Air quality in Abyek

What is the level of air pollution in Abyek now?

Abyek, sometimes known as Ābyek, Abiak, and Abiyek and as Abiak Sarāi is a city and capital of Abyek County, Qazvin Province, Iran. According to a 2006 census its estimated population was approximately 47,233 people.

Towards the middle of 2021, Abyek was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 65. This United States Air Quality Index is an internationally recognised system that uses a standard set of metrics which can be used when studying two or more different cities when they are not in the same country. It is determined by collecting data from six of the most commonly found air pollutants and calculated from there. However, if recordings for all six are not available, the figure can be determined by using what data is available. In the case of Abyek, only PM2.5 was recorded with a concentration of 18.8 µg/m³. This figure is quoted in micrograms/microns per cubic metre. This figure is almost twice the recommended level as suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The advice issued when the air quality is at this level is to stay indoors and close windows and doors to prevent the ingress of more polluted air into the rooms. Those of a sensitive disposition should avoid venturing outside until the air quality improves, and even then, a good quality mask is recommended. The table at the top of this page may help with that decision.

How does air quality in Abyek vary throughout the year?

Air pollution can be very volatile and, as such, can change very quickly depending on many variables, such as wind speed and direction and the strength of sunlight and the length of sunlight hours.

Looking back at the figures published by the Swiss air monitoring company IQAir.com for 2020 it can be seen that for 9 months of the year Abyek experienced a period of “Moderate” air quality with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. This lasted consecutively from the beginning of May until the end of December with the addition of February. For January and April the quality was not so good when the figures were between 35.5 and 55.4 which classified it as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”. The remaining month of March saw it deteriorate to the “Unhealthy” category with a reading of 67.8 µg/m³.

There were no records kept for the years before 2020 so there is nothing to compare these figures with. In 2020 the average annual reading was 27.3 µg/m³. However, this may not be a truly accurate reading because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many vehicles were no longer used as the drivers were furloughed and not required to commute to and from work. There were also many factories and other non-essential production units which were temporarily closed in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.

Where does the polluted air come from in Abyek?

Among the reasons for air pollution in Abyek are the activities of mines, cement factories, Shahid Rajaei power plant, private and public vehicles on the roads in and around the city and also the phenomenon of air inversion. Every year with the arrival of winter and the phenomenon of air inversion and stable atmosphere and wind is blowing, we are witnessing air pollution in Qazvin province, especially Abyek city, which causes problems in the environmental field and threatens people's health.

The air in Abyek city was evaluated as the most polluted air in the whole country and the main reason was 100 per cent use of fuel oil in Shahid Rajaei power plant.

29 mines are licensed in this city, of which 11 mines are active, 2 mines are semi-active and 16 are inactive, but these active mines cause dust particles to come to the city and constantly threaten the air quality of Abyek.

The dust of Allahabad plain in the south of Abyek city is a serious threat as are the mines to the north of Abyek, which increase this pollution with explosions and dust production.

What can be done to improve air quality in Abyek?

If the situation of the Abyek air index reaches a crisis stage, the activities of some polluting units such as mines, asphalt and sand factories should be limited or banned and heavy vehicle traffic should be prevented.

In case of emergency when the pollution reaches a level where special and sensitive groups including underlying patients with pre-existing problems with their heart and lungs, the elderly, children and pregnant women are threatened, emergency meetings should be held at the city level chaired by city officials and at the provincial level.

Abyek air pollution and the problems of the people of this city, more than any other issue, requires the intervention of provincial and national officials, because some of the causes of air pollution in this city are related to national issues and even originated from other provinces.

Factories should be prevented from becoming established within the city limits and offered facilities in special zones away from the city. Gasoline and diesel vehicles should be using the cleaner Euro 4 standard fuels.

What effect does this polluted air have on our health?

According to the results of research by international organisations, pollution, especially air pollution, has an effective role in the occurrence of various non-communicable diseases and in incurable cases such as cancer.

In addition, according to public health experts and practitioners, the phenomenon of air pollution affects the internal organs of the body such as the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as external organs such as the eyes and skin that are directly exposed to air pollution.

Air pollution and particulate matter less than 2.5 microns can disrupt the heart's function, causing irregular heartbeats and heart rhythm disturbances. The respiratory system, which is in direct contact with airborne particles, is the first point of contact with air-related pollutants. Air pollution can aggravate respiratory diseases in affected people or cause some respiratory diseases in healthy people in the community.

Suspended particles in the air also lead to the production of a substance that is dangerous to the eyes of people, especially middle-aged and elderly people.