TEHRAN The Meteorological Office of Tehran announced here yesterday that the air pollution in the busy areas of the Iranian capital is critical and the pollution will continue to remain the same until Thursday. An expert at the office, speaking to IRNA, advised residents in Tehran not to travel to the busy parts as air pollution caused by the atmospheric inversion is at a critical level in those areas.

He said that the present pollution rate is ``highly dangerous'' for children, old people and those allergic to dust particles suspended in the air. The expert said that the atmospheric phenomenon was caused by the stagnant weather condition in the capital over the past few days which dramatically reduced wind blow. Under these circumstances, the density of pollutant substances emitted by vehicles and factories will considerably increase, especially in industrially crowded cities.