Poisonous gases wreaking havoc on Tehran air

Tehran's Air Quality Control Company (AQCC) warns that poisonous gases bring air pollution to disconcerting levels in the capital.

“Poisonous gases emitted from vehicles and industries continue to wreak havoc on Tehran's air,” Mehr news agency quoted the AQCC Director Yousef Rashidi as saying on Saturday.

Rashidi pointed out that the intensity of air pollution varies depending on the temperature.

“The colder the weather gets, the more air pollution we face in Tehran,” he explained. “Rain and snow, however, can positively affect the air quality in Tehran as they reduce dust, SO2 and NO2.”

Rashidi also criticized Iran's Health Ministry for not announcing the number of deaths linked to Tehran's air pollution.

“The Iranian Health Ministry is responsible in this regard,” he noted.

The latest study conducted by the AQCC found the current level of air pollution unprecedented in the past 30 years in Iran.

Vision in Tehran has decreased to 600 meters in some areas, indicating the problem will not be easily remedied.

The latest research conducted by the Municipality of Tehran and Iran's Department of the Environment (DOE) show that over 80% of Tehran's air pollution is caused by automobile exhaust.

The oppressive air pollution has long been a health hazard for Tehran's 12 million inhabitants.

According to an Iranian botanist, the air pollution has even caused butterflies flee Tehran for gardens and parks in the countryside.