Air quality monitoring stations in the namesake capital city of Tehran Province show people continued to breathe more polluted air in February, compared with the same period of last year.
A close analysis of Air Quality Index during the period makes this very clear. AQI is used by government agencies to announce the prevailing level of air pollution, or forecast future days.
The index categorizes conditions dictated by a measure of polluting matters into good (0-50), moderate (51-100), unhealthy for sensitive groups (101-150), unhealthy (151-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and hazardous (301-500).
In February, people in Tehran did not see clear blue skies even for a single day. Instead, the moderate status was recorded for 22 days, as the index hovered between 51 and 100.
Those with respiratory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, the elderly, pregnant women and children were warned of their outdoor exposure for six days, as AQI remained unhealthy for sensitive group.
Pollutants measured to determine air quality include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ground-level ozone and particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10). AQI figures are calculated as per the concentration of pollutants.
During the month under study, PM2.5 (particulate matters smaller than 2.5 micrometers) pushed AQI up to 136 on Feb. 4, its highest during the period.
Data show that Tehran air has been cleaner in February compared to January.
The charts illustrate that AQI did not enter the range of good air quality even for a day.
According to the data, January ended with 11 extra polluted days in the first half and AQI hit emergency levels on Jan. 13, reaching 174.
Air condition was unhealthy for the sensitive group on 10 days, as it hovered between 101 and 150.
In the 11 remaining days, the index remained in the moderate state.
Comparative Outlook
The AQI review during the year-ago month shows air quality had deteriorated in Tehran.
In February 2020, three days passed with the less-seen good air condition. Moderate air quality was registered on 20 days, but the index entered the range of unhealthy for the sensitive group on five days, compelling the authorities to warn them of outdoor exposures.
On Feb. 18 and 28, AQI reached 121, the highest level during the month.
February 2019 had experienced good air quality on seven days. Moderate air quality dominated the month, as AQI lingered between 51 and 100 for 18 days.
Outdoor activities were banned for the sensitive group in the remaining three days, as the index entered the unhealthy threshold that is between 101 and 150.
The highest AQI was 139 reported on Feb. 8.
Blame Game
Prior to the Nature’s help in dispersing the suffocating smog in Tehran, urban managers faced the public ire over the absence of a comprehensive solution and a lack of official determination.
With the news of widespread use of low-quality mazut in power stations, bureaucrats have scapegoated the public and waged blame games.
In early January, Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said because of fuel shortage, refined diesel and mazut have been delivered to power plants.
“This is not a favorable option. The primary fuel source for the plants is Euro-7 diesel, but to fill the gap and keep the plants running, mazut is being used,” he said.
Just like many other officials, Zanganeh also blamed the public for the high gas and electricity use, stressing that lower consumption can lift the pressure on power plants and reduce their mazut consumption.
This is while the recurrent lockdowns over the coronavirus outbreak have led to the closure of universities, schools, restaurants and reception halls, and forced workers to work from home, which should naturally cause a drop in energy consumption. So, the public believe the surge in gas and electricity use is linked to exports and bitcoin production.
Instead of addressing these speculations, Zanganeh blamed the smog on temperature inversion that frequently occurs in winter and lack of public cooperation.
“The general public can greatly help curb the situation by minimizing private car use and turning down heating systems,” he recommended.
Critics believe that the problem is rooted in the inherent corruption that prioritizes everything over citizens’ lives and health.
However, bureaucrats have mastered the art of shifting the responsibility.
Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi earlier said Tehran Municipality should not be blamed for the toxic air pollution, as other agencies are in charge of decisions that have exacerbated the problem.
“Curbing air pollution is a comprehensive task involving 19 executives and legislative institutions, and Tehran Municipality’s share of duty and authority is the smallest,” he said.
Earlier, speaking in a Tehran City Council session, Mohammad Alikhani, the head of the council’s Transportation Commission, said the ministries of interior, oil, roads, energy, industries and health, along with the Department of Environment, the Traffic Police and the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran, are all tasked with monitoring and controlling air pollution.
“But they have largely failed to fulfill their responsibility in this regard,” he said.
