Training course: RISK ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING

FORENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL 

Presenter: PRAMODA PRADHAN 

His Majesty's Government of NepalMinistry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies

Department of Mines and Geology

   

COUNTRY REPORT (NEPAL)

Environmental Contaminants

Pesticides in Nepal Pesticides extensively used since mid-fifties Most are banned Stored unscientific way /unsafely Illegally import and use of expired and banned

pesticides still continuing Some are disposed off in soil, water, sprayed

haphazardly The practices cause serious environmental

hazards

Expired and banned pesticides stored in the country are about:

- organo-phosphate - 28.6 tons- organo-chloride - 37 tons- organo-mercury - 8 tons- DDT - 3 tons- methyl bromide - 2.2 tons(44 cylinder)- endrin -1200L- barium compound - 122.2kg- methyl parathion - 605L- floride e - 309.6L

Arsenic contamination in ground water

Detected in ground water of some parts of terai region of Nepal

Source believed to be natural or geo-genic Extent of contamination highly variable :

- max. 2620 ppb- min. 0 – 10 ppb

Dermatosis related to arsenicosis in a range of 1.3 to 5.1% reported

Accumulation of arsenic in biological samples like hair and nail much higher than acceptable level reported

Government Policies:  Effective immobilization of all the sectors of the country

for the promotion of environmental awareness.

Formulation and implementation of strategic plan with consideration of international agreements.

To formulate and implement the national standards for water, air and noise pollution.

 

 To protect the rivers from dumping urban solid wastes, discharging sewage and industrial effluents etc.

 

 To implement solid waste management activities through concern authorities.

Regulation and Laws on Environmental Protection: Environment Protection Act Environment Protection Rule Solid Waste Act Vehicle Transport Management Act Solid waste Regulation Waste Water Act Pesticide Act

National Standards: National Ambient Air Quality Standard Nepal Vehicle Emission Standard Water quality Standard Carpet factory effluent standard Generic standards for industrial

effluents to be discharged into public sewers and surface water

Tolerance limits for industrial effluents discharged into inland surface water from - tanning- wool processing- fermentation- vegetable Ghee and oil- dairy- sugar- cotton textile and soap industries

Regulatory body: Ministry of industry, commerce, and supplies Ministry of population and environment 

Monitoring Body:  Ministry of industry, commerce, and supplies Ministry of population and environment  Research groups: - Universities - Private research group/ consultancies - NGOs

Mode of Monitoring and field/ region:

no regular monitoring not in all over the country only in few urban cities especially in

kathmandu regular air pollution monitoring in core

area of kathmandu since 2002

 

irregular monitoring of water pollution in river, pond, lakes, drinking water

  of industrial effluents of large scale industries

in other field and area, study done whenever necessary/ issue arise due to environmental hazards

My experiences / responsibilitiesExperiences: Chemical analysis of :  Geochemical Samples    Soil  Water  Industrial effluent Determination of trace elements and heavy

metals in different samples Uranium determination in rock samples Coal analysis 

Responsibilities: 

Responsibilities:

Chemical analysis

Supervise and advice junior staffs  Assist seniors in various aspects

   

THANK YOU