Approximately 400 People Visit Tehran Emergency Services in One Day Due to Pollution

Tehran's emergency services reported that on Monday, December 29, nearly 400 patients with heart and respiratory issues received treatment due to "Tehran's air pollution." According to the organization's director, the number of heart and respiratory patients in the city has also increased. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Organization announced that Tehran's air on Tuesday, December 30, is also in "unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups." Hassan Abbasi, the public relations manager of Tehran's emergency services, stated in an interview with the state news agency IRNA that the number of "heart and respiratory patients" in Tehran has risen. He noted that on Friday, December 25, 264 individuals suffering from heart and respiratory diseases utilized the emergency services, but this number rose to 392 on the previous Monday. He also reported an approximate five percent increase in the center's missions on Monday compared to Sunday due to the city's air pollution. Abbasi emphasized that if the emergency pollution committee of Tehran province approves, the emergency center's ambulances will be stationed in main and busy intersections to better serve citizens. He advised Tehran residents, particularly the elderly, pregnant women, and those with heart and lung conditions, to only travel in the city when necessary and to wear masks when doing so. Last Sunday, it was announced that Tehran's air would remain in an emergency state due to pollution until the end of the current week. According to the emergency committee's decision to reduce air pollution, the activities of sand and gravel factories and the sale of daily traffic permits will be halted on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Additionally, physical education classes in Tehran schools will also be canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday. The deputy of monitoring and environmental supervision in Tehran province reported that the air quality in Tehran on Tuesday remains "unhealthy for sensitive groups." According to ISNA news agency, Mohammad Rastgari stated, "Currently, the concentration of particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns exceeds permissible limits, and air quality is in unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups." The health effects of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns include exacerbation of heart and lung diseases and premature mortality among individuals with heart and lung conditions and the elderly. Ahmad Vezifeh, the director of forecasting and warning at Iran's Meteorological Organization, also said on Tuesday that calm weather is expected in most parts of the country over the next two days, which will lead to increased pollutants in industrial and populous cities. Previously, Masoumeh Ebtekar, head of Iran's Environmental Protection Organization, stated that one in every seven deaths among Iranian citizens is due to air pollution.