In Uzbekistan, operations of enterprises and a greenhouse with faulty filters were suspended and air monitoring was strengthened

Suspensions and identified violations

The National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change reported a series of control and preventive measures to protect atmospheric air (based on materials from Zamon.uz). Residents of the 'Porloq' mahalla of the Davlatabad district of the Namangan region complained about an unpleasant smell from a soap-making workshop; following an inspection, the operations of the enterprise, which was not equipped with dust and gas cleaning filters, were suspended. In the Sergeli district of Tashkent, officers of the State Environmental Control Inspectorate — Eco-police, during a raid, shut down a greenhouse with a faulty filter. In the Yukorichirchik district of the Tashkent region, enterprises were found to be discharging wastewater into open areas without treatment — this inspection is reported without specifying the measures taken.

Scientific work and seasonal factors

The causes of the deterioration of air quality in the autumn-winter season are being studied with the participation of international specialists: Katya Loven, head of the air quality and energy group at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, spoke about the two main factors affecting the air in this season; Timur Khojanazarov, an associate professor at Kyoto University, spoke about the impact of climate change on pollution in Central Asia and Tashkent; Ben Jarikhani, a professor at James Cook University, spoke about the influence of climate and weather conditions on air quality in the region. To expand scientific study of the composition of the air, a new thermo-optical carbon analyzer has been launched, which determines the amount of organic and elemental carbon in atmospheric air particles. Work is also underway to prevent the burning of dry leaves and plant residues: according to specialists, such burning releases substances harmful to health and the environment into the air even in a short time; awareness work on liability is being carried out. The committee spoke about the work under the 'Clean Air' project at a press conference at the Center for Content Preparation for Media under the Administration of the President.