Air quality in Kerman

What is the current level of air pollution in Kerman city?

Kerman, known in ancient times as the satrapy of Carmania, is the capital city of Kerman Province, Iran. According to the survey conducted in 2011, there were approximately 821,400 residents which ranked it as the tenth most populous city in Iran. Kerman is famous for its long history and strong cultural heritage. It is located on a large, flat plain, 800 kilometres south-east of the capital, Tehran.

Towards the end of 2021, Kerman was experiencing a period of air that was classified as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with a US AQI reading of 116. This reading is often used as a reference point when comparing air quality in other cities around the world. Data is collected with regards to the six most prolific air pollutants commonly found and this figure is calculated from there. If information is not available for all six, then a figure can be deduced using the information that is available. In the case of Kerman, only the pollutant PM2.5 was measured which was 41.7 µg/m³.

This level of PM2.5 can be seen to be 4.2 times over the suggested level of 10 µg/m³. This level has been determined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as being an acceptable level of air pollution, although no level is to be considered as being safe.

With a level such as this, the given advice would be to stay indoors as much as possible and close all doors and windows so as to prevent the ingress of more polluted air from entering the rooms. The use of an air purifier would be beneficial, if one is available, but set it to recirculate the air without importing more from outside. Those who are more sensitive to poorer air quality should try to avoid venturing outside until the air improves. If this is unavoidable, then a good quality mask should be worn at all times. All groups are dissuaded from partaking in vigorous outdoor exercise.

There is a mobile app available from AirVisual.com for most mobile devices which gives information regarding air quality in real-time. This information will assist in your decision as to whether or not to go outside.

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

Air quality can be very volatile as it can easily be affected by many external factors. Looking back at the figures for 2020 which were published by IQAir.com, it can be seen that the quality of air did not vary too much throughout the year. All twelve months returned figures from the “Moderate” category with readings between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³.

The month with the best quality air was September with a reading of 15.0 µg/m³, the worst air was seen in April when the figure was 26.3 µg/m³.

Records pertaining to air pollution were first held in 2018 when a figure of 24.4 µg/m³ was recorded. A slight improvement was seen in 2019 when that figure was 19.9 µg/m³. Only a slight variation was seen in 2020 with a 19.8 µg/m³ level. This figure may not be a true reflection of reality because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many motorists were no longer required to commute to their offices on a daily basis in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus. There were also some factories and similar production units which were told to close on a temporary basis. Many cities throughout the world noted how much cleaner their city air was because of these measures.

Is there a main source of air pollution in Kerman?

A few years ago, Kerman metropolis was one of the cleanest cities in the country in terms of pollution, but today, the people of Kerman live with the uncontrolled increase of cars and industries, wishing for smoke-free and dust-free days.

Currently, the existence of factories and open-air mines in different places, and the countless cars on the streets of Kerman, the number of which is increasing day by day, has caused particulate matter and polluting gases that are deadly toxic to different hours of the day. The lungs of the city and its citizens are considered to be scattered in the air; dust and particles coming out of factory chimneys, and pollutant gases, including carbon monoxide, sulphur compounds, and nitrous oxide, alert the residents to the poor-quality air.

The existence of factories operating in the residential areas of Kerman raises concerns; among these, the role of asbestos and cement factories are more prominent than the others.

Apart from factories, car smoke and hydrocarbons that are obtained from incomplete combustion of car engines also have a great role in polluting the air of Kerman. The pollutants produced by cars are increasing day by day; This is well shown by the heavy traffic on the streets of Kerman. Of course, there is no escape from industrialisation, nor can people be prevented from owning a personal car.

What can be done to improve air quality in Kerman?

The first step to solve this problem is to carry out a detailed and principled plan in two parts, short-term and long-term, with the participation of researchers and experts." Implemented as soon as possible with the close cooperation of the people.

The development of a public transport fleet as another way to reduce air pollution in metropolitan areas, saying that people would not use private vehicles if they could afford easy, fast and low-cost transportation.

The Minister of Research and Technology, pointed out that the movement and use of old worn-out cars, especially motorcycles, should be stopped in cities, especially in metropolitan areas, and said "Fuel quality should also be improved.

What are the effects of air pollution on health?

Recent evidence has shown that air pollution affects the physical health of people, and even on polluted days when air pollution is dangerous, an increase in mortality can be observed in high-risk groups such as the elderly and children. As we observe changes in the physical health of people due to air pollution, it can also have devastating effects on mental health. Recent evidence has shown that air pollution can affect mental health in three ways, first on how we adapt to environmental changes and then on our behaviour and mental functions, and finally, air pollution can have long-term effects. Toxic to brain growth and function to the point that it kills three million people worldwide each year and manifests its effects on mental health as a stressor with anxiety, stress, worry and depression.