Bloomberg: Iranian authorities have declared a one-day public holiday today in the capital, Tehran, because of an ‘alarming’ level of air pollution, Mehr reported.
By Ladane Nasseri
Nov. 24 (Bloomberg) — Iranian authorities have declared a one-day public holiday today in the capital, Tehran, because of an ‘alarming’ level of air pollution, Mehr reported.
All public offices, universities and schools will be closed today, the Tehran Governor’s Office announced yesterday, according to the state-run news agency.
Pollution levels have increased and are expected to peak today, weather experts warned earlier this week. Tomorrow is a religious holiday in Iran and Thursday the start of the week- end.
Iran’s capital, with 12 million residents and more than 2 million vehicles, is among the world’s most polluted cities. A Tehrani typically inhales as much as 9 kilograms (20 pounds) of pollutants a year, according to local studies. About 2,500 people in Tehran die every year because of health problems caused by pollution, local reported last year, citing the capital’s environmental organization.
Tehran sits in a bowl shielded by mountains to the north and the infrequency of wind and rain exacerbates pollution.
