Kazakhstan’s Most Polluted Cities Identified In February Report

Three Kazakhstani cities recorded a very high level of air pollution in February. Karaganda ranked first, followed by Satpayev and Abay, Orda.kz reports.

According to Kazhydromet, a high level of air pollution was also recorded in nine other населённых пунктов: Almaty, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Ridder, Temirtau, Turkestan, Astana, Talgar, and the villages of Shubarshi and Kyzylsay.

Forecasters placed 18 settlements in the elevated pollution category, while 39 were classified as part of the “green zone.”

Over the past five years, consistently high air pollution levels have been observed in Karaganda, Almaty, and Astana. In Karaganda, the main pollutants are PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, as well as carbon monoxide. In Almaty, the key pollutants are particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and ozone. In Astana, the main pollutants are PM2.5 and PM10, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide.

PM particles are a form of air pollution made up of solid microparticles and tiny liquid droplets. Their size ranges from 2.5 to 10 microns, which is why they are designated PM2.5 and PM10. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and accumulate there, posing serious health risks.

Original author: Oksana Matviyenko

Read also:

• Almaty Residents Warned of Elevated Air Pollution
• Kazakhstan’s Air Pollution Isn’t Driven by Factories — Ministry of Ecology
• Almaty Ranks Fourth Among the World’s Most Polluted Cities