1. Training course: RISK ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL Presenter: PRAMODA PRADHAN His Majesty's Government of Nepal Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Department of Mines and Geology COUNTRY REPORT (NEPAL)

4. Environmental Contaminants

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9.  To protect the rivers from dumping urban solid wastes, discharging sewage and industrial effluents etc.  To implement solid waste management activities through concern authorities.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. My experiences / responsibilities Experiences: 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

17. Responsibilities: Chemical analysis Supervise and advice junior staffs Assist seniors in various aspects

18. THANK YOU 