News about PM2.5: events, facts and developments on tafs uz.
11 stories
A study by the Finnish think tank CREA estimates the number of deaths from smoke pollution in Indonesia in September 2026 at 3,560 — twice as many as in August. Including industrial and transport pollution, the total death toll reached 5,310. The government has neither confirmed nor refuted the figures.
Aziz KarimovOn the night of October 29–30, in Tashkent, under unfavorable meteorological conditions — a drop in temperature, very weak wind, and a strong temperature inversion — air quality deteriorated: on the international AQI, readings reached 'unhealthy' levels and in places 'very unhealthy.' Specialists of the National Center for Environmental Monitoring carried out measurements in six districts of the city; no significant dust sources were detected in satellite images.
Sevara AzamovaOn the night of October 25–26, air quality in Tashkent deteriorated due to a temperature inversion, a sharp cold snap, and weak wind: PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations rose, and at certain monitoring stations the international AQI reached the 'unhealthy' and 'very unhealthy' categories. The Meteosat satellite recorded dust suspended over the city from 00:00 to 08:00. Throughout Monday, the air is forecast to remain unhealthy.
Javlon TursunovThe National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan reported that on the night of October 25 to 26, due to unfavorable meteorological conditions, PM concentrations in Tashkent may rise: under the international AQI the air may become 'unhealthy', and under the national index — 'orange'. The causes cited are cooling, weak wind and a temperature inversion.
Aziz KarimovOn the night of October 23–24, air quality in Tashkent briefly deteriorated due to weather conditions — cooling, weak wind and a temperature inversion. According to the Special Commission, at most monitoring points the PM2.5 pollution level corresponded to the 'unhealthy' and 'very unhealthy' categories of the international AQI index, while the national index remained at the 'yellow' level. Improvement was expected during the day on October 24.
Javlon TursunovAccording to the forecast of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change, on the night of October 24 in Tashkent, due to falling temperatures, weak wind and a strong temperature inversion, concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particles will rise. Under the international AQI index, the air may reach the 'unhealthy' level, while under the national index it is expected to remain at the 'yellow' level. Gradual improvement is expected from the morning.
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 AzamovaUzbekistan's National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change reported that in the evening of October 20, concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particles will rise in Tashkent. At night and in the morning, air quality is forecast at the level of 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' on the international AQI index and 'yellow' on the national one. The reasons cited are cooling to +9 degrees, weak wind and a strong temperature inversion. By the morning of October 21, as the inversion weakens, the air should return to the 'moderate' level.
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 AzamovaAccording to forecasts from Uzhydromet and ECMWF, dry and stable weather will set in across Uzbekistan from October 19 to 25 under the influence of a cold anticyclone: no precipitation is expected even in the mountains, with nighttime temperatures down to 0°C in the deserts and daytime temperatures of +17…+22°C. Experts warn of risks of PM2.5 accumulation in Tashkent and the valley, as well as large daily temperature swings.
Otabek YusupovOvernight on October 16, air quality in Tashkent deteriorated due to unfavorable meteorological conditions and a temperature inversion: from 21:00 on October 15 the AQI index rose to a level unfavorable for sensitive groups, with the peak at 00:00. The temperature dropped to 11.8 degrees, and the wind was weak. On October 16 during the day, an average AQI level is expected, and the air is under constant monitoring by the Special Commission.
Javlon Tursunov
