu's air quality has worsened in the past two years. Such particles will not reach Kathmandu because it is surrounded by hills. Sunil Paudel, Basudevs son, stopped going on morning walks last year after learning that Kathmandus air quality was reaching unsafe levels. Air pollution is a chronic problem in . Nepal, especially Kathmandu, in the current situation, is observing rapid urbaniz Officials at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. And residents of the capital who smoke get a double whammy. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. 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. Espaol. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. 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. But so far, the government has done almost nothing to control air pollution.. This is a very great decision taken by the government. The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which . 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 ). Kakhara Madhyam Pvt. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters. I know..mom's got a lock on literally everythin so y we gotta wait..! Plastic overconsumption and mismanagement of plastic waste is a growing menace, causing landfills to overflow, choking rivers, and threatening marine ecosystems. 'We need to transform our commitment into action that will have an impact on the gases that drive climate change.'. Sonia Awale May 31, 2019. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Tags: environment, pollution, Philippines Coronavirus Bulletin Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Find out about our mission, and our team, here. 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 Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. In countries such as China, India and Nepal, air quality may have slightly improved in recent years, but the health risks due to PM2.5 haven't changed much, he said. The leaves of plants are covered indust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. Since PM2.5 are so small, they are also likely to hang in the air for longer, increasing the chances that they will be inhaled. When will women lead big political parties? ? There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. Non-smokers in Kathmandu are now suffering from diseases that you would expect to see afflicting chain smokers. 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. Over the weekend, pollution levels hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. 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 study sounds the alarm that the growing global problem, which scientists are only beginning to understand, requires urgent and immediate action. 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. 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. On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy. Therefore, this study investigates the presence and abundance of microplastic in lake surface water . 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. Submissions , , , , . 2426/077-78 - . 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. The funds are the first . People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. . The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. 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.. Despite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandus air quality has worsened in the past two years. This indicates, around a quarterof the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. In 2000 / 2001 there were 24,003 vehicles registered in Kathmandu and this has increased dramatically to 79,822 in 2015 / 2016. Other global AQI measurement sites like. ? Strong laws related to environment should be made and implemented. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets . 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. This can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. 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 . Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. Microplastics are man-made pollutants which have been detected in surface water and groundwater. "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. There are cloth masks and surgical ones, some are disposable but many use replaceable filters. While the quality of air in some of these places has degraded tremendously, air quality in other places is becoming increasingly unhealthy. Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. Local pollution in Nepali border towns with high vehicular emissions and industrial pollution could increase due to pollution coming from across the border, he said.
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