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Pollution Level Spikes In Nepal Making It Second Most Polluted City In The World

Vehicles ply on the roads of Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 12, 2026, as a polluted haze covers the valley, plummeting the Air Quality Index. The city's Air Quality Index ranges between 200 to 250 in the "very unhealthy" category, well above the threshold of 150 that is considered unhealthy and past the 200 mark that signals very unhealthy air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, the most dangerous category of airborne pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, is recorded at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 25 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3. Coarse particulate matter, PM10, stands at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved Air Quality Index scale, a reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population urges all residents to take precautions. According to the ministry, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and can contribute to conditions including asthma and cancer. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#13435201
Date Taken	12 March 2026
Location	N/A
Photographer	Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto
Category	Environmental Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

No People Kathmandu vehicles roads polluted haze Air Quality Index March 12 2026 very unhealthy threshold unhealthy fine particulate matter PM2.5 airborne pollutant lungs micrograms per cubic meter World Health Organization safe limit coarse particulate matter PM10 Nepal government-approved scale Ministry of Health Population residents precautions air pollution heart blood vessels lungs eyes kidneys asthma cancer exposure damage conditions Subaas Shrestha NurPhoto.

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