'Air pollution emergency' in Kathmandu

 The government warned Kathmandu Valley residents not to come out from their homes for a couple of days as the air pollution has crossed the dangerous level today suddenly witnessing a record worst air quality – with increasing pollution and reducing mercury level – in the world.

Kathmandu’s overall air-quality readings hit the worst, making it the most polluted city in the world, followed by New Delhi, according to AQ AirVisual, a Swiss group that collects real-time air-quality data from around the world.

The air quality of the Kathmandu Valley has been ranked as the worst in the world with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standing at 401.67 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) Monday midnight. According to the Kathmandu Valley’s Air Pollution Management Action Plan, the authorities can declare a public health emergency whenever AQI readings exceed 300. The Cabinet had endorsed the action plan on February 24 last year. According to the Action Plan, the authorities should declare an air pollution emergency, if the air quality index goes above 300 (µg/m3). But the Ministry of Forests and Environment – that looks after the environment issues – has no plan to declare an emergency. However, it is planning to impose odd-even rules for vehicles in the Valley, if the pollution level sees no improvement.

The air-quality monitoring station at Ratna Park and Phora Durbar, both recorded the worst level of air pollution. According to EPA’s air quality index, air quality levels between 151-200 is considered ‘unhealthy’, and everyone may experience problems, with sensitive groups feeling more severe effects. The levels exceeding AQI 300 are considered ‘hazardous’ for everyone and may prompt emergency alerts.

Air quality remains the worst in the first week of January, according to the scientists. “People need to follow precautionary measures to avoid health hazards by wearing masks while coming out of their homes,” they suggested, adding that the people also need to change their habits in situations like these to stay safe.

The air quality started deteriorated to ‘hazardous levels’ since yesterday evening, when it crossed the 600 mark, fuelling concerns about respiratory complications especially among the elderly, children and Covid-19 patients. 

As the air quality has deteriorated to the worst levels, the scientists and public health experts also recommended to stay indoors, and use mask if they need to go out. “With decreasing mercury level and increasing pollution, the air quality of the Valley has become the worst,” according to the data maintained by Drishti Kathmandu, an organisation that conducts studies on air pollution. “The PM2.5 levels of Kathmandu has been hovering in between 233 (µg/m3) and 401.67 (µg/m3) today,” the date reveals, adding that the PM2.5 levels of more than 150µg/m3 is considered extremely dangerous for human health, and people are recommended to stay indoors. “The overall air quality index of the Kathmandu Valley today stood at 437µg/m3, worst in the world, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company.

Overall Air Quality Index (AQI) levels haven’t dropped since Monday night while westerly winds have enveloped the country with dense fog. The polluted air seems to stay stagnant on the surface for a longer period of time as Kathmandu is a valley. “If the Valley sees rainfall, then it will wash away the pollution from the air, or it will take a few days for improved air quality,” according to the scientists, who also suggested the government to declare pollution emergency. “Other countries would have already declared air pollution emergency, had air quality deteriorated to the current level of Kathmandu Valley.”

The Department of Environment – late in the evening issuing a press note – urged children and old people in the Kathmandu Valley to stay inside their houses unless it is absolutely necessary to go outside. “People, especially children, elderly and those with respiratory problems, need to adopt proper precautions against the growing air pollution in the Valley while venturing outside,” the press note reads, adding that the air quality in other cities like Nepalgunj and Biratnagar is also deteriorating. “Vehicular emission, forest fires and cross-border industrial pollution too have contributed to the deterioration in Kathmandu air quality.”

Nepal 's air quality is worst in South Asian region

Nepal’s air quality is degrading every year making it the worst in South Asian region, according to the State of Global Air 2019 report published by Health Effects Institute.
"From 2015 to 2017, annual exposure of Nepalis to air pollution increased from 96 µg/m3 to 100 µg/m3," the data by the the Boston-based institute revealed, adding that Nepal’s pollution level is soaring, whereas the South Asian region is cutting down emissions. "In 2017, annual PM 2.5 exposure was highest in South Asia, where Nepal (100 µg/m3), India (91 µg/m3), Bangladesh (61 µg/m3), and Pakistan (58 µg/m3) had the highest exposures but Maldives (7.8 µg/m3) had the lowest exposure in the region.
Particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, can enter the lungs and the bloodstream (PM2.5) exposures were highest in South Asia in 2017. Across the world, 3.6 billion people (47 per cent of the global population) were exposed to household air pollution from the use of solid fuels for cooking.
Exposures to ambient PM2.5 have reduced life expectancy by an estimated average of 1 years and 7 months in South Asia and 1 year and 3 months in North Africa and the Middle East. The impact on life expectancy in more-developed countries is far lower, about 4½ months on average in the high-income regions of North America and Asia Pacific.
“In South Asia, household air pollution contributes to an additional life expectancy loss of about 1 year and 3 months, bringing the total life expectancy loss from air pollution to 2 years and 6 months,” the report reads.
In Nepal, the proportion of households using solid cooking fuels in 2017 was 65 per cent (19 million).
The similar study published on Jan 25, 2018 had revealed that air quality in Nepal is the worst in the world as Nepal ranked at the bottom among the 180 countries surveyed in terms of air-quality in a global study by Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.
The global Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranked the countries on 24 indicators across 10 categories, covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality. Environmental health also includes two other components of water and sanitation and exposure to heavy metals.
Nepal was ranked the last for air-quality among 180 countries, according to the EPI that highlighted air pollution as a leading threat to public health. The report had measured Household solid fuels, PM2.5 exposures and PM2.5 exceedance for measuring air quality of countries included in the study. "With the score of 3.94, Nepal’s air quality has been reported worse than other countries in the region like Pakistan (176th), China (177th), India (178th) and Bangladesh (179th)," it revealed, adding that Australia secured the highest ranking for clean air while the US ranked 10th. 

DopperChangemaker challenge to award student-led project

One of the most pressing problems in the modern world is that of water and plastic Pollution. About 2.7 tonnes of plastic waste is produced in Nepal everyday out of which 80 per cent ends up in landfills, causing irreversible damage by polluting our soil and water bodies. Innovative solution like Dopper is going to address the problem by awarding the ones working to make change.
Dopper – a social enterprise from the Netherlands – introduced the DopperChangemaker Challenge 2019 in Nepal to support students implement their thesis or graduation project on two major environmental issues: water and, or plastic pollution. The international competition helps kick-start the careers of graduates, with a funding support ranging from cash prize of Rs 200,000 to the first place winner and the title DopperChangemaker 2019. Additionally, Rs 125,000 to the second and third place winners and Rs 75000 each to the rest of the winners in top 10 will be rewarded, it said.
Dopper joined their forces with Himalayan Climate Initiative (HCI) – a youth driven Nepali Non-Profit Organisation – is committed to building Social Inclusion and Climate Resilience. HCI envisions putting Nepal on a sustainable development trajectory.
DopperChangemakerChallenge can be an excellent launchpad for young people to transform their innovative project idea in to an actual implementable solution or a social business if they desire. Applications opened from 19 February 2019 and would be accepted till 12 April 2019. This international challenge is simultaneously organised for hundreds of students across Netherlands, London, Berlin and Kathmandu. Dopper founder Merijn Everaarts says, “We believe that the solutions of the young minds of today can surprise us the most. With this challenge we want to give them the opportunity to actually make a positive change.”

Kathmandu third most polluted city in the world

Kathmandu is the third most polluted city in the world, according to Pollution Index 2016.
The annual report published by Serbia-based research website Numbeo.com has ranked Nepal’s capital city at the third position with a score of 96.66. Last year, Kathmandu was ranked at the fifth position on the index in the beginning of 2015. Kathmandu has slipped two places to third in the middle of last year.
The rankings are based on visitors’ perceptions to the website that also include some relevant data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other institutions, the Numbeo.com reads, adding that the index is an estimation of the overall pollution in the city with the biggest weight given to air and water pollution.
According to the report, Tetovo city of Macedonia is the most polluted city, followed by Egyptian capital Cairo, whereas Philippines’ capital Manila, Noida and Delhi of India, Guangzhou of China, Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam and Egypt’s Alexandria complete the list of the 10 most polluted cities.
Likewise, Nepal is ranked 17th on the Pollution Index for Country 2016, with Egypt being the world’s most polluted country.