Tashkent tops global air pollution rankings IQAir ranking

The Uzbek capital has been ranked the world’s most polluted city, according to data from the air quality monitoring portal IQAir. Concentrations of harmful PM10 particles in Tashkent reached 269.7 µg/m³, nearly six times the daily limit recommended by the World Health Organisation (45 µg/m³), posing a significant risk to public health.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, ranks second with PM2.5 levels of 152 µg/m³, while Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, comes third at 132 µg/m³. Other cities in the top ten include Kolkata (India), Manama (Bahrain), Doha (Qatar), Jakarta (Indonesia), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Delhi (India), and Baghdad (Iraq).

Experts note that fine PM2.5 particles are particularly dangerous, as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems. The World Health Organisation continues to urge governments to implement stricter measures to reduce air pollution and protect public health.

By Vugar Khalilov