Kabul air in winter: why it is worse, how to read the number, and what helps

Why the air is worse in the cold months

IQAir, which publishes air-quality data worldwide, says pollution in Afghanistan peaks from October to February and is lowest from April to June. Its figures for 2019 show the pattern: about 196 micrograms per cubic metre of fine particles in December, 145 in January and 61 in November.

Two things come together in winter:

• More burning. IQAir lists wood, coal, waste and plastics burned for heat, and also old cars, brick kilns and dust from roads and building sites. A December 2025 report by 8AM.MEDIA says Kabul households burn coal, firewood and rabat, a cheap fuel pressed from coal dust, and some burn plastic or leather.
• Cold, still air. In cold weather the air near the ground can sit under warmer air above it. This is called a thermal inversion. IQAir names it as one cause, and 8AM.MEDIA describes it as a dome that holds heating smoke over the city, worst at night.

Photo: Qasim Mirzaie

What the number means

Most air-quality pages, including the site's air quality page, show the US Air Quality Index (AQI). The US EPA's scale has six bands:

• 0 to 50, Good: little or no risk.
• 51 to 100, Moderate: acceptable; unusually sensitive people may be affected.
• 101 to 150, Unhealthy for sensitive groups: children, older people and people with heart or lung disease may feel effects.
• 151 to 200, Unhealthy: some of the general public may feel effects, and sensitive groups more seriously.
• 201 to 300, Very unhealthy: a health alert, with increased risk for everyone.
• 301 and above, Hazardous: emergency conditions; everyone is more likely to be affected.

Some pages give the particle level itself, in micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³), for particles smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). The WHO says these particles can reach deep into the lungs and even the blood, and that household fuel burning is one of their sources. Its 2021 guideline is no more than 15 µg/m³ as a 24-hour average and 5 µg/m³ as a yearly average. The WHO's old 24-hour figure, 25, is still quoted in places; the newer one is lower.

Check the date and time of a reading, and remember that two sources can show different numbers for the same day.

How much is measured

Very little. IQAir's pages list a single station for Afghanistan, run by the Daira Sabz Company. 8AM.MEDIA says Kabul lacks a proper monitoring system, so the numbers in its December report are forecasts from weather history and heating habits, not measurements. Treat any single figure as a guide, not a verdict. The site's weather page gives air quality for each province from Open-Meteo, a second view to compare.

What helps at home

1. Do not burn plastic, rubber, leather or old shoes. IQAir and 8AM.MEDIA both warn against it. It makes the smoke worse for your own household and your neighbours.
2. Keep the smoke out of the room. A stove needs a chimney that works. For the other danger, carbon monoxide, read how to heat your home safely.
3. Keep children, the old and the sick in the warmest, least smoky room, and limit time outdoors when the number is high. IQAir notes that children are especially vulnerable.
4. Choose a mask that filters fine particles. The EPA says an N95 respirator gives the best protection from smoke and that a cloth mask will not help.
5. Use an air cleaner if you have one, but not one that makes ozone on purpose (EPA advice). Air out the rooms when the air outside improves.

Medical advice is not given here. If someone has trouble breathing, take them to a clinic or hospital.

When it gets better

According to IQAir, April to June are the cleanest months. In between, check the number on the air quality page before long walks or hard work outdoors.