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Alarming air pollution shuts kindergartens and primary schools in Tehran

Business Materials 10 November 2013 11:36 (UTC +04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 10

By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Air pollution has reached an alarming level in Tehran, so that the administration announced that kindergartens and primary schools will be closed till Tuesday, IRIB reported.

Moreover, government organizations will end working at 02:30 pm.

The traffic of vehicles will be subject to strict limitations over the next two days.

Approximately 2700 people in Tehran die each year because of heavy air pollution in the country, Healthcare and Medical Education ministry's head of environment protection center, Kazem Nadafi said on October 30.

"Because of air pollution, 2522 patients with cardiovascular diseases and 4525 people with respiratory diseases caused by air pollution, are in hospitals now," he underscored.

Further speaking, Nadafi mentioned 70,000 of old cars that are used in the country, saying the amount of pollution they create equals the pollution level of 2.1 million normal cars.

Last year, according to PSI (Pollutant Standards Index), Iran had 147 days during which air quality was substandard. Two years ago, this number stood at 217 days.

The air over Iran's capital is amongst the most polluted in the world. Experts say many Iranians suffer serious health problems as a result.

Motor vehicles account for 70 percent of pollution in the Iranian capital. Low quality gasoline and diesel is partially responsible for the problem.

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