Abstract

Ongoing and past monitoring of ambient particulate air pollution assessed by PM10 and PM2.5 levels have shown high pollution concentrations in Kathmandu valley with levels more than five times than the accepted WHO and National Ambient Air Quality guideline values. Studies which associated ambient air quality with different health effects particularly related to respiratory diseases have also demonstrated significant health effect coefficients leading to substantial attributable environmental burden of disease in Kathmandu valley. These findings call for more attention towards reduction of dust particle and emission levels through proper and effective implementation of environmental management strategies and regulations including pragmatic preventive measures and henceforth deal effectively with public health burden concerns of Kathmandu valley inhabitants and achieve the targeted sustainable development goals related to safer environment.

Keywords: Ambient air pollution; Attributable fraction; Attributable burden; Dusty roads; Health effect coefficients; Particulate matter; Public health; Respiratory ailments