Kathmandu– In a disconcerting development, Kathmandu, the federal capital of Nepal, has been singled out as the world’s most polluted city in terms of air quality.
At 8:45 am, the current air quality in Kathmandu has been labeled as very unhealthy, with PM2.5 levels reaching 258 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3).
PM2.5, the predominant airborne pollutant comprising fine solid or liquid particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, poses substantial health hazards.
Data provided by IQ AirVisual, a Swiss organization specializing in global air-quality monitoring, reveals that Kathmandu’s PM2.5 concentration surpasses the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline by a staggering 41.5 times. This unfortunate distinction propels Kathmandu to the summit of IQ AirVisual’s rankings as the most polluted city worldwide.
Following Kathmandu, cities such as Delhi in India, Lahore in Pakistan, Dhaka in Bangladesh, and Baghdad in Iraq complete the top five most polluted cities globally.
The alarming levels of air pollution underscore the pressing necessity for collaborative efforts to confront environmental challenges and enhance air quality not only in Kathmandu but also across the broader region.
Urgent action is imperative, with the implementation of effective measures and policies to mitigate pollution levels and safeguard public health and well-being in the area.
