Poor gasoline refining fuels Iran's cancer crisis, expert warns
The use of poorly refined gasoline, a major source of air pollution in Iran, is driving the country's cancer crisis, a Mashhad University of Medical Sciences professor has warned.
The use of poorly refined gasoline, a major source of air pollution in Iran, is driving the country's cancer crisis, a Mashhad University of Medical Sciences professor has warned.
Speaking to ILNA, Mohammadreza Ghavam Nasiri said on Wednesday, "Smoking can lead to irreversible changes in respiratory cells, while air pollution, exacerbated by low-quality fuel, significantly impacts cancer incidence".
International sanctions on Iran, particularly those targeting the oil and energy sectors, have played a significant role in the production of low-quality gasoline within the country, the pollutants from which can cause a range of illnesses from cancer to cardiovascular disease.
Sanctions have restricted Iran's access to advanced refining technologies, equipment, and chemical additives required for producing high-quality fuels that meet international standards.
Air pollution remains a critical issue in Iran’s major cities, including Tehran and Ahvaz, where vehicle emissions and traffic congestion contribute to smog events.
Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raisi in December reported over 40,000 deaths in a year linked to pollution, mainly from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as cancer.
In January, Abbas Shahsavani, the head of the Air Health and Climate Change Group of the Ministry of Health, said that air pollution in Iran claimed the lives of over 30,000 people and cost the country an estimated $12 billion in last Iranian year, a 17% increase compared to the previous year, when 26,307 deaths were recorded.
