The Kathmandu Post : Find the latest breaking news from Nepal, opinion & analysis on Nepali politics, business, culture & arts, sports, movies, food & travel, books, education, auto & more at kathmandupost.com But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. Plastic overconsumption and mismanagement of plastic waste is a growing menace, causing landfills to overflow, choking rivers, and threatening marine ecosystems. 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. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. The high mountains around the Kathmandu valley allows air pollution to accumulate inthe city. The analysis, based on more than 100 recent peer-reviewed studies, detected over 120 unique PFAS compounds in these animals . This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. The average exposure for the officers was 51.2 g/m 3, with an hourly maximum of more than 500 g/m 3. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. Or, download a free sample copy of a past issue of Resurgence & Ecologist. Officials at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy. 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. 18/11/2022. 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. , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". Health alert must be imposed on everyone as everybody is prone to experience more serious health effects. 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 Nepal's Environment Protection Rules 2020 (2077) lists projects that need IEEs under Schedule 2, and those that need EIAs under Schedule 3. 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. The CPV power plant operates in Woodbridge N.J. on Feb. 27, 2023. Similarly, household air pollution (HAP) was over 18-folds higherduring our survey in 2007 than the WHO recommended guidelines . Air pollution is slashing years from billions of people's lives around the world and is a greater threat to life expectancy than smoking, HIV/AIDS or war, a report published Wednesday shows.. We can classify pollution in many categories such as soil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise . Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vansaccountedfor 92 percentof total registered vehicles in Bagmatiby the end of 2014-15. Majorities express "a great deal" of worry about the pollution of both drinking water (56%) and rivers, lakes and reservoirs (53%). Atmospheric greenhouse gases reach record high, latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. 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. Yet, 2022 could prove to be a seminal year for the environment, with . But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. Write a newspaper article on environmental pollution in Nepal to be published in a newspaper. Environmental pollution is one of the greatest threats of the world today. The environment of the industrial areas should be properly managed by the industries and concerned agencies. 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. 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. While the quality of air in some of these places has degraded tremendously, air quality in other places is becoming increasingly unhealthy. Ever since the lockdown started in Nepal, there has been a . The latest edition of Resurgence & Ecologist is out now, and available to buy. 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. This indicates, around a quarterof the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Q : Emu bird is found in the country. The values between 151 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. 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. The World Health Organization (WHO) reportsfine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is aroundtentimes higher than the WHO limit. There are dozens of types of masks available in Kathmandu. 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. 22 September 2021. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. 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. It may bring various adverse impact to the environment. Air pollution is a chronic problem in . The Art of Dealing with Breaking Up: Get over those blues and Take Break-Ups Lightly. Getting prepared now will make that transition smoother. Use of pesticides and fertilizers must be controlled. 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. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. Globally, air pollution results in around sevenmillion deaths annually. 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. Change to compound, We took a tour of the most amazing Chateau during our holiday, which we discovered . by accident.a. Q : Which country has the highest number of time zones. We human beings have been using the natural resources profusely. 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. 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. In 2017, solar electricity costs dropped from $0.28 to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour for utility-scale photovoltaic solar power. The traffic on the most part seemed to move along without any fuss. Southwesterly winds have carried in some clouds with dust particles, mainly in the western parts of Tarai districts like Kanchanpur, Banke and Bardiya, Poudel told the Post. The study sounds the alarm that the growing global problem, which scientists are only beginning to understand, requires urgent and immediate action. 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. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. 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. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. 1. 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. 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 statement declared that the level of pollution in the valley is increasingly -- especially in the mornings and the evenings -- creating negative implications on people's health. The victims of air pollutionurgently requirean appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. 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. Subsequent increase in number of vehicles is one of the main culprits of air pollution [ 33, 34 ]. 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. 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. The Ecologist is an environmental news and analysis website with a focus on environmental, social and economic justice. Advertisement 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 . 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. Your email address will not be published. The Biden Administration will make $250 million in grants available to develop strategies to cut climate pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. 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 victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. Nepal isn't short of water, thanks to the monsoon rains and the rivers that bring meltwater down from the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . 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. Macrotech Developers Ltd. 997.35 152.6. Whilstthis shows an improvement over the course of one year, when observing datataken from the capital city . 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. Looking at the air quality data over the last few years, it appears that Nepal made amarked improvement from 2018 to 2019, with a PM2.5 reading of 54.15 g/m beingrecorded as an average over 2018 as compared to 44.46 g/m in 2019. 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. In Press, Journal Pre-proof, Available online 25 February 2023. Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. 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]. Afforestation should begin and deforestation should come to an end. 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. at Phora Darbar. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road conditionof older vehicles istriggeringair quality problems in the valley. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. 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.. 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. D espite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandu's air quality has worsened in the past two years. And residents of the capital who smoke get a double whammy. 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). The COP27 sponsor's products were the most commonly found items by volunteers researching plastic pollution. 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. In . Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Indeed, a long-term solution requires policy level intervention and coordination between all branches of government. The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. The measurement between 201 and 300 is said to be very unhealthy (purple) and states 'health warnings of emergency conditions'. For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts. 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. 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. Three members of the Paudel family followed suit, but they never gave much thought to the quality of the air they were breathing in. 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. 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. 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. Espaol. Required fields are marked *. 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. Donate to The Ecologist and support high impact environmental journalism and analysis. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. 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. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. Last modified on Fri 3 Mar 2023 20.17 EST. This is also indicated in maroon. 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. 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. One of the cheapest energy sources. Why this advert is dangerous to people and nature and shows advertising needs new controls. The strategy guiding the work for The Ecologist for the years 2023 to 2026 has now been published. Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. Air pollution regularly exceeds recommended safe levels. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. 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 seven million deaths annually. 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 can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. But there is a difference between the nature of air pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu, said Tuladhar. 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