In a shocking development, Kathmandu, Nepal, has earned the grim title of the world’s most polluted city based on current air quality readings. As of 8:45 am, the city’s air quality index registered as “very unhealthy,” with PM2.5 levels reaching a hazardous 258 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3).
PM2.5, fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers, poses severe health risks due to its ability to deeply penetrate the lungs and bloodstream. Kathmandu’s alarming PM2.5 concentration is a staggering 41.5 times higher than the annual limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Data from IQ AirVisual, a Swiss air quality monitoring group, places Kathmandu at the top of its global pollution rankings. Other heavily polluted cities include Delhi (India), Lahore (Pakistan), Dhaka (Bangladesh), and Baghdad (Iraq).
This distressing situation highlights the desperate need for immediate action to address Kathmandu’s air quality crisis. Stringent policies and effective measures must be implemented to curb pollution sources and protect the health of residents and visitors alike.
