The Department of Pure Sciences at the Center for Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at University of Baghdad organized a scientific workshop “Air Pollution in Baghdad: Causes and Treatments.”
The workshop was attended by a distinguished group of faculty members and researchers and was held at Professor Nabila Abdul Munim Dawood Hall. The session was chaired by Professor Dr. Taha Sabti Ibrahim, Head of the Department of Pure Sciences, who emphasized in his remarks the importance of addressing the environmental challenges facing the city of Baghdad and the necessity of employing scientific research to develop appropriate solutions and treatments. The lecture was delivered by Professor Dr. Anas Issam Ismail, a faculty member at the Center. He reviewed the major causes of air pollution in Baghdad, explaining that vehicle exhaust emissions are among the most significant sources of pollution, as vehicles release more than half a ton of toxic gases daily, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, and sulfur oxides. He also pointed to the widespread use of private electricity generators in residential neighborhoods due to the weakness of the national power supply, which contributes large quantities of pollutants to the atmosphere. He further addressed the random and continuous burning of waste without environmental oversight or treatment, which leads to the emission of fine particulate matter and harmful gases. In addition, he highlighted environmentally unlicensed factories—particularly brick and asphalt plants—that rely on low-quality fuel, resulting in dense emissions that exacerbate pollution levels. He also noted that stagnant weather conditions and heavy cloud cover contribute to the accumulation of pollutants and prevent their dispersion, thereby raising pollution indicators to dangerous levels. Regarding proposed treatments, the lecturer stressed the need to develop the public transportation system, encourage the use of environmentally friendly vehicles, reduce the number of old cars, and expand renewable energy projects. He also called for preventing random waste burning, establishing modern stations for sorting, treatment, and recycling, tightening environmental monitoring of unlicensed factories and obligating them to use emission-reduction technologies or relocate outside residential areas, increasing green spaces within the city due to their effective role in absorbing pollutants and improving air quality, and adopting continuous air-quality monitoring programs, especially during weather conditions that lead to pollutant accumulation. The workshop concluded with constructive scientific discussions and interventions by the attendees, emphasizing the importance of raising environmental awareness and strengthening the role of academic institutions in serving society and addressing environmental challenges.
