The pervasive air pollution in Tehran, now a multifaceted challenge jeopardizing residents’ health, continues to unveil new dimensions daily. Maziar Gholami, Director General of Meteorology for Tehran province, has raised concerns about the escalating risk of chemical fog and smog, a consequence of the persistent severity of air pollution in Iran’s capital.
Contrary to the belief that rainfall might alleviate air pollution, Gholami, in a televised interview, explained that the surge in humidity, when combined with pollutants, contributes to the occurrence of chemical smog and fog. He emphasized that the current rainfall in Tehran has taken on chemical or acidic characteristics.
Acid rain, a precipitation form in which sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere interact with water, oxygen, and oxidants, poses significant environmental and health risks. In particular, such precipitation, with a pH level below 5.6, signifies elevated levels of nitrogen oxides, sulfur, and more hazardous acids.
The primary contributors to acid rain include industrial facilities, the use of fuels like mazut, and mobile sources emitting smoke. Beyond the direct health impacts on humans, acid rains also result in widespread pollution of urban vegetation, freshwater, and soil, leading to the demise of plants, trees, and various animal species.
While global efforts aim to mitigate the consequences of acid rain by controlling nitrogen and sulfur oxide emissions, Iranian metropolises, including Tehran, confront an escalating risk of these hazardous rains.
In recent years, Tehran and other Iranian cities have experienced acid rain, particularly intensified after prolonged periods of consecutive air pollution. Upon the onset of rains, individuals affected by acid rains often seek medical attention, experiencing a range of health issues, including lung, skin, digestive, and cardiovascular complications, alongside disorders such as depression, chronic headaches, cough, and sore throat.
Despite studies indicating that rain laden with sulfur and other acids predominantly results from fuel combustion in Tehran and other cities, authorities of the regime have consistently denied the use of such fuels.
As per the Tehran Air Quality Control Company’s announcement, the air pollution index in Tehran reached 109 on Thursday, signifying pollution for sensitive groups. Official records indicate that Tehran has only experienced nine days of clean air since the beginning of 2024.
Abbas Shahsavani, the head of the health and climate change department at the Ministry of Health, recently disclosed that over 13% of natural deaths in Iran are attributed to air pollution. Tehran, according to Shahsavani, ranks 19th among the world’s worst capital cities concerning suspended particle concentrations.
