Kathmandu is the fifth most polluted city globally, according to data from IQAir.
The air quality in Kathmandu is deemed unhealthy, with PM2.5 levels soaring to 162 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) as recorded at 2:00 PM local time on Tuesday.
PM2.5, the primary airborne pollutant consisting of solid or liquid droplets with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, poses significant health risks to residents.
The current PM2.5 concentration in Kathmandu exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline value by 24 times, as reported by IQAir. Moreover, neighboring areas such as Bhaktapur face even higher concentrations, with PM2.5 levels reaching 196 μg/m3, surpassing the WHO annual guideline value by 28.6 times.
In Lalitpur, the situation remains dire, with PM2.5 concentrations standing at 155 μg/m3, exceeding the WHO annual guideline value by 12.5 times.