Trend Analysis of Particulate Matters Over Kathmandu Valley, 2020
Suresh Prasad Gupta *
Department of Physics, Patan Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
Sushil Poudel's
Department of Physics, Patan Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
Prakash Man Shrestha
Department of Physics, Patan Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
Binod Adhikari
Department of Physics, St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar Kathamandu, Nepal.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Air pollution has been a major problem of 21st century both for developed and developing countries. It has negative impact on various environmental aspects which directly or indirectly affect the quality of human health. This study analyzed daily and monthly variation of Particulate matter; PM2.5 and PM10 in air pollution at four different locations Sankhapark, Bhaktapur, Ratnapark, and Bhaisipati of Kathmandu Valley in year 2020. The data calculated has been compared to the data of United State Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) standard. The results shows that the PM10 and PM2.5 varies in between Good to Unhealthy zone. Because of lockdown due to COVID-19 (From 24 March), pollution in Kathmandu decreased to minimum values being in Good zone and started to move towards moderate and USG –Category after lockdown is over. The Air quality Index lies in Good range from April to August. Values of AQI (PM2.5) and AQI(PM10) are well correlated and nature of variation of PM2.5 and PM10 are nearly same but magnitudes are changing in corresponding month of year 2020.
Keywords: Particulate matters, air quality index, daily and monthly average values, human health