Peaking Air Pollution

With the breakout of forest fires in hundreds of places across Nepal in recent days, air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley and various other cities has reached dangerous level, posing a serious threat to the health of people. IQAir, an organisation measuring the real-time pollution of 101 cities globally, listed Kathmandu as the most polluted city with its Air Quality Index (AQI) of 202 on Saturday evening. New Delhi of India, Chiang Mai of Thailand, Hanoi of Vietnam, Bangkok of Thailand and Dhaka of Bangladesh were ranked second, third, fourth and fifth, respectively. However, Iran’s Tehran emerged as the most polluted city on Sunday, leaving Kathmandu in the second position. With rising air pollution, the number of people suffering from asthma, pneumonia and other respiratory ailments has been on the rise significantly in in Kathmandu and other parts of the country. Various hospitals within the Kathmandu Valley have now recorded more patients of respiratory complications. Doctors say that children, elderly people and those with co-morbidities are more vulnerable to health problems than others.

Over the past few days, the concentration of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) in Kathmandu has remained much higher than the limit set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The PM2.5 is one of the key air pollutants in the Kathmandu Valley. The concentration of the PM2.5 is required to be less than five microns for a healthy environment. But it ranged from 75.39 to 120.57 microns. Such particles contain nitrone, sulphate, black carbon and ammonia. Industries, vehicles and burning of firewood and agricultural residues contribute to the emission of the PM2.5 particles into the air, making it toxic. Other human and natural sources are also responsible for such emissions. Similarly, the Valley's AQI was startlingly high on Sunday. According to the Department of Environment, AQI at Shankha Park stood at 187 while Khumaltar, Bhaisepati, Ratna Park and Kirtipur recorded 186, 184, 179 and 176, respectively. The level of AQI up to 50 is considered acceptable while its concentration from 150 to 200 is harmful for people with poor health condition, 201-300 is risky for everyone and 301-500 is a  critical situation.  

Because of thick layer of haze triggered by air pollution, there was poor visibility. Many flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara and some other destinations remained disrupted for some days. With its unique atmospheric situation, the Kathmandu Valley reels from the problem of air pollution in winter and pre-monsoon. The highly polluted air enters the bowl-shaped valley through different passes like Dakshinkali and Thankot and remains in the sky until it is lashed by strong winds, and rains. A lack of rainfall is one of the reasons for such a surge in air pollution. No part of the country has witnessed rainfalls for the past 12 days. Considering the alarming level of air pollution, the Department of Environment recently issued an urgent notice, calling on people to take necessary precautions while leaving home. Health specialists have also asked people to wear a face-mask to reduce the effects of air pollution on their health. 

A report released by the State of Global Air some months ago shows that more than 42,000 people die of air pollution-related ailments in Nepal every year. The number might go up in the days to come given the mounting rate of pollution. Everyone must remain watchful about the possible outbreak of forest fires.  They should also stop burning trash, agricultural residues and plastics to prevent the emission of toxic smoke. In this dry season, all the local governments need to pay extra attention towards preventing forest fires and maintaining clean environment.