Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . Therefore, this study investigates the presence and abundance of microplastic in lake surface water . Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. Advertisement Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. Q : Emu bird is found in the country. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters. 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. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . Researchers at the University of Edinburgh recently concluded that surgical masks blocked 80% of particles sized 0.007 microns. (left). Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. The gendered impacts of indoor air pollution in Nepal's - ICIMOD It is now causing heart attacks, kidney diseases, osteoporosis and dementia. 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 ). 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. Take your pick, but remember the best thing is to reduce the source of pollution. , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". According to the World Air Quality Report, Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted capital city in the world, based on its average yearly PM2.5 level. 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. What's in the Air of Nepal? Filling Gaps in Pollution Data 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. 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. Q : Which country has the highest number of time zones. 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. There are dozens of types of masks available in Kathmandu. That compares with the governments standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu Environment News, Earth News, Global Warming, Wild Life, Carbon Trading 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. 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. 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. Air Pollution and Your Health - National Institute of Environmental 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. - . Q : Only continent in the world without a desert is. 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. The agency, along with local and . 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. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters. The World Health Organization (WHO) reportsfine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is aroundtentimes higher than the WHO limit. 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. To receive the magazine, become a member now. The environment of the industrial areas should be properly managed by the industries and concerned agencies. Microplastics are man-made pollutants which have been detected in surface water and groundwater. For example, an EIA for a major highway would need . 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 birds identified as having the disease, named . The COP27 sponsor's products were the most commonly found items by volunteers researching plastic pollution. Environmental Pollution | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air 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. Such particles will not reach Kathmandu because it is surrounded by hills. EPA to award $250 million in IRA funds to reduce climate pollution Air pollution has had a massive impact on Nepalese people. The level between 401 and 500 is very hazardous. Kathmandu valley requireshalf of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. In . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. . Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. More than 65% of all deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in 2019 were linked to air pollution in Nepal. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. Your email address will not be published. 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. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. 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. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained: Many businesses have gone down due to high amount of road dust. Taking action to tackle the pollution in Nepal Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking. The smoke generated from the wildfires worsened the pollution, according to an officer at the Division. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. Our environment determines our health and civilization. Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale Implication of Air Pollution on Health Effects in Nepal: Lessons from There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. Kathmandu air pollution hits record high | Nepali Times The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. Write an article to be published in a local newspaper in about 100 When will women lead big political parties? The coverage of environmental issues in FM radios in Nepal: the current 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 . Air pollution regularly exceeds recommended safe levels. Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School 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. , , , , . Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. The garbage should be properly disposed and managed. 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. 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 country of 30 . However, the vast portion of pollution is generated locally. Yours sincerely, Rajesh. Plastic overconsumption and mismanagement of plastic waste is a growing menace, causing landfills to overflow, choking rivers, and threatening marine ecosystems. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. Also, news . 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 - The New York Times (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. 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. New Study Finds Ocean Pollution a Threat to Human Health Nepal is a landlocked nation with the current population of over 27 million people. Water In Crisis - Spotlight Nepal - The Water Project Similarly, Dhangadhi was third in line to have the most degraded air quality among the list of stations measuring the AQI. Adriana Paulo de Sousa Oliveira, Paula Assemany, Lidiane Covell, Maria Lcia Calijuri. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around3.5 million. 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 slashing years off the lives of billions, report finds The government should ban the use of old vehicles. Independent lab testing finds elevated level of chemical of concern in We all have been well aware about the problem of environmental pollution which has been very petrifying to the living beings. 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. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. At the same hour, Bhaktapur's air quality degraded as low as 347 (according to The World Air Quality Project) while as per DoE's data it stood at 348. 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. This is a very great decision taken by the government. 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. This is also indicated in maroon. 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. 22 September 2021. The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep . Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road conditionof older vehicles istriggeringair quality problems in the valley. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The theme for World Environment Day (5 June) is #BeatAirPollution. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. In 2017, solar electricity costs dropped from $0.28 to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour for utility-scale photovoltaic solar power. Kathmandu Valley has seen a rapid increase in vehicle numbers in the last 15 years. 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. ? The governments standard level is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. New road Kathmandu. Additionally, problems like littering and excessive carbon emissions are causing problems for both people and the environment. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. ? Globally, air pollution results in around sevenmillion deaths annually. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. Submissions 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. Yet, 2022 could prove to be a seminal year for the environment, with . There will be complications in irrigation facility, deforestation will take place and landslides may occur, the water resources will get soaked. 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. 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. Environmental Health issues are a not major risk factors for the Global Burden of Diseases. As AQ AirVisual data shows, PM2.5 levels in Kathmandu saw a continuous rise last yearfrom 65.6 g/m3 in November, followed by 91.9 g/m3 in December, 92.5g/m3 in January and peaking at 96.3 g/m3 in February. Air Pollution in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley - The Borgen Project Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. Your email address will not be published. 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. put Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. However, two years later, the action plan has neither been finalised nor enforced. PM2.5 levels of 403.72 g/m3 were recorded at 7pm on November 4 in Nepalgunj, the highest for the country in the past week. Macrotech Developers Ltd. 997.35 152.6. That said, old diesel vehicles are contributing significantly to the poor air quality in the city. Required fields are marked *. 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. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service, : Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after. Environmental Issues and pollution in Nepal - Earth's Edge Other global AQI measurement sites like. Legal provisions should be made in order for people to manage solid wastes properly. 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. 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. Between 301 and 400 (maroon), the air quality is at a hazardous level; it has more severe health implications. Iturges the polluters to pay for thedamage done to the natural environment. China will be the host nation and will showcase its dramatic progress in cutting pollution. 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. 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.

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