Air pollution in Tashkent worsens; health authorities urge precautions

According to the readings from the automatic air-quality monitoring stations at 09:00 on 20 November:

• The concentration of PM10 fine particulate matter was 299 µg/m³, which does not exceed the permitted limit of 300 µg/m³.
• The concentration of PM2.5 fine particulate matter was 202 µg/m³, which is 3.4 times higher than the permitted limit of 60 µg/m³.

Officials noted that sharp fluctuations in air temperature have contributed to the sudden rise in pollution levels. Rapid temperature changes can trigger an inversion effect, causing fine particles to accumulate in the lower layer of the atmosphere and leading to higher concentrations of pollutants near the surface.

Authorities are urging residents and visitors in Tashkent to take precautionary measures, including:

• limiting time spent outdoors, especially walking long distances or engaging in physical activity;
• wearing masks when going outside, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions;
• staying indoors when possible and keeping windows and doors tightly closed.

Additional information and official recommendations on air-quality indicators will be provided by the relevant agencies.