Air quality

Notwithstanding industrial decline and relatively low environmental pollution, the condition of air quality in Dushanbe is still unfavorable. This is mainly due to the hollow-shape landscape, high recurrence of calm, increasing of population's density and intensive road traffic within the city.

Basic human pressures on the state of air quality are: harmful emissions from vehicles, energy and industry, dust storms, and a lesser degree - city's economy, including foliage burning, waste incineration, fires, etc.

In the last 5 years, anthropogenic pressure on air quality was somewhat reduced due to industrial and energy recession. Basic air pollutants in Dushanbe are dust particles, benzapiren, nitrous dioxide, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide.

Concentrations of air pollutants vary significantly, depending on city area and season. Usually, concentrations are evaluated in comparison with maximal permissible concentration for each air pollutant. Average annual concentrations for basic pollutants in Dushanbe are: dust - 1,5-3, carbon monoxide - 0,5-1,3, nitrous dioxide - 0,5-1,5, formaldehyde - 0,3-1,0. Overall, concentration of basic air pollutants in Dushanbe reduced twice in comparison with 1990.

Source : Tajik Met Service

Places of high concentrations of air polluters are those streets, located in the center and southwest city: Samani, Mahsuma, Gafurova, Sino, Sherozi, Borbad, N. Karabaeva. Vehicles are the main pollution sources here. Most vulnerable to air pollution are Rudaki and Aini streets, where high intensity of traffic and emission's density may be observed.

Housing estates that located within Dushanbe's cement plant (northern part of city) and Dushanbe's heat power station, "Tajiktextilemash", "Tajiktextile" are under influence of industrial emissions.

Within administrative areas, basic stationary air pollution sources in Dushanbe are:

Zeleznodorozny district:

• "Asbocement";
• "Tajiktextilemash";
• "DOK";
• ZBK-2, ZBK-3;
• Brick plant;

• Other enterprises

Oktiabrsky district:

• "Tajikcement";
• "Gidroagregat";
• Asbestos tube plant;
• Construction materials plant;
• Other enterprises

Frunzensky district:

• ZBK SD;
• Reinforcement plant;
• "Tajikcable";
• "Tajikmaslo";
• Dushanbe refrigerator plant "Pamirs";
• Other enterprises

Central district:

• Dushanbe's heat power station;
• Furniture plant;
• "Tajiktextile";
• "Torgmash";
• Meat-packing plant;
• Other enterprises

totally 17 large-scale industrial air pollution sources and few small ones. During 1980-th and in early 1990-th, stationary sources' contribution to air pollution was 60% (22-25 thousand tones). Since most of industries are not operational now, basic anthropogenic emissions come from vehicles - 10-12 thousand tones annually (80-90% contribution). Out-of-date motor vehicles and poor-quality gasoline increase emissions marginally.

Source : Ministry for nature protection

Foliage burning in autumn and winter seasons and waste dump incineration aggravate environmental condition and quality of atmospheric air. On average, there are about 100-200 such cases annually. These emissions contain a lot of toxic and carcinogenic elements and may cause damage to population's health.

According to observations, basic sources of dust in the air of Dushanbe are dust storms and local factors. Regional dust storms contribute as much as 50% of all dust particles, land degradation and desertification - 30% and anthropogenic factors (road traffic, industrial emissions, construction) - 20%.

It is necessary to note that before 1990-th, dust concentration in the atmosphere of Dushanbe was less then now, both by extent and duration. Desertification, ploughing up of surrounding lands on the steep hills and forest cuttings, even in the presence of light wind contribute to the dust formation. This is especially distinct during last few years. It seems that summer 2001 is notable for very high recurrence and scale of dust storms within the city and its surroundings. On another hand, deterioration of irrigation conditions, low maintenance of main roads in summer, reduction of green areas, opencast mines and unmanaged waste sites are the sources of dust formation.

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