Air Quality Index was “good” on only nine days from May 22, 2022, to May 21, 2023, charts published by Tehran Air Quality Control Company’s website, Airnow.tehran.ir, show.
The company said 200 days turned out to be moderate, 122 days remained unhealthy for sensitive groups, 31 days stayed unhealthy, two days were very unhealthy and one day was hazardous.
The index categorizes air conditions according to 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).
TAQCC indicates that AQI hit “good” quality on two days in the second month of the current fiscal year (April 21-May 21).
Statistics show that the “moderate” status was recorded on 27 days, as AQI hovered between 51 and 100 during the period.
Sensitive groups in Tehran, who suffer the most from toxic air, were advised to limit outdoor activities for two days, since AQI hovered between 101 and 150, marking an unhealthy status.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory and cardiovascular problems are all categorized in the sensitive group.
AQI did not hit “unhealthy”, “very unhealthy”, or “hazardous” quality during the month under review.
High density of PM2.5 (particulate matters smaller than 2.5 micrometers) and PM10 were the main culprits behind the polluted days.
Comparative Data
Month-on-month comparisons showed Tehran’s air was more polluted in the second month of the current fiscal year compared to the previous month (March 21-April 20).
Charts illustrate that the “good” status was recorded on six days in the month ending April 20, as air remained “unhealthy for sensitive groups” during the period, with the index lingering between 101 and 150 on only one day.
Air quality was moderate on 24 days, as AQI hovered between 51 and 100 in the month.
The AQI review during the year-ago month shows air quality in Tehran has improved slightly.
In the second month of the fiscal 2022-23 (April 21-May 21), moderate air quality condition was registered on 21 days, but the index remained increasingly unhealthy for the sensitive group on eight days, compelling authorities to dissuade people from going outdoors unnecessarily.
Unhealthy air quality was registered for two days, as AQI oscillated between 151-200.
AQI did not hit “healthy”, “very unhealthy”, or “hazardous” quality during the period under review.
Tehran’s air quality deteriorated in the fiscal 2022-23 when compared with the year before.
The air quality was good for only two days in the fiscal 2021-22, as AQI hovered around 0-50.
The moderate air quality status was registered for 250 days, as AQI remained between 51 and 100.
Sensitive groups in Tehran were advised to stay indoors for 108 days, as AQI hovered between 101 and 150, and air quality was unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Also, six days turned out to be moderate during the year, with AQI hovering around 151-200.
Similar to the fiscal 2022-23, high density of PM2.5 and PM10 were the main culprits behind the polluted air in the fiscal 2021-22.
Participants of Worn-Out Vehicle Replacement Plan Facing Hurdles
People who sought to replace their worn-out vehicles with new cars through the Worn-Out Car Replacement Plan are facing numerous problems, as the old scheme no longer works and the new program is still undeveloped, according to the secretary of Iran’s Scrapping and Recycling Centers Association.
“After the approval of the Law on Automobile Industry Regulation, Iran’s Fuel and Transportation Headquarters’ portal was blocked on Jan. 30. As a result, people who had participated in the Worn-Out Car Replacement Plan could not continue the process of scrapping their worn-out car,” Amir Ahmadi was also quoted as saying by Tasnim News Agency.
“The portal for the replacement plan belonged to Iran’s Fuel and Transportation Headquarters, but after the approval of the law, it was transferred to the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade that developed a completely new program. Unfortunately, this transition took place at a time when many people had not completed their procedures in the old scheme and were asked to register in the new program,” he added.
Those selected in the Worn-Out Car Replacement Plan’s draw are entitled to receive a new car from an automaker, alongside credit facilities.
The official said the old scheme was blocked for about three months and after the Industries Ministry’s new program was launched, the data transfer moved at a snail’s pace.
“Recently, people selected for replacing their worn-out cars received an SMS granting them another two months to complete the process in the new program,” he said.
According to Ahmadi, car owners, who visited scrapping centers and registered their information and documents in the new program, could easily complete the replacement process, but the information of owners who had registered in the old scheme before the fiscal 2022-23 (ended March 20) is not accessible in the new program.
The official called on relevant bodies to help people, who are nearing the legal deadline, complete their registration in the new program.
Referring to other problems of the new system, Ahmadi said cars that have a star, or upper- or lower-case letters in their ownership deed are also unable to register in the new program, while the deadline of their SMS has gotten closer.
“We also request the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade to include a new feature in their program so that owners who intend to participate in the cash sales plan could do so,” he said.
