Air pollution is responsible for the deaths of approximately 42,000 people every year in Nepal, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.
Ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki stated that children under the age of five account for approximately 21 percent of the total deaths attributed to air pollution.
He stated that prolonged exposure to polluted air can lead to a range of serious health conditions, including respiratory diseases such as asthma, as well as heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and memory impairment.
Health experts warn that air pollution also poses significant risks to children. Exposure to polluted air can cause respiratory problems, increase the likelihood of heart disease, raise infant illness rates, and elevate the risk of childhood cancer. It may also contribute to delayed brain development, abnormal behaviour, and malnutrition.
Similarly, high levels of air pollution have been linked to complications during pregnancy and reproductive health issues, including low birth weight in babies, anaemia, infertility, gestational diabetes, and mental health problems.
Dr. Budhathoki stated that pollution levels in Nepal are currently approximately eight times higher than the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). He noted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Nepal reached as high as 185 on Thursday, indicating unhealthy air conditions.
According to WHO guidelines, the annual average concentration of particulate matter considered safe for human health should not exceed five micrograms per cubic metre. Dr Budhathoki explained that fine particles smaller than this can remain suspended in the air and easily enter the lungs during breathing.
He added that pollution levels in Nepal remain significantly higher than the WHO-recommended standards.
Under the AQI classification, a score between 0 and 50 is considered healthy, 51 to 100 moderate, and 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups such as the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and children. An AQI above 151 is considered unhealthy for the general population.
Experts estimate that if pollution levels in Nepal could be reduced to within WHO standards, the average life expectancy of Nepalese people could increase by about 3.3 years.
Globally, air pollution causes around 7.9 million deaths each year, with about 90 percent of those deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Major sources of air pollution include vehicle emissions, industrial discharge, open burning of waste and organic materials, dust from roads and construction activities, forest fires, and the use of pesticides and insecticides.
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