Automotive emissions will be causing a serious pollution problem in near future in Tehran

Abstract

Tehran is facing a serious automotive air pollution problem. This is due to the large number of vehicles operating in Tehran, no auto‐exhaust emission control strategies in effect, and frequent occurrence of traffic congestions. Based on the emission factors which have been experimentally developed for automobiles in Tehran, Traffic survey, and fuel consumptions data the dally tonnage of the air pollutants from vehicles and other sources was calculated for year 1977. The study then focuses on the years 1982 and 1987. For each of these years projections of automotive and stationary emissions of air pollutants were determined under the assumption that no auto‐emission control would be implemented. Those emissions were then adjusted according to the extent of control in use.

Results show that automotive emissions of carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbon loom large in the future total emissions picture of Tehran. As a matter of fact, carbon monoxide emissions from automobile will reach 8100 tons per day by 1987 which is three times more than the current emission tonnage. This calls for immediate corrective auto‐emission measures to be made to ensure that Tehran continues to grow and breathe.