There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 Q : Which one is the capital of Spain. 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. , , , , . Nifty-129.. NSE Gainer-Large Cap . 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. 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. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used in Kathmandu. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . The environment has been in a better condition. Such particles will not reach Kathmandu because it is surrounded by hills. Environmental Health issues are a not major risk factors for the Global Burden of Diseases. Around 100 people die every day in Nepal because of air pollution. Other global AQI measurement sites likeIQAirput Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. 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. To receive the magazine, become a member now. China will be the host nation and will showcase its dramatic progress in cutting pollution. Air pollution is even more dangerous than previously thought, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned . The government has also decided to sell the natural minerals like sand, rocks, mud etc to India. Whilstthis shows an improvement over the course of one year, when observing datataken from the capital city . Ocean pollution poses a clear and present danger to human health and well-being, according to a new study from an international group of researchers. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NEPAL Prof. Dr. Meen B. Poudyal Chhetri a and Anil Shakyab a Disaster Preparedness Network, Kathmandu, Nepal b Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Government of Nepal ABSTRACT Environmental degradation is a very big problem in Nepal which is causing human health newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal Posted by July 3, 2022 morenci area schools staff on newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal The entire population is more likely to be affected. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking | Nepali Times The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate inthe city. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu 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. 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. Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. The funds are the first . 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. Plastic overconsumption and mismanagement of plastic waste is a growing menace, causing landfills to overflow, choking rivers, and threatening marine ecosystems. It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. The Threat of Ambient Air Pollution in Kathmandu, Nepal The COP27 sponsor's products were the most commonly found items by volunteers researching plastic pollution. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. says that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. The Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award recognizes students whose application of science demonstrates the betterment of the environment and/or public health. 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. 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 new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds. This trend is increasing rapidly and it is estimated that urban population will reach 60 million by 2040 [ 32 ]. Prices range from Rs10 to Rs10,500. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained: Many businesses have gone down due to high amount of road dust. 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. Climate & Environment - The Kathmandu Post Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. at Phora Darbar. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. That compares with the governments standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Hourly AQI data showed Simara's air quality as very hazardous at 8:00 am. 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 air pollution emergency in Kathmandu puts the elderly, those with asthma and other respiratory ailments at high risk, and would be especially dangerous to those with Covid-19. 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. Nestled between China and India - two of the world's biggest polluters - Nepal often . 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. 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. 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.. 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. Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu Q : Only continent in the world without a desert is. 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. The report highlights dire consequences for health, the economy, biodiversity and the climate. 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. Pollution from India unlikely to reach Kathmandu, but Nepal needs to The latest edition of Resurgence & Ecologist is out now, and available to buy. ? If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. A general view of a street during a smoggy day as the government has orderedschoolsto close for four days after the air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country, in Kathmandu, Nepal March 30, 2021. Air Pollution - The New York Times New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines aim to save millions of lives By Sophie Wodzak,Emily Cochrane and Lisa Friedman. The paradox of air pollution in the Kathmandu valley Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 8 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. Or, download a free sample copy of a past issue of Resurgence & Ecologist. How to clean up Kathmandus air, Anil Chitrakar, Poisoning the air we breathe, Sonia Awale. Kathmandu Valley has seen a rapid increase in vehicle numbers in the last 15 years. Environmental news, a monthly report on Global - Warm Heart Worldwide "Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. The average exposure for the officers was 51.2 g/m 3, with an hourly maximum of more than 500 g/m 3. Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local," said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. The smoke generated from the wildfires worsened the pollution, according to an officer at the Division. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. systema It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . We see fog in the morning and haze in the afternoon due to local dust pollution in the winter season.. Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. 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. AQ AirVisual, on Thursday, also ranked Kathmandu the ninth most polluted city in the world, with PM2.5 levels reaching 139 g/m3the level at which the air becomes unhealthy for sensitive groups, as per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality Index. 'We need to transform our commitment into action that will have an impact on the gases that drive climate change.'. Ltd. Mhepi-16, Kathmandu, Nepal Company Reg. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. The EPI recently found Nepal to have the worst air pollution in the world. Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution . International breweries are polluting Nepalese rivers 18/11/2022. In this level of air quality, everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. 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. Department of Information Registration No. AQI levels in north India and Nepal on 5 January at 8AM showing Kathmandu's much higher pollution levels compared to New Delhi. Air Pollution and Your Health - National Institute of Environmental Yours sincerely, Rajesh. Coca-Cola is named world's worst plastic polluter for a fifth year. 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. 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. Basudev Paudel is in his late fifties and at his age, he believes that regular morning walks are important for keeping healthy. 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. 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. Nepal, especially Kathmandu, in the current situation, is observing rapid urbaniz It is now causing heart attacks, kidney diseases, osteoporosis and dementia. The values between 151 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy. 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. Air pollution is also the main environmental risk factor for non-communicable diseases like cancers and lung diseases, concludes a recent report by the NCD Alliance and the Forum of International Respiratory Scientists: The challenge is great, but the cure is straight-forward it must be met by national, regional, local and personal responses. The birds identified as having the disease, named . 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. Sunil Paudel, Basudevs son, stopped going on morning walks last year after learning that Kathmandus air quality was reaching unsafe levels. Located between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters, the Himalayan nation is seeing the worst pollution levels since 2016. About three months later, at the present time, the pollution seems to have worsened. And residents of the capital who smoke get a double whammy. 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. Other global AQI measurement sites like. 30 Mar 2021. This is what we learned. Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. But this winter, the haze barely let us see through it. 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.. Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. 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. Non-smokers in Kathmandu are now suffering from diseases that you would expect to see afflicting chain smokers. To The Editor The . , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. 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. 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. "Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. 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. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. 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. Air pollution is cutting more than 2 years from billions of - CNN 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.