Thanking you. 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. Three members of the Paudel family followed suit, but they never gave much thought to the quality of the air they were breathing in. Majorities express "a great deal" of worry about the pollution of both drinking water (56%) and rivers, lakes and reservoirs (53%). The Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award recognizes students whose application of science demonstrates the betterment of the environment and/or public health. While the quality of air in some of these places has degraded tremendously, air quality in other places is becoming increasingly unhealthy. Despite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandus air quality has worsened in the past two years. 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. 2022: Emergency mode for the environment - UNEP essay on environmental pollution in 250 words-Nepal-2022 The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep . In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)ranked Nepal 177thout of 180 countries. Ever since the lockdown started in Nepal, there has been a little more positive change in the environment since the vehicles are barely on the road and people dont travel much. 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. 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. ? Kakhara Madhyam Pvt. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. 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. Microplastics are man-made pollutants which have been detected in surface water and groundwater. Take your pick, but remember the best thing is to reduce the source of 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. There will be complications in irrigation facility, deforestation will take place and landslides may occur, the water resources will get soaked. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters. We see fog in the morning and haze in the afternoon due to local dust pollution in the winter season.. 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. But this winter, the haze barely let us see through it. 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. 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. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. . Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road conditionof older vehicles istriggeringair quality problems in the valley. Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. 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 report highlights dire consequences for health, the economy, biodiversity and the climate. 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 is a very great decision taken by the government. Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. Plastic pollution on course to double by 2030 | UN News There are dozens of varieties of masks available in the market, along with air purifiers that cost more than Rs130,000. Plastic pollution: Effects on environment - The Himalayan Times The governments standard level is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poor, in northern India and the Tarai was already the. But there is a difference between the nature of air pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu, said Tuladhar. hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters. newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal Why this advert is dangerous to people and nature and shows advertising needs new controls. The birds identified as having the disease, named . 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. On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy. There are cloth masks and surgical ones, some are disposable but many use replaceable filters. I would be very thankful to you if you publish my article on your esteemed daily.Hope the government will take immediate action on this matter. 12 February 2021. Air pollution regularly exceeds recommended safe levels. Q : Which one is the capital of Spain. 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. The PM 10 concentration in major cities such as Kathmandu is . Find out about our mission, and our team, here. 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. 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. 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. 25th Jan, 2023. It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. We chartered a train to Glasgow for COP26 and took 500 people with us. 1. The major reason for high ambient air pollution in Nepal is largely from traffic related with old . Water In Crisis - Spotlight Nepal - The Water Project Haze engulfs Kathmandu valley as the air pollution increases to unhealthy levels, on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local, said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. 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. 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. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh recently concluded that surgical masks blocked 80% of particles sized 0.007 microns. Kathmandus AQI has remained at the Maroon Hazardous level for two days in a row. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. 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. Nepal isn't short of water, thanks to the monsoon rains and the rivers that bring meltwater down from the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack. This is also indicated in maroon. Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. A Love Beyond Measure: The Unforgettable Reunion, , . 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]. The EPI recently found Nepal to have the worst air pollution in the world. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 The leaves of plants are covered indust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale Q : Only continent in the world without a desert is. 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. News about Air Pollution, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times. Air Pollution and Your Health - National Institute of Environmental The level between 401 and 500 is very hazardous. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. Thereportsays that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. The COP27 sponsor's products were the most commonly found items by volunteers researching plastic pollution. This company thinks bacteria can help fix fashion's water pollution problem. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. ? This indicates, around a quarterof the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Air pollution crisis in South Asia causing massive loss of pregnancies 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. 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. Department of Information Registration No. 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. . The measurement between 201 and 300 is said to be very unhealthy (purple) and states 'health warnings of emergency conditions'. Q : Emu bird is found in the country. Introduction. 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.