APHRL-Air Pollution and Health Research Laboratory

11/09/2026

The Air Pollution and Health Research Laboratory (APHRL) is working with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to strengthen capabilities in air pollution monitoring and health research. As part of this effort, ICIMOD has supported APHRL with equipment worth NPR 32.45 million under the “Partnership for Equipment Transfer and Capacity Building in Air Pollution Monitoring and Health Research”.

The equipment was received by the APHRL team on 11 September 2026. An additional NPR 1.45 million has been provided for capacity development and the operationalization and maintenance of the equipment. Activities will begin soon to strengthen the technical skills and ensure effective use of these instruments in monitoring and research.

APHRL values this collaboration with ICIMOD and the shared commitment to advancing air quality research and protecting public health.

25/08/2026

The Air Pollution and Health Research Laboratory (APHRL), Kathmandu University, was pleased to participate in the National Symposium on Low-Cost Sensors for Air Quality and Environment Management.

The event was jointly organized by Clean Up Nepal, Green Decision Labs and Research Centre, Nepal Development Research Institute, and APHRL.

Prof. Bim Shrestha, Advisor to APHRL and Director, NTIC, KU, delivered special remarks, while Er. Sampada Shrestha, Researcher at APHRL, presented our ongoing collaborative study, “Defining the Effects of Exposure to Indoor Biomass Smoke During Cooking on the Human Plasma Proteome and Nasal Epithelium,” conducted in collaboration with the University of Nottingham.

We sincerely thank all the participants, organizers, co-organizers, and presenters for making the symposium a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

APHRL looks forward to collectively advancing impactful research and fostering joint projects in air pollution, environmental management, and human health.

01/08/2026

10/06/2026

The 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 (𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗥𝗟) congratulates all the students, supervisors, and advisors from the Kathmandu University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, on their outstanding achievement at the 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗘𝗪𝗕) 𝗨𝗞 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲.

We are delighted to see 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 secure 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲; the team is also currently undertaking its annual project on the fabrication of an air quality monitoring device under APHRL, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of student innovation and engagement.

This success is a testament to the dedication, creativity, and engineering excellence of our students in representing Kathmandu University and Nepal on an international platform.

🏆 A Moment of Pride for the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kathmandu University 🇳🇵

Our second year students have achieved remarkable success at the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) UK Design Challenge, competing against 300+ participants from leading global institutions. Three teams represented the department with innovative sustainable solutions for the Ladywood/Port Loop area, UK:

Micro Briquetting – A facility focused on community-level energy solutions
Team: Sushant Neupane, Binit Prajapati, Nhoojah Shakya, Sugat Shakya, Sujal Lal Shrestha

Crushing the Cold – A heat pump powered by Port Loop's canal
Team: Prabhat Pandey, Soni KC, Arya Shrestha, Sudhanshu Raj Bhattarai

Food to Fuel – A Biogas Digester System
Team: Prithivi Raj Poudel, Aavash Aryal, Aayush Shrestha Malla, Tupendra Thapa Magar, Umesh Sitoula

Supervisors: Dr. Bijendra Shrestha, Dr. Sailesh Chitrakar, Er. Malesh Shah
Advisors: Dr. Pratisthit Lal Shrestha, Er. Sirapa Shrestha

The teams reached finals, Team 1 won the first prize, Team 2 won 2nd prize and public choice award, and they collectively received a prize of USD 1800.

We take immense pride in our students for representing the department and Nepal on a global platform with excellence. This is a testament and a global validation that Nepalese engineering education and our talent are at par with the best in the world.

We thank Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Nepal for enabling this global opportunity and continuous support.

09/06/2026

The Air Pollution and Health Research Laboratory (APHRL), Kathmandu University, and Green Decisions Labs and Research Nepal (GD Labs) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 09, 2026 at APHRL Office, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel.

The partnership aims to strengthen collaborative research, knowledge exchange, capacity building, and innovation in air quality, clean energy, urban sustainability, and environmental health for sustainable development in Nepal.

18/05/2026

The 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 (𝗥𝗧𝗞𝗖), under the Air Pollution and Health Research Laboratory, is collaborating with Smart Tech Agro & Bioenergy Pvt. Ltd. on research and business development activities focused on the design, testing, and application of biomass pellet–based combustion systems. The initiative targets clean and efficient thermal energy solutions for restaurants and banquet facilities, with the broader aim of improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and promoting the substitution of fossil fuels with sustainable biomass alternatives.

Within the same laboratory, Mr. Ashutosh Aman is pursuing an MS by Research under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bijendra Shrestha, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Binaya Kc and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jetsada Posom (Khon Kaen Univeristy, Thailand). The research, titled Characterization of Industrial Biomass Pellets for Energy Applications Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, focuses on the rapid and reliable characterization of biomass pellet quality to support cleaner combustion, fuel standardization, and improved performance of biomass-based thermal energy systems in real-world energy applications.

11/05/2026

APHRL was pleased to host Alparslan Topcu and Gokhan Canbolat from Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University under the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility Program during their visit to Kathmandu University.

The visiting scholars explored APHRL and other key research and innovation facilities across Kathmandu University, engaging in meaningful discussions on renewable energy, alternative energy technologies, research collaboration, and future academic partnerships. Their visit provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and strengthening international academic cooperation.

10/05/2026

With fluctuating weather patterns across the country, Dhulikhel also experienced noticeable shifts in air quality over the past 30 days.

The highest PM2.5 level recorded was 124.6 µg/m³ on 23 April, highlighting a short period of significantly poor air conditions.

Precaution: On high pollution days, reduce prolonged outdoor exposure and use protective masks when necessary.

13/04/2026

Here’s a look at Dhulikhel’s 24-hour average PM2.5 levels from April 5–12, 2026, showing notable fluctuations over the week. 📊

Periods of rain and thunderstorms (April 6–7, 9) helped lower pollution to moderate levels (28–33 µg/m³), but drier conditions led to sharp spikes, reaching unhealthy levels on April 8 (65 µg/m³) and April 12 (74 µg/m³). 🌧️⚡➡️☀️⚠️

This pattern highlights the strong influence of weather on air quality, while also emphasizing the persistent risk of pollution buildup during stable atmospheric conditions.

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05/04/2026

After a brief pause in updates, here’s a snapshot of Dhulikhel’s (near Sanjiwani School) PM2.5 levels from April 1–4, 2026.

While April 1–3 (working days) remained in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (46–52 µg/m³), levels rose further on Saturday (April 4, a non-working day) to 63 µg/m³ - entering the Unhealthy category. ⚠️😷

This indicates that elevated pollution persists beyond weekday activities, highlighting a concerning trend that calls for continued caution.