Air quality in Shahin Shahr

What is the level of air pollution in Shahin Shahr now?

Shahin Shahr is a city and capital of Shahin Shahr and Meymeh County, Isfahan Province, Iran. It is located 24 kilometres north of Isfahan.

According to the 2016 census, Shahin Shahr had a population of approximately 175,000 people.

In the middle of 2021, Shahin Shahr was experiencing a period of “Good” quality air with a US AQI reading of just 46. This United States Air Quality Index figure is an internationally used set of metrics that is used to determine the level of air pollution at any given time. It can be used to compare several cities, even when they are in different countries. The number is calculated by measuring up to six of the commonly occurring pollutants in the air. However, sometimes they are not always available and the figure has to be calculated using what records there are. In the case of Shahin Shahr the only recorded pollutant was PM2.5 with a figure of 11.1 µg/m³. The target figure as recommended by the World Health Organisation is 10 µg/m³, so this level is relatively low. Householders are encouraged to open their windows and doors to allow the clean fresh air to circulate, and all forms of outdoor activity can be freely enjoyed.

When is the best time of year to enjoy clean air in Shahin Shahr?

When consulting the latest figures for 2020 published by the Swiss company IQAir.com, it can readily be seen that the air quality is fairly constant throughout the year. It was classified as being “Moderate” for 11 months of the year with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. It was the month of December when the air quality deteriorated to being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with a 36.5 µg/m³ reading. This was possibly due to cooler weather when residents needed to use wood and other fuel to heat their homes. Poor quality coal is notorious for causing excessive pollution. Records for air quality levels were first kept in 2019 when a figure of 26.1 µg/m³ was recorded. The following year of 2020 saw a slight decline with a figure of 27 µg/m³ being recorded. The figure may not be an accurate reflection as to the true level because of the restrictions brought into force due to the COVID-19 pandemic when the use of private vehicles was mainly prohibited and many manufacturing plants were told to cease production until further notice.

What are the sources of all this polluted air in Shahin Shahr?

Shahin Shahr has one of the most polluted air in the province due to its proximity to Shahid Montazeri power plant, refinery, petrochemical and Morche Khort industrial town and stone-cutting factories. Sometimes the pollution rate of this city is even higher than Isfahan and the days of unhealthy weather in the city are very high. Interestingly, the pollutant panel shows the air quality index in healthy conditions. However, due to the positive and good actions of the municipality in order to create parks and green space, this pollution is somewhat less visible. The production of bricks from local kilns also produces a large amount of air pollution because of their poor choice of fuel.

The inner city lines of buses are more than 15 years old, which causes a lot of pollution due to wear and tear. All you have to do is be at the station as the bus moves out, you will not be seen for a few moments because of the smoke it generates. This indicates that the transport fleet is worn out and the pollution created by it. Ordinary citizens have to pay car tolls annually and have their cars inspected and fined in the event of a car breakdown in the city.

Can anything be done to lower pollution levels in Shahin Shahr?

The public transport fleet must be equipped, rebuilt and repaired, and new buses must replace worn-out buses.

Closing schools and car-based traffic in recent years has been the only tangible practical measure to combat air pollution, which people are paying the price for by staying home and using the incomplete and troublesome transportation industry.

The amount of pollution from brick production units in the traditional way in cold seasons is noticeable due to the intensification of the phenomenon of air inversion, so monitoring and controlling their activities is important and necessary to maintain the health of citizens. In December 2020, three such units were sealed off and prevented from operating until further notice.

How does this poor air quality in Shahin Shahr affect human health?

Health experts cite emphysema (destruction of air sacs), chronic bronchitis, allergies, asthma, pneumonia (infection of the lower respiratory tract), and lung, stomach, and heart diseases as diseases caused by air pollution. It is important to remember that asthma is one of the most common diseases in the city that is caused by air pollution.

The term summer pollutants, which has recently been coined, refers to the increase in the concentration of some airborne particles due to heat and sunlight and air pollution in summer.

Ozone gas is one of the summer pollutants whose increasing concentration in the air threatens people's health. Exposure to ozone causes many respiratory problems such as asthma attacks, decreased lung function and lung diseases. Today, air pollutants are the most worrying in Europe.

Several pollutant parameters are considered as primary indicators of air pollution, including particulate matter such as PM10 and PM2.5, sulphur dioxide, nitrogenous compounds and ozone, which are used to calculate the air quality index (AQI) of these four factors. Volatile organic compounds or BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) which are the most important and affect human health. These are also called primary pollutants that are caused by transportation, especially gasoline vehicle activities. Industrial units and power plants, refineries and chemical plants are emerging as major sources of these, as well.

There is a group of pollutants called so-called secondary pollutants, and the primary pollutants underlie their production. In fact, the interactions between primary pollutants, including nitrogenous compounds and volatile organic compounds (NOx and VOCs) against light radiation. The sun produces secondary pollutants, and in summer, when the sunlight is higher, we know them as summer pollutants, one of the most important of which is ozone gas.