SanEpid Committee Issues Recommendations for Air Hazard Protection
The Center for Sanitary Epidemiological Peace has recently issued medical recommendations on protection against increased PM2.5 dispersed particles in the air of Tashkent. According to the center, these particles have increased by several tens of times the norm, posing a serious health risk to the residents of the city.
PM2.5 particles are known to pass through the respiratory tract and enter the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries, affecting gas exchange and entering the systemic bloodstream, thereby having a direct local effect on tissue cells. Experts have also highlighted the ability of these small dispersed particles to penetrate cell membranes and the risk of chronic accumulation in organs and tissues.
Long-term exposure to high concentrations of PM10 and PM2 in atmospheric air can have inflammatory, carcinogenic, teratogenic, cytotoxic effects, contribute to the development of allergic pathology, and affect human life expectancy.
In order to protect against these particles, experts recommend cleaning the floors and shelves of rooms or buildings, hanging wet towels inside the house or building, keeping windows closed, drinking more water, restricting outdoor movement, showering frequently, rinsing the mouth and nose with a saline solution, and using eye wash for contact lens wearers. People with respiratory diseases are advised to use medical masks and change them every 2 hours.
Tashkent’s air pollution reached a hazardous level on January 17, with the amount of fine PM2.5 particles in the city’s air averaging 23.8 times higher than the WHO recommendations. In fact, according to the rating of IQAir international service, Tashkent took the 8th place in the world in terms of air pollution.
While the Tashkent city administration has acknowledged the air quality problem and is developing action plans to improve the environmental situation with the participation of foreign experts, there is still a need for regular public information and recommendations on how to behave in polluted air conditions. The administration has announced that a presentation will be made to the public soon to address the measures being taken to improve the city’s air quality.
