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The air pollution map for Tabriz is very easy to find at the very top of the main city page. Simply left-click over any part of the map icon and a new page will open which is based on the air quality of the city and its surrounding area. It reveals a considerable amount of extra information.
When the air pollution map is first opened, the viewer will notice the entire colour of the map is a greenish/yellow colour which is representative of the current air quality. The meaning of the various colours used is explained in the legend at the foot of the page. It can range from pale green to dark maroon. The darker the colour, the worse the quality.
Also noticeable is the number of coloured discs which appear on the map. They follow the same colour scheme as the rest of the page. If at first, they overlap each other, they will start to separate as the map is slowly made bigger. They indicate the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations which provide all the data about the current air quality. If a single disc is selected, then a new page will appear showing all information about that area of the city. In the centre of each disc is seen a number which is the US AQI reading. This is calculated by measuring up to six of the most commonly found air pollutants. They usually include Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. It is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and can be used as a standard when comparing air pollution levels in other cities.
Looking back at the main city page, in September 2022, Tabriz was enjoying a period of “Good” quality air with a US AQI reading of 44. All six of the pollutants were measured but it is PM2.5 that is quoted because it is used as a benchmark when making comparisons. This recorded level was 10.4 µg/m³ which is slightly over twice the recommended target figure of 5 µg/m³ as suggested by the WHO.
Continuing to scroll further down the page, directly underneath the air quality map can be seen the number of stations that provide all the data regarding air quality. Currently, there are eight monitoring stations in and around the city and we are informed that it is the government that is the prime contributor.
Once the dedicated map page is opened in full-screen mode, a list of four options will appear down the left-hand side of the screen. These can all be turned on or off individually when exploring their features. The first option reveals the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations in and around the city. If, at first, they appear to be superimposed on each other, but as soon as the map is enlarged, the discs will begin to separate. Each location holds information about that particular part of the city so by choosing one of these discs, a new page will open with all information about that part of the city.
The second option shows the position of any fires which may be burning in the vicinity. At the beginning of September 2022, there were no fires appearing on the air pollution map for Tabriz. If there were, then option number four needs to be considered at the same time because this option shows the wind speed and direction so can help determine where the ensuing smoke will blow.
The third option is very dramatic as it controls the background colour of the map which indicates the overall air quality. Currently, it is a greenish/yellow which indicates “Moderate” air quality. If some viewers find the colour to be confusing, then once deactivated, the map will revert to a more neutral palette.
The other interesting piece of information can be found on the far right-hand side of the screen. There will be a table which ranks the world cities according to their level of air pollution. The most polluted appear at the top of the table.
Looking further down the page, under the map will be the table showing the most polluted stations, as already stated, followed by the most popular stations. These stations attract the most followers and are kept informed of any major change. Currently, the most popular station is at Bagh Shomal with followers numbering over 6,200.
Areas of high levels of air pollution are not directly shown on the air pollution map for Tabriz but can be readily found. Either look for the darkest coloured disc with the highest number or scroll below the map to find the table that lists the most polluted stations in descending order. As stated in the previous paragraph, the station at Behdasht is the most polluted with a US AQI reading of 117 which is “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”.
It is not possible to conclusively see where the air pollution comes from by looking at the air quality map for Tabriz. However, different reports are presented and it is reported that 74 per cent of air pollution is generated by vehicles. The fuel used is of very poor quality which would not even hold a Euro 2 rating and the statistics used are inconsistent. Many vehicles are more than twenty years old and lack modern technology which controls emissions. There are currently about 9,000 of these old polluting vehicles using the city streets regularly.
The thermal power plant and petrochemical industry were also blamed for their contributions to air pollution. The local authorities have recently changed the main source of fuel at one of the major power stations to gas. However, as winter became colder, more members of the public need more gas so the power station had to revert to using diesel again which is very pollutive.