IMPACT OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION ON THE DENTOFACIAL SYSTEM IN TASHKENT RESIDENTS: FOCUS ON ORTHODONTIC IMPLICATIONS
Abstract
Background. Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, ranks among the world's most air-polluted megacities, with a 2024 annual average PM2.5 concentration of 31.5 µg/m³ — 6.3 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. The combined effect of windblown desert dust, coal combustion, and vehicle emissions generates a complex pollutant mixture that may substantially affect craniofacial and dental development in residents, particularly in children.
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