On the evening of November 15, a significant deterioration in atmospheric air quality was recorded in Bishkek. According to the international platform IQAir, the Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to 191, which is classified as a harmful level for health.
Pollution indicators and risks to the population
The main polluting factor in the capital remains PM2.5 fine particulate matter. According to IQAir data, by 20:00, their concentration was 112 µg/m³, which exceeds the annual average level recommended by the World Health Organization by more than 22 times.
At such levels, the negative impact on well-being may be felt not only by children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic diseases, but also by healthy adults.
Air monitoring data
Bishkek's position in the global ranking
Between 19:00 and 20:00 on November 15, Bishkek entered the top five most polluted major cities in the world. Kyrgyzstan's capital surpassed cities such as Delhi (India), Kathmandu (Nepal), Karachi, and Lahore (Pakistan) in smog levels.
Context
Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan with a population of approximately 1.19 million people. The IQAir ranking includes the world's largest megacities alongside Bishkek, including Beijing (China) and Delhi (India).
