IMPACT OF AMBIENT AIR POLLUTION ON PUBLIC HEALTH IN TASHKENT

Ambient air pollution is one of the most significant environmental risk factors affecting global public health. Elevated concentrations of particulate matter, especially PM2.5, are strongly associated with increased morbidity and mortality due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases (WHO, 2021). According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for approximately 6.7 million premature deaths annually, with the highest burden observed in low- and middle-income countries (WHO, 2021; The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health, 2019). Urban areas with high population density are particularly vulnerable to episodic increases in air pollution levels, which significantly affect respiratory health outcomes (IQAir, 2024).