Air quality in Andimeshk

What is the level of air pollution now in Andimeshk?

Andimeshk is a city and capital of Andimeshk County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. It is 34 kilometres north of Shush on the main route between Tehran and Ahvaz. A 2016 census estimated the population to be approximately 135,000 people.

Towards the middle of 2021, Andimeshk was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI figure of 87. This classification system is used and recognised throughout the world and, as such, it is used to compare different cities in different countries but by using the same metrics, and is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). There are usually six main pollutants that are taken into consideration when assessing air quality. Sometimes numbers for all six are not available so the figure has to be calculated by using what data is available. The available figures for Andimeshk were PM2.5 - 29.3 µg/m³ and PM10 - 85.6 µg/m³.

With elevated levels such as these, the advice would be to remain inside and close all windows and doors to prevent the ingress of more polluted air. Those of a sensitive disposition should avoid venturing outside until the air quality has improved. The table at the top of this page may help with that decision.

Does the level of air pollution in Andimeshk remain the same throughout the year?

Air quality is very volatile and can and does change very quickly because it is affected by many variables. Looking back at the figures for 2020 released by the Swiss air monitoring company, IQAir.com, it can be seen that for 7 months of the year, Andimeshk enjoys “Moderate” quality air with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. These months are from November through until June with the exception of May when the air quality was slightly worse at 40.6 µg/m³. The remaining months of July to the end of October saw the air quality slip into the “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” category with figures between 35.5 and 55.5 µg/m³.

Records were first kept in 2018 when the recorded figure was 39.2 µg/m³, followed by an improvement the following year with 32.1 µg/m³. In 2020 the average figure was 34.4 µg/m³ which 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 not required to travel 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.

What is the source of air pollution in Andimeshk?

Pollution from vehicles and oil facilities are two of the permanent sources of pollution in the province, but what has intensified air pollution recently is related to burning fields. Sugarcane growers to the south of the region have started burning sugarcane fields extensively in order to harvest their crops. It increases the 2.5 micron dust which is very harmful to the respiratory system.

AQI is generally an indicator for daily air quality reporting. This indicator informs people about the quality of the air (whether it is clean or polluted) and presents the health effects associated with it. In other words, AQI deals with the health effects of exposure to polluted (unhealthy) air. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is calculated for five major air pollutants: particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide.

Another major source of air pollution is that of dust particles which originate from the drying out of the wetlands. School closures, office closures, power outages, water outages and respiratory problems are among the problems that the people have experienced with dust. There are also a variety of allergic diseases and respiratory allergies that cause sneezing, headaches and a runny nose.

What can be done to improve the air quality in Andimeshk?

Solving the dust problem is a long and time consuming task and in the current situation, the only thing that can be done is that people do not leave the house as much as possible and if they have to, be sure to use effective masks. The dust that is seen recently in Khuzestan province and parts of the southwest of the country, is mostly of foreign origin and means that the size of dust is smaller. It can cause more damage by penetrating deep into the respiratory tract.

Regarding the foreign origin of dust, the solution to the problem is to increase diplomatic activities and attract the cooperation of neighbouring countries. Fortunately, significant measures have been taken in this regard with the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A regional summit is scheduled in the near future." And with the signing of an international memorandum between the countries of the region, practical measures to reduce particulate matter will begin.

Some environmental experts consider the uncontrolled construction of dams in the country and some neighbouring countries and the drying and dehydration of inland wetlands, including Shadegan and Hur al-Azim wetlands, as among the causes of intensification of dust in recent years and the need to revive this wetland. Emphasize on reducing this phenomenon.

How does air pollution in Andimeshk affect human health?

Experts in various medical sciences say that air pollutants have many harmful effects on the body so that these effects affect people even for years.

According to some experts in various medical sciences, the occurrence of chronic diseases such as asthma and skin allergies and sometimes incurable diseases such as cancer are among the destructive and irreversible effects of air pollution on the health of society.

Air pollution has both short-term and long-term destructive effects on the cardiovascular system, which, according to doctors and researchers, sometimes increases the risk of heart disease by several times.

The eyes are one of the external organs of the body that are directly exposed to pollutant particles during air pollution and may suffer from many problems. Air pollution does not have a dangerous complication for the internal components of the eyes, but it inflames the surface of the eye in the cornea and eyelids and causes burning, watery and red eyes. Particulate matter, leads to the production of a substance that is dangerous to the eyes of people, especially the middle-aged and elderly.