Air Pollution in Tehran

Tehran is the capital city of Iran with an estimated population of around 8.4 million. The city is the most populous within the country and Western Asia, while it has the second largest Metropolitan area in the entire Middle East. However, the city is rated as one of the most polluted cities in the world. Most parts of Tehran are often covered by smog and thus exposing its residents to breathing difficulties. The climatic condition also propagates widespread of pulmonary illness. According to reports from different organizations concerned with environmental pollution and as noted later in this paper, an estimate of about 27 people die each day in the city from the pollution-related disease. The local reports from the local official’s statement that about 3600 people die every single month while suffering from the hazardous quality of air. The air pollution in the city is because of different factors such as gasoline quality, economic factors, excessive use of motor vehicles and geographical factors. The pollution has contributed to negative impacts on the environment forcing the government and other organizations to come up with mitigations, which face challenges as noted in this article.

Factors contributing to pollution in Tehran

Various factors contribute to air pollution in Tehran at different capacities and percentages. The elements fall into two main categories of natural and human sources. These factors range from economic, geographical, anthropogenic and natural topographical conditions.  The natural sources that cost air pollution include desert lands and air particles. There are deserts around Tehran and some outside of Iran. With deserts, particles from dust and sand in the area mix with particles found in the air and cause pollution. A quarter of particles found in the Tehran air are from the dirt and sand in the area. The city is surrounded by mountains from three sides. Such geographical features restrict the flow of wind into the town contributing to low wind and consequently low rainfall in the city[1]. With lack of wind flow, the polluted Tehran air is trapped in the area, followed by a lack of humidity that results in the area is sunny. With high levels of heat and restrained UV radiations, the city experiences high levels of global warming rises. Such geographical and climatological factors lead to high air pollution in the area.

Human causes are the major causes of air pollution in the city. The human sources fall into two major categories namely; mobile and state sources. Mobile sources include private and public vehicles, which contribute to approximately 70% of the pollution while state sources, which include industries, factories, commercial and residential centers, help to about 30% of air pollution in Tehran. With mobile sources contributing to a more significant percentage of infection, transportation in Tehran comes out as the primary cause of air pollution in the city. Most citizens in Tehran reside on the outskirts of the town forcing most of them to use either private cars or taxis to commute to various places. The city faces traffic congestion contributed by the significant traffic flow into the city by taxis, private vehicles, and public vehicles. The most significant number of cars in the town is cars. Survey report shows that there are approximately 3.37 million, which is about 80% of the vehicles in Tehran[2].  Such a percentage of cars cause traffic congestion in a city.

On top of that, most of the vehicles use carburetor engines that emit significant poisonous gases into the air since they use more fuel in a less efficient in fuel use. However, heavy-duty vehicles top in the most prominent air pollutants. They contribute about 85% of air pollutants in the town. These vehicles use diesel that emits a higher level of particle matter pollution compared to those that use petroleum and gas.

Most vehicles operating in the city of Tehran are old and aging cars. Such old cars do not meet the updated emission regulations in the town. Additionally, in 2014, Tehran introduced Euro 4 standards requiring vehicles to use diesel fuel engines with less than 50 parts per million of sulfur aimed at providing a unique after treatment technology of the exhaust such as diesel particulate filters (DPF), diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR). However, the majority of vehicles in the town only meet Euro 1 standards which means that a large number of the fleet in the city has not reached the after treatment technology requirement[3]. The city also provides for low fuel prices subsidized by the Iranian government. The subsidy causes a lower value of incentive for fuel conversion hence the users do not adhere to the fuel rules in the town. Another major contributor is low quality of fuels such as high percentages of leaded gasoline and diesel fuel with high sulfur content. The Iranian government allowed its fuel refineries to produce subpar gas due to international sanctions.

State or stationary sources also contributed to high rates of pollution in Tehran. The city of Tehran majors in industrialization especially the extraction of oil. It is the most industrialized urban center in Los Angeles with both heavy and light industries. It deals with the production of cement, oil, sulfuric acid among others. The major industries in the area contribute to significant air pollutants in the city through high-energy consumption with the use of poor fuel quality. The primary production at the center of air pollution in Tehran is oil refinery because it produces SO2[4].  The burning of fossil fuel, natural gas, and diesel in the industries releases CO, SO2, NOx into the air. Chemical reactions in the industries produce organic vapors and inorganic gases forming secondary pollutants such as ozone and aerosols. Residential units also form part of major air pollutants in the stationery sources category. The residential units mostly consume stationery sources such as gasoline, white oil, natural gas, and liquid gas. These stationery sources significantly contribute to air pollution. The buildings also have high-rise structures, densely populated hence preventing the city from self-cleaning. 

Interventions for Air Pollution in Tehran

The environmental threat in the capital city has not gone unnoticed, and despite challenges noted later in this article, there are progressive measures put to fight the disaster that puts the lives of many into risks. For example, in 2007, the government imposed fuel rations in a move to reduce air pollution by reducing the exhausted gases emitted to the air. However, the plan has met little success in reducing the levels of pollution. The government, therefore, embarked on the improvement in the public system of transport in 2011, with inflation of fuel prices as a way of controlling fuel use. Such an initiative caused by new subsidies reform plan has hopes from the government that it will be able to improve the problems of traffic and pollution. The principle for this plan was to build on the premises that most Iranian industries are on the outskirts of the town. The combination of gases emitted by this industry and the aging cars that overrun the city made the government regulate fuel consumption to reduce the pollution from the emitted gasses.

Additionally, the government has embarked on other alternatives to reduce air pollution in the city as the measures extend to the entire country. Through its intervention programs, the government has encouraged buses and taxis to move from petrol engines to other engines that use compressed natural gas. The natural gases have a higher combustion level compared to petrol and diesel engines, which are the immediate and conventional pollutants. Moreover, since 1979, the government set up a ‘Traffic Zone’ that covers the center of the city on traffic peak hours[5]. It only allows vehicles with special permits to enter into those zones hence limiting the concentration of many cars in town. There are other measures by the same government such as creating awareness to the locals about hazards of pollution, specifically air pollution. In the current plan, the government is employing the method of installing Pollution Indicator Boards around the city, which monitors the daily levels of Nitrogen Dioxide, Particulate matter, sulphuric acid, and Ozone. The boards thereby display the Pollutant Standard Index within the city hence people can realize the amount of pollutant. Furthermore, the boards classify and demonstrate the level of each contaminant as hazardous, dangerous or safe.

Another strategy used in curbing pollution within the city is through the suggestion of striking a balance between economic development and air pollution. Despite the efforts to advance the country’s economy, there are legislating policies that control all activities that result in air pollution. Some of the systems sought to be implemented include replacing the old cars with new ones, planting trees around and inside the city and increasing car insurances and road taxes[6]

— new inventions in Japan where the automobile firms made electric cars which use electricity as fuel also seem like a long-term strategy to solve air pollution menace in the urban areas in Iran.  The methods put in place are many and unmentionable but are visible to everybody as governments are in the forefront to ensure policies to preserve the environment are observed. The systems have borne fruits, and the rates of pollutions are in the decrease, human beings are at a better place of surviving with the life expectancy increasing, and there is hope for a future whereby there will be zero emissions and no more global warming.

Other recommended strategies by different groups to reduce air pollution in the city include standardization of fuel through the possible was since a significant part of emission come from vehicle exhaust notably from deal and Gasoline. The alternative available and highly recommended is the compressed natural gas, alcohol and liquefied natural gas. Another recommendation is standardization of motor engines and manufacturing engines to have the ones with low fuel consumption. Low fuel consumption reciprocates to low emissions hence a strategy to reduce the level of air pollutants. The government also must impose penalties for polluting industries. The counteraction to encourage less pollution is lowering tax policy for clean technologies. The recommendations need an extensive media campaign to increase the awareness of the public about air quality, public health issues, and environmental concerns.

Effects of air pollution in Tehran

People in the capital city are at risk of diseases due to the climate and pollution, which propagate the transfer of transmitted diseases. Some emissions pose health hazards such as cancer threats among other health complications. According to reports from different organizations concerned with environmental pollution and as noted later in this paper, an estimate of about 27 people die each day in the city from the pollution-related disease. The local reports from the local official’s statement that about 3600 people die every single month while suffering from the hazardous quality of air.  There is also growing evidence of the environmentally induced cancer with proof of a connection between exposure to the environment and disease. The chemicals also affect water bodies through agricultural run-offs creating unsafe water for human being leading to further diseases. Much as technology has resulted in better and more comfortable living conditions, the adverse effects on the environment are far much more. Technology will not make up for the degradation of the situation.

The nature of environmental independence is destroyed to a stage where pessimists believe the world is experiencing the end of nature. The ecological worldview is that we are connected to nature and nature exists for all living organisms. In the current world, the behavior of nature depends on human activities. These activities have altered weather conditions, the air we breathe and even the face of the surrounding. Humanity has shaped the environment. Issues like global warming, deforestation, greenhouse activities, and food production and population growth are human activities that have led to damaging the environment. Greenhouse events lead to an increase in poisonous gasses in the atmosphere. These gasses, in turn, lead to a gradual increase in the overall temperatures hence causing global warming. Deforestation refers to the clearing of forestlands, cutting of trees, or converting of forestlands into other use such as farms for food production or public consumption such as industrialization. Deforestation can lead to bare ground and desertification. Population growth leads to environmental degradation when there is an increase in the number of people in a given area to the extent that the environment is not able to sustain them. With the growth in the population, the environment’s carrying capacity remains the same, and the global food supply is strained. This population needs more space to live and food to eat to survive. The man has to manipulate the environment to create more space for food and living for the increasing population. The natural system is tampered with in the end, and the ecosystem is affected

Challenges facing pollution interventions in the city

The efforts put in place by the government of Tehran to curb air pollution face trials of various capacities. Some of the problems are from the management side and others from the technical aspect. On the management side, the government of Iran lacks an integrated management system to tackle the issue. Environmental management involves stakeholders from all perspectives, starting from the citizens, consumers, industries, the government, and environmentalists. Iran overlooks the power of other stakeholders in curbing air pollutions. Lack of involving such individuals making the work harder since not all people will work towards the same goal. The various organizations and ministries involved fail to coordinate while mitigating the problem. The management also lacks a proper sustainable development plan that will help them achieve the goal in the end. There is also a lack of appropriate attention to environmental changes leading to the management failing to know when to change their strategy to suit the trend.

Another challenge is the constant change of air pollutant in the city. With a shift from one contaminant to another or a rise of new air pollutants every time, the management of Tehran faces a significant challenge in having the right measures in place before time. Additionally, the proposals put in place do not undergo proper monitoring and evaluation to achieve the desired results. Furthermore, the city management fails to implement comprehensive measures that help reduce air pollution due to poor policymaking. Most of the proposals put in place turn out to be just passive in that they do not work out to solve the issue of air pollution if tested out in the environment. They also fail to allocate adequate funds and finances required by organizations to curb the problem. The management also fails to put out participation programs for the public to create awareness on reducing air pollution[7]. The city’s administration also suffers the challenge of poor standards, rules, and regulations geared toward controlling air pollution. There is a clash between Tehran’s standards and international standards of air pollution. Corruption is also a challenge within the management. Some industries bribe the environmental leaders during inspections or when caught doing wrong so that they do not face disciplinary actions. The administration lacks strict legal restrictions and actions towards such people. The stakeholders continue operating in negligence and miscommunications. In the end, such industries continue in operation, and air pollutions keep rising.

Tehran also faces technical challenges in dealing with air pollution. The government of the city allows industries to produce subpar gasoline hence encouraging poor fuel quality. A circulation of fuel with poor quality means it does not meet the standards of oil that is safe for the environment. It becomes hard for the management to prevent air pollution with such fuel out in the market. Most of the vehicles in Tehran use old technology to operate. Owners who choose not to upgrade their cars into modern machines pose a significant challenge in controlling air pollution. Additionally, the vehicles have a high average age; they are old and aging but still in operation. With such cars out on the roads coupled with the congestion in the towns, the rate of air pollution rises such that the measures put in place have no impact.

Stationery source poses a challenge of high levels of energy consumption resulting in high waste gas and heat emissions into the air.  Some of the industries also ignore to upgrade their systems into modern technology and choose to stick with ancient technology, which is not environmental friendly. Another technical problem is the geographical location of the town. Surrounded by mountains from three sides, makes it hard to direct the flow of wind into the area to sweep away excess heat and poisonous air. The polluted air ends up concentrating on the town itself with no way out.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tehran is the city in western Asia with high levels of pollution. The pollution comes from diverse factors including economic, Lifestyle and geographical location of the city. The government has put some measures to curb the disaster although it has not succeeded entirely. Pollution is the principal contributor to many health disorders in the city and has made many vulnerable to disease attacks. The challenges faced in the fight against pollution are gruesome as mentioned in the article and prevent advance development of the city’s maintenance of the environment.

Bibliography

GHORANI, AZAM ADEL, ZANJANI BAMDAD RIAHI, and MOOD MAHDI BALALI. “Effects of air pollution on human health and practical measures for prevention in Iran.” (2016): 0-0.

Hastaie, P. ”Air pollution countermeasures in Tehran.” (2001).

Heger, Martin, and Maria Sarraf. ”Air Pollution in Tehran: Health Costs, Sources, and Policies.” (2018).

Hosseini, Vahid, and Hossein Shahbazi. ”Urban air pollution in Iran.” Iranian Studies 49, no. 6 (2016): 1029-1046.

 Shahrabi, Narges Salehi, Aliasghar Pourezzat, Ahmad Fayaz-Bakhsh, Shiva Mafimoradi, and Parinaz Poursafa. ”Pathologic analysis of control plans for air pollution management in tehran metropolis: A qualitative study.” International journal of preventive medicine 4, no. 9 (2013): 995

Zerbonia, R., and B. Soraya. ”Air pollution control in Iran.” Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association 28, no. 4 (1978): 334-337.

[1]

Hastaie, P. ”Air pollution countermeasures in Tehran.” (2001).

[2] Heger, Martin, and Maria Sarraf. ”Air Pollution in Tehran: Health Costs, Sources, and Policies.” (2018).

[3] Heger, Martin, and Maria Sarraf. “Air Pollution in Tehran: Health Costs, Sources, and Policies.” (2018).

[4] Zerbonia, R., and B. Soraya. ”Air pollution control in Iran.” Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association 28, no. 4 (1978): 334-337.

[5] Hosseini, Vahid, and Hossein Shahbazi. ”Urban air pollution in Iran.” Iranian Studies 49, no. 6 (2016): 1029-1046.

[6] GHORANI, AZAM ADEL, ZANJANI BAMDAD RIAHI, and MOOD MAHDI BALALI. ”Effects of air pollution on human health and practical measures for prevention in Iran.” (2016): 0-0.

[7]

Shahrabi, Narges Salehi, Aliasghar Pourezzat, Ahmad Fayaz-Bakhsh, Shiva Mafimoradi, and Parinaz Poursafa. ”Pathologic analysis of control plans for air pollution management in tehran metropolis: A qualitative study.” International journal of preventive medicine 4, no. 9 (2013): 995.