Tehran, the most populous city and capital of Iran, has been grappling with significant air pollution challenges for several years. Annually, approximately 4,000 premature deaths in Tehran are attributed to ambient PM2.5 pollution, which remains the predominant pollutant in the city's atmosphere from November to mid-February. Notably, 24% of all-cause mortality among individuals over 25 years of age in Iran is linked to PM2.5 exposure, which plays a substantial role in fatalities resulting from ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 is correlated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Specifically, a 10 μg/m² rise in PM2.5 concentration is associated with a 3% increase in CVD incidence. Vulnerable populations, including older adults, smokers, and individuals with pre-existing conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of PM2.5. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 8.9 million deaths globally are attributable to outdoor air pollution resulting from PM2.5 exposure, with Iran contributing around 75,000 fatalities annually due to such pollution. Key anthropogenic sources of air pollution include industrial and manufacturing facilities, the operation of kilns, emissions from the combustion of agricultural residues and vehicles, as well as the use of substandard fuels and diesel. Furthermore, the meteorological conditions and geographical location of Tehran have exacerbated the pollution levels in the city.
Evidence underscores the critical necessity for enhanced air quality management in Tehran to mitigate the health risks linked to PM2.5 pollution. Implementing strategies to lower particulate matter concentrations could substantially alleviate the incidence of cardiovascular disease and associated mortality within the city. 

This is Faezeh Borhani, she received her M.Sc., Ph.D. and Postdoctoral degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Tehran (UT), Tehran, Iran, in 2017 and 2024, respectively. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, at Tarbiat Modares University (TMU). She has been serving as the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Environment, Development and Sustainability of Springer Nature since 2021. She has published more than 50 papers in reputed journals and conferences. Additionally, she so far has served as a reviewer for more than 20 journals of Springer and Elsevier publications. Faezeh Borhani has been an active participant in the International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Public Health (EPPH) in China. She was a keynote speaker and a member of the Technical Program Committee (TPC) in the 2022 and 2023 years of the conference. Her research interests include climate change, environmental concerns, short-lived climate pollutants and governance policy design.