Tehran’s air, due to increased pollutants, is currently at a level “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” The national meteorological organization issued an orange alert for Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Karaj, Ahvaz, and Mashhad, warning that if the stable weather pattern continues and pollution sources are not contained, the air-quality index in these cities may reach the “dangerous” level.
On Friday, November 21, Tehran’s Air Quality Control Company announced that the city’s average twenty-four-hour air quality index, based on PM2.5 levels (particles smaller than 2.5 microns), stood at 103, categorized as unhealthy for sensitive groups.
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The average morning AQI on Friday was 133, also categorized as unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is divided into five main categories: zero to 50 is clean air, 51 to 100 acceptable, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy for all groups, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and 301 to 500 dangerous.
Pollution expected to rise next week
The Iranian Meteorological Organization, in issuing an orange alert, announced that in the coming days most regions of the country will experience stable atmospheric conditions and clear skies—conditions that lead to a sharp rise in pollutant concentration in large, industrial, and densely populated cities.
According to the alert, if stationary and mobile pollution sources—especially in high-traffic and industrial zones—are not controlled, the AQI could reach dangerous levels for all age groups.
Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Karaj, Ahvaz, and Mashhad are listed as the cities most likely to experience worsening pollution.
Sadegh Ziyaeian, head of the National Center for Weather Forecasting and Crisis Management, said the stable weather pattern will continue until the end of next week and that “the increase in pollutant concentration in major cities is certain.”
According to him, wind will occur only in parts of the eastern belt of the country and will have no effect on dispersing pollution in major cities.
Ziyaeian also said that in the coming days Tehran’s sky will be clear with local haze and that the air “will be at an unhealthy level for all groups.”
Iran’s regime has so far failed to implement any plan to combat air pollution. One of the most important causes of pollution in major cities is the burning of mazut (heavy fuel oil) in power plants. Although Iran has the world’s second-largest natural gas reserves, the regime is unable to provide clean fuel for its power stations. But this is not the only source of pollution. The drying of wetlands and land degradation, worn-out urban vehicles, extremely heavy traffic, improper waste disposal, and the burning of garbage are among the other contributing factors to Iran’s air pollution.
