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. Kathmandu valley requires half of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. Reuters. Prices range from Rs10 to Rs10,500. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality by emitting huge quantities of smoke into the ambient environment. On Wednesday, the daily average PM 2.5 level for the western city clocked around 200, which is deemed unhealthy. The leaves of plants are covered indust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. 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. 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. Despite public awareness and relentless media coverage, Kathmandus air quality has worsened in the past two years. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road conditionof older vehicles istriggeringair quality problems in the valley. 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 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. 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. Hourly AQI data showed Simara's air quality as very hazardous at 8:00 am. 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. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking. Required fields are marked *. For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts. Health alert must be imposed on everyone as everybody is prone to experience more serious health effects. This may collapse the whole ecosystem in general. A Love Beyond Measure: The Unforgettable Reunion, , . 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. The major reason for high ambient air pollution in Nepal is largely from traffic related with old . 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. The air pollution emergency in Kathmandu puts the elderly, those with asthma and other respiratory ailments at high risk, and would be especially dangerous to those with Covid-19. Similarly, household air pollution (HAP) was over 18-folds higherduring our survey in 2007 than the WHO recommended guidelines . 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. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. Their effectiveness also varies depending on the work place, environment and fitting. According to Tuladhar, New Delhi was able to immediately swing into action because it had an action plan to deal with the crisis. The funds are the first . This can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. Nepal's Environment Protection Rules 2020 (2077) lists projects that need IEEs under Schedule 2, and those that need EIAs under Schedule 3. It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. 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 . Or, download a free sample copy of a past issue of Resurgence & Ecologist. The values between 151 and 200 are categorised as unhealthy. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets dug up to replace water mains has turned the Valley into a dust bowl. purely b. wisely c. competentlyd. The PM 10 concentration in major cities such as Kathmandu is . 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. 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 about our mission, and our team, here. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. In this level of air quality, everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Rivers, ponds and lakes should not be polluted because it affects animals and plants lives too. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu Researchers at the University of Edinburgh recently concluded that surgical masks blocked 80% of particles sized 0.007 microns. 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. 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. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. 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 recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. 21 October 2021 Climate and Environment. 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. Nearly two weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, confusing messages from government officials have frayed locals trust. 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. 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. The polluter pays' principle was introduced in 1972 in order to address this issue. It has a negative impact on various environmental aspects which directly or indirectly affect the quality of human health. Therefore, this study investigates the presence and abundance of microplastic in lake surface water . Environmental pollution is one of the greatest threats of the world today. This index is coloured red. The Ecologist is an environmental news and analysis website with a focus on environmental, social and economic justice. Air pollution has been a major problem of 21st century for both developed and developing world. Majorities express "a great deal" of worry about the pollution of both drinking water (56%) and rivers, lakes and reservoirs (53%). Butair pollution issues are continue to increase. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal Posted by July 3, 2022 morenci area schools staff on newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal Legal provisions should be made in order for people to manage solid wastes properly. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. The major effect of air pollution can be mainly observed in the cities such as Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Lumbini. Indeed, a long-term solution requires policy level intervention and coordination between all branches of government. A man performs morning workout with smog covering Kathmandu, Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. The air in Kathmandu, already dubbed one of the most polluted cities in the world, gets worse once the winter sets in. Last modified on Fri 3 Mar 2023 20.17 EST. The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. 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. We all have been well aware about the problem of environmental pollution which has been very petrifying to the living beings. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. 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. - . 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. There are dozens of types of masks available in Kathmandu. 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. UNICEF, on Wednesday, issued a statement calling for urgent action to address this air quality crisis in South Asia. says that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local," said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. 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 smoke generated from the wildfires worsened the pollution, according to an officer at the Division. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. Between 301 and 400 (maroon), the air quality is at a hazardous level; it has more severe health implications. Apex court orders acceptance of writ against PM, dubbed one of the most polluted cities in the world, air pollution levels reaching nearly 10 times healthy limits, 22 of the worlds most polluted cities in 2018, ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country, PM2.5 level for Kathmandu in 2018 was 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3, deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley, Overextraction and shrinking open spaces cause groundwater depletion in Kathmandu Valley, As season of forest fires starts, authorities alert public to risks, History and politics of Nepals school education, Insurgency-era victims of sexual crimes still unheard. 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. 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. It urges the polluters to pay for the damage done to the natural environment. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. To receive the magazine, become a member now. Kathmandus AQI has remained at the Maroon Hazardous level for two days in a row. Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution . This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. 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 see fog in the morning and haze in the afternoon due to local dust pollution in the winter season.. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 The visibility in Kathmandu valley has degraded to a significant level. In 2017, solar electricity costs dropped from $0.28 to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour for utility-scale photovoltaic solar power. Dealing with a problem that is transboundary in nature requires strong regional cooperation, she said. Nepali lawmakers tend to shun study and researchwith rare exceptions, Healthy youth presence perks up Lumbini Provincial Assembly. 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. The number of vehicles in the valley during the last two decades has increased ninefold, and reached 922,900 in total during 2015, according to the Department of Transport Management in Nepal. 1. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. I have started wearing a mask whenever Im outdoors.. The entire population is more likely to be affected. The moves sets the stage for the agency to issue tighter controls on mercury, a neurotoxin emitted by power plants. To The Editor The . Similarly, Dhangadhi was third in line to have the most degraded air quality among the list of stations measuring the AQI. 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.. I dont remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past, Khadka told Reuters. 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.. AQI levels in north India and Nepal on 5 January at 8AM showing Kathmandu's much higher pollution levels compared to New Delhi. The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt byplants, particularly to those closer to the road. The country of 30 million people lies in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters. But there is a difference between the nature of air pollution in New Delhi and Kathmandu, said Tuladhar. Advertisement 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. Iturges the polluters to pay for thedamage done to the natural environment. The government should really take a closer look at what their decision might lead the environment and the whole country to in the future. 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. 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. 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. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. 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 Every year, 35,000 people in Nepal die from illnesses related to air contaminants. Nepal is a landlocked nation with the current population of over 27 million people. 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. Thepolluter pays' principlewas introduced in1972 in order to address this issue. 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. 2426/077-78 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. At this level of air quality, it is better that active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. The environment of the industrial areas should be properly managed by the industries and concerned agencies. One of those rivers is the Melamchi, about 25 . Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. In Press, Journal Pre-proof, Available online 25 February 2023. 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. Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. According to AQ AirVisual, a Swiss group that collects air-quality data from around the world, the annual average PM2.5 level for Kathmandu in 2018 was 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter (g/m3), an increase from 45.9 g/m3 in 2017. In 2000 / 2001 there were 24,003 vehicles registered in Kathmandu and this has increased dramatically to 79,822 in 2015 / 2016. The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around3.5 million. A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. News from Indian environment including wildlife like tiger, lion, elephants. 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. Write a newspaper article on environmental pollution in Nepal to be published in a newspaper. These two are just representative examples of millions of people who are directly or indirectly affected by dust, a burning issue of the twenty first century. The CPV power plant operates in Woodbridge N.J. on Feb. 27, 2023. And residents of the capital who smoke get a double whammy. 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 ). This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. But air pollution issues are continue to increase. The leaves of plants are covered in dust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has also colour coded various AQI levels at Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Maroon. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Human error eyed as cause of Yeti Airlines crash that killed 72 people, 2 Americans, 2 permanent US residents among 72 dead in Nepal plane crash, Father of flight attendant urged her not to work before Nepal crash left 70 dead, Nepal to send data recorder from crash to France. Non-smokers in Kathmandu are now suffering from diseases that you would expect to see afflicting chain smokers. The Art of Dealing with Breaking Up: Get over those blues and Take Break-Ups Lightly. Subsequent increase in number of vehicles is one of the main culprits of air pollution [ 33, 34 ]. 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 . Microplastics are man-made pollutants which have been detected in surface water and groundwater. (left). The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan . Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. By Leah Douglas. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. 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. 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. "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. 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. Pollution means decline of the original qualities of the elements of the environment like air, water, land, etc. 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. Thereportsays that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. Some air pollution is not seen, but its pungent smell alerts you. Plastic overconsumption and mismanagement of plastic waste is a growing menace, causing landfills to overflow, choking rivers, and threatening marine ecosystems. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. Rather than benefits, morning walks could have serious health impacts, Sunil said. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The theme for World Environment Day (5 June) is #BeatAirPollution. There has also been a 25% increase in the number of vehicles on the roads. The haze has become a part of our environment, impeding our view and lowering our visibility. With neighbouring India and China committed to manufacturing only electric automobiles by 2030, Nepal will be forced to go electric. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking cigarettes., Solution to pollution, Pallavi Pant and Anobha Gurung. That compares with the governments standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. We can classify pollution in many categories such as soil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise . In 2013, a team of Cambridge University scientists were in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, developing a device to measure . Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. Air quality in the capital has deteriorated recently but average pollution readings were not available. Espaol. It may bring various adverse impact to the environment. In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained: Many businesses have gone down due to high amount of road dust. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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 victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. 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. Hemraj Bhattarai is agraduate student from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, and is currently working on air pollution issuesat Kathmandu Center for Research and Education, Nepal. 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. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. 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. No: 289512/78/079 VAT No: 610271654 Editor Ashok Silwal Email nepalnamcha@gmail.com, Copyright 2023, , All Rights Reserved | Designed with. systema 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. and a White House pledge to lend more support were met with skepticism in the community. Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous levels. Since PM2.5 are so small, they are also likely to hang in the air for longer, increasing the chances that they will be inhaled. 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. 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. At a time when Kathmandu's AQI was hitting record highs on Tuesday morning with 438, the New Delhi suburb of Noida recorded less than 151 ( AQI World map, below). 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.
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