The worsening air pollution in Tehran is not due to the quality of gasoline produced inside the country, a member of the Majlis Industries Commission said Saturday.
"Air pollution in the capital has some particular causes the most important of which are atmospheric conditions and absence of autumn rain. If we want to know the root causes of this pollution, we will get to at least 10 reasons...only one of which is fuel consumption," Hossein Garroussi said, Iran Daily reported with reference to IRIB.
He said the rumor that locally produced gasoline is the main cause of air pollution in Tehran is unfounded. "Environmental experts believe that one-tenth of this air pollution is due to the fuel used in vehicles... The media should be careful and avoid spreading baseless rumors," he said.
Curbing Pollution
On Sunday air pollution in the bustling metropolis was still at alert level for the fourth consecutive week.
Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said Saturday some positive measures, such as designating odd-even days for car plates, closure of polluting factories and strong emphasis on upholding standards, had been taken to help curb the dangerous pollution.
"Almost 30 safety recommendations have been sent to dirty factories for upholding standards and the recommendations are being followed up. Other moves include changing working hours and pouring water on the city from planes," the minister told reporters.
He said one important measure of the government now being strictly implemented for controlling the pollution is banning old and dilapidated cars from across the city and sending them to the junkyard.
"Many moves, like building new compressed natural gas (CNG) stations, have been taken over the past five years. Now these measures need to be accelerated."
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