Kathmandu [Nepal], October 8 – Most residents of the Kathmandu valley consider air pollution a serious health threat, but the vast majority of those who monitor pollution levels rely on smell, visibility and eye irritation rather than official data a new survey has found.
A survey of 1,200 valley residents by Taza Initiative Nepal found that 81.2 percent considered air pollution hazardous to extremely hazardous to health. However, 94.1 percent of those who monitor air quality said they rely on their senses to assess pollution levels.
The survey found that 52.3 percent of respondents rated air quality in their areas as poor or very poor with negative perceptions highest in Lalitpur at 60.9 percent followed by Kathmandu at 59.2 percent and Bhaktapur at 56 percent.
Access to air-quality information varied sharply by education. Only 10.8 percent of respondents with primary education or below knew how to check pollution levels compared with 63 percent of those with a master’s degree or higher.
Motor vehicles and traffic emissions were identified as major pollution sources by 98.6 percent of respondents while 94.8 percent cited road construction dust.
Although 79.9 percent supported expanding public transport and electric mobility, 70.4 percent were dissatisfied with government efforts to tackle air pollution.
Taza Initiative Nepal said it plans to expand monitoring and improve public access to air-quality information.
