Urban PM2.5pollution in Kazakhstan: health burden and economic costs


Muratuly A. Mukhtarov R. Radelyuk I. Karaca F. Baimatova N.
1 January 2026Royal Society of Chemistry

Environmental Science: Advances
2026#5Issue 1281 - 291 pp.

Ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure constitutes the leading global risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This study assesses the healthcare and economic burdens of air pollution in Kazakhstans two major urban cities, Almaty and Astana. During 2022–2024, PM2.5-attributable excess mortality reached 2108 ± 144 deaths in Almaty and 676 ± 41 deaths in Astana annually. The results of this research suggest that compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline for annual average PM2.5 concentrations (5 µg m−3) can potentially prevent 1196–1698 and 446–497 deaths in Almaty and Astana, respectively. Economic losses from PM2.5-related mortality were estimated at USD 2.8–4.6 billion for Almaty and USD 0.9–1.5 billion for Astana per year throughout the study period. Achieving the WHO-recommended annual PM2.5 limit of 5 µg m−3 by 2022 might yield annual economic benefits of USD 2941–3685 million in Almaty and USD 863–1043 million in Astana. These findings highlight the urgency of comprehensive, coordinated air quality management strategies, with a particular emphasis on fossil fuel phase-out initiatives. This journal is



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Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Center of Physical Chemical Methods of Research and Analysis, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Almaty, Kazakhstan
Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Toraighyrov University, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan
School of Engineering and Digital Science, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
The Environment and Resource Efficiency Cluster, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan

Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
School of Engineering and Digital Science
The Environment and Resource Efficiency Cluster

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