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. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. 2426/077-78 hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. Thepolluter pays' principlewas introduced in1972 in order to address this issue. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. Air pollution is cutting more than 2 years from billions of - CNN 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. 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. Atmospheric greenhouse gases reach record high, latest essay from our Megamorphosis series now. 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. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. Environmental Issues and pollution in Nepal - Earth's Edge 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. 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. 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. 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. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality by emitting huge quantities of smoke into the ambient environment. Submissions 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. 1. 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. US to Toughen Water Pollution Rules for Meat Plants 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. But it shall be helpful only if it is implemented. Only a year ago, snow clad mountains shone brightly in the winter and we could see the mountains and hills clearly. 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 The Ecologist is an environmental news and analysis website with a focus on environmental, social and economic justice. Air pollution is a chronic problem in the rapidly growing capital city of Kathmandu and an additional headache for the government that is struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Air pollution is a chronic problem in the rapidly growing capital city of Kathmandu and an additional headache for the government that is struggling to contain the coronavirus pandemic. In 2017, the Department of Environment had drafted an action plan to tackle the deteriorating quality of air in Kathmandu Valley. "We found that the pollution exposure was really, really high, suggesting potential for substantial health impacts of air pollution in this region," says Gurung, who is now a doctoral candidate at F&ES. We've received your submission. But the Narayani's problems go back further. Environmental news, a monthly report on Global - Warm Heart Worldwide Yours sincerely, Rajesh. South Asia News: KATHMANDU: Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home. Officials for the railroad company pulled out hours earlier, infuriating some residents who said they wanted answers from the company. 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 victims of air pollutionurgently requirean appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. 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 Cities, Reducing Air Pollution Could Lower Cancer Rates At Similar 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 Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award recognizes students whose application of science demonstrates the betterment of the environment and/or public health. World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. 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. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. The 3rd leading cause of death in low and middle-income countries is COPD, 5th leading cause is Lower Respiratory Infections and seventh is Diarrheal diseases. This is what we learned. 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. The victims of air pollution urgently require an appropriate action plan . Rapid and haphazard urbanisation in the last few decades has resulted in the degradation of the environment, predominantly in terms of air pollution. The average exposure for the officers was 51.2 g/m 3, with an hourly maximum of more than 500 g/m 3. A road-widening spree, earthquake destruction and delays in fixing streets . 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. Q 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. 'A waste of time and money': Why are EIAs so ineffective in Nepal? In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked Nepal 177th out of 180 countries. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. Indeed, a long-term solution requires policy level intervention and coordination between all branches of government. "Every year, we witness a surge in air pollution during the winter season. Around 100 people die every day in Nepal because of air pollution. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. The major reason for high ambient air pollution in Nepal is largely from traffic related with old . 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. Benchmarks . , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". FEATURED FUNDS. Also, news . The Department of Environments own measuring station in parts of Kathmandu showed the AQI staying above 400 all day on Monday. 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. 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]. editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 It is now causing heart attacks, kidney diseases, osteoporosis and dementia. Last modified on Fri 3 Mar 2023 20.17 EST. In Nepal, COPD is the second major cause of death after Ischemic Heart Diseases. A mask at best is a temporary solution and does not block harmful gases. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking. According to Tuladhar, New Delhi was able to immediately swing into action because it had an action plan to deal with the crisis. To receive the magazine, become a member now. 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. Trans-boundary pollution can affect our air quality too as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, connected to Nepal, are also polluted. 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. The major effect of air pollution can be mainly observed in the cities such as Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, and Lumbini. Besides the quantity of fuel consumption, the poor road condition of older vehicles is triggering air quality problems in the valley. 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. systema 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. Factors contributing to this level of pollution are local, said Shankar Prasad Paudel, information officer with the Department of Environment. Espaol. The company's plan to a second gas-fired power plant next to the existing one is being opposed by residents of the mainly minority and low-income communities around the plant who say an environmental justice law signed over two years ago by New Jersey Gov. 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 . 25th Jan, 2023. However, the vast portion of pollution is generated locally. Nepal's schools close as air pollution hits alarming levels This can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. All of these vehicles degrade the air quality byemitting huge quantitiesof smoke into the ambient environment. Also, news from United Nations. Air pollution crisis in South Asia causing massive loss of pregnancies The government should ban the use of old vehicles. Thanks for contacting us. 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 . A Love Beyond Measure: The Unforgettable Reunion, , . Every year, 35,000 people in Nepal die from illnesses related to air contaminants. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. This is a very unpleasant decision. purely b. wisely c. competentlyd. Kathmandu air pollution hits record high | Nepali Times editors@nepalitimes.com | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005602 Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. Similarly, Dhangadhi was third in line to have the most degraded air quality among the list of stations measuring the AQI. Under the US Clean Water Act, the EPA regulates wastewater discharge from meat and poultry plants into . 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.. Taking action to tackle the pollution in Nepal Nepal wildfires cause hazardous smog as pollution levels hit record Copper multifaceted interferences during swine wastewater treatment in high rate algal ponds: Alterations on nutrient removal, biomass composition and resource recovery. at Phora Darbar. Subsequent increase in number of vehicles is one of the main culprits of air pollution [ 33, 34 ]. Other global AQI measurement sites likeIQAirput Kathmandus pollution level at 487 the highest among cities in the region. Additionally, problems like littering and excessive carbon emissions are causing problems for both people and the environment. 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 . In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)ranked Nepal 177thout of 180 countries. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. 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. 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 ). All news about Environment pollution | Euronews Independent lab testing finds elevated level of chemical of concern in By Sophie Wodzak,Emily Cochrane and Lisa Friedman. Our environment determines our health and civilization. This year, I have already started feeling different. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. 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. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. WASHINGTON - Today the Environmental Working Group published an analysis of peer-reviewed data that for the first time shows the global scope of contamination by the "forever chemicals" known as PFAS, which may be harming over 330 wildlife species around the world.. The US government held a meeting in Kathmandu this month of its embassy staff specialising in air pollution based in 30 Asian countries. Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. Groundbreaking map shows toxic 'forever chemicals' in more than 330 If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. Basudev Paudel is in his late fifties and at his age, he believes that regular morning walks are important for keeping healthy. For many influencers across the political spectrum, claims about the environmental effects of the train derailment have gone far beyond known facts. 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. Air pollution is more dangerous than smoking cigarettes., Solution to pollution, Pallavi Pant and Anobha Gurung. The recent Environmental Performance Index 2016 has suggested increase in overall PM 2.5 in Nepal over the last decade. 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. The birds identified as having the disease, named . 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 governments standard level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Water In Crisis - Spotlight Nepal - The Water Project Environment pollution in Nepal - Even before Covid-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had warned that poor, in northern India and the Tarai was already the. Smog has blanketed huge swaths of Nepal as air pollution in the Himalayan country soared to hazardous levels. Air pollution: Even worse than we thought - WHO - BBC News Department of Information Registration No. 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. However, two years later, the action plan has neither been finalised nor enforced. Such particles will not reach Kathmandu because it is surrounded by hills. Hundreds of thousands are sheltering in tents, breathing air thick with pollutants unleashed from tombs of rubble, fearful that a new disaster could strike at any moment. Plastic waste is a growing menace, and a wasted opportunity Located between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters, the Himalayan nation is seeing the worst pollution levels since 2016. International breweries are polluting Nepalese rivers 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. The gendered impacts of indoor air pollution in Nepal's - ICIMOD Nepal's schools close as air pollution hits alarming levels Pollution in Nepal - 724 Words | 123 Help Me There is a proportionately very high consumption of gasoline and diesel in the valley. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. The strategy guiding the work for The Ecologist for the years 2023 to 2026 has now been published. 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. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service, : Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after. The government slashed taxes on electric vehicles, butmuch of the supporting infrastructure required, likecharging facilities, uninterrupted electric supply and adequate parking lots, has not even been planned. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. All living being birds, animals, insects, plants and even human beings are victims of pollution. Legal provisions should be made in order for people to manage solid wastes properly. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. "I don't remember this level of pollution in Kathmandu in the past," Khadka told Reuters. Air pollution has had a massive impact on Nepalese people. 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. 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 Officials at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. The index stood at 214 as per DoE's data. In . 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. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . 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. 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. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained:Manybusinesseshavegone down due to high amount of road dust. Concerns over respiratory illnesses related to environmental toxins on