## 4 Conclusions  
Assessment of the air pollution in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 2020 was conducted by measurements of VOCs concentrations using the previously developed method. The seasonal variations for 9 out of 19 VOCs were significant, with maximum concentration in sampling days in winter. The high concentrations of VOCs in the winter sampling period can be related to the higher emissions from coal combustion, meteorological parameters, and the geographic location of Almaty. In addition, in winter, the low planetary boundary layer heights and low-level inversion layers can affect VOCs dispersion. Insignificant seasonal variations of the rest of the analytes may indicate that their sources have a constant contribution to air pollution during all sampling periods. Comparison of the two sampling periods (3, 5, 7 April and 28, 30 April, 3 May) in spring were used for evaluating the effect of the heating season and COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in Almaty on VOCs emissions. The obtained results and analysis of typical ratios of BTEX demonstrate that the primary sources in Almaty are associated with the burning of biomass/b biofuel/coal and vehicle emissions with the dominant effect of solid fuel combustion in heating seasons. Additionally, the observed _X/E_ ratios (lower than 3) indicate that sampling sites in Almaty are affected mainly by aged air masses from remote sources. It was found that the spatial distribution of the TVOCs concentrations depends on the sampling site's elevation and distance from CHPs. The spatial difference of TVOCs has a similar trend in all sampling periods, with the most polluted site in the north part of the city. The limitation of this study is that the obtained results represent only short sampling periods and boundary layer height as well as temperature inversions were not investigated due to data gaps. However, it is the first attempt to study VOCs' seasonal and spatial air pollution in Almaty, one of the most polluted cities in Kazakhstan. The obtained data could serve as a basis for action plans for improving the air quality based on air monitoring data and could be an impulse for further comprehensive investigations. Moreover, observed complex air pollution in Almaty, Kazakhstan, requires further detailed source-apportionment studies of the VOCs and their diurnal, temporal, and seasonal variations. In Kazakhstan, identifying air pollution's emission sources and health effects remains a challenge due to lack of capacity, outdated methodologies, scarcity of data, and nontransparent energy statistics. Continuous and reliable monitoring of air quality is crucial to track the progress of implemented activities. The limited data on the concentrations of pollutants and the absence of adequate data analysis inhibit the appropriate assessment of risks and the development of effective programs to reduce air pollution. Therefore, a comprehensive air analysis is required in the cities of Kazakhstan using modern research methods and modeling tools. We also suggest considering the approaches for reducing, eliminating, or preventing air pollution, such as less toxic fossil fuel use. The quality of low-grade coal with a high ash content, which householders and CHPs utilize for electricity and heating production, should be improved, or changed to alternative fuel types (natural gas). Advanced emission-control technologies should be applied at CHPs. Control of transportation exhaust gases should include emission control on vehicles, use of cleaner fuels along with the development of public transport network. Strict standards for transport, industrial, and power plants emissions, development of an emission control strategy, and plan incorporating the control measures are urgently needed. This study could raise awareness among the decision-makers, the academic community, and the local population regarding the severity of the problem by providing evidence of air quality measured using advanced techniques and methods.