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| Tehran experiences air pollution 200 days annually |
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 TEHRAN – An expert in environmental management, Morteza Rahmanzadeh, says those elected as councilors in Tehran should be proficient in drawing up plans to reduce air pollution in the metropolis of Tehran as the city experiences 200 days of air pollution in a year.
Tehran experienced more than 300 “healthy days” in 2009, while this number in 2011 was fewer than 150 days.
City council elections will be held simultaneously with presidential election on Friday across the country.
In a recent interview with the Persian service of the Mehr News Agency, Morteza Rahmanzadeh said, “Time is ripe to apply modern inner city transportation technology and elect proficient individuals and experts for Tehran City Council to take action to protect Tehran from air pollution.”
He appreciated Tehran Municipality for constructing highways and subways in recent years, which in effect has reduced air pollution and traffic congestion.
He said it is expected that Tehrani citizens vote for experts in city management in the upcoming election.
Why parents should cover their children’s mouth and nose by surgical masks? the environmental expert asked.
“According to Tehran Municipality officials, green space has doubled in the last decade but still in recent years air pollution has seriously endangered the lives of Tehranis,” said Rahmanzadeh, a candidate for the council elections in Tehran.
The mist of pollutants is a mixture of particles containing sulfur dioxide and lead benzene which are deadly for citizens.
Rahmanzadeh said, “Tehran, once a resort city of Iran with pleasant weather, is a metropolis and a home to millions (of people) and its citizens are currently suffering from air pollution.”
He expressed hope that Tehranis vote for those candidates who are proficient and committed to their future post as councilors.
The haze of pollution occurs every year when cold air and windless days trap fumes belched out by millions of cars and hundreds of old factories between the peaks of the majestic Alborz mountain range, which embraces Tehran like a crescent moon.
Iran’s Health Ministry has reported a rise in respiratory and heart diseases, as well as an increase in a variety of cancers related to air pollution.
Iran with three of its provincial towns was represented in the World Health Organization’s 2011 report on air quality and health as the world’s 10 most-polluted cities on the organization’s list.
According to the report, Tehran has roughly four times as many polluting particles per cubic meter as Los Angeles. Many cities are known for their poor air quality like Mexico City, Shanghai and Bangkok but they still have cleaner air than Tehran.
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