High-ranking Tehran officials warn of toxic gases in the air after attacks on oil facilities.
High-Level Warning Issued
Tehran emergency services official Said Mehrsorusz, quoted by Iranian portal IranWire, warned of acid rain that fell on the city on Monday. In an appeal to residents, he emphasized that toxic gases currently pose the most serious threat.
Causes of Air Pollution
Destruction caused by Israeli-American attacks on oil depots has caused the concentration of sulfur and nitrogen compounds as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the air to rise to high levels. These substances can have serious consequences for the environment and health.
Anna Hansell from the University of Leicester in the UK, quoted by the portal of the magazine “New Scientist,” warned that if raindrops containing potentially carcinogenic compounds get on skin, they can be washed off, but if they enter the nose and mouth, they may remain longer.
Health Risks Identified
Very fine smoke particles in the air can penetrate deep into the lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, posing significant health risks to the population.
Authorities Appeal to Residents
In response to the situation, Tehran authorities have appealed to residents not to leave their homes unnecessarily and to remain in enclosed spaces as much as possible.
The authorities recommended that people who must go outside wear filter masks, at least N95 or FFP2, noting that toxic vapors easily penetrate ordinary medical masks.
Background of the Crisis
On the night from Saturday to Sunday, American-Israeli rockets struck Iranian oil facilities, causing fires in four oil depots. Oil transmission installations in Tehran and the nearby province of Alborz were also destroyed.
Donald Trump, angered by rising oil prices, has threatened Iranians with even greater war. On Monday, another Iranian missile flew towards Turkey, threatening a much greater escalation.
