A Strategic Approach for Air pollution Reduction in Kathmandu Valley

The document identifies fine particulate matter (PM2.5), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and benzene as primary pollutants of concern in the Kathmandu Valley, with PM10 and PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO guidelines by 2 to 10 times. Road transport and re-suspended dust are the dominant sources of PM10, contributing approximately 63 percent of emissions. The brief estimates that PM10 exposure causes about 1,600 premature deaths annually, while benzene and PAH exposure increase risks of leukaemia and lung cancer. To combat this, the document recommends the implementation of the Programme for Rapid Evaluation of air Pollution (PREPair) and specific interventions including the transition to Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns, the introduction of Bus Rapid Transport, and the use of low sulphur fuels.

• Air pollutant concentrations in the Kathmandu Valley significantly exceed international standards, with PM10 and PM2.5 levels 2 to 10 times higher than WHO guideline values, posing serious risks for cardiovascular-respiratory diseases.
• The composition of particulate matter in the region is particularly dangerous because a large fraction of PM10 consists of fine particles (PM2.5 and PM1.0), with fractions measured at approximately 0.83 and 0.92 respectively.
• Air pollution is linked to severe health outcomes in the Kathmandu Valley, including an estimated 1,600 premature deaths per year from PM10, and increased risks of leukaemia (1-8 per 100,000) from benzene and lung cancer (16-32 per 100,000) from PAH.
• Road transport and re-suspended dust from poorly maintained roads are the primary sources of PM10, accounting for roughly 63 percent of all PM10 emissions, followed by agriculture and brick kilns.
• The document proposes the PREPair (Programme for Rapid Evaluation of air Pollution) as a tool to identify low-cost, politically viable actions, and recommends specific measures such as replacing Bull Trench Brick Kilns with Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns and implementing Bus Rapid Transport.

APA

Schwela, D. (2009). A Strategic Approach for Air pollution Reduction in Kathmandu Valley. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Atmospheric/strategic-approach-airpollution-kathmandu%20air.pdf

Chicago

Schwela, Dieter. A Strategic Approach for Air pollution Reduction in Kathmandu Valley. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2009. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Atmospheric/strategic-approach-airpollution-kathmandu%20air.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Schwela |first1=Dieter |title=A Strategic Approach for Air pollution Reduction in Kathmandu Valley |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2009 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Atmospheric/strategic-approach-airpollution-kathmandu%20air.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{schwela2009strategic, author = {Schwela, Dieter}, title = {{A Strategic Approach for Air pollution Reduction in Kathmandu Valley}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2009}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Atmospheric/strategic-approach-airpollution-kathmandu%20air.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }