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Maya Fact Sheet # 5 - Air Quality Status and Management in Kathmandu Valley
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Air pollution has become a serious environmental concern and a public health risk in Kathmandu Valley. Studies show that the concentration of particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM 10) in the Valley’s ambient air is already several times higher than WHO safer limit and Kathmandu is one of the most polluted cities in Asia with regards to PM10 and PM2.5level (WHO, 2014b; CAI-Asia, 2006). Although levels of gaseous pollutants such
as oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulphur, and ozone have not been found to be very high, they may increase in the future with increasing motorization. Furthermore, levels of toxic chemicals such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) may also be high due to combustion in brick kilns and diesel vehicles (MOEST, 2005). According to Environmental Pollution Index 2014 published by Yale University, Nepal ranked second last after Bangladesh in terms of air quality and its effect to human health.
Nepal is the fastest urbanizing country in South Asia and Kathmandu Valley is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the region (World Bank, 2012). The valley has observed rapid urbanization and population growth in last few decades. The annual population growth rate is in the Valley 4.3 % and the annual motorization rate is 12% (CBS, 2011; DoTM, 2014). The valley is especially vulnerable to air pollution due to haphazard urbanization, rapid
motorization, valley centric industrialization and its topography.
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Publisher:
CANN, UN HABITAT
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(2014
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Type / Script:
Bulletin or Poster
in English
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Keywords:
AIR POLLUTION, PUBLIC HEALTH, HEALTH RISK, POLLUTION, POLLUTANTS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN, LAND DEGRADATION, FOREST DEGRADATION, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
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Thematic Group:
UNHABITAT
:
Human Settlements
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Thesaurus:
03.04.00
- Pollution
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Reference Link:
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