Tehran University of Medical Sciences: Air Pollution Causes 12% of Deaths in Iran

The head of the Air Pollution Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences has announced that 12% of deaths in Iran are due to air pollution. The state news agency IRNA quoted Mohammad Sadegh Hasanvand as saying, "Last year, about 50,000 deaths attributed to air pollution occurred in the country, accounting for 10 to 12 percent of all deaths in the country." Hasanvand stated that air pollution is a serious risk factor and the most important environmental pollutant threatening public health. According to this university professor, particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in the country is "about 6 times the global health limit, and in a city like Tehran, it is 5.5 times higher than the global health limit and 2.5 times the national standard, which is 12 micrograms per cubic meter." Hasanvand emphasized that vehicles, various industries such as power plants, steel, oil, and gas are the main contributors to air pollution in Iran. Somayeh Rafiei, head of the Environment Committee of the Agricultural Commission of the Parliament, also stated on October 19 that the number of deaths due to air pollution has increased to 30,000 in the year 1402 (2023). She mentioned, "Seven years after the approval and implementation of the Clean Air Law, only 12% of the provisions of this law have been executed." Mohammad Reza Masjedi, Secretary-General of the Global Alliance Against Respiratory Diseases, stated in June 2023 that "air pollution is the fourth leading cause of death in the country." Reports indicate that vehicles produced by Iran Khodro and Saipa contribute to 70 to 80 percent of air pollution. Critics believe that the government's unwavering support for automakers and the automotive mafia has significantly contributed to the rising death toll from air pollution and road accidents. The government has imposed heavy tariffs on car imports under the pretext of supporting domestic production and has banned car imports in recent years. The World Meteorological Organization states that millions die each year due to air pollution. Electricity cuts leave Iranian homes dark, and major cities remain polluted. Tehran and Isfahan had only 5 days of clean air in seven months. A new round of power cuts will begin tomorrow in Kermanshah province.