Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand, head of the Air Pollution Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, stated that approximately 450,000 deaths occur annually in Iran due to various causes, with “about 50,000” of these being related to air pollution. This means nearly 12% of all deaths in the country are linked to air pollution.
On Saturday, November 23, Hassanvand emphasized that air pollution is “one of the serious risk factors and the most significant environmental pollutant” and told IRNA, the state-run news agency: “The most critical pollutant currently present in the country, which contributes to the number of unhealthy days, is particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5).”
Hassanvand noted that this pollutant, recognized as a carcinogenic compound, has been measured since 2011. He added that between 2011 and 2018, the levels of this pollutant decreased due to “atmospheric instability and adequate rainfall in the country.”
However, he stated that in 2018, which was the best year in terms of air pollution, “the average concentration of PM2.5 particles in Tehran was 27 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 5.5 times the healthy limit.”
According to him, after 2018, there has been an almost continuous rise in PM2.5 concentrations for four consecutive years, during which “a record increase in air pollutants was set.”
Hassanvand pointed out that there is no effective program to control pollutants, emphasizing that reducing pollutant concentrations depends on heavy rainfall and atmospheric instability. If the weather remains stable, pollutant concentrations will also rise.
Currently, the level of PM2.5 particles in the country is “six times the global health limit” and the World Health Organization’s standard.
He also mentioned the inevitability of using mazut (a heavy fuel oil) as fuel in power plants, stressing the issue of a lack of air pollution control equipment in these facilities and industries.
Hassanvand also referred to the role of sanctions, most of which have been imposed by the United States due to Iran’s nuclear program. He emphasized that the sanctions have been impactful and added: “If proper investments had been made in this sector, our power plants would not have become obsolete and could have operated more efficiently.”
