New Study: Increasing Dust in Isfahan Contains Cancer-Causing Heavy Metals

Recent academic studies indicate that dust in the metropolitan area of Isfahan contains high levels of heavy metals such as cadmium and lead, which increase the risk of various cancers and non-cancerous diseases. These heavy metals enter the body through inhalation and skin contact, posing a threat to citizens' health. The ILNA news agency reported on Saturday, July 30, that the results of a study conducted by the Environmental Group at Azad University of Isfahan on dust collected from residential interiors in Isfahan concluded this. According to ILNA, another study conducted on 200 samples from fetuses and newborns in Isfahan showed that the increase in the average monthly concentration of carbon monoxide and particulate matter has disrupted liver and thyroid function in fetuses and significantly reduced the weight and height of newborns in Isfahan. Mohammad Kooshafar, head of the Water Research and Studies Center at Azad University of Isfahan and an environmental researcher, explained in an interview with the news agency that the dryness of the Zayandeh Rud River and the Gavkhouni Wetland are recognized as the main sources of dust production in Isfahan. He added that the dry bed of the Zayandeh Rud, stretching 200 kilometers, and the sediments contaminated with heavy metals in the Gavkhouni Wetland, are blown towards the city by the wind, causing severe air pollution in this metropolis. In recent years, Isfahan has faced challenges of water scarcity, dust storms, and the drying up of the Zayandeh Rud and Gavkhouni Wetland, and at the beginning of summer, due to winds that activate erosion hotspots, air pollution increases. Environmental experts warn that the continuation of this trend could lead to an environmental and health disaster in Isfahan. They consider the restoration of the Zayandeh Rud and the allocation of water rights to the Gavkhouni Wetland essential for reducing air pollution and protecting citizens' health. Additionally, controlling polluting industries and improving vehicle fuel quality are other proposed solutions to combat this crisis. In recent months, many social media users have complained about the presence of suspended particles and dust, stating that water scarcity and power outages sometimes exacerbate the situation. Meanwhile, Ahmad Jalalian, head of the Desertification Research and Dust Control Center at Azad University of Isfahan, stated that the Zayandeh Rud River has long drained agricultural lands, which is why phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers containing dangerous heavy metals have entered the river's sediments. On the other hand, wastewater from small and large factories flows into the river, raising the possibility that the river's sediments may be contaminated with heavy metals. The Zayandeh Rud River, over 400 kilometers long, has faced dryness in recent decades. "Illegal withdrawals upstream, water transfers to other basins, population density, and to some extent, a relative decrease in rainfall" are cited as reasons for the current state of the Zayandeh Rud. Some experts believe that the high water consumption by water-intensive industries in this industrial province of Iran has exacerbated the water scarcity crisis. In recent years, farmers in Isfahan province have repeatedly protested against the government's ineffective management in addressing the water crisis. A large protest by Isfahani farmers in late November 2021 received widespread support from the people of Isfahan, with thousands joining the protesting farmers.