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The Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) experience high levels of airborne particulate matter (PM), especially during the dry season. Contributing to PM are natural and anthropogenic emissions and the atmospheric transformation of gases to form particles. Regional smog events occur frequently during wintertime and provide an atmospheric medium for aerosol processing. Here, we investigate the chemical composition and sources of PM at a representative site in the northern IGP during the second Nepal Ambient Monitoring and Source Testing Experiment (NAMaSTE 2). In Lumbini, Nepal, the 24 h average PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations ranged 48–295 and 60–343 μg m–3, respectively, from December 20, 2017, to January 1, 2018. On average (± standard deviation), PM2.5 was composed of 39 ± 7% organic carbon (OC), 5 ± 2% elemental carbon (EC), and 20 ± 6% secondary inorganic ions (ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate), 2.0% chloride, and 1.3% potassium. Biomass burning was a major PM source, indicated by a median levoglucosan concentration of 3.5 μg m–3. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) derived from biomass burning was indicated by high concentrations of nitromonoaromatic compounds (e.g., 4-nitrocatechol peaking at 435 ng m–3). During periods of fog, characterized by high relative humidity (RH) and relatively low solar radiation, nitroaromatic concentrations dropped despite levoglucosan remaining high, indicating that their formation was suppressed. Chemical signatures of SOA indicated that volatile organic compound (VOC) precursors were primarily combustion-derived, with small contributions from biogenic VOC. Through molecular markers and chemical mass balance (CMB) modeling, sources of PM2.5 OC were identified as cow dung burning (24 ± 16%), other biomass burning (20 ± 7%), plastic/garbage burning (4.7 ± 3.2%), vehicle emissions (3.1 ± 1.4%), coal combustion (0.3 ± 0.2%), and SOA from monoaromatic VOC (4.1 ± 0.8%), diaromatic VOC (8.9 ± 4.0%), cresol (0.3 ± 0.4%), isoprene (0.4 ± 0.2%), monoterpenes (1.5 ± 0.6%), and sesquiterpenes (3.2 ± 0.7%). Understanding the levels of PM in Lumbini, along with its chemical composition and sources of OC, contributes to a better understanding of regional air quality episodes in the IGP.

Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, has severe air pollution, although few studies examine air pollution and health in this region. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies in Nepal used time-activity diaries or conducted personal monitoring of individuals' exposures. We investigated personal exposure of particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM(2.5)) by location, occupation, and proximity to roadways. PM(2.5) monitoring, time-activity diary, respiratory health questionnaire, and spirometer testing were performed from 28 June 2009 to 7 August 2009 for 36 subjects, including traffic police (TP), indoor officer workers next to main road (IOWs_NMR) and away from main road (IOWs_AMR), in urban area (UA), urban residential area, and semi-UA (SUA). TP had the highest exposure of all the occupations (average 51.2 μg/m(3), hourly maximum >500 μg/m(3)). TP levels were higher at the UA than other locations. IOW_NMR levels (averaged 46.9 μg/m(3)) were higher than those of IOW_AMR (26.2 μg/m(3)). Exposure was generally higher during morning rush hours (0800-1100 hours) than evening rush hours (1500-1800 hours) for all occupations and areas (78% of days for TP and 84% for urban IOW). PM(2.5) personal exposures for each occupation at each location exceeded the World Health Organization ambient PM(2.5) guideline (25 μg/m(3)). Findings suggest potential substantial health impacts of air pollution on this region, especially for TP.

Air pollution is known to lead to a substantial health burden, but the majority of evidence is based on data from North America and Europe. Despite rising pollution levels, very limited information is available for South Asia. We investigated the impact of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 μm (PM10) on hospitalization, by cause and subpopulation, in the Kathmandu Valley, an understudied and rapidly urbanizing region in Nepal. Individual-level daily inpatient hospitalization data (2004-2007) were collected from each of 6 major hospitals, as Nepal has no central data collection system. Time-stratified case-crossover analysis was used with interaction terms for potential effect modifiers (e.g., age, sex, and socioeconomic status), with adjustment for day of the week and weather. Daily PM10 concentrations averaged 120 μg/m3, with the daily maximum reaching 403 μg/m3. A 10-μg/m3 increase in PM10 level was associated with increased risks of hospitalization of 1.00% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62, 1.38), 1.70% (95% CI: 0.18, 3.25), and 2.29% (95% CI: 0.18, 4.43) for total, respiratory, and cardiovascular admissions, respectively. We did not find strong evidence of effect modification by age, sex, or socioeconomic status. These results, in combination with the high levels of exposure, indicate a potentially serious human health burden from air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley.

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