Air pollution stronger than ever in Iran

Iran has long suffered from dangerous air pollution levels.

This is owed to a lack of legislation about controlling pollution. People are moving into the urban cities of this developing country at a phenomenal rate, which also adds to the levels of air pollution.

Another factor that contributes to these levels is dilapidated cars and low-quality petrol in the country.

Recently, air pollution levels in Iran have hit staggering new heights.

Dust particles from drought-hit marshlands in neighbouring countries have swept in from the western boundaries and pushed pollution levels even further up.

The countries thought to be responsible for this are Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar.

"Iran’s biggest air pollution now is not mainly caused by pollutant gases any more but by particles," said Ali-Mohammad Shaeri, deputy head of the Environment Department, reports The Financial Times.

According to new information released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), levels of air pollution in the majority of cities are three times higher than they should be.

Breathing in these particles can cause serious illnesses including asthma, lung and heart disease, and lung cancer.

"WHO estimates more than 2 million people die every year from breathing in tiny particles present in indoor and outdoor air pollution," the report says.

If WHO's findings are for a normal city, toxicity in the air in Iran's cities is thought to be much more dangerous.

Areas in Iran thought to be most affected by the pollution are Khuzestan, Kermanshah and Ilam.

One of the problems in Iran is, as a developing country, there is not enough information, advice and help available for the people.

WHO believes that the only way that things will change is by "greater awareness of health risks caused by urban air pollution, implementation of effective policies and close monitoring of the situation in cities".