According to Sheralizoda, each of these phenomena lasts several days. He noted that the main sources of dust storms are the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East, from where dust and sand enter the country along with cyclones.
Last year, a similar press conference reported 35 dust storms; however, no data on the number of days was provided at that time.
According to the study "Situational Analysis: Dust and Sand Storms in Central Asia," the number of dust and sand storms in Tajikistan has increased more than tenfold over the past three decades.
If in the early 1990s only 2-3 such events were recorded per year, in recent years their number has risen to more than 35.
Dushanbe, according to data from the last few years, consistently ranks among the most polluted cities in Central Asia, and the situation continues to worsen.
In 2024, the annual average concentration of PM2.5 in the capital was 46.3 µg/m³, which is 7-9 times higher than the recommended norms of the World Health Organization.
In 2024, Tajikistan ranked 6th in the world for PM2.5 pollution levels, while Dushanbe previously held positions among the top four most polluted capitals in the world.
