Design of an air pollution-monitoring network for Tehran

Tehran, like other large metropolitan areas throughout the world, is challenged by environmental problems associated with rapid growth and economic expansion. The severity of the problem in Tehran suggested that there was a need for an air-monitoring program. It was proposed that the monitoring program be time phased. The first monitoring phase began 1 year ago and involved installation of a central station. The common pollutants measured in this program are sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, ozone, methane, nonmethane hydrocarbons, and particulates. This station has mechanical weather instruments to measure wind speed, wind direction, and temperature. The second phase will involve the installation of 10 small single stations equipped with weather instruments and simple and reliable equipment for measuring NO//2, SO//2, CO, and particulates. The last phase of the program will involve the design, fabrication, and installation of more sophisticated stations. The factors affecting the station siting have been studied.