Uttam Maharjan

The World Health Organisation (WHO) revised the air quality guidelines on September 22. As per the revision, the level of fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5, has been reduced from 10 micrograms per cubic metre of air volume to 5 micrograms. The new guidelines have been published after conducting more than 500 relevant studies. Fine particulate matter is a major contributor to air pollution. It consists of tiny particles in the air such as sulphur, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water. When its levels are high, the air may become hazy, affecting visibility. It is considered one of the major concerns for public health.

Since the WHO guidelines on air quality were released in 2005, studies of air pollution have been going on. These studies show that air pollution affects public health in various ways. To mitigate the impacts of air pollution on public health, the new guidelines with stricter provision for controlling air pollution have been released. There are six major contributory factors to air pollution: PM 2.5, PM 10, ozone, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The WHO has revised the standards related to these major pollutants. If the new guidelines are strictly followed, the lives of millions, the WHO believes, could be saved. The WHO hopes that there will be a remarkable improvement in the public health sector if the new guidelines are followed.

Respiratory systems
Fine particulate matter can penetrate and lodge deep inside the lungs and disrupt the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It can also disrupt the blood circulation system and cause heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis. It has been proved to be carcinogenic; it can cause lung cancer. Studies show that air pollution has increased even deaths related to COVID-19.

In fact, air pollution is a growing problem all over the world. Although the guidelines on air quality were there, in 2019, 99 per cent of the world population was living in places where the guidelines were not followed. Studies show that seven million people die every year owing to air pollution. And the health of millions is affected by air pollution. Children are also vulnerable to air pollution. The size and functions of their lungs are affected and they fall victim to respiratory ailments like asthma. Air pollution is as dangerous as smoking and consumption of unhealthy food.

Indoor air pollution is also a serious health hazard. It affects as many as three billion people throughout the world. Those using biomass, kerosene or coal have been badly affected by such pollution. Rural people who are forced to use such sources of energy are more affected by indoor air pollution. Outdoor air pollution can engender heart disease, a heart attack, diabetes and degeneration of brain cells. A study shows that outdoor air pollution in cities and rural areas caused 4.2 million premature deaths in 2016. A 2016 WHO study shows as many as 10,000 people die per year in Kathmandu alone. A State of Global Air 2020 International Study report shows that 42,100 people died in Nepal in 2019.

Nepal has its own guidelines relating to controlling air pollution. As per the National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2012, the acceptable level of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air volume, while that of coarse particulate matter (PM 10) is 120 micrograms per cubic metre of air volume. If the country is to conform to the WHO guidelines, the country may be under duress because the levels of both PM 2.5 and PM 10 are eight times as high as those fixed by the WHO.

The country is not obliged to follow the WHO guidelines. However, since the guidelines are related to public health, there is no question of compromising on them. The Constitution of Nepal 2015, in Article 30, states that every citizen shall have the right to live in a clean and healthy environment. There is also provision for the victim to get compensation for any harm caused to him by the degrading environment. Likewise, the 15th periodic plan has provisions relating to pollution control, waste management and greenery promotion, among others.

Now, the government should review its air quality standards. It is a matter of disappointment that Nepal is on the list of the most polluted countries. The government frequently talks about controlling air pollution by promoting the use of electric vehicles and electric stoves and managing waste. However, the government has not been able to come up with concrete strategies. Vehicles running on petrol and diesel oil and factories are major pollutants in the country. Mismanagement of solid waste is another problem.

Compensation
As stated above, there is a constitutional provision of the right to a clean environment and of compensation for the harm caused by the degrading environment. The government should, therefore, live up to the provisions. For this, the government should at least practise what it preaches. Even if the government cannot construct the east-west electric railway, which seems to be a far-fetched dream now, at least electric vehicles can be promoted. And people can be encouraged to use electric stoves. But for this, electricity supply should be regular.
In the last analysis, cleaner transport (such as use of electric vehicles), energy-efficient homes, relocation of factories away from city centres, better waste management and the like are a prerequisite for controlling air pollution. It is high time the government made appropriate plans and implemented them in all honesty and met the WHO guidelines on air quality.

(Former banker, Maharjan has been regularly writing on contemporary issues for this daily since 2000. uttam.maharjan1964@gmail.com)