Reviving Lost Air: Rediscovering the Breath of Nature

Air quality in Tehran has become a pressing issue, with a vast, dark cloud frequently enveloping the city. With fewer than ten days of clean air recorded last year, residents are increasingly concerned about the state of their environment. “Every morning, I wake up dreading my kids going out and taking in poison instead of air,” says Marjan, a mother of two. “Is there such a thing as a right to clean air? Because if there is, that’s yet another one taken away from us.” This alarming crisis has escalated in recent years, creating a toxic atmosphere that is affecting the health and well-being of the city’s population.

Air pollution in Iran, particularly in its capital, Tehran, is not a new phenomenon. However, the severity of the situation has escalated to unprecedented levels, leaving residents gasping for breath under a toxic shroud. Marjan explains, “If it weren’t for my husband’s and my jobs, we would have left Tehran long ago. But it’s hard to find work in smaller towns, and the bigger ones have bad air too.” The causes of this air crisis are complex and multifaceted.

Key Factors Contributing to Air Pollution in Tehran

• Low-Quality Fuel: Vehicles in Iran are predominantly powered by low-quality gasoline. The majority of the country’s power plants run on mazut, a type of heavy fuel oil, leading to increased emissions.
• Gas Shortages: Despite possessing the world’s second-largest gas reserves after Russia, Iran struggles with chronic shortages of refined gas due to high demand, inefficiencies, and international sanctions that limit access to necessary technology.
• Outdated Public Transportation: The public transport system is not only outdated but also underdeveloped, making it difficult for residents to rely on it instead of private vehicles.
• Inefficient Vehicles: Many cars on the road are poorly designed and manufactured, contributing significantly to pollution levels. Low-quality motorcycles, aging buses, and trucks further exacerbate the situation.

Many residents, like Farhad, who spends over two hours commuting daily, feel trapped in this cycle. “They try to blame people, saying there are too many single-occupancy cars. But public transport is limited. For many journeys, on many routes, you have no choice but to drive your car,” he explains. Furthermore, the vehicles themselves play a crucial role in the pollution crisis. “My car is Iran-made. It’s garbage, but it’s the only one I can afford. Foreign cars sell for many times their global price because of all the tariffs and bans,” he adds.

The consequences of this air pollution are dire. Iran-made vehicles are not only inefficient but also unsafe, resulting in over 20,000 traffic fatalities each year—an alarming statistic that equates to at least two deaths every hour. While officials estimate that deaths caused by air pollution are roughly equal to those from car accidents, many experts believe the actual number is considerably higher, with over half of the Iranian population exposed to polluted air.

The Impact on Health

The most vulnerable populations, including the elderly and children, face the greatest risks associated with poor air quality. Parisa, a former marketing assistant in Tehran, shares her experience: “Whenever my son stepped outside to go to school, his eyes would burn and shut tightly. It was so severe he couldn’t open them. Doctors told us it was the air.” Concerned for their son’s health, Parisa and her husband made the difficult decision to relocate to a village, even though it meant adjusting to a new lifestyle. “It’s cheaper here but there’s no work. We’ve been lucky to have found remote work, but we’re constantly worried that they might call us back to the office. Our son can’t go back to that toxic air,” she explains.

Efforts to address the crisis, such as reducing mazut consumption and cutting electricity for residential and industrial use, have yielded minimal results. Protests over power outages and pollution have erupted in various cities, highlighting the growing frustration among residents.

Wider Implications Beyond Tehran

Tehran is not the only city grappling with air quality issues. Isfahan, another major urban center, faces its unique challenges. The drying up of its iconic Zayandeh Roud river has significantly worsened air quality. The presence of heavy industries in the surrounding areas further compounds the problem. Many Isfahanis, known for their pride in their historic city, are contemplating relocation. “Isfahan is no longer livable,” says Shahryar, a local shopkeeper. “The river is dry, and the air is poisoned. Some days, the smog is so thick it blankets and darkens the city. It kills people and their spirit.”

Iranians are literally gasping for air and are increasingly placing the blame on the state. Factors such as sanctions, unchecked urban sprawl, inefficient cars, and a rising demand for energy all contribute to this environmental crisis. Shahryar captures the essence of the situation with a poignant line from classical Persian poetry: “Whichever way I turned, my fear only grew.”

As the air quality crisis in Tehran and other Iranian cities worsens, it becomes crucial for policymakers and citizens alike to address these pressing issues. Only through concerted efforts can the right to clean air be reclaimed for the residents of these polluted urban landscapes.