Esfahan air quality map

What information regarding air quality can be obtained from the air pollution map for Esfahan?

The air pollution map for Esfahan is very easy to find once you are looking at the main city page. The map will be towards the top of the page and, when selected, a new page will open which is dedicated to air quality in and around the city and its environs.

Once the new page opens, the viewer will see an overall colour which is covering the entire area. This colour is a direct reflection of the air quality. Currently, it is a greenish/yellow which would indicate “Good” to “Moderate” quality. The meaning of the various colours is fully explained in the legend at the foot of the page. The other thing to notice will be the number of coloured discs which can be seen on the map. These represent the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations. The number in the centre of the disc is the US AQI reading. This reading is calculated by measuring the levels of up to six of the most prolific pollutants found in the city air. It can then be used as a metric when comparing one city with another. It is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Briefly looking back to the main city page, it can be seen that in August 2022, the city was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 59. The level of PM2.5 was measured to be 15.9 µg/m³ which is over three times the recommended target figure of 5 µg/m³.

What other information can be seen on the air quality map for Esfahan?

The air pollution map for Esfahan holds a lot of information regarding the quality of the air. When viewed in full-screen mode, a list of four choices will appear on the left-hand side of the screen.

The first option shows the position of the monitoring stations. These are represented by coloured discs, each showing a number as explained in the first paragraph. If an area of the city is of particular interest, then a disc can be selected and another new page will open specifically pertinent to that part of the city.

The second option shows the position of any fires that may be burning in the vicinity. In August 2022, there was a fire to the north west of the city. When option four is then consulted, it shows the direction of the prevailing winds which will give a good indication if the smoke from the fire will affect the city or not.

The third option is the most dramatic as it can change the background colour of the map. The colour used is an overall indication of the air quality in the area. At the moment, it is a greenish/yellow which indicates “Moderate” air quality. Some may find the overall colour to be confusing, in which case it can be turned off and the map will revert to a more standard set of colours. In fact, all these options can be deactivated if desired.

Across on the right-hand side of the screen can be found a table which ranks world cities according to their air cleanliness.

Looking at the screen just below the map can be seen the number of stations which currently provide data about the air quality. Currently, there are four stations with the government being the main contributor.

Can areas of high pollution be seen on the air pollution map for Esfahan?

There are two ways to identify areas of high pollution in the city. The first would be to open the map and look for the disc showing the highest number or carrying the darkest colour. The second and perhaps the easiest is to scroll down the page beneath the map and a table will be seen that ranks the stations in descending order according to their levels of pollution. Currently, the dirtiest area of the city is around the Kharazi station which is showing a US AQI reading of 97.

The table below this one lists the stations according to the number of followers they each have. At the moment, the station at Isfahan - Ostandari Street is the most popular with almost 26,000 followers.

Is the source of air pollution shown on the air quality map for Esfahan?

The city of Esfahan is prone to the phenomenon of temperature inversion due to the establishment of various industries around it and its semi-arid climate. Esfahan is also located in the centre of dust and increases the intensity of air pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures in such a situation to face the minimum crisis.

The General Environment Department of the province has a list of polluting industries, which imposes restrictions on the industries mentioned in this list in case of air pollution. The department is required to closely monitor and supervise the activities of these industries. If a violation is reported, the prosecutor's office will enter and apply appropriate crimes.

The odd and even number plate system is often implemented in the city. Also, the police are obliged to intensify their monitoring of the traffic of worn out and smoky cars and motorcycles without technical inspection and to be stricter in applying their laws.

We see PM2.5 is used as a benchmark on the air pollution map for Esfahan, but what is it?

Airborne particles or dust in the air, particulate matter (PM) is a type of pollution and one of the most important air pollutants in many areas. PM is made up of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets the size of a fraction of the thickness of a human hair that float in the air we breathe. Because these particles are so small, you can't see them individually, but sometimes you can see the dusty cloud that is visible when millions of particles blur the emission of sunlight.

Dust can include metal or mineral dust, dust carrying chemicals, organic or vegetable dust such as flour, wood dust, cotton or pollen, and biological aerosols such as living particles, moulds and spores. While dust cannot always be seen with the naked eye, it can be a major hazard.

The particles that are of concern to human health are PM10 and PM2.5. These particles accumulate in the chest area of the respiratory system, and particles with a size of less than 4 microns move deep into the lungs. PM2.5 accumulates in the alveolar region of the lungs (air sacs in the lungs). These dusts and suspended particles reduce the breathing capacity of the lungs. Dust particles less than 2.5 microns are more dangerous to health because they tend to settle deep in the lung sacs and cause various heart and lung complications.