"Particulate Matter"

#13526149

1 Apr 2026

Brick kilns emit smoke as they operate in areas of Bhaktapur, Nepal, as the moon rises in the background on April 1, 2026.

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#13526150

1 Apr 2026

Brick kilns emit smoke as they operate in areas of Bhaktapur, Nepal, as the moon rises in the background on April 1, 2026.

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#13501893

27 Mar 2026

A black and white Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) sits on the roof of a house in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 27, 2026. Kathmandu experiences high levels of air pollution, with the AQI pollution level climbing towards hazardous levels due to increasing wildfires in the jungles.

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#13501894

27 Mar 2026

A black and white Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) sits on the roof of a house in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 27, 2026. Kathmandu experiences high levels of air pollution, with the AQI pollution level climbing towards hazardous levels due to increasing wildfires in the jungles.

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#13501895

27 Mar 2026

A black and white Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) sits on the roof of a house in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 27, 2026. Kathmandu experiences high levels of air pollution, with the AQI pollution level climbing towards hazardous levels due to increasing wildfires in the jungles.

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#13501896

27 Mar 2026

A black and white Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) sits on the roof of a house in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 27, 2026. Kathmandu experiences high levels of air pollution, with the AQI pollution level climbing towards hazardous levels due to increasing wildfires in the jungles.

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#13501897

27 Mar 2026

A black and white Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) sits on the roof of a house in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 27, 2026. Kathmandu experiences high levels of air pollution, with the AQI pollution level climbing towards hazardous levels due to increasing wildfires in the jungles.

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#13452064

15 Mar 2026

Pollution and steam rise from the stacks of the Miami Fort Power Station situated along the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 15, 2026.

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#13452065

15 Mar 2026

Pollution and steam rise from the stacks of the Miami Fort Power Station situated along the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 15, 2026.

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#13452066

15 Mar 2026

Pollution and steam rise from the stacks of the Miami Fort Power Station situated along the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 15, 2026.

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#13452067

15 Mar 2026

Pollution and steam rise from the stacks of the Miami Fort Power Station situated along the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 15, 2026.

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#13452068

15 Mar 2026

Pollution and steam rise from the stacks of the Miami Fort Power Station situated along the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 15, 2026.

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#13452069

15 Mar 2026

Pollution and steam rise from the stacks of the Miami Fort Power Station situated along the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 15, 2026.

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#13439095

13 Mar 2026

A dense layer of smog engulfs the Kathmandu Valley in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 13, 2026. Air pollution intensifies across the bowl-shaped capital, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) fluctuating between 200 and 250, placing the city in the ''very unhealthy'' category and among the world's most polluted cities, according to data from the air quality monitoring platform IQAir's AirVisual. Measurements show fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter--more than 25 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization--while PM10 levels reach 100.3 ug/m3. Nepal's national AQI scale classifies readings above 200 as very unhealthy and levels exceeding 300 as hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population advises residents to take protective measures, noting that long-term exposure to polluted air can lead to serious health complications including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Studies on air pollution also link prolonged exposure to increased risks of diabetes, reduced lung function, and premature death.

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#13439096

13 Mar 2026

A dense layer of smog engulfs the Kathmandu Valley in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 13, 2026. Air pollution intensifies across the bowl-shaped capital, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) fluctuating between 200 and 250, placing the city in the ''very unhealthy'' category and among the world's most polluted cities, according to data from the air quality monitoring platform IQAir's AirVisual. Measurements show fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter--more than 25 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization--while PM10 levels reach 100.3 ug/m3. Nepal's national AQI scale classifies readings above 200 as very unhealthy and levels exceeding 300 as hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population advises residents to take protective measures, noting that long-term exposure to polluted air can lead to serious health complications including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Studies on air pollution also link prolonged exposure to increased risks of diabetes, reduced lung function, and premature death.

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#13439097

13 Mar 2026

Swayambhunath temple appears faintly in the distance as thick smog blankets the Kathmandu Valley in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 13, 2026. The capital experiences severe air pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) ranging between 200 and 250, placing it in the ''very unhealthy'' category and ranking Kathmandu among the world's most polluted cities, according to the air quality monitoring platform IQAir's AirVisual. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the most dangerous airborne pollutant because it can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, is recorded at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter--more than 25 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3--while PM10 levels stand at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved AQI scale, readings above 200 indicate very unhealthy conditions. The Ministry of Health and Population urges residents to take precautions, warning that prolonged exposure to polluted air can damage the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and may contribute to illnesses including asthma, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular disease, stroke, lung cancer, and other respiratory infections. Research shows that sustained exposure to high levels of particulate pollution significantly increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, particularly among children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions.

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