In recent years, Bishkek residents are increasingly faced with smog with the onset of cold weather. Polluted air is felt not only by smell, it can be even seen with the naked eye. The problem is discussed at all levels, but no real measures have been taken so far.
HPP vs private houses sector
This year, the UN departments conducted two large studies: «Air quality in Bishkek. Emission Source Assessment and Roadmap to Promote Air Quality Management» (UNDP) and «The Impact of Air Pollution on the Health and Social Aspects of Women and Children in Bishkek» (UNICEF).
The experts came to the conclusion that abandonment of coal by households would help solve the problem. Since it is the combustion of this type of fuel in heating stoves of the private houses sector that is the main source of air pollution.
According to research results, the contribution of Bishkek Heating and Power Plant (HPP) to ground concentrations of particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 is less than one percent.
At the same time, 70 percent of private houses in the country are heated by coal, which causes the most dangerous concentrations of PM2.5 particles. The problem of emissions is exacerbated by the weak mixing of air masses.
Approximately 48 percent of households in the capital have central heating, 26 percent are heated by coal stoves, 17 percent — by gas and 8 percent — by electricity.
At the same time, raw coal is more often used for heating by the population with the lowest incomes (40 percent). But even among residents whose financial condition is good, there are quite a lot of those who uses the solid fuel for heating (17 percent). Experts note that this category of the population can switch to alternative sources of heating, since their price and availability are not a big limitation for this group.
There is still some progress in solving the problem. The study «Air quality in Bishkek. Emission Source Assessment and Roadmap to Promote Air Quality Management» notes that since the Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey in 2018, the use of gas as the main fuel for heating has increased by more than 12 percent and the use of coal in stoves has decreased by 14 percent.
Not only outside
Improvement of heating systems in the private houses sector is the most effective way to prevent deaths from air pollution in the Kyrgyz capital, experts say.
In Bishkek, average annual concentrations of PM2.5 are about 30 µg/m³, which is significantly higher than national and all international (European Union, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization) hygiene standards and recommendations.
Microscopic particles can penetrate barriers in the lungs and enter the circulatory system, causing, for example, cardiovascular, respiratory diseases and lung cancer.
UNDP study says that 12-13 percent (4,100-5,000) of deaths per year in Kyrgyzstan from 2010 to 2019 were related to air pollution. The health care costs due to this problem were estimated at $388 million, or 6 percent of the gross national income in 2015.
University of California researcher, one of the authors of the UNICEF report, Rufus Edwards, notes that air pollution does not only occur outside the premises, it penetrates into homes, workplaces and all other places where a person spends time.
«In Bishkek, people on average spend about 93 percent of their time indoors, especially in winter. People who are most susceptible (e.g. pregnant women, infants, the elderly, people with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions) spend even more time indoors,» he notes.
The annual weighted average exposure of the population to PM2.5 in all types of households was estimated to be about 3.6 times higher than those levels that have an adverse impact on public health.
Air pollution resulted in 112 deaths in Bishkek between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
The estimated damage to welfare from air pollution amounted to about 2 billion soms, or $24.9 million.
How to avoid death
Under a «business-as-usual» scenario, emissions of all major pollutants are expected to rise significantly by 2040. In particular, PM2.5 emissions will increase by 60 percent, mainly due to increased emissions from household heating.
To prevent such an outcome, experts recommend promoting affordable clean alternatives to coal in the residential sector, such as heat pumps, as well as strengthening energy efficiency measures.
As for the transport sector, it is proposed to tighten fuel standards, and more actively use the potential of renewable energy sources in the electrical energy sector.
«Reduction of the use of fossil fuels will not only improve air quality, but will also contribute to the fight against climate change and lead to savings in health care costs,» the UNDP study says.
