KATHMANDU: The current air quality in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, has been deemed unhealthy, with PM2.5 levels soaring to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) as of 9:15 am, according to data from IQ AirVisual, a Swiss group specializing in global air-quality information.

PM2.5, the main airborne pollutant comprising solid or liquid droplets with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, is a significant concern.

The PM2.5 concentration in Kathmandu presently stands at 14.6 times the annual air quality guideline value set by the World Health Organization (WHO), as reported by IQAir.

Furthermore, Bhaktapur is experiencing a PM2.5 concentration that is 20.2 times the WHO annual guideline value, registering at 175 μg/m3. In Lalitpur, the PM2.5 concentration is 12.5 times the WHO annual guideline, measuring at 155 μg/m3.

Kathmandu has earned the unfortunate distinction of being the eighth most polluted city globally, as per the IQ AirVisual rankings. Karachi in Pakistan currently holds the top spot, followed by Dhaka, Kolkata, Accra in Ghana, and Delhi, making up the five most polluted cities in the world.

On a brighter note, Japan boasts three cities in the list of the world’s cleanest cities—Kyoto, Nagoya, and Tokyo. The cleanest cities rankings are further complemented by Oslo and Sydney.