Doctors say that even though the level of air pollution is increasing every year, no study has been done on its effect in Nepal so far
Air pollution is above the danger level for the last two weeks. With the increase in air pollution, the number of respiratory patients in hospitals has also started increasing. Earlier, air pollution in Kathmandu had crossed the danger level last December.
According to the Department of Water and Meteorology, the amount of pollution is increasing this year due to low westerly winds. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standards, the amount of PM-2.5 per cubic meter of air in 24 hours should not exceed 25 micrograms.
According to the Department of Environment, AQI is out of the national standard for about six months of the year. However, the Department of Environment has not collected data since 073. According to the data collected by the department in 2013, PM-2.5 has exceeded the AQI standard of 158 days out of 310 days on an annual basis. The level of AQI has reached much higher than that of 073 this year.
According to doctors, with the increase in air pollution, the number of respiratory patients in the hospital has started increasing. P.D. According to Santa Kumar Das, the number of patients coming to the hospital with asthma and bronchitis has been increasing recently. The lungs are more affected in the beginning as the pollutants enter the body through respiration. Many tiny particles pass through the lungs and enter other organs through the blood. Pollution is thought to be the cause of the increase in the number of patients coming to the hospital with respiratory infections, 'he said.
According to the World Health Organization, one out of every ten deaths is due to the effects of air pollution. A 2019 report by the Health Effects Institute found that air pollution has reduced life expectancy by 20 percent worldwide. The study, compiled from the Global Burden of Disease Project, found that the effects of air pollution were even greater in South Asia.
Air pollution is a long-term health problem
According to various studies on the effects of toxic air, pollution is increasing the risk of respiratory infections, heart problems, diabetes, asthma and lung cancer. Although the level of air pollution is increasing every year, no study has been done on its impact in Nepal. Older people are more likely to be affected by air pollution. In South Asia, one in ten deaths among adolescents over the age of 50 is due to health problems caused by air pollution.
Senior Chest Specialist Dr. According to Neeraj Bam, air pollution has an immediate and long-term effect on health. High levels of air pollution can cause eye problems, eye infections, skin allergies, respiratory infections, and colds. Which can be cured immediately through treatment. However, pollution is becoming a major cause of chronic diseases. "The effects of pollution are not immediately felt, but the fine particles that enter the body through respiration increase the risk of COPD, pneumonia, high blood pressure, paralysis, and heart attack by 40 percent," he said.
According to environmentalists, the current pollution in the air is made up of various large and small toxic particles. Pollution can be seen with the naked eye. That is, having more than 25 micrograms of PM-2.5 in the air is harmful to health. According to doctors, excessive air pollution affects people who smoke every day. Dr. "Smoking is now being affected more by pollution than by nicotine," says Bam.
According to environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar, air pollution is caused by a mixture of smog from vehicles, factories, construction sites, fires, etc. "There are more than a hundred toxic particles in the air, which seems to have a direct effect on health," he said. Prolonged exposure to various toxic particles from different sources increases the risk of diseases such as cancer.
As AQI increases, so does the health impact. Figures from the Forest Department show that Nepal has had the most fires so far this year. In addition, smoke from vehicles is another major source. There are 1.4 million fuel-powered vehicles in Kathmandu Valley alone. In the air pollution of the valley, 31 percent of the pollution comes from TSP and 30 percent from PM10.
According to a report published by the Office of the Auditor General in 074, based on a special audit of air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley, 6,953 tons of particles smaller than 10 microns (PM10) of pollution are caused by vehicles every year.
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