This is a very unpleasant decision. Haze engulfs Kathmandu valley as the air pollution increases to unhealthy levels, on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. The average exposure for the officers was 51.2 g/m 3, with an hourly maximum of more than 500 g/m 3. 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. 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. All news about Environment pollution | Euronews 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. 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. That compares with the governments standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. 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 waste is a growing menace, and a wasted opportunity The report highlights dire consequences for health, the economy, biodiversity and the climate. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked Nepal 177th out of 180 countries. 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. The country of 30 . 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. Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause many of the health conditions associated with increased vulnerability to Covid-19, such as diabetes and chronic heart and lung diseases, said theState of Global Air 2020released last October. Thanks for contacting us. The EPI recently found Nepal to have the worst air pollution in the world. 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). Coca-Cola is named world's worst plastic polluter for a fifth year. In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled road release huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. At a time when Kathmandus, AQI was hitting record highs on Tuesday morning, with 438, the New Delhi suburb of Noida recorded less than 151 (. 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. There are dozens of varieties of masks available in the market, along with air purifiers that cost more than Rs130,000. Also, news . It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 Air pollution frequently causes osteoporosis, heart attacks, dementia and kidney diseases. 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. Indeed, a long-term solution requires policy level intervention and coordination between all branches of government. 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. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around 3.5 million. But so far, the government has done almost nothing to control air pollution.. Espaol. Environment News, Earth News, Global Warming, Wild Life, Carbon Trading Implication of Air Pollution on Health Effects in Nepal: Lessons from Thanking you. A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. When will women lead big political parties? The values between 151 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy. Nepal closes schools as air pollution hits alarming levels - Al Jazeera Colorifix thinks bacteria can fix fashion's water pollution problem Required fields are marked *. Find out more. Whilstthis shows an improvement over the course of one year, when observing datataken from the capital city . Yours sincerely, Rajesh. To The Editor The . The index stood at 214 as per DoE's data. 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. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. 'Enough pollution' in low-income NJ area with 1 power plant Use of pesticides and fertilizers must be controlled. Get access to nearly 50 years of journalism at the Ecologist Archive. It is now causing heart attacks, kidney diseases, osteoporosis and dementia. 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. 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. 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. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. 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. "Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. 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. Non-smokers in Kathmandu are now suffering from diseases that you would expect to see afflicting chain smokers. But this winter, the haze barely let us see through it. This is a very great decision taken by the government. 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. 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. at Phora Darbar. 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. Kathmandus AQI has remained at the Maroon Hazardous level for two days in a row. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. Ltd. Mhepi-16, Kathmandu, Nepal Company Reg. 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. 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. 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. 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.. EIAs must be submitted to Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) for approval, whereas IEEs can be approved by other relevant ministries. 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. The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. Poor air quality in Kathmandu and inside rural homes due to smoky kitchen fires kill far more people across South Asia than SARS-CoV-2. This is what we learned. 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. 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. New WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) provide clear evidence of the damage air pollution inflicts on human health, at even lower concentrations than previously understood. Additionally, problems like littering and excessive carbon emissions are causing problems for both people and the environment. The agency, along with local and . These are the key points that needs to be followed in order to bring a positive change in the environment. Spain. Environmental issues in Nepal - Wikipedia , : Which country has the most number of lakes. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. The Biden Administration will make $250 million in grants available to develop strategies to cut climate pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. Air Pollution and Your Health - National Institute of Environmental Kathmandu valley requireshalf of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. EPA to award $250 million in IRA funds to reduce climate pollution In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. Despite the fact that most people in our country are breathing the air with such perilous level pollution, we still lack the vigour to act responsibly against the situation. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. ? 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]. At times, it feels like my eyes are burning, said 34-year-old Sunil. In Nepal, 35,000 people die annually due to illnesses caused by polluted air. 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. Reuters. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. Plastic overconsumption and mismanagement of plastic waste is a growing menace, causing landfills to overflow, choking rivers, and threatening marine ecosystems. There are dozens of types of masks available in Kathmandu. D espite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandu's air quality has worsened in the past two years. 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. 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. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate inthe city. 22 September 2021. Majorities express "a great deal" of worry about the pollution of both drinking water (56%) and rivers, lakes and reservoirs (53%). Butair pollution issues are continue to increase. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets . 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. Minnesota moves to crack down on catalytic converter thefts | AP News Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. 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 ). 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. 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 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. 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. It has a negative impact on various environmental aspects which directly or indirectly affect the quality of human health. It said that air pollution is dependent on weather system, and due to this fact, the pollution may last for some time or may worsen further with the passing of time. hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. Nestled between China and India - two of the world's biggest polluters - Nepal often . Find out about our mission, and our team, here. The major effect of air pollution can be mainly observed in the cities such as Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Lumbini. The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to update its water pollution rules for slaughterhouses for the first time in nearly 20 years, the agency . 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. Environmental Issues and pollution in Nepal - Earth's Edge Also, news from United Nations. , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Of six environmental problems facing the U.S., Americans remain most worried about those that affect water quality. According to Poudel, the pollution level in the border towns of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar can slightly influence pollution along the border area. We human beings have been using the natural resources profusely. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. 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. 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. Submissions 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]. Kathmandu has dangerous levels of air and water pollution, making certain regions of the city nearly unlivable. International breweries are polluting Nepalese rivers Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. 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. 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. Q : Emu bird is found in the country. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. - . climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. New road Kathmandu. To receive the magazine, become a member now. 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. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking. 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 . 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. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. The government has also decided to sell the natural minerals like sand, rocks, mud etc to India. Nepal's schools close as air pollution hits alarming levels Air pollution crisis in South Asia causing massive loss of pregnancies Afforestation should begin and deforestation should come to an end. 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. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. 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. Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous levels. We see fog in the morning and haze in the afternoon due to local dust pollution in the winter season.. The environment has been in a better condition. 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 birds identified as having the disease, named . Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking cigarettes., Solution to pollution, Pallavi Pant and Anobha Gurung. Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local, said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. Nepal wildfires cause hazardous smog as pollution levels hit record There will be complications in irrigation facility, deforestation will take place and landslides may occur, the water resources will get soaked. In . Getting prepared now will make that transition smoother. 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. 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 US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. 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. Says Pallavi Pant, air quality scientist at the Health Effects Institute: Exposures to air pollution have been shown to affect the human bodys immune defence, making an individual more susceptible to respiratory infections such as pneumonia., Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 8 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. 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. Nepal's Environment Protection Rules 2020 (2077) lists projects that need IEEs under Schedule 2, and those that need EIAs under Schedule 3. Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause many of the health conditions associated with increased vulnerability to Covid-19, such as diabetes and chronic heart and lung diseases, said the. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained:Manybusinesseshavegone down due to high amount of road dust. Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. and a White House pledge to lend more support were met with skepticism in the community. The Art of Dealing with Breaking Up: Get over those blues and Take Break-Ups Lightly. 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. The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. Efforts for improving air quality should be of utmost priority now so that safety of citizens' health can be ensured. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. 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. 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. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt byplants, particularly to those closer to the road. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The theme for World Environment Day (5 June) is #BeatAirPollution. 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 . 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. Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. It may bring various adverse impact to the environment. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used in Kathmandu. FEATURED FUNDS. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 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. The latest edition of Resurgence & Ecologist is out now, and available to buy. This is also indicated in maroon. 2426/077-78 Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. Legal provisions should be made in order for people to manage solid wastes properly.
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