Air quality in Nazarabad

Does Nazarabad experience high levels of air pollution?

Nazarabad, like many other cities in Iran, is subject to some higher levels of air pollution than what would typically be considered safe. Due to many different factors, Iran as a whole has been coming in with continuously heightened levels of pollution in recent times, and although certain cities have seen improvements, there are many issues that are still salient, particularly regarding the health of the citizens in cities such as Nazarabad.

In June of 2021, Nazarabad came in with a US AQI reading of 74, placing it into the 'moderate' pollution ratings bracket. This is color coded as yellow, for ease of reference throughout the various air quality maps and graphs in use on the IQAir website, and requires a US AQI reading of anywhere between 51 to 100 to be classified as such.

Such a level of air pollution also highlighted that Nazarabad had a PM2.5 concentration that was over two times that of the world health organization's (WHO's) recommendation for exposure, at the time the above mentioned reading was taken. The US AQI figure is one that is aggregated from the volume of several main pollutants found in the air, with the ones that are released most prevalently from all polluting sources being used to calculate the US AQI reading. Pollutants such as ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) are used in the calculation, along with the two types of fine particulate matter, PM2.5 and PM10.

PM2.5 is the far more salient pollutant of the two, in fact being considered as one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution that can be found in the air in Nazarabad. Its minute size of 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter allows it to penetrate deep into the tissue of the lungs of those who inhale it, and from there pass into the bloodstream, destroying blood vessels and causing a whole host of other health problems. Therefore, it is also used as a prominent measure of air pollution in its own right, and will be the focus of air pollution levels taken in years past in Nazarabad.

Whilst the US AQI reading of 74 is still within the ‘acceptable’ range of air quality as set out by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it still may present problems for vulnerable groups in the population. These include ones such as the elderly, young children and pregnant mothers. Those with failing or compromised immune systems would also be particularly at risk, as well as those who are predisposed to chemical sensitivity, along with people that have pre-existing health conditions. At a 'moderate' air pollution rating, such individuals, particular those with pulmonary or cardiac illnesses, may start to experience some form of respiratory irritation or distress, but as a whole the general public may remain unaffected.

US AQI forecasts for the days coming in over the 11^th of June 2021 showed potential readings of up to 132, placing Nazarabad in the 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' bracket if such forecasts were to occur. It is important to note that due to a multitude of factors, such as wind speed and direction, as well as humidity levels and rain, these forecasts may be subject to change.

For the most effective way of keeping up to date on air pollution levels with greater accuracy, hourly updates are available both on this page as well as on the AirVisual app, available for download on phones and devices. With such hourly updates at your disposal, one can make sure that exposure to high levels of pollution is limited, with such updates providing more accuracy when they are followed regularly.

What causes Nazarabad to have polluted air?

Nazarabad has higher levels of air pollution due to sources such as high levels of exhaust fumes being emitted from cars, motorbikes, as well as heavy freight vehicles such as lorries and trucks. With a growing population size, coupled with increased vehicle ownership (a phenomenon that occurs worldwide), pollution from such a source will only be on the increase.

These can release large amounts of noxious chemical compounds, both of the primary and secondary pollutant variety (with secondary pollutants forming in the atmosphere, usually as a result of primary pollutants undergoing chemical reactions under the right conditions). Older and more defunct vehicle models are still prevalent in their use in Nazarabad, and much of Iran. They leak far more oil vapors than a newer model may, as well as giving out thicker choking clouds of pollution due to the poor combustion process taking place inside its aged motor.

Other sources of air pollution include emissions from factories, often going through large amounts of fossil fuels such as diesel and coal. Sandstorms, construction sites, and the heavy use of poorly paved roads can also add heavily to the particle pollution present in Nazarabad, with the ultrafine variety being of greater danger.

What are some other pollutants found in the air in Nazarabad?

Other pollutants present in the air in Nazarabad would be ones such as black carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), both of which can be formed from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and organic matter.

Heavy metals can be leaked from construction sites and factories, with ones such as mercury and lead permeating both the ground and bodies of water, along with entering the atmosphere under the correct conditions. Some examples of VOCs include benzene, toluene and formaldehyde.

When does Nazarabad have the worst level of air quality?

Observing the PM2.5 levels taken over the course of 2020, it can be seen that a fairly sharp rise was present at years end, with October through to December having the highest levels, coming in at 30.5 μg/m³, 30.3 μg/m³ and 39.3 μg/m³ respectively.

This made December the most polluted month of the year, and the only one to break into the 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' bracket at 35.5 μg/m³ and beyond.

Does Nazarabad experience cleaner air quality during the year?

Whilst no reading of air pollution in 2020 fell below the 'moderate' reading (less than 12.1 μg/m³), the months of March and April came in with the cleanest readings, relatively speaking. They presented with PM2.5 figures of 18.6 μg/m³ and 18.5 μg/m³ respectively.