A study of air quality conditions in Tehran shows that the metropolis took easier breath during the last month of 2018 compared to December 2017.
Based on data published by Tehran Air Quality Control Company on its website, airnow.tehran.ir, the capital experienced less polluted days in December compared to a year earlier.
In December 2018, Tehran saw three blessed days with blue skies, with the barometer showing 'good' conditions. In addition, the city had 18 days of 'moderate' air quality.
The index compartmentalizes the 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).
Charts published by TAQCC show that last December sensitive groups in Tehran breathed 10 days in "unhealthy" conditions, with the index standing between 101 and 150.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory and cardiovascular problems, all of whom fall in the sensitive group, were advised to avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
Overview
A review of index over the past several years shows that air pollution has decreased in Tehran, at least during the investigating period.
In December 2017 residents were often vexed by unhealthy air conditions as the bad conditions almost thoroughly dominated the TAQCC charts standing between 151 and 200 for three consecutive days.
The sensitive group also experienced 20 days of unhealthy air quality. The remaining 8 days of the month had 'moderate' air quality with not a single day of 'good' AQI.
AQI standards have been the function of the High Council for Environmental Protection since 2012. Reportedly, the system is a translation of the 2012 version of standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which is no longer in use today.
Tehran Air Quality Index in December 2017 (No Green)
Pollutants measured to determine air quality include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ground-level ozone and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10). AQI figures are calculated based on the concentration of the pollutants.
Seemingly things are gradually getting better regarding the air quality, at least in Tehran. This could either be thanks to nature's helping hand or the healing measures, so far taken by municipal bodies and affiliated bodies.
Poor air quality has long been a danger for most metropolises in Iran causing over 12,000 pollution-relation deaths in the fiscal that ended in March 2017, the Ministry of Health reported.
