KATHMANDU: In a concerning revelation, Kathmandu, the federal capital of Nepal, has been identified as the most polluted city worldwide in terms of air quality.

As of 8:45 am, the current air quality in Kathmandu has been classified as very unhealthy, with PM2.5 levels soaring to 258 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3).

PM2.5, the primary airborne pollutant consisting of solid or liquid droplets with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, poses significant health risks.

According to data from IQ AirVisual, a Swiss group specializing in global air-quality information, Kathmandu’s PM2.5 concentration exceeds the annual air quality guideline value set by the World Health Organization (WHO) by a staggering 41.5 times.

This unfortunate distinction places Kathmandu at the top of the IQ AirVisual rankings as the most polluted city globally.

Following Kathmandu, cities such as Delhi in India, Lahore in Pakistan, Dhaka in Bangladesh, and Baghdad in Iraq round out the top five most polluted cities in the world.

The alarming levels of air pollution underscore the urgent need for concerted efforts to address environmental challenges and improve air quality in Kathmandu and beyond.

Effective measures and policies must be implemented to mitigate pollution levels and safeguard public health and well-being in the region.