Hidden Air Pollutants

This is the story of my friend Manish, who lives in Kathmandu.

He often experiences burning eyes and has to breathe hot, smelly air at night because some people in his neighborhood burn plastic waste and green plants. Many of them may not be aware of air pollution or its harmful effects.

As a result, they burn plastics and other waste materials without realizing how much it affects the people living nearby.

The smoke spreads through the neighborhood, making the air difficult to breathe.

Manish told me that his mother always wears a mask whenever this happens, even while staying inside the house. Open waste burning is one of the most underestimated sources of air pollution in Nepal.

Burning plastics and household waste releases toxic chemicals such as dioxins, furans, lead, and mercury into the air.

These pollutants can cause respiratory diseases, eye irritation, heart problems, and other long-term health complications.

The smoke also releases fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which contributes significantly to the smog that affects cities like Kathmandu. Although local governments have banned open waste burning and imposed fines, some people still do not follow the rules.

What may seem like a simple way to dispose of waste can have serious consequences for the health of an entire community. This is not just Manish's story but a reality faced by many families across Nepal who are forced to breathe polluted air because of the actions of others.