Air quality in Mobarakeh

What is the current level of air pollution in Mobarakeh?

Mobarakeh (also Romanised as Mobārakeh and Mubārakeh) is a city and capital of Mobarakeh County, Isfahan Province, Iran. According to a 2006 census, Mobarakeh had an estimated population of approximately 63,000 people. Mobarakeh Steel Company is an Iranian steel company 65 kilometres south of Esfahan and is arguably the largest industrial complex that currently operates in Iran. The total annual output is in the region of over 7 million metric tonnes per annum.

Towards the middle of 2021, Mobarakeh was going through a period of “Moderate” quality air with a US AQI number of 67. This United States Air Quality Index number is an internationally used set of metrics supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is used to compare the air quality in different cities throughout the world using comparable standards. It is calculated by using the levels of the six most commonly found pollutants. If figures are not all available, the figure is calculated using what information is available. In the case of Mobarakeh only PM2.5 was recorded which was 19.7 µg/m³. This puts it at almost twice the recommended level as suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Their target level is 10 µg/m³.

With a level such as this, the advice is to close doors and windows to prevent more dirty air from entering the room. Those of a sensitive disposition are advised to remain indoors or if travel outside is unavoidable, then a good quality mask is recommended. The table at the top of this page will help with that decision.

Is the level of air pollution constant throughout the year in Mobarakeh?

Air pollution can be very volatile and, as such, can change very quickly depending on many variables, such as wind speed and direction and the strength of sunlight.

Looking back at the figures published by the Swiss air monitoring company IQAir.com for 2020 it can be seen that the air quality in Mobarakeh remained constant throughout the year. There were slight variations but nothing of sufficient size to push it into another category. For the entire 12 months the air quality was classed as “Moderate” with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³.

Records have been kept since 2018 when the annual average was 24.1 µg/m³, followed by 21.3 µg/m³ in 2019. A slight decline was seen in 2020 with a figure of 22.5 µg/m³. However, this may not be an accurate reflection on reality because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many vehicles were temporarily out of use as their drivers were furloughed and not required to commute 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 main source of air pollution in Mobarakeh?

The increase in air quality index in the city can be attributed to the cold and stillness of the air and the activities of burning rice straw, thick smoke spreads in the area and these lands are near air pollution measuring stations and this will increase the air quality index of Mobarakeh city.

Air pollutants have different types and sources, including suspended particles and metal oxides (heavy metals). According to the geographical situation of Mobarakeh city, with a large urban population, which includes various industries such as: Mobarakeh Steel, Zobahan, Sepahan Cement, Iranian Polyacrylic, Refractory Products, industrial estates surround the city. This gives rise to the need to examine the state of air pollution in terms of suspended particles and the constituent elements of these particles.

The province has about 650 active mines, 2,000 stone-cutting units, 600 traditional brick production units, 72 industrial towns and 2 million vehicles. The province needs at least 30 other air quality monitoring stations and some stations are old and need to be renovated, and all of this requires adequate funding.

According to the results of university research, between 12 and 37 per cent of PM2.5 suspended particles in the province are related to industries, 50 per cent is related to cars and the share of emissions of these pollutants from the industry is much higher. The share of trucks amongst cars was more than 50 per cent. Trucks, which have a significant share in this pollution, are mainly dependent on industry.

Can anything be done to improve the air quality in Mobarakeh?

It was pointed out that the amount of air pollutants of Mobarakeh Steel Company is monitored and monitored online by the Environment Organisation. The plan to upgrade and install dust collectors in the steel plant at high cost. It formed one of the most significant environmental projects in the industry.

In order to reduce the negative health impact of air pollution, it is important to know its sources and quantity. Measurements of fine particles PM2.5 and PM10 serve as indicators of air quality. The recently published study shows, based on the available information, that traffic, combustion and agriculture, domestic fuel burning, natural dust and salt, and industrial activities are the main sources of particulate matter contributing to cities’ air pollution.

What detrimental effects on human health does air pollution in Mobarakeh have?

Particulate matter (PM) in the air can enter the human body, affecting the cardiovascular system as well as other major organs. Chronic exposure leads to a number of health risks.

The birth of underweight and hyperactive babies, neurological disorders, heart attacks, respiratory diseases, diabetes and lung cancer are just some of the dozens of consequences of air pollution that have become a shock for metropolitan residents today. One of the most important factors that cause air pollution and its effects on the environment and human health are airborne particles, which are of course the most dangerous and deadly of all airborne particles that are less than 2.5 microns.

But suspended particles less than 2.5 microns are the most dangerous particles for human health, with a diameter of two and a half microns or less, which is about one-third the diameter of human hair, and are also known as fine particles; The chemical composition of particles varies depending on location, time and climate, and sources of emissions include a variety of combustion activities (motor vehicles, power plants, wood burning, etc.) and specific industrial processes; These particles are emitted both directly and as a secondary pollutant in the atmosphere.