Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous levels. 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. Basudev Paudel is in his late fifties and at his age, he believes that regular morning walks are important for keeping healthy. The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. 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.. Rivers, ponds and lakes should not be polluted because it affects animals and plants lives too. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 8 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. Getting prepared now will make that transition smoother. Subsequent increase in number of vehicles is one of the main culprits of air pollution [ 33, 34 ]. 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. This is what we learned. 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. We've received your submission. 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 Art of Dealing with Breaking Up: Get over those blues and Take Break-Ups Lightly. 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. Strong laws related to environment should be made and implemented. Similarly, the hotel business (khaja ghar) of Ram Karki has also slowed down majorly due to road dust emission. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Rather than benefits, morning walks could have serious health impacts, Sunil said. In Nepal, COPD is the second major cause of death after Ischemic Heart Diseases. The Biden Administration will make $250 million in grants available to develop strategies to cut climate pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. About three months later, at the present time, the pollution seems to have worsened. says that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. 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. More than 65% of all deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in 2019 were linked to air pollution in Nepal. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. The first step in controlling air pollution is with electric public transport because vehicular emissions make up the majority of pollutants in Kathmandus air, says environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar. We see fog in the morning and haze in the afternoon due to local dust pollution in the winter season.. New Delhi has seen a sudden spike whereas Kathmandu witnesses a gradual increase in pollution level starting from November and reaching peak levels in January.. The Ecologist is an environmental news and analysis website with a focus on environmental, social and economic justice. Atmospheric greenhouse gases reach record high, latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. 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. 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. Donate to The Ecologist and support high impact environmental journalism and analysis. Air pollution has been a major problem of 21st century for both developed and developing world. Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. The governments standard level is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. . World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NEPAL Prof. Dr. Meen B. Poudyal Chhetri a and Anil Shakyab a Disaster Preparedness Network, Kathmandu, Nepal b Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Government of Nepal ABSTRACT Environmental degradation is a very big problem in Nepal which is causing human health and a White House pledge to lend more support were met with skepticism in the community. ? 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. 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. AQI levels in north India and Nepal on 5 January at 8AM showing Kathmandu's much higher pollution levels compared to New Delhi. 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. 18/11/2022. In 2000 / 2001 there were 24,003 vehicles registered in Kathmandu and this has increased dramatically to 79,822 in 2015 / 2016. Despite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandus air quality has worsened in the past two years. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. 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.. Such particles will not reach Kathmandu because it is surrounded by hills. once done will text u on pint nd ins, I saw a fantastic film yesterday. 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. 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. 25th Jan, 2023. purely b. wisely c. competentlyd. But there is a difference between the nature of air pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu, said Tuladhar. 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. 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]. 2426/077-78 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. It has a negative impact on various environmental aspects which directly or indirectly affect the quality of human health. Q Site By: Hiti Design, On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at the. "Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. We chartered a train to Glasgow for COP26 and took 500 people with us. 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. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. However, two years later, the action plan has neither been finalised nor enforced. Whilstthis shows an improvement over the course of one year, when observing datataken from the capital city . The visibility in Kathmandu valley has degraded to a significant level. 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. This year, I have already started feeling different. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. Taking action to tackle the pollution in Nepal 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. 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. 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. With neighbouring India and China committed to manufacturing only electric automobiles by 2030, Nepal will be forced to go electric. The entire population is more likely to be affected. 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. 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. 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. While the quality of air in some of these places has degraded tremendously, air quality in other places is becoming increasingly unhealthy. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. 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 index stood at 214 as per DoE's 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. Advertisement Kathmandus AQI has remained at the Maroon Hazardous level for two days in a row. Reuters. The traffic on the most part seemed to move along without any fuss. Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality by emitting huge quantities of smoke into the ambient environment. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh recently concluded that surgical masks blocked 80% of particles sized 0.007 microns. 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. Our environment determines our health and civilization. Fewer, though still substantial minorities ranging between 40% and 45% . It may bring various adverse impact to the environment. 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. Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. 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. (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. There are dozens of types of masks available in Kathmandu. 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. 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. Download the latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. Nestled between China and India - two of the world's biggest polluters - Nepal often . The same report ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country in the world. Q : Which country has the highest number of time zones. FEATURED FUNDS. Nepal is a landlocked nation with the current population of over 27 million people. UNICEF, on Wednesday, issued a statement calling for urgent action to address this air quality crisis in South Asia. No: 289512/78/079 VAT No: 610271654 Editor Ashok Silwal Email nepalnamcha@gmail.com, Copyright 2023, , All Rights Reserved | Designed with. 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. 12 February 2021. We need to be extra careful because by the time we reach peak pollution levels, we will be gearing up to launch Visit Nepal 2020, said Tuladhar. This index is coloured red. Officials for the railroad company pulled out hours earlier, infuriating some residents who said they wanted answers from the company. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. Additionally, problems like littering and excessive carbon emissions are causing problems for both people and the environment. Health alert must be imposed on everyone as everybody is prone to experience more serious health effects. Around 100 people die every day in Nepal because of air pollution. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. But it shall be helpful only if it is implemented. 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 environment of the industrial areas should be properly managed by the industries and concerned agencies. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. Write a newspaper article on environmental pollution in Nepal to be published in a newspaper. It is a call to mobilize, say the authors who . The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution . Only a year ago, snow clad mountains shone brightly in the winter and we could see the mountains and hills clearly. 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. Find out more. Therefore, it is advised that everyone should avoid all outdoor exertions. of tens of millions of people by 3.7 years. 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 latest edition of Resurgence & Ecologist is out now, and available to buy. 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. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. Kakhara Madhyam Pvt. The moves reflect residents deep-seated mistrust of government screenings of toxic chemicals and fears of long-term effects from the train derailment. 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. 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 . The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. "I don't remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past," Khadka told Reuters. Similarly, household air pollution (HAP) was over 18-folds higherduring our survey in 2007 than the WHO recommended guidelines . The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. One of those rivers is the Melamchi, about 25 . 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. Motorcycles and passenger vehicles such as jeeps, cars and vans accounted for 92 percent of total registered vehicles in Bagmati by the end of 2014-15. The smoke generated from the wildfires worsened the pollution, according to an officer at the Division. To receive the magazine, become a member now. 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. The leaves of plants are covered indust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. The polluter pays' principle was introduced in 1972 in order to address this issue. Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Use of pesticides and fertilizers must be controlled. In Nepal, a Cabinet decision last year adopted the Department of Environments guidelines for air pollution to declare a health emergency if AQI exceeded 300 meaning the government can ban open burning, close factories, and take measures to reduce vehicles on the roads. This is a very unpleasant decision. "And it wasn't just the . In this level of air quality, everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Ever since the lockdown started in Nepal, there has been a . If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. News about Air Pollution, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times. 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. In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. A new disease caused solely by plastics has been discovered in seabirds. Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled road release huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. That said, old diesel vehicles are contributing significantly to the poor air quality in the city. 30 Mar 2021. The country of 30 . Phil Murphy but which has yet to take full effect should prevent the . Nepal, with a population of 30 million people, is located in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the world's biggest polluters. 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. New road Kathmandu. 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. 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. 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. There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel inthe valley. The government has also decided to sell the natural minerals like sand, rocks, mud etc to India. Environmental pollution is one of the greatest threats of the world today. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 Also, news . 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. 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 ). Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. ? Or, download a free sample copy of a past issue of Resurgence & Ecologist. The World Health Organization (WHO) reportsfine particulate matter of up to 140 g m-3 - which is aroundtentimes higher than the WHO limit. Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. 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 . , : Which country has the most number of lakes. Kathmandu Valley has seen a rapid increase in vehicle numbers in the last 15 years. Air pollution has had a massive impact on Nepalese people. Also, news from United Nations. Department of Information Registration No. 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. 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. In . 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]. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. Take your pick, but remember the best thing is to reduce the source of pollution. I know..mom's got a lock on literally everythin so y we gotta wait..! 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. Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. This indicates, around a quarterof the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. 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 'We need to transform our commitment into action that will have an impact on the gases that drive climate change.'. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights.
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