By Faranak Bakhtiari

High ozone brings serious air pollution to Tehran’s summer

TEHRAN – Tehran air quality reached a level which was unhealthy for sensitive groups for about 7 days due to ozone pollutant; as the statistics show concentration of this pollutant increases in the capital mostly during summer, so, ground level ozone became the main contributor to pollution in the capital’s hot seasons.

Bikes to hold 3.5% share in Tehran transportation

TEHRAN – Bikes will carry out 3.5 percent of the capital’s total transportation, as the national document on bike transport development has proposed, deputy mayor for traffic and transport affairs at Tehran Municipality has stated.

Air pollution responsible for over 4,000 deaths annually in Tehran

TEHRAN – Some 4,000 to 5,000 of people residing in the country’s capital lose their lives per year due to air pollution, according to statistics published by the ministry of health.

Clunker, diesel cars elimination, gasoline vapor cut effective solutions to curb ozone pollution

TEHRAN – Due to an increased concern about the influence of ozone emissions on human health and on the capital’s air quality, notably gasoline vapor emissions at petrol stations must be reduced, clunker cars should be scrapped and diesel vehicles also have to be discarded, Tehran Air Quality Control Company caretaker said.

Iran observes national environment week

TEHRAN – The national environment week is being observed in the country from June 9-15, a few days after World Environment Day held annually on June 5, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

$1.5b required to complete Tehran subway lines 6, 7: CEO

TEHRAN — In order to complete the construction project of lines 6 and 7 of Tehran Metro a budget of 60 trillion rials (nearly $1.5 billion) is needed, Ali Emam, the CEO of Tehran Urban & Suburban Railway Operation Company has said.

Iranian DOE succeeded in monitoring dioxin, furan emissions

TEHRAN – Dioxin and furan, highly toxic persistent organic pollutants, have been sampled for the first time in an attempt by experts, head of environmental pollutants monitoring office at the Department of Environment (DOE) said.

Iranian company manufactures nano air filter for cars

TEHRAN – An Iranian knowledge-based company has manufactured nano air filter for vehicles, which can decrease air pollution by 20 percent, ISNA reported on Friday.

Tehran Municipality to convert petrol taxis into hybrid electric

TEHRAN — Tehran taxi organization, affiliated to the municipality, is planning on converting petrol taxis to plug-in hybrids, the organization CEO, Alireza Qannadan, has said.

Iran, Norway to enhance co-op in environmental issues

TEHRAN – Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE) chief, Issa Kalantari, and Norway’s ambassador to Iran, Lars Nordum, discussed increased cooperation on environmental issues during a meeting held on Monday.

Particulate matters 20 times above safe levels in southeastern Iran

TEHRAN – Severe particulate matter (PM) pollution reached its highest points exceeding the standard levels by 20 times in Zabol county located in Sistan-Baluchestan province, southeastern part of the country, the provincial meteorological organization chief has announced.

Tehran sees longest streak of clean air in a decade

TEHRAN — Tehran has just experienced its longest streak of clear air for the past decade, acting director of Tehran Air Quality Control Company has said.

Unprecedented clean air in Tehran

TEHRAN — Tehraners have breathed 21 days of excellent air since the beginning of the new Iranian calendar year (March 21), ISNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

Tehran Municipality to develop bike lanes, bike sharing systems

TEHRAN — Tehran municipality will develop bike lanes and bike sharing systems in the capital in the current year (starting on March 21), Mohsen Pourseyyed Aqaei, deputy mayor of Tehran for traffic and transport affairs has said.

Tehran experienced excellent, good air quality for 306 days last year

TEHRAN – According to the Air Quality Control Company, Tehran’s air quality was good and excellent for 306 days during the last Iranian calendar year 1397 (ended March 20).

Tehraners breathed 17 days of excellent air quality since March 21

TEHRAN — Since the beginning of the current year on March 21 citizens of the capital have breathed 17 days of excellent air quality, IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.

Police on bikes in central Tehran to promote bike-riding

TEHRAN — In an attempt to encourage bicycling among citizens of Tehran Traffic police has started using bikes instead of motorbikes, Mehr news agency reported on Friday.

Tehraners to celebrate new year breathing 28 days of clean air

TEHRAN – Tehrani citizens will celebrate the new [Iranian calendar] year (starting March 21) experiencing 28 days of clean air and without even a day of unhealthy air quality, IRNA reported on Wednesday. Last year, the capital’s air quality stayed clean for only 14 days.

First Iranian water-fuelled engine system to be commercialized

TEHRAN – The first Iranian homegrown water-fuelled engine will be commercialized by the next six months, the inventor Alaeddin Jasemi Zargani announced, Tasnim reported on Monday.

SDSs haunting 35,000 sq. km of country’s land area: GSI

TEHRAN — Approximately 35,000 square kilometers of the country’s land area in various regions are being haunted by sand and dust storms (SDSs), director of Geological Survey and Mineral Explorations of Iran (GSI) has said.

Iranian-made electric car ‘Yooz’ leads the way for pilot production

TEHRAN – The first electric-powered car developed domestically by a knowledge-based company is now in pilot production stage.

‘TOD only way for Tehran to survive air pollution’

TEHRAN – While some experts believe that Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in the metropolis of Tehran is being carried out based on no proper principles and will not be effective, secretary of the TOD committee of Tehran City Council has announced that TOD can be properly implemented in the capital and mitigate air pollution.

Tehran sets record high for cleanest air in five years

TEHRAN — The number of days with excellent air quality increased to 28 days in the capital of Iran, Tehran, director of Tehran province department of environment has said.

Non-repayable loans for e-bikes must increase: Tehran City Council chairman

TEHRAN – While an important strategy to contain Tehran’s air pollution is using green vehicles, non-repayable loans to incentivize the owners to replace their motorcycles with electric ones is not sufficient and must increase, Mohsen Hashemi, Tehran City Council chairman, has said.

1,250 ha of central Alborz Mountains undergo reforestation

TEHRAN – Reforestation will be conducted on 1,250 hectares of 1,800 meter altitude of central mountain range of Alborz, to prevent illegal constructions and land grabbing in mountainous areas, head of Tehran Parks and Green Space Organization, affiliated to the municipality has said.

Tehran Municipality proposes new plan to tackle air pollution, traffic jam 

TEHRAN — Tehran Municipality has prepared a new traffic scheme for the capital in an attempt to address persistent air pollution and traffic congestion in the metropolis, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday. 

Tehran air pollution incurs annual loss of $2.8b

TEHRAN – Air pollution brings heavy economic burden amounting to $2.8 billion for the Iranian capital, Tehran, head of the national working group for air pollution mitigation affiliated to the Department of Environment (DOE) has announced.

90,000 clunker taxis are plying the roads 

TEHRAN— Some 90,000 clunker taxis are plying the roads in Iran, an official with traffic police has said.