The National Ambient Air Quality Standard has set a standard of 40 microgram per cubic meter to protect public health. However, frequent rainfalls in this season has caused pollution levels to decline. Leaders Nepal, under the guidance of the health programme, has been consistently recording 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter of fine dust particles in the air for the past 10 years. The study said pollution levels were recorded to be drastically lower during the blockade when brick kilns were shut (up to 2.5 to 52 micrograms per cubic meter) as opposed to when the factories were running (153 micrograms per cubic meter). Dhiraj Pokharel, general secretary of Leaders Nepal, blames the polluted air flowing from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur for the high levels of pollution there. Air flows from Balaju through Pokhrel added, “Another reason for pollution is low chimney hoods in factories today. The earthquakes last year destroyed all high chimney hoods, and only small ones remain functional.” The report also said that the amount of pollution is high in the morning, rising from 6:00 am, and falling from 12:00 pm onwards. This information is worrisome as most children go to school and are out in the open at this time.