Several recent studies have identified the main sources of air pollution in the capital. The ADB Brief «Tackling Air Pollution in Bishkek: A Road Map to Cleaner Air» says.
«A joint UNDP-UNEP study determined that the main source of air pollution is the use of coal in heating residential buildings, followed by road transport. The UNICEF report shows that PM2.5 concentrations are highest in the private sector areas. An estimate of health impacts and associated costs is also given. The IOM study, based on a survey and focus groups, explored air pollution factors and their perception by residents of the most polluted areas, in particular internal migrants,» the Brief says.
These studies show that burning coal for heating purposes is the main cause of air pollution in winter.
According to UNDP and UNEP estimates, heating of residential buildings produces about half of annual PM2.5 emissions, with a large share in winter. Another third of annual emissions comes from transport, especially trucks and minibuses that use diesel fuel. Other sources of emissions are industrial activities, coal-fired heating and power plant (HHP), coal-fired boilers for district heating and solid waste incineration.
«However, not all emissions have the same impact on air quality. For example, emissions dispersed on the outskirts of the city through the tall chimneys of the HHP contribute less to ground concentrations than emissions occurring near the ground and throughout the city (from coal heating and diesel cars). The situation is exacerbated by the fact that in winter the inversion layer often traps pollutants emitted near the ground,» the document says.
