The key facts

  • On October 28 during the day, air in Tashkent is expected to be at the 'red' AQI level, and in the evening still 'unhealthy'
  • At night, some monitoring stations recorded a 'very unhealthy' ('purple') level
  • The cause is the cold snap, very weak wind, and the accumulation of air masses over the city

What the authorities reported

The National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, citing data from the Republican Special Commission on Implementing Urgent Measures to Improve the Environmental Situation, reported that during the day on October 28, air quality in Tashkent is expected to be at the 'red' ('unhealthy') level according to the international AQI index. Under the national index, the level is forecast to be mostly 'yellow' ('moderate'), and at certain times 'orange' ('unhealthy for sensitive groups'). In the evening, the air may remain 'unhealthy'. This was reported by Gazeta and Kun.uz.

Recommendations for residents

Sensitive groups of the population — children, the elderly, pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as people with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions — are advised to avoid going outside in the evening and at night where possible. If going out is necessary, a protective mask should be worn and prolonged stays outdoors avoided. In the evening and at night, residents are advised to keep windows closed.

The overnight picture and the causes

On the night of October 27–28, air quality remained at the 'unhealthy' level according to AQI, while at some monitoring stations an 'very unhealthy' — 'purple' — level was recorded. Under the national index, the citywide average for PM2.5 was at the 'yellow' level, and for PM10 at the 'orange' level. The committee explained the deterioration by falling temperatures, very weak wind, and the accumulation of air masses that had formed over the city and neighboring districts: these conditions limited the dispersion of pollutants, and locally generated emissions remained in the surface layer of the atmosphere.

The difference between the two indices

The report illustrates a discrepancy that Gazeta previously examined together with a scientist from the Research Hydrometeorological Institute, Bakhtiyor Kadyrov: the same air is rated 'red' under the international AQI, but 'yellow' or 'orange' under the national index. This means that residents who check different services may find the readings contradictory, even though both describe the same state of the atmosphere. That same article explained the natural and urban factors affecting air quality in Tashkent.