Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, reclaimed its position as the world's most polluted major city on March 15, as per the data released by the IQAir portal.
The concentration of fine PM2.5 dispersed particles in Tashkent's air surged to 224 μg/m3 around 10:00 AM local time. This measurement exceeds the recommended air quality index set by the World Health Organization (WHO) by a staggering 44.8 times. Consequently, the city's air quality has been categorized as "very harmful."
Following closely behind, Chiang Mai in Thailand claimed the second position with a PM2.5 concentration of 176 μg/m3, while Beijing, China, secured the third spot with 103 μg/m3. Other cities making it to the top ten in the ranking include Kathmandu (Nepal), Hangzhou (China), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Hanoi (Vietnam), Yangon (Myanmar), Calcutta (India), and Baghdad (Iraq).
PM2.5, as emphasized by the World Health Organization, stands as one of the most perilous pollutants, posing severe health risks.
This recent revelation comes on the heels of a similar occurrence on February 21 when Tashkent first topped the global air pollution index. In response, the SanEpid Committee issued a series of recommendations to be followed during dusty weather conditions. Additionally, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change acknowledged the geographical and climatic challenges faced by Uzbekistan in meeting WHO guidelines. However, they assured that concerted efforts, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, are underway to address the issue.
One such initiative involves the implementation of a national platform and a mobile application aimed at monitoring air quality throughout Uzbekistan. These efforts signify a proactive approach towards combating air pollution and safeguarding public health in the region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the severe impact of air pollution, estimating that it causes around 7 mn deaths worldwide annually. Health issues linked to air pollution encompass increased risks of stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Ongoing endeavors to alleviate air pollution involve initiatives targeting emission reduction from diverse sources such as vehicular traffic, industrial operations, and biomass burning. Nonetheless, continuous and cooperative efforts are essential to effectively tackle this urgent environmental and public health issue.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)