The air in Tashkent is "harmful": PM2.5 is six times higher than normal

In the city of Tashkent, as of 10:00 on October 6, the concentration of fine PM2.5 particles in the air was 158 μg/m3 - this indicator belongs to the "harmful" category. According to IQAir, the amount of PM10 also reached 269.7 μg/m3, which is almost six times higher than the WHO daily norm (45 μg/m3). This condition is considered dangerous for human health.

At the same time, Tashkent leads the world air pollution ranking, with Bishkek in second place (152 μg/m3), and Kinshasa in third (132 μg/m3). The top ten also included such megacities as Calcutta, Manama, Doha, Jakarta, Addis Ababa, Delhi, and Baghdad.

What is PM2.5 and why is it dangerous?

PM2.5 - particles smaller than 2.5 μm in diameter, penetrating deep into lung tissue and can even reach the bloodstream. According to the WHO, these dispersed particles pose the greatest health risks in air pollution: they increase the risk of respiratory tract inflammation, asthma attacks, and cardiovascular problems. Young children, elderly people, pregnant women, and citizens with respiratory/heart diseases should be especially careful.

What should be done?

Limit outdoor activity: especially postpone intense activities like sports and running.

Wear a respirator: if external work is required, use a mask of class N95/FFP2, which blocks PM2.5.

Keep windows and doors closed: if there is an air purifier (filter) in the house, turn it on.

Reduce driving time: limit yourself to areas with fires, construction, and heavy traffic.

Consume plenty of fluids: they help support the body.

Monitor the indicators: check air quality through online monitoring and plan your daily routine accordingly.

Increased pollution is often associated with the combined effect of inversion in the change of seasons, traffic jams, construction and industrial waste, as well as dust factors rising in dry air. Specialists urge the population to observe temporary precautionary measures, and responsible agencies to reduce sources and strengthen urgent measures for air pollution.