Determination of Tehran air quality with emphasis on air quality index (AQI); 2008-2009

In recent years, because of excessive population growth, increasing of vehicles and developing of the industries, Tehran has been encountered with serious environmental crisis, such as air pollution. So, for setting the control programs, air pollution monitoring and determination of Tehran air quality are necessary

In the present study, Tehran air quality index (AQI) was calculated based on the five criteria pollutants levels (O levels in 1387 and with regarding to the national air quality standards for each pollutant categorized as good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy and very unhealthy.

The results of this research showed that in 2008-2009, with attention to United State environmental protection agency standards, in 43 days, air quality index was calculated lower than 100 and in the other 323 days, air quality index was higher than 100, that unhealthy for sensitive groups, very unhealthy and unhealthy was 40%, 27% and 21%, respectively. Also, in the summer, ozone and in the winter, carbon monoxide was determined as the pollutant responsible for the highest index value that is called the ''critical'' pollutant. The most polluted months with the average index of 204 and 214 were occurred in Tir (22 June to22 July) and Mordad (23 July to 22 August), respectively.

comparison of the results of this study with others can be found that Tehran air quality did not improved and is in the very serious situation with regarding to public health, especially for sensitive groups. 3, PM10, SO2, NO2 and CO) through linear interpolation based on these