How air quality in Tehran worsened after the bombing of refineries?
Satellite images and air quality data have revealed a significant deterioration in the atmosphere over Tehran and Alborz Province following attacks on oil warehouses and refineries on March 9.
Recent satellite imagery and air quality analyses indicate a noticeable decline in atmospheric conditions over Tehran and Alborz Province due to air strikes targeting oil storage facilities and refineries on March 9. Analysis from Al Jazeera's open-source team using Sentinel-5P satellite data showed that sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels spiked to five times their normal levels on March 12, which is alarming as it is linked to fossil fuel combustion. Additionally, ground-level ozone (O3) showed an increase of 15%, highlighting the potential health risks associated with this spike in pollution. Moreover, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels decreased by 30%, attributed to reduced vehicular traffic and slowed industrial activity in the targeted areas. The increase in ground-level ozone poses a serious risk as it can irritate the lungs and exacerbate asthma attacks when pollutants interact with sunlight. Photographs from Planet Labs further indicated thick black clouds rising over Tehran's refinery and the storage sites in Shahrian, with detailed analysis revealing extensive pollution spread across the affected regions. The implications of this environmental degradation are serious. The elevated levels of sulfur dioxide and ground-level ozone can have immediate health impacts on the local population, leading to respiratory issues and increased hospital visits. Given the current geopolitical climate and ongoing tensions in the region, this deteriorating air quality could further impact public health and safety, emphasizing the need for urgent environmental monitoring and intervention measures in war-affected zones like Tehran.