Table data below is obtained with permission from His Majesty's Government,
Ministry of Population and Environment.
(updated every Tuesday when data is available)
What type of air is called “polluted”?
Air with maximum quantity of dust particles is called polluted air. When dust particles increase, the air is more polluted. When dust particle decreases, the air is less polluted or good in quality.
What is “PM10”?
PM10 is a measurement unit for dust particles present in the air. In technical terms, PM10 means Particulate Matter with diameter less than or equal to 10 micrometer.Its measurement unit is microgram per cubic meter.
What are the types of air quality?
There are five levels of air quality depending upon the amount of dust. They are as follows:
Air Quality
Quantity of PM10 (dust)
Good
Below 60
Moderate
61 to 120
Unhealthy
121 to 350
Very Unhealthy
351 to 425
Hazardous
Above 425
Where are the air quality stations?
Air Quality of Kathmandu Valley is recorded at six stations daily, but the data is compiled on a weekly basis. The six stations are Putali Sadak, Matsyagaon, Tribhuvan University, Bhaktapur, Patan Hospital and Thamel.
Ministry of Environment and Population runs the stations under the assistance of Danish agency, Danida.
The pollution level in Kathmandu Valley deteriorated from March 27 to April 05 as compared to the previous period.
According to the data recorded by the Ministry of Environment and Population, the weekly averages of the air pollution levels (based on the daily averages) showed a increase in all monitoring stations at Matsyagaon, Kirtipur (Tribhuvan University area) Bhaktapur, Patan Hospital and Thamel area.
According to the data recorded by the Ministry of Environment and Population, the Patan Hospital area was the most polluted site recording a weekly average (based on the daily averages) of 267.28 PM10, up from the previous period’s 205.42 PM10. The area recorded “unhealthy” air marks for all seven days of the period.
Weekly air quality report : March 27-April 02
Date
Putalisadak
Matsyagaon
Kirtipur
Bhaktapur
Patan Hospital
Thamel
2005/03/27
N/A
63
85
108
341
139
147.20
2005/03/28
N/A
62
92
113
250
135
130.40
2005/03/29
N/A
47
75
129
204
128
116.60
2005/03/30
N/A
63
115
166
208
159
148.20
2005/03/31
N/A
71
134
N/A
250
165
155.00
2005/04/01
N/A
80
86
162
279
176
156.60
2005/04/02
N/A
128
191
231
339
248
227.40
N/A
73.42
111.14
151.50
267.28
164.28
153.52
( * The Kathmandu Valley Weekly Average data is compiled by Nepalnews. Other data obtained from the Ministry of Population and Environment).
Matsyagaon area was the least polluted site with “moderate”, “good” and “unhealthy” air marks for five and one day each of the period recording a weekly average of 73.42 PM10.
Thamel, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur area were respectively the second, third and fourth most polluted sites in Kathmandu valley recording a weekly average of 164.28, 151.50 and 111.14 respectively. Earlier, the areas had recorded the weekly averages of 106.57 PM10, 103.60 PM10, 108.71 PM10 and 66.85 PM10 respectively.
According to the data recorded by the Environment and Population Ministry, the overall outdoor air quality of Kathmandu valley on Monday (April 04) was “unhealthy” recording 150 pgm/m3.
The data of the Putalisadak monitoring station and data for one day of the Bhaktapur area were not available. nepalnews.com pd Apr 05 05
The air quality of Kathmandu valley improved from March 20 to 26 as compared to the previous period. During the period, all monitoring stations recorded a fall in pollution levels.
According to the data recorded by the Ministry of Environment and Population, the weekly averages of the air pollution levels (based on the daily averages) showed a decrease in all monitoring stations at Matsyagaon, Kirtipur (Tribhuvan University area) Bhaktapur, Patan Hospital and Thamel area.
The Patan Hospital area and the Matsyagaon area were the most and least polluted sites in the Valley during the period. The Patan Hospital area recorded a weekly average (based on the daily averages) of 205.42 PM10, down from the previous week’s 246.28 PM10. The area recorded ‘unhealthy’ and “moderate” air marks for six and one day of the period.
Weekly air quality report : March 20- March 26
Date
Putalisadak
Matsyagaon
Kirtipur
Bhaktapur
Patan Hospital
Thamel
2005/03/20
N/A
48
75
114
221
120
115.60
2005/03/21
N/A
46
78
116
228
124
118.40
2005/03/22
N/A
20
41
56
110
52
58.80
2005/03/23
N/A
33
74
91
187
118
100.60
2005/03/24
N/A
53
57
141
208
105
112.80
2005/03/25
N/A
47
68
N/A
196
105
104.00
2005/03/26
N/A
47
75
N/A
288
122
133.00
N/A
42.00
66.85
103.60
205.42
106.57
104.88
( * The Kathmandu Valley Weekly Average data is compiled by Nepalnews. Other data obtained from the Ministry of Population and Environment).
The Matsyagaon area recorded 'good' air marks for entire period with a weekly average of 42 PM10 only. The area had recorded 52 PM10 in the last period.
The Thamel, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur area were respectively the second, third and fourth most polluted sites in the Valley during the period recording a weekly average of 106.57, 103.60, and 66.85 PM10.
According to the data recorded by the Environment and Population Ministry, the overall outdoor air quality of Kathmandu valley on Tuesday (March 29) was “unhealthy” recording 128 pgm/m3.
The data of the Putalisadak monitoring station and data for two days of the Bhaktapur area were not available. nepalnews.com pd Mar 30 05
Valley air quality monitoring shows mixed resultsWhat is PM10 ?
The air quality of the Kathmandu Valley, from March 13 to 19, showed mixed results as compared to the previous period, according to the data recorded by the Ministry of Environment and Population.
The weekly averages of air pollution (based on the daily average) increased in Matsyagaon and Patan hospital area, while it decreased in the Kirtipur, Bhaktapur and Thamel area.
During the period, the Patan hospital area was the most polluted site while the Matsyagaon area was the least polluted. The Patan hospital area recorded a weekly average (based on the daily averages) of 246.28 PM10. The area recorded “unhealthy” and air marks for the entire period.
The Matsyagaon area recorded “good” and “moderate” air marks for four and three days of the period respectively, according to the data.
Weekly air quality report : March 13- March 19
Date
Putalisadak
Matsyagaon
Kirtipur
Bhaktapur
Patan Hospital
Thamel
2005/03/13
N/A
30
60
98
252
132
114.40
2005/03/14
N/A
42
84
118
258
185
137.40
2005/03/15
N/A
46
87
129
262
167
138.20
2005/03/16
N/A
70
75
138
299
161
148.60
2005/03/17
N/A
62
102
151
235
169
143.80
2005/03/18
N/A
74
99
137
265
168
148.60
2005/03/19
N/A
40
60
100
153
90
88.60
N/A
52.00
81.00
124.42
246.28
153.14
134.96
( * The Kathmandu Valley Weekly Average data is compiled by Nepalnews. Other data obtained from the Ministry of Population and Environment).
The Thamel, Bhaktapur and Tribhuvan University area (Kirtipur) were second, third and fourth most polluted sites in the Valley during the period recording a weekly average of 153.14, 124.42, and 81 PM10 respectively.
The overall outdoor air quality of Kathmandu valley on Tuesday (March 22) was “good” attributed to the slight rainfall in the valley. It recorded 52 pgm/m3.
The Ministry of Environment and Population, monitors air pollution levels in six different stations of Kathmandu valley and publishes the results weekly on its web site. However, data of Putalisadak monitoring station were not available for the period (March 13 to 19). nepalnews.com pd Mar 23 05
The air quality of Kathmandu valley improved from March 06 to 12 as compared to the previous period. All monitoring stations recorded a fall in pollution levels, according to the data recorded by the Ministry of Environment and Population.
The weekly averages of the air pollution levels (based on the daily averages) showed a decrease in all monitoring stations at Matsyagaon, Kirtipur (Tribhuvan University area) Bhaktapur, Patan Hospital and Thamel area.
The Patan Hospital area and the Matsyagaon area were the most and least polluted sites in the Valley during the period. The Patan Hospital area recorded a weekly average (based on the daily averages) of 237.28 PM10, down from the previous week’s 259 PM10. The area recorded ‘unhealthy’ air marks for the entire period.
Weekly air quality report : March 06 - March 12
Date
Putalisadak
Matsyagaon
Kirtipur
Bhaktapur
Patan Hospital
Thamel
2005/03/06
N/A
38
73
85
242
140
115.60
2005/03/07
N/A
54
98
141
264
176
146.60
2005/03/08
N/A
44
89
209
263
244
142.80
2005/03/09
N/A
50
118
184
272
219
168.60
2005/03/10
N/A
28
54
53
207
130
94.40
2005/03/11
N/A
57
96
145
240
133
134.20
2005/03/12
N/A
28
56
82
173
112
90.20
N/A
42.71
83.42
128.42
237.28
164.85
148.02
( * The Kathmandu Valley Weekly Average data is compiled by Nepalnews. Other data obtained from the Ministry of Population and Environment).
The Matsyagaon area recorded 'good' air marks for entire period with a weekly average of 62.42 PM10. The Matsyagaon area had recorded 62.42 PM10 in the last period.
The Thamel, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur area were respectively the second, third and fourth most polluted sites in the Valley during the period recording a weekly average of 264.85, 128.42, and 83. 42 PM10.
According to the data recorded by the Ministry of Environment and Population, the overall outdoor air quality of Kathmandu valley on Thursday (March 17) was “unhealthy” recording 169 pgm/m3.
Data of Putalisadak monitoring station were not available.
Weekly air quality report : February 27- March 05
Date
Putalisadak
Matsyagaon
Kirtipur
Bhaktapur
Patan Hospital
Thamel
2005/02/27
193
65
98
141
265
151
152.16
2005/02/28
241
72
76
150
254
160
158.83
2005/03/01
243
69
106
173
299
170
176.66
2005/03/02
263
64
90
0
225
168
162.00
2005/03/03
236
59
55
0
319
171
156.60
2005/03/04
225
65
109
0
264
194
171.40
2005/03/05
207
43
81
0
187
174
138.40
229.71
62.42
87.85
127.20
259.00
169.71
159.43
( * The Kathmandu Valley Weekly Average data is compiled by Nepalnews. Other data obtained from the Ministry of Population and Environment). nepalnews.com pd Mar 18 05
