Kathmandu Valley air pollution — practical steps for kids, elderly, asthma patients?

Short answer: Track AQI daily, mask outdoors on high-AQI days, and run an indoor purifier in one room — usually the bedroom.

A small daily routine.

• Morning AQI check — apps like IQAir or Sajha Sadak air-monitor feeds.
• Mask on commute — N95 or KN95; cloth does not filter PM2.5.
• Indoor purifier — even a single HEPA-grade unit in the bedroom cuts overnight exposure significantly.
• Plants are not a substitute — pleasant, but PM2.5 is mechanical filtration’s job.

The exception most miss. Winter morning hours (5 AM to 9 AM) and post-Tihar weeks are the worst windows. Shift outdoor exercise to afternoon when possible.

What worked for your household? Share the routine you stuck with.