Dushanbe | Pollen & Air Quality

AllergyTJ is a pollen risk estimation tool for Tajikistan, covering 30 cities across all regions of the country.

Hot, dry, windy conditions increase pollen dispersal and raise the risk score. Rain, snow, cold, and high humidity suppress airborne pollen and lower the score. The weather modifier adjusts the seasonal baseline to produce a final score from 0 (None) to 4 (Very High).

Plants bloom later at higher elevations. The app adjusts the seasonal calendar for each city based on its altitude, using a rate of approximately 2 days per 100 meters above the baseline (Dushanbe, 800m). For example, Murghab at 3,618m sees bloom roughly 56 days later than Dushanbe, while lowland cities like Bokhtar at 430m see it about a week earlier.

Pollen levels vary by region due to differences in vegetation and land use. The app groups cities into five zones:

• Dushanbe/DRS: baseline, urban tree-heavy (poplar, plane tree)
• Khatlon: agricultural lowlands, higher grass pollen
• Sughd: Ferghana Valley, mixed orchards and rice
• GBAO/Pamir: sparse alpine vegetation, much lower pollen
• Mountain valleys: mid-altitude, moderate levels

Weather conditions shift throughout the day, so pollen risk does too. The app splits the day into three periods:

• Morning: 6 AM to 12 PM
• Afternoon: 12 PM to 6 PM
• Evening: 6 PM to 12 AM

Pollen allergies can trigger reactions to certain foods — called Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS). Proteins in these foods resemble pollen allergens, causing tingling or itching in the mouth.

• Birch: apples, cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, hazelnuts, carrots, celery
• Mugwort: celery, carrots, cumin, coriander, sunflower seeds, chamomile tea
• Grasses: wheat flour, tomatoes, watermelon, melon, oranges
• Ragweed: watermelon, cantaloupe, banana, zucchini, cucumber

Cooking or peeling usually eliminates the reaction, as heat breaks down the cross-reactive proteins.

The US Air Quality Index is a standardized scale from 0 to 500 that measures how clean or polluted the air is and what health effects may be a concern.

• Good (0–50): air quality is satisfactory
• Moderate (51–100): acceptable, but sensitive individuals may be affected
• Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101–150): limit exposure
• Unhealthy (151–200): everyone may experience effects
• Very Unhealthy (201–300): health alert
• Hazardous (301–500): emergency conditions

The UV (Ultraviolet) Index measures the intensity of ultraviolet radiation from the sun on a scale from 0 to 11+.

• Low (0–2): minimal risk
• Moderate (3–5): seek shade during midday
• High (6–7): sunscreen and protective clothing recommended
• Very High (8–10): avoid midday sun exposure
• Extreme (11+): take all precautions

Risk scores combine three inputs: a seasonal pollen calendar based on Tajikistan's known allergenic flora, live weather data from Open-Meteo, and air quality data from Open-Meteo CAMS.

As of early 2026, no public pollen monitoring stations have been identified in Tajikistan. Risk levels are estimates based on seasonal patterns and weather conditions, not measured pollen counts. Air quality data relies on atmospheric modeling (CAMS), not ground-based sensors.