Nepal’s declining air quality is being caused by construction dust and road pollution
When a 65-year-old lady from Lalitpur, where a flyover is being built, complained of dizziness and shortness of breath, she was sent to a private clinic. Her oxygen level had fallen to 40, a crucial point where a patient need more oxygen through a tube and mask, according to the doctors. In the Kathmandu Valley and elsewhere, the quality of the air is once again becoming worse. According to experts, the primary causes include dust from roads and building sites, as well as the burning of stubble and agricultural waste. In addition to this Indian air pollution may be just as to blame.
The Kathmandu Valley’s air quality deteriorated to hazardous levels on Wednesday. The PM2.5 levels in Kathmandu reached 189 micrograms per cubic meter on Wednesday morning, making it the sixth most polluted city in the world, according to IQ AirVisual. Even higher amounts, 207 micrograms per cubic meter, were observed in Meghauli, Chitwan, and are regarded as “very unhealthy.” Particulate matter in the air less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter is referred to as PM2.5. It is one of the most harmful pollutants that may enter the lungs and even the bloodstream through the nose and throat.
