Main cause of toxic air in Tashkent identified

Recent monitoring of air quality in Tashkent has shown dangerously high levels of PM2.5 particles, considered extremely harmful to health. According to a recent confidential report received by QALAMPIR.UZ, the primary contributor to these toxic particles is natural dust.

The report notes that natural dust accounts for 36 percent of PM2.5 particles in Tashkent. Emissions from heating systems contribute 28 percent, while other sources include:

•  Motor vehicles – 16 percent
•  Light industry – 7 percent
•  Heavy industry – 6 percent
•  Urban dust – 6 percent
•  Waste – 1 percent

The report clarifies that dust from construction sites was not included in this breakdown.

In 2024, Tashkent’s atmosphere received 405,600 tons of pollutants. The 28 percent attributed to heating systems comes from nine heat supply centers, the “New Angren” Thermal Power Plant, the Tashkent and Angren thermal power stations, and 6,517 greenhouses.

Coal consumption in Uzbekistan has increased from 3.9 million tons in 2019 to 11.5 million tons in 2024. Similarly, fuel oil usage rose from 446 million tons in 2022 to 749 million tons in 2024.

Aziz Abduhakimov, Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, told QALAMPIR.UZ that desertification is advancing across Central Asia at a rate of nine square meters per minute, making natural dust the main driver of toxic air particles in the region.