News about air pollution: events, facts and developments on tafs uz.
12 stories
According to the IQAir platform, on October 28 Tashkent took first place in the ranking of the world's major cities for air pollution: the air quality index (AQI US) at 17:57 local time was 185 — the 'Unhealthy' category. Jakarta, Bishkek, Dubai and other cities trailed behind.
Aziz KarimovIn the city of Palangkaraya on Kalimantan, residents with breathing difficulties can receive oxygen in a specially equipped bus. The air pollution index in parts of Borneo and Sumatra exceeded 1,000 points against a hazardous threshold of 300. Since August, about 350,000 fire-related respiratory illness cases have been recorded.
Aziz KarimovDue to the worst air quality in Singapore in more than a decade, running clubs moved their training sessions into shopping malls: more than 80 runners circled the corridors of Marina Square before the stores opened, preparing for international marathons.
Otabek YusupovBy a presidential decree, a Center for a Specialized Atmospheric Laboratory has been established under the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change. Air samples are being collected from all districts of Tashkent to identify pollution sources; the experience is planned to be extended to the entire republic.
Javlon TursunovThe press service of the capital's administration reported that about 100 units of specialized equipment have been deployed to reduce dust formation on the streets of Tashkent. Fountains and irrigation systems are also being launched in the city to increase humidity and settle dust.
Sevara AzamovaIndonesia's Health Ministry reported 333,470 cases of acute respiratory infections linked to forest and land fires, with 4,522 new cases registered in a single day. Air quality in six priority provinces has reached hazardous levels. President Prabowo Subianto said companies responsible for repeated fires could lose their concessions, while protests took place in Samarinda demanding the fires be declared a national disaster.
Sevara AzamovaNIGMI director Donyor Turgunov reported that from September 28 to October 6 the main cause of air pollution in Tashkent was natural dust — 52−78% of PM2.5 sample composition. According to monitoring stations, since the beginning of the year PM2.5 concentration decreased by 28%, PM10 by 32% compared to 2025.
Sevara AzamovaResidents of Palangkaraya on the Indonesian part of Borneo have been living under toxic smog from forest fires for several weeks. Smoke seeps into homes, causes coughing and breathing difficulties, reduces street vendors' sales, and has forced students to study online for nearly an entire semester.
Javlon TursunovOn October 19, 2026, air quality in Tashkent reached the 'red' (unhealthy) level: monitoring stations recorded an AQI of 151–153, and the city ranked 13th in the global ranking of the most polluted major cities. The concentration of PM2.5 particles exceeded the WHO-recommended annual average level by 11.6 times. In Samarkand, the AQI reached 105. It was also reported that air monitoring stations have been launched near the airports of Samarkand and Fergana.
Sevara AzamovaThe ASEAN meteorological monitor declared 'Alert Level 3' — the highest in a four-tier system — due to dense transboundary haze from fires in Indonesia. The pollution has disrupted daily life in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor: schools are closing and respiratory illnesses are rising. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur ranked in the top 3 of the world's most polluted major cities according to IQAir.
Aziz KarimovThick smoke from forest fires burning in Indonesia for several months hid Palangkaraya on October 15 and reached Singapore. The haze also covered Malaysia, the Philippines and East Timor, where schools were closed for three days.
Otabek YusupovThe National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan reported proposals from greenhouse operators in Tashkent and the Tashkent region to transition to 'greenhouses' using gas, electricity, and alternative energy sources; if not feasible, coal heating with filters would be permitted. Tests of filters based on Chinese technology conducted on September 30 and October 8 showed non-compliance with emission standards. Subsidies and tax incentives are being prepared for 'greenhouses,' while the ban on greenhouses without eco-friendly heating in the capital region will remain.
Otabek Yusupov
