Dust Concentration in Ahvaz Reaches Record 60 Times the Permissible Limit
The level of dust pollutants in the air of Ahvaz on Tuesday, Bahman 24 until 2 p.m. local time reached 9,000 micrograms per cubic meter, consequently reaching 60 times the permissible limit.
Ahvaz is covered with dust and no officials are taking responsibility for this situation. Many people in the city have resorted to prayers for rain to fall, hoping it might provide salvation against this devastating dust.
Hospitals have been placed on high alert. The Crisis Management Headquarters announced on Monday (Bahman 23 / February 12) the closure of schools and higher education centers in 27 cities of Khuzestan province from Tuesday onwards, and the Deputy Governor of Khuzestan also emphasized the need for readiness in case of power outages caused by the dust phenomenon.
Shahryar Askari, Director of Public Relations of the General Department of Environmental Protection of Khuzestan, in an interview with ISNA news agency, regarding the level of dust pollutants in Ahvaz said that given that “the permissible limit of pollutants in the air is 150 micrograms per cubic meter, the dust concentration in Ahvaz is now 60 times the permissible limit”.
Based on the statements of the Director of Public Relations of the General Department of Environmental Protection of Khuzestan, the situation in other cities of Khuzestan province is similar to that of Ahvaz with slight differences.
Askari further stated that the concentration of fine dust in Susangerd has exceeded 15 times the permissible limit. This measure is more than 14 times the permissible limit in Mahshahr, more than 32 times in Hamidiyeh, more than 10 times in Omidiyeh and Abadan, and more than 12 times in Dezful.
The World Health Organization in 2013 included four Iranian cities in the list of the world’s top 10 most polluted cities. Ahvaz topped this list and was recognized as the world’s most polluted city. Sanandaj, Kermanshah, and Yasuj were also ranked third, sixth, and ninth respectively among the world’s most polluted cities.
The World Health Organization also announced in 2014 that 80,000 Iranians die annually due to air pollution; a figure that constituted 21 percent of the annual death rate in this country.
Source: DW
