On Wednesday, January 3, at 3:00 pm, Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, grappled with an alarming air pollution crisis as the dust content exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines by more than 23 times. The air quality index (AQI) trend for Dushanbe recorded an unhealthy level, reaching 182 US AQI, with the primary pollutant identified as PM2.5, Asia-Plus reported.
Key Data and Concentrations
- Air Pollution Level: Unhealthy
- Air Quality Index (AQI): 182 US AQI (PM2.5)
- Main Pollutant: PM2.5
- PM2.5 Concentration: 115.5 µg/m³
IQAir, which provides the Dushanbe air quality index, highlighted that at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, the concentration of PM2.5 in Dushanbe surpassed the WHO's annual air quality guideline value by a staggering 23.1 times.
The Dushanbe air quality index (AQI) forecast indicates that the air in Dushanbe is expected to start clearing on January 4. By January 6, the pollution level in Dushanbe's air is estimated to be classified as good, with a projected reduction in PM2.5 concentration to 40 µg/m³.
Health Implications
Most studies suggest that PM2.5 levels at or below 12 µg/m³ are considered healthy, posing little to no risk from exposure. When PM2.5 levels rise to or above 35 µg/m³ during a 24-hour period, the air is deemed unhealthy and can pose health issues, particularly for individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma.
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