Page 32 - U4SSC Factsheet, Mashhad, Iran (Islamic Republic of), September 2021

Category: Air Quality

Performance to
Category KPI Result SDG
Benchmark
Particulate Matter 25.70 µg/m 3
(PM2.5)

Particulate Matter 41.20 µg/m 3
(PM10)
Nitrogen Dioxide 73.90 µg/m 3
(NO2)
Sulphur Dioxide 31.40 µg/m 3
(SO2)

Ozone 4.10 µg/m 3
(O3)

GHG Emissions 7.49 tonnes
(eCO2 / capita)

Mashhad has implemented a website where citizens can see information on the air quality index
in various parts of the city. While this is a good step towards increasing awareness of the problem,
according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the major components of air
pollution, Mashhad’s current air pollution levels are at twice the level of the WHO recommended
16
guidelines. Air quality not only affects citizens, it can also potentially affect the tourism industry as
environmental concerns become more prevalent. 17

The WHO air-quality guidelines estimate that reducing annual average fine particulate matter
(PM2.5) concentrations from levels of 35 μg/m , which are common in many developing cities, to
3
the WHO guideline level of 10 μg/m , could reduce air pollution-related deaths by around 15 per
3
cent. 18

Therefore, a concrete campaign to reduce the sources of air pollution, in particular those related
to traffic congestion and the use of private vehicles, increasing air quality monitoring, and data
collection and integration into the Mashhad Initiative, should be a priority for the city.

In terms of GHG emissions, the Islamic Republic of Iran has seen a 238 per cent increase in GHG
emissions since 1990. If it is assumed that Mashhad has followed the same path, then mitigation
19
measures to reduce GHG emissions should be implemented.

26 U4SCC Factsheet | Mashhad, Iran (Islamic Republic of) | September 2021