Kathmandu Ranks Fourth in Global Air Pollution Index

Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has secured the disheartening position of the fourth most polluted city globally. This designation comes as a stark reminder of the pressing issue of air pollution plaguing the city.

According to data provided by IQ AirVisual, an organization specializing in global air-quality information, Kathmandu’s air quality has reached alarming levels. As of 9:45 AM, the concentration of PM2.5, a hazardous airborne pollutant, soared to 184 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). PM2.5 particles, with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, pose severe health risks to the populace.

The current PM2.5 levels in Kathmandu surpass the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline value by a staggering 24 times, as reported by IQAir. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to tackle air pollution in the city.

Furthermore, neighboring areas like Bhaktapur and Lalitpur are also grappling with dangerously high levels of PM2.5 pollution. Bhaktapur recorded a PM2.5 concentration of 196 μg/m3, surpassing the WHO annual guideline value by 28.6 times. Similarly, Lalitpur’s PM2.5 concentration stands at 155 μg/m3, exceeding the WHO guideline by 12.5 times.

Kathmandu’s unfortunate ranking as the fourth most polluted city globally is based on IQ AirVisual’s latest rankings, with cities like Chengdu, Lahore, and Delhi preceding it in the list.