Since last fall, the air quality in numerous Iranian cities has degraded to hazardous levels, primarily attributed to the use of non-standard fuel in power plants and public transportation. Government statistics indicate a significant loss of lives among Iranian citizens due to these environmental challenges.
Cities grappling with persistent and severe air pollution include Tehran, Karaj, Arak, Yazd, Tabriz, Isfahan, Urmia, Ahvaz, and Semnan.
Meteorology experts have predicted a further deterioration in the capital’s weather, urging citizens to stay indoors as much as possible.
However, such an option proves impractical for most individuals. Skipping work could result in the loss of meager incomes and employment, exacerbating already challenging living conditions.
A report from the Fars news agency pinpointed Baghershahr, a district of Kahrizak in Ray city, Tehran province, as the most polluted area in Tehran. Surrounding areas like Kahrizak are host to a plethora of air pollutants, including refineries, power plants, masonry facilities, oil companies, waste recycling centers, and an energy town. This toxic air disproportionately affects citizens in the lower economic deciles.
Last week, in Ardakan city, Yazd province, a group of protesters gathered to voice their discontent against the air pollution stemming from industrial activities and the perceived indifference of authorities. Clad in attire bearing the message ‘Ardakan has no air,’ the protestors chanted slogans such as ‘Shame on the unworthy official.’
During the first nine months of the current Iranian year (March-December), over 132,000 people in Khuzestan province sought medical attention due to air pollution, signifying a 16% increase compared to the same period last year.
The persistent line of mazut fuel tankers outside the Mofatteh Power Plant in Hamedan underscores the ongoing burning of mazut and pollution in the region. Despite environmental experts identifying mazut burning as a major contributor to air pollution in Iranian cities, officials within the regime persist in their refusal to cease burning this hazardous fuel in industrial cities.
Mazut, known as the most polluting fossil fuel, is a significant cause of severe air pollution. Yet, during the cold season, the regime resorts to widespread mazut burning in industries and power plants to compensate for gas deficits.
A report from the Article 90 Parliament Commission revealed that the Ministry of Oil has failed to adhere to necessary standards in the use of mazut fuel, gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fuel, none of which meet required standards.
Mazut consumption is on the rise in Iran, with 14 out of 16 power plants currently relying on this fuel. Power plants such as Iranshahr, Montazer Qaem, Shahid Rajaee, Ramin, Shahid Salimi, Montazeri, Sahand, Tabriz, Zarand, Bandar Abbas, Tous, Bisotun, Shahid Mofatteh, and Shazand continue to use this dangerous fuel.
In July, the Article 90 Parliament Commission reported a tripling of the number of days with unhealthy weather in Iran, citing the widespread use of highly polluting mazut fuel. Iran’s mazut fuel contains seven times the sulfur content of the world standard, a fuel type discontinued globally for approximately two years.
Recently, the regime’s Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education disclosed that around 26,000 people across Iran, including 7,000 in Tehran, succumb to air pollution annually. This statistic underscores a grim reality where approximately 71 people lose their lives daily across Iran due to air pollution.
Owing to the escalating air pollution in various Iranian cities from 2021 to 2022, the number of fatalities resulting from diseases caused by air pollution has surged by 30% compared to the same period in previous years.
