New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives According to Poudel, the pollution level in the border towns of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar can slightly influence pollution along the border area. These two are just representative examples of millions of people who are directly or indirectly affected by dust,a burning issue ofthe twenty firstcentury. Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. The values between 151 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy. Once again, Kathmandu breathes world's most polluted air, AQI hits 303. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. Air pollution regularly exceeds recommended safe levels. 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.. 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. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 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. This indicates, around a quarterof the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Kakhara Madhyam Pvt. climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. News article on environment pollutation in nepal to be published in AQI levels in north India and Nepal on 5 January at 8AM showing Kathmandu's much higher pollution levels compared to New Delhi. Why this advert is dangerous to people and nature and shows advertising needs new controls. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. 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]. The garbage should be properly disposed and managed. 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. Site By: Hiti Design, On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at the. 2426/077-78 In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled road release huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. The analysis, based on more than 100 recent peer-reviewed studies, detected over 120 unique PFAS compounds in these animals . 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. A visit to East Palestine from the head of the E.P.A. Pollution means decline of the original qualities of the elements of the environment like air, water, land, etc. It may bring various adverse impact to the environment. What's in the Air of Nepal? Filling Gaps in Pollution Data 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. The PM 10 concentration in major cities such as Kathmandu is . In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. "Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. 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. 'We need to transform our commitment into action that will have an impact on the gases that drive climate change.'. The smoke generated from the wildfires worsened the pollution, according to an officer at the Division. The study sounds the alarm that the growing global problem, which scientists are only beginning to understand, requires urgent and immediate action. 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. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. Environmental Issues and pollution in Nepal - Earth's Edge PDF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NEPAL.doc - t-kougei.ac.jp Modern day Nepal is one of the most polluted and impoverished places in the world. There are dozens of varieties of masks available in the market, along with air purifiers that cost more than Rs130,000. 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 . Atmospheric greenhouse gases reach record high, latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. 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. AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration . At this level of air quality, it is better that active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. 'A waste of time and money': Why are EIAs so ineffective in Nepal? 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. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. 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. 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. The birds identified as having the disease, named . "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. That compares with the governments standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. We are mainly responsible for the destructive changes in the environment. The Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award recognizes students whose application of science demonstrates the betterment of the environment and/or public health. One hour later, at 9:00 am, the air quality at Simara was recorded at 354; second on the list was Bhaisepati in Lalitpur at 196 and third was Dhagadhi at 195 (Department of Environment). This is what we learned. Plastic pollution: Effects on environment - The Himalayan Times 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. 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). By Leah Douglas. This trend is increasing rapidly and it is estimated that urban population will reach 60 million by 2040 [ 32 ]. Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. Hemraj Bhattarai is agraduate student from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, and is currently working on air pollution issuesat Kathmandu Center for Research and Education, Nepal. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The major effect of air pollution can be mainly observed in the cities such as Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Lumbini. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. 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. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate in the city. Hundreds of thousands are sheltering in tents, breathing air thick with pollutants unleashed from tombs of rubble, fearful that a new disaster could strike at any moment. 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. The World Health Organization (WHO) reportsfine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is aroundtentimes higher than the WHO limit. Three members of the Paudel family followed suit, but they never gave much thought to the quality of the air they were breathing in. For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts. 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. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. 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. The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. Phoenix Motorcars wins grant with Houston Metro and EasyMile for Every year, 35,000 people in Nepal die from illnesses related to air contaminants. Double whammy: air pollution and Covid-19, Photo: MONIKA DEUPALA n the past eight months of this, ir quality across Nepal has been deteriorating over the years., The first step in reducing air pollution is to let. Globally, air pollution results in around sevenmillion deaths annually. This index is coloured red. 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. Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. The Ecologist is an environmental news and analysis website with a focus on environmental, social and economic justice. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Kathmandu air pollution hits record high | Nepali Times 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. Kathmandu has dangerous levels of air and water pollution, making certain regions of the city nearly unlivable. US to tighten water regulations for meat processing plants Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. Air Pollution and Your Health - National Institute of Environmental In 2017, solar electricity costs dropped from $0.28 to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour for utility-scale photovoltaic solar power. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)ranked Nepal 177thout of 180 countries. Introduction. The country of 30 . Minnesota moves to crack down on catalytic converter thefts | AP News purely b. wisely c. competentlyd. Health alert must be imposed on everyone as everybody is prone to experience more serious health effects. 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. ? Hourly AQI data showed Simara's air quality as very hazardous at 8:00 am. Thereportsays that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. Colorifix thinks bacteria can fix fashion's water pollution problem On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy. Kathmandu Valley has seen a rapid increase in vehicle numbers in the last 15 years. PM2.5, or Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns thick, are among the most dangerous of air particles as they can get past the nose and throat to enter the lungs and even the bloodstream. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. 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. Fri 3 Mar 2023 06.19 EST. 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. Around 100 people die every day in Nepal because of air pollution. Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking cigarettes., Solution to pollution, Pallavi Pant and Anobha Gurung. Nepal closes schools as air pollution hits alarming levels - Al Jazeera 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. An article by three Brazilian researchers published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research aims to contribute to progress in this field by proposing a novel perspective on particle . For example, an EIA for a major highway would need . Submissions 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. , : Which country has the most number of lakes. Write a newspaper article on environmental pollution in Nepal to be published in a newspaper. The government has also decided to sell the natural minerals like sand, rocks, mud etc to India. Nepal isn't short of water, thanks to the monsoon rains and the rivers that bring meltwater down from the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack. 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]. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Water In Crisis - Spotlight Nepal - The Water Project It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. The victims of air pollutionurgently requirean appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. Similarly, Dhangadhi was third in line to have the most degraded air quality among the list of stations measuring the AQI. EPA to award $250 million in IRA funds to reduce climate pollution In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. We chartered a train to Glasgow for COP26 and took 500 people with us. Thepolluter pays' principlewas introduced in1972 in order to address this issue. Concerns over respiratory illnesses related to environmental toxins on But air pollution issues are continue to increase. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu 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. The government slashed taxes on electric vehicles, butmuch of the supporting infrastructure required, likecharging facilities, uninterrupted electric supply and adequate parking lots, has not even been planned.