Posted on 12/10/2005 3:55:04 PM PST by blam
Hundreds treated over Tehran smog
Traffic restrictions are being enforced in an attempt to reduce pollution
More than 1,600 people have been taken to hospitals in Tehran as pollution in the Iranian capital reaches critical levels, health officials have said. Hospitals have reported increased cases of heart attacks and breathing problems, while many residents are complaining of fatigue and headaches.
Public offices and schools have been closed in an attempt to reduce traffic, and clear the city's blanket of smog.
Authorities have warned of thousands of casualties if pollution levels persist.
There is no wind or rain and the dirty air is trapped on top of the city by the mountains surrounding it, reports the BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran.
Sheydar Malik Afzeli, the head of the anti pollution unit of the health ministry, speaking to Ettemad newspaper, said the extent of deaths and casualties from pollution were "not less" than those in the plane crash in the capital on Tuesday which killed more than 100 people.
However there is no official confirmation of any smog-related deaths.
From Monday, cars will only be allowed into the city centre on alternate days, depending on whether their number plates start with odd or even numbers.
Authorities have blamed the severe smog on emissions from the capital's three million cars, many of which lack modern exhaust filters.
It is estimated that up to 5,000 people die every year from air pollution in the city.
They need to accelerate those 20 new nuke plants.
That is the bad affect of air pollution, not Global Warming. We never see scenes like that here. Of course were the only ones who get criticized for it.
At least they wouldnt grow up to murder our kids.
Los Angeles basin has SMOG.
Nowhere near 1600 people a year die there from SMOG.
What is this all about???
Chemical warfare and calling it smog?
Maybe Iranian cars don't have catalytic converters?
Maybe they do and everyone "soups up" their cars ...
5,000 is a good start -- if iran continues down their path of nuclear buildup, it will be much more - and yes the liberals willblame it on all of those darn SUV's in America, George Bush, and Israel.
It's the same thing as always. Americans produce a lot of pollution but we sap it up. The rest of the world doesn't.
It's like throwing a wild kegger every day but making sure the house is cleaned by morning. While a house down the street throws small parties but never takes out the trash. Which one will be cleaner?
Burn it off with a nuke.
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