Air air pollution killed greater than 30,000 individuals in Iran final yr and precipitated an estimated $12 billion in damages, in line with the Ministry of Health.
Abbas Shahsavani, head of the Air Health and Climate Change Group on the Ministry of Health, introduced on Sunday that the variety of deaths because of air air pollution in Iran in 1402 was 30,692, based mostly on monitoring of a statistical inhabitants of 48 million individuals. . from roughly March 2023 to March 2024).
This represents a rise of 17% in comparison with the earlier yr, when 26,307 deaths have been recorded (4,385 extra deaths). Shahsavani identified that 1401 (March 2022-March 2023) additionally noticed a major 26% improve in air pollution-related deaths in comparison with the earlier yr.
The disaster was significantly acute in Tehran, the place particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), a harmful pollutant that may penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, was at secure ranges. , solely 12 days (solely 3% of the yr).
Tehran’s air high quality has continued for 10 consecutive days, with air high quality in Ahvaz, Mahashahr and Abadan additionally coming into the “pink zone” (very unhealthy) on Sunday. Several different cities, together with Zanjan, Ramhormoz, and Shedegan, have reported unhealthy air for air-sensitive individuals.
The variety of sufferers visiting authorities well being facilities for non-infectious respiratory illnesses has elevated by 30% since late December because of worsening air high quality.
Hundreds of individuals have been hospitalized with coronary heart and respiratory diseases throughout Iran up to now week, forcing some provinces to shut colleges, universities and authorities places of work.
Last yr, sandstorms decreased within the western area, however they intensified within the japanese area, particularly in Zabol and Iranshahr in Sistan-Baluchestan province, which Shahsabani recognized because the nation’s most polluted cities.
The improve in sandstorms in Sistan-Baluchestan is related to the drying of main regional rivers and wetlands, such because the Hilmand, Hamn, and Jazmoulyan rivers.
Two main metropolitan areas, Isfahan and Mashhad, additionally expertise excessive ranges of pollution.
With rising prices, the Ministry of Health has printed a report on the influence of air air pollution on well being and the financial system since 1396 (from March 2017 to March 2018), with the intention of advocating efficient measures to alleviate the issue. It is tasked with investigating the influence.