As one of the most significant (and perhaps the best hidden) killer in the world, air pollution has been linked to over 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide and around 88% of such deaths occur in low or middle income countries like China, India and Pakistan. Nepal is far from exempt from this trend and data from 2010 show that over 10,000 premature deaths in Nepal can be attributed to such toxic emissions.
According to the air quality index of various countries published by WHO last year, the notoriety of Nepal's air quality is not that far behind China's and India's after all. Studies conducted by ICIMOD in Kathmandu have found that more than 50% of the 196 tonnes of emissions that we produce each year consists of small particles called PM2.5 and PM10. While most think that such tiny particles would be harmless to humans, nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, the smaller the size of such particles, the more the likelihood that they are going to penetrate our lungs and enter our bloodstreams unfiltered. This means that the human body becomes susceptible to various cardiovascular and pulmonary episodes like heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, asthma, and lung cancer. Such particulate matter is not only a major component of the perpetual winter smog that has blanketed both our neighbors but has also been linked to four to eight percent of all premature deaths worldwide.
Various measurements taken around Kathmandu show the PM2.5 and PM10 levels to be off the charts, rendering Kathmandu's air to be regarded as one of the foulest on earth. The particulate level in Kathmandu is several times what the WHO and Nepal's national guidelines for ambient air quality deem safe. However, due to lack of proper monitoring devices and skilled manpower, the government has been unable to mitigate such extensive air quality deterioration. Apart from a few scattered studies now and then, this problem remains largely ignored.
The major source of such particles in Nepal is the exhaust from various vehicles and the dust these vehicles kick up on unpaved and mismanaged roads. And even though almost a third of the vehicles that run on the street today do not comply with the emission standards and the majority of road networks are grossly mismanaged, no solutions have been worked out to address such issues. Measurements carried out in Putalisadak, Macche Gaun and Bhaktapur during major gridlock hours found that the particulate matter in the ambient air was, at certain days, more than sixteen times WHO's recommended value.
Other sources of such particulate matters include usage of dirty diesel generators, open tire and rubbish burning andoperation of inadequate brick kilns, all of which are abundant in Kathmandu. The extensive health and environmental impact of such uncontrolled emissions means a substantial toll on any country's economy. It has been estimated that Asian countries spend over one to three percent of their GDPs on management of such problems. As acute respiratory disorders are among the top five health complications in Nepal, it is not surprising that studies have estimated that more than 30 million rupees worth of costs can be cut each year if Kathmandu can find a way to reduce emission level to WHO's standard.
To reach this goal, however, there are many aspects of Nepali lifestyle that needs to beimproved. The government should implement its policies and guidelines more strictly and fine offenders stringently. It should invest in research and development of reliable air quality monitoring systems and by collaborating with the private sector introduce more public transportations similar to the environment-friendly safa tempos. Re-operating trolley buses should also be seriously considered and investment should be directed towards buses that can run on compressed natural gases which can be produced and harnessed from waste landfills.
As for us, we can do our part by cycling, walking and using public transportation whenever we can and promoting and using electric private vehicles as the alternative. In the industrial sector, reliance on solar energy must be promoted instead of using diesel generators and highly polluting traditional brick kilns could be replaced using greener, sleeker and more efficient designs.
Curbing our emissions may not be an easy task but is, undeniably, essential to the healthy growth of Nepal. There is a lot to learn from the predicament that rapidly developing economies like India and China are in now and if Nepal does not adopt more sustainable options then our future will be just as bleak. Failure to confront and control this problem when the spark is still relatively small will mean that it will flare up and be as uncontrollable as wild fire tomorrow.
sneha.pandey@hotmail.com
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