Swiss firm ranks Kathmandu most polluted city in the world

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A Swiss firm, IQAir, has ranked Kathmandu as the most polluted city in the world on Tuesday.

Kathmandu [Nepal], April 8 (HBTV): A Swiss firm, IQAir, has ranked Kathmandu as the most polluted city in the world on Tuesday.

According to the IQAir website, Kathmandu recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 279, falling under the 'very unhealthy' category. The firm reported PM2.5 concentrations at 204.5 µg/m³ and PM10 levels at 233.5 µg/m³.

As per IQAir, ‘PM2.5 concentration is currently 40.9 times the World Health Organization annual PM2.5 guideline value.’

The worsening air quality has led to a surge in respiratory-related cases at major government hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley. The Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), one of the largest government-run multidisciplinary hospitals, has reported a significant increase in patients visiting its Out-Patient Department (OPD).

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, spans an area of 413.69 square kilometres. As per the 2022 census, it has a population of 1,988,606 and a population density of 12,440 people per square mile. Over the past decade, it has become a hotspot for air pollution.

Primary contributors to the deteriorating air quality include emissions from vehicles that fail emission tests, industrial smoke, residential emissions, and the rampant burning of waste. These factors have significantly worsened air pollution levels in the city.

According to Nepal’s Ministry of Health, air pollution is responsible for an estimated 42,000 deaths annually. Among these, 19 per cent are children under five and 27 per cent are individuals over the age of 70. The data also shows that air pollution has reduced the life expectancy of Nepali citizens by 4.1 per cent.

Nepal’s air quality is significantly below the World Health Organization’s recommended safety standards, marking the issue as a growing public health crisis. The impact extends beyond health, placing an economic burden on the country due to productivity losses and increased pressure on healthcare resources.

Furthermore, there remains a lack of comprehensive health impact assessment data to accurately estimate the public health and economic consequences of air pollution, as well as the sector-specific interventions needed to combat this environmental threat. (ANI)