Best usages and practices in Nepal

I thought that I would respond to Priscilla's call to contributors who may have learned new ways of doing things, discovered new habits relevant to the environment and health in Nepal.
First, let me say that what really prompted me to do so, is an email I just received from a close friend of mine informing me, he says, of the ever increasing amount of air pollution in Kathmandu due at least this time, in good part to a new program for the construction and laying down and installation  there of 1000 kms of water pipes for drinking water. This is all news to me, as I am now abroad.
In response, I would strongly urge everyone - particularly those who live and work in Nepal's  highly polluted urban areas - Kathmandu no doubt being the worst of them (see rankings below) - to at least be aware of the fact that NOT all AIR POLLUTION MASKS are effective against pollution. It is a well known fact that masks have to fit securely, one has to ensure the material they are made from can filter out dangerous to your health so called nano particles, and must be well ventilated notably  with a built-in respirator. Those who wish to have more information can surf the web for more complete data. The point is to try and protect yourself and your children - and our lungs - against these dangerous to your health, harmful/pollutant particles. I remember doing precisely that as far back as three or four years ago when I lived in Kathmandu on a steady basis, starting by researching the subject. These harmful substances come from the air, emissions from diesels, scooters, motorcycles, three wheeled tempos in state of disrepair, tractors with open motors, etc.  Here is what I found regarding these masks
1. To be effective, it is now generally accepted that the masks people ought to be looking for to buy and wear, should be able to filter out air particles greater than 0.3 microns and to do that, meet the widely published US or EU ratings (like N-95, EN 149, FFP2 etc)
2. People should of course rely exclusively on their own findings or in case of doubt, even check with their doctor and take that advice. What I can say is the masks which I wore, I had shipped in from abroad. These incorporated a respirator, were tight fitting and not the type that one sees ever so many people on Kathmandu streets with only one strap that goes behind the ear. Many observers say the latter are totally worthless!
3. At the time, as I said, I therefore specially ordered my masks with EU standards, and wore those, because I could see that at that point in time virtually all the masks then available on the local market were totally ineffective, totally failed to meet international standards .......and to wear those or nothing, was "same same" as the nepalese say.
4. Since then, say beginning in the summer of 2016, I began to see a limited number of air filter masks at one or two shops in Kathmandu, which at least bore the N-95 rating, but here again, were they genuine or not?...I cannot say. One would have to verify, place of origin, name of manufacturer etc.
In the meantime, on seeing the presence of the strap behind the ear and the absence of any respirator or respirators, on one or both side of the air filter masks, on those masks being worn by the great majority of people in Kathmandu streets, I could tell people had thrown away 200-400 nrs - good money for nothing. Clearly,  the evidence was that these masks did not meet international standards as I understand them. We can only hope that as time goes on, better and higher quality air pollution masks will appear in leading stores like Bhatbhateni and elsewhere.

I have no lessons to give to anyone, but it seems to me that it is in the interest of all of us to protect our lungs - our health -  particularly in Kathmandu, which fares very badly on the pollution index (numbeo rankings for example)
With Kabul, having the worst world ranking in 2017
Followed by Kathmandu, the 6th worst in the world
Ahead of Beijing no. 14
Delhi no. 16
......
Paris no.  117
Rome no. 124
New York 165
London     179

Anyone left in doubt, can check latest information from International Institute for Environment and Development on the world wide net.