KATHMANDU : Kathmandu has secured the position of the second most polluted city globally, based on its air pollution levels.
At present, the air quality in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, is deemed unhealthy, with PM2.5 levels soaring to 184 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) as recorded at 7:45 AM, according to the data from IQ AirVisual, an organization specializing in global air-quality information.
This places Kathmandu as the second most polluted city globally.
PM2.5, the primary airborne pollutant consisting of solid or liqud droplets with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, poses significant health risks.
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.
Kathmandu’s designation as the third most polluted city globally is based on IQ AirVisual rankings, with Chiang Mai in Thailand holding the top spot.
Republica
