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According to data from the World Health Organization\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>global PM2.5 database<\/a><\/span>, Kathmandu\u2019s particulate pollution (<\/span>PM2.5<\/a><\/span>) averaged 49 micrograms\/m3 in 2013:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n That fits nicely with 2017 data I analyzed from\u00a0<\/span>the US Embassy\u2019s PM2.5 monitor<\/a><\/span>from Kathmandu (49 micrograms).[1]<\/a><\/p>\n How bad is that? That\u2019s just about double\u00a0<\/span>the WHO\u2019s 24-hour limit<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of 25 micrograms. That means, if your lungs are in Kathmandu, they\u2019re breathing in dangerous levels of tiny particles on most days.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yet that pollution isn\u2019t spread evenly throughout the year. Check out what happened after I broke down the US Embassy 2017 data by month.<\/p>\n In the summer, Kathmandu\u2019s PM2.5 falls to very close to the WHO annual limit. But in the winter, it shoots up to as high as 9 times that amount. And remember, that\u2019s the\u00a0<\/span>average<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>each month. Certain days will be much higher than that.<\/p>\n Why is the winter so much worse? This same pattern\u00a0<\/span>happens in Delhi<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>Beijing<\/a><\/span>. It happens because summer weather patterns push more pollution away and because winter brings winter heating.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Forty-nine micrograms is far from healthy, but Kathmandu still beats Delhi and Beijing:<\/p>\n Yet “better than Delhi” isn\u2019t much of a prize. Kathmandu is still far from healthy levels and far from the levels of major developed US cities like New York, which made it just under the WHO\u2019s stricter annual limit.<\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Kathmandu\u2019s air pollution isn\u2019t the worst in the neighborhood, but it is about twice the daily limit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Based on this data\u2014and after getting emails from air-breathers-in-need in Nepal\u2014I decided to set up\u00a0<\/span>Smart Air Nepal<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with the help of Shishir, a dedicated local. Smart Air Nepal now ships low-cost\u00a0<\/span>DIY purifiers, HEPA filters, and carbon filters to anyone in need in Nepal<\/a><\/span>. Or\u00a0<\/span>learn how to build your own purifier here<\/a><\/span>! Hopefully we can bring down the price of clean air in Kathmandu.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Breathe Safe, Nepal!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The image in my head of Nepal is full of sky. Nepal has glorious mountains and shining temples. But how\u2019s the air? According to data from the World Health Organization\u2019s\u00a0global PM2.5 database, Kathmandu\u2019s particulate pollution (PM2.5) averaged 49 micrograms\/m3 in 2013: That fits nicely with 2017 … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/2.png\")
<\/p>\nSeasonal Variation<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nHow Does Kathmandu Compare to Other Major Cities?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nMaking Safe Air in Nepal More Affordable<\/b><\/h3>\n
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