Air pollution in Kyrgyzstan causes major health impacts for children

In Kyrgyzstan, air pollution is the single biggest environmental risk factor for premature death and ill-health, with young children among the most affected. In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan a UNICEF study found that residents are exposed to annual average concentrations that range from moderately elevated to far more than concentrations known to cause major health impacts. This is largely a result of residential winter heating and cooking using raw coal. In summer, air pollution exposures are close to WHO air quality guidelines with an average household exposure of 7.3 ± 1.7 μg/m-3. These patterns reinforce that high air pollution exposures in Bishkek are driven by local winter heating, and the greatest increase in exposures is for those living in areas where raw coal burning is more evident. These patterns also reinforce that measures to reduce air pollution across the city would benefit all residents. UNICEF is working with the government in Kyrgyzstan to identify solutions to reduce exposure to air pollution for children and youth in kindergartens, schools and their homes through improved insulation and ventilation. In parallel UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the capacity of primary health care professionals on early screening to detect air pollution-related illnesses and recommend ways to reduce air pollution exposure.

After years of research, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its 2005 Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) in September 2021. The new air quality guidelines (WHO AQG) reflect the impact of air pollution on global health. UNICEF supports the recommendations of the new WHO AQG and urges countries to use the WHO AQG as a guide for air quality and emission reduction policies in Europe and Central Asia and around the world.

There is ample evidence to support government action to reduce air pollution and address climate change simultaneously. The updated WHO AQG stresses the importance of lowering air pollution concentrations at every level. The benefits are clear: lowering air pollution levels will lead to enormous improvements in public health for people of all ages breathing cleaner air, especially children.

The cost effectiveness of air quality actions is increased by the close link between air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. A reduction of air pollution emissions will also feed into efforts for climate neutrality and vice versa, making benefits from investments in one area count twice.

This case study is part of UNICEF's 2023 Breathless beginnings report.