Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran has disclosed the major reason behind the air pollution in capital city Tehran, which has been suffering from this problem over the past years.

Iran has imported gasoline which contains Pollutant MMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl) - a gasoline additive that enhances octane to reduce knock.

The Iranian car manufacturers union has recently conducted a test on gasoline which is sold in Tehran. It announced that the gasoline which contains MMT is the main reason for air pollution in the city, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported.

The air over Iran's capital is amongst the most polluted in the world, and experts say many Iranians suffer from serious health problems. The problem of Tehran's air pollution has repeatedly forced the government to declare some days off in the capital due to the high degree of pollution.

The State Inspectorate Organization has corroborated that imported gasoline contains pollutant elements.

Deputy Head of National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) Shahrokh Khosravani said one of the ten gasoline consignments which were imported in July may contain pollutant elements.

Air pollution is measured in particle matter of 2.5 microns in diameter or PM 2.5, were clean air is between 0-50, safe air is 50-100, 100-150 is considered not safe, 150-200 is warning while over 200 is emergency level.

Last year, according to PSI (Pollutant Standards Index), Iran had 147 days during which air quality was substandard. Two years ago, this number stood at 217 days.

The Iranian government attempts to resolve the air pollution distributing clean gasoline in the country. Head of the Iran's Environmental Protection Organization Massoumeh Ebtekar earlier said the distribution of clean gasoline has helped controlling air pollution in four large Iranian cities, including Tehran.

Earlier in June, Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, Abbas Kazemi said the air pollution in Tehran, which reached to an alarming level in previous years, has significantly reduced.

Iranian government has ordered the Oil Ministry to distribute gasoline meeting Euro-4 standard and high quality diesel oil in big cities.

All the gas stations of Iranian capital, Tehran are currently distributing gasoline meeting Euro-4 standard.

Vehicles are the main reason for air pollution in Tehran. Only 40 percent of people in Tehran use public transport, while 60 percent use their personal cars.

Tehran is wedged between two mountains that trap the fumes of its bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Other major Iranian cities also struggle with air pollution on a seasonal basis.

The fact that some big cities like Isfahan, Mashhad, Arak, Karaj, Qom, and Ahvaz are facing a somewhat similar situation backs up this view.