Effect of Chahar-Shanbe Suri Celebration on Air Quality in Iran: A Case Study of Tehran (Megacity)

Abstract

Human activities and production in factories and industries is a key driver of air pollution so it is hardly surprising that celebrations and cultural activities can have a profound impact and increases the concentration of atmospheric particles. One of the best studied is the regularly occurring weekend effect and or in holidays religious ceremonies, which is defined as the difference of air pollutant concentrations between weekdays and holidays, with a general reduction of major pollutants. Although culture plays an important role in many environmental problems, it is a less-obvious factor affecting air pollution, which is often overlooked by researchers. Some cultural rituals in communities lead to environmental problems. Many of