The latest edition of Resurgence & Ecologist is out now, and available to buy. 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. About three months later, at the present time, the pollution seems to have worsened. The governments standard level is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. 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. Air pollution regularly exceeds recommended safe levels. Afforestation should begin and deforestation should come to an end. 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.That compares with the government's standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Advertisement Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. ? 2426/077-78 Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. The same report ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country in the world. 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. (left). Electrified public transport would have been a good place to start, but 6 months after Prime Minister KP Oli launched an electric mobility action plan to turn at least 20% of public vehicles into battery-operated ones by 2020, progress has been slow. 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. 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. Collective action from many sectors is needed to assure that everyone can breathe clean air.. 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. at Phora Darbar. Non-smokers in Kathmandu are now suffering from diseases that you would expect to see afflicting chain smokers. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. 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 qualities in cities like Birgunj, Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa get worse due to local air pollution, supported by stagnation of air in this season where there is an inversion of temperature, a reversal of the normal behaviour of temperature in the troposphere, said Poudel, the meteorologist. There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. 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. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. 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. The government should ban the use of old vehicles. 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 . 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. 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. The visibility in Kathmandu valley has degraded to a significant level. Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. 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]. 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. We human beings have been using the natural resources profusely. 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. 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. 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. In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. 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. 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. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Therefore, this study investigates the presence and abundance of microplastic in lake surface water . Sonia Awale May 31, 2019. UNICEF, on Wednesday, issued a statement calling for urgent action to address this air quality crisis in South Asia. It has a negative impact on various environmental aspects which directly or indirectly affect the quality of human health. systema 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. I know..mom's got a lock on literally everythin so y we gotta wait..! 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. China will be the host nation and will showcase its dramatic progress in cutting pollution. In 2013, a team of Cambridge University scientists were in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, developing a device to measure . 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). 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. Donate to The Ecologist and support high impact environmental journalism and analysis. Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. Recently the government has decided that the plastics that are less than 40 microns will be banned from use from the month of Shrawan 2078. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. But poor air quality from as far as New Delhi cannot penetrate deep into Nepal.. Prices range from Rs10 to Rs10,500. Or, download a free sample copy of a past issue of Resurgence & Ecologist. 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. But air pollution issues are continue to increase. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. 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. This is a very great decision taken by the government. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. Environmental pollution is one of the greatest threats of the world today. 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. However, two years later, the action plan has neither been finalised nor enforced. 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. 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. 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. 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. Therefore, it is advised that everyone should avoid all outdoor exertions. We've received your submission. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. The World Health Organisation ('WHO') has reported that PM2.5 levels of particulate matter in urban areas of Nepal . purely b. wisely c. competentlyd. In Nepal, 35,000 people die annually due to illnesses caused by polluted air. 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. Such particles will not reach Kathmandu because it is surrounded by hills. Required fields are marked *. Other global AQI measurement sites like. Majorities express "a great deal" of worry about the pollution of both drinking water (56%) and rivers, lakes and reservoirs (53%). But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. Officials at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Nifty-129.. NSE Gainer-Large Cap . Every year, 35,000 people in Nepal die from illnesses related to air contaminants. 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. Three members of the Paudel family followed suit, but they never gave much thought to the quality of the air they were breathing in. 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. No: 289512/78/079 VAT No: 610271654 Editor Ashok Silwal Email nepalnamcha@gmail.com, Copyright 2023, , All Rights Reserved | Designed with. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. In this level of air quality, everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. And residents of the capital who smoke get a double whammy. Butair pollution issues are continue to increase. Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution . The environment has been in a better condition. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. 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. I have started wearing a mask whenever Im outdoors.. 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 a silent killer and while it is difficult to quantify its heath impact, hospitalisation due to serious respiratory diseases has increased sharply in recent years, says chest specialist Raju Pangeni at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. Modern day Nepal is one of the most polluted and impoverished places in the world. 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 ). We are mainly responsible for the destructive changes in the environment. Site By: Hiti Design, On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at the. Nepal is a landlocked nation with the current population of over 27 million people. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to update its water pollution rules for slaughterhouses for the first time in nearly 20 years, the agency announced on Wednesday, following a lawsuit from environmental groups arguing current standards are too weak, according to Reuters. Kathmandus AQI has remained at the Maroon Hazardous level for two days in a row. 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. Officials for the railroad company pulled out hours earlier, infuriating some residents who said they wanted answers from the company. 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. Download the latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. The company's plan to a second gas-fired power plant next to the existing one is being opposed by residents of the mainly minority and low-income communities around the plant who say an environmental justice law signed over two years ago by New Jersey Gov. Between 301 and 400 (maroon), the air quality is at a hazardous level; it has more severe health implications. Efforts for improving air quality should be of utmost priority now so that safety of citizens' health can be ensured. 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. The birds identified as having the disease, named . This indicates, around a quarterof the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vansaccountedfor 92 percentof total registered vehicles in Bagmatiby the end of 2014-15. climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. 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. We chartered a train to Glasgow for COP26 and took 500 people with us. Indeed, a long-term solution requires policy level intervention and coordination between all branches of government. Pollution means decline of the original qualities of the elements of the environment like air, water, land, etc. says that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. Hourly AQI data showed Simara's air quality as very hazardous at 8:00 am. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. 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. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. Photo Courtesy: Department of Environment/Air Quality Montoring, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 9 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. 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. 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. ONTARIO, Calif., Sept. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kickstarting the autonomous bus revolution in the US, the city of Houston is set to receive the first Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Buy America-compliant mid-size autonomous bus in the US. 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]. If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. More than 65% of all deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in 2019 were linked to air pollution in Nepal. 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. Macrotech Developers Ltd. 997.35 152.6. 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. We can classify pollution in many categories such as soil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise . Coca-Cola is named world's worst plastic polluter for a fifth year. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . The traffic on the most part seemed to move along without any fuss. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. 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. Moreover, Kathmandu is ranked as one of the most polluted cities in Asia: according to the airvisual.com, Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted city. 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 level between 401 and 500 is very hazardous. 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. hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. A recent study by scientists from Peking University (China) and the University of Connecticut (USA) [1] has revealed that 1 in 15 lost pregnancies in South Asia may be due to air . 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 . The government should really take a closer look at what their decision might lead the environment and the whole country to in the future. Most make various performance claims based on lab tests but factors like the masks fit play important roles. Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. Thepolluter pays' principlewas introduced in1972 in order to address this issue. Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. The report highlights dire consequences for health, the economy, biodiversity and the climate. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. 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 . The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. 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. We all have been well aware about the problem of environmental pollution which has been very petrifying to the living beings. 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. Air pollution is even more dangerous than previously thought, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned . Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. 18/11/2022. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. Moreover, Kathmandu is ranked as one of the most polluted cities in Asia:according to the airvisual.com, Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted city. Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. 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. ? In 2000 / 2001 there were 24,003 vehicles registered in Kathmandu and this has increased dramatically to 79,822 in 2015 / 2016. Air pollution frequently causes osteoporosis, heart attacks, dementia and kidney diseases. In Nepal and Kathmandu the annual premature death due to air pollution hit37,399 and 9943 respectively,according to aRepublica news report published on 23 November 2019. Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale The leaves of plants are covered in dust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. The haze has become a part of our environment, impeding our view and lowering our visibility. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking cigarettes., Solution to pollution, Pallavi Pant and Anobha Gurung. 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 The moves reflect residents deep-seated mistrust of government screenings of toxic chemicals and fears of long-term effects from the train derailment. Your email address will not be published. Espaol. "And it wasn't just the . Rivers, ponds and lakes should not be polluted because it affects animals and plants lives too. newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal Posted by July 3, 2022 morenci area schools staff on newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal A Love Beyond Measure: The Unforgettable Reunion, , . Yet, 2022 could prove to be a seminal year for the environment, with . 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. 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.
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