Experts have raised concerns about the reliability of data from IQAir, the world’s largest free air quality monitoring platform, questioning its accuracy and highlighting that it cannot always be trusted.

During a discussion at the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan’s club, Bahrom Esanov, an expert from the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, pointed out that the data provided by IQAir is not always reliable. According to Esanov, this is largely due to the fact that individuals or organizations can input their own sensors into the platform, which may not always provide accurate or consistent readings.

In Tashkent, experts cited cases where sensors were placed between industrial enterprises, skewing the readings for the entire city. They pointed out that such locations negatively impact localized air quality while also distorting overall pollution levels.

Ecologists also emphasized the importance of considering regional climate differences when evaluating air quality. They explained that Uzbekistan’s atmospheric conditions cannot be directly compared to those in Japan or European nations, where high humidity helps suppress dust pollution. In contrast, Uzbekistan’s arid climate naturally contributes to higher PM2.5 levels due to airborne dust.

These concerns come after a recent social media movement in Tashkent, where residents launched the “We Need Clean Air” challenge, urging the government to take action against worsening air pollution. The campaign gained momentum after the city’s air quality hit record-low levels, prompting calls for stricter environmental measures.