"Baghdad breathes a sigh of relief" .. Closing of 144 illegal factories that emit toxins into the ai

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[size=52]"Baghdad breathes a sigh of relief" .. Closing of 144 illegal factories that emit toxins into the air[/size]

[size=45]The Iraqi capital, Baghdad, witnessed a campaign to close 144 informal factories that produce and manufacture various products, following instructions from the competent authorities to reduce the environmental pollution caused by these factories. The inspection teams closed these facilities, which are spread across several areas of Baghdad, due to their violations of environmental standards and the emission of polluting smoke that affects air quality and the health of the population.[/size]
[size=45]This measure comes within the framework of the government's efforts to reduce environmental pollution, which has become a major threat to citizens' health in light of the continuous increase in respiratory diseases and allergies, especially with the high population density in the city.[/size]
[size=45]These factories reportedly did not have legal licenses to operate and were using substandard materials, which contributed to the worsening pollution problem.[/size]
[size=45]For his part, environmental and public health experts called for the need to tighten control over industrial activities in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities, and to ensure that factories adhere to environmental safety standards, stressing the importance of taking practical steps to reduce air pollution and improve the health environment for citizens.[/size]
[size=45]The spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Environment, Louay Sadiq Al-Mukhtar, said, “The environmental pollution that occurred in Baghdad was caused by emissions and increased environmental loads as a result of the use of unclean fuel in some industries, in addition to the increase in the number of cars.”[/size]
[size=45]He added that "28 warnings were issued to violating sites, a number of violating brick factories were closed in Baghdad, and 144 irregular factories that smelt metals were closed," noting that "control over landfill sites was tightened to prevent waste burning."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Mukhtar pointed out that “there are activities that violate the national emission limit instructions, and there are illegal activities that operate in secret, such as smelting furnaces and burning waste.”[/size]
[size=45]He added that "the government and the Ministry of Environment, through its official institutions, have taken rapid and effective measures that have led to a reduction in pollution," expressing hope that "the measures will continue in a sustainable manner to improve air quality in Baghdad, and avoid a recurrence of the phenomenon of smog accompanied by a suffocating odor and a high concentration of fine particles."[/size]
[size=45]According to the Air Quality Index report, 39 out of 50 areas in Iraq are ranked among the most polluted in the Middle East and North Africa. According to World Bank estimates for 2018, 47% of the country’s natural forests have been destroyed, and 2.4 million hectares of land have been rendered unusable due to wars and mines, contributing significantly to the increase in emissions to date.[/size]
[size=45]The spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Environment continued, “The issue has changed relatively with the government’s campaign to close many illegal and unlawful activities, and to monitor the burning of waste in unsanitary landfills or collection sites.”[/size]
[size=45]According to the World Health Organization's standards, the amount of polluting particles in the air should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter. However, data from the Swiss website IQAIR, which specializes in measuring air pollution, indicates that the percentage of these particles in Baghdad's air exceeds international standards by 15 times, making it one of the most polluted cities in the region.[/size]
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