The Iraqi parliament’s human rights committee on Monday expressed concern about the sulfur-like odor that has spread across the capital for some time. The smell has brought about breathing difficulties for the population, and nearly 200 individuals have been admitted to hospital, according to the committee.
Amer Dawood, a member of Baghdad’s provincial council, said on Facebook that the council convened to discuss the odor, forming a committee and coordinating with relevant authorities.
He attributed the smell to asphalt and brick factories operating illegally at night without meeting environmental standards, saying the factories emit large amounts of smoke and gas. This issue is compounded by the presence of oil refineries and hundreds of generators.
Iraq ranks sixth among the worst countries in the world for air quality, according to the IQAir agency, which monitors global air quality, and air pollution in Baghdad by PM2.5 - particles invisible to the naked eye - is 26.8 times the guideline value set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
With air quality at such hazardous levels, residents are advised to wear masks outdoors, avoid outdoor exercise, and have their windows closed.
On Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani ordered the formation of a specialized committee to “study the pollution issue and the recurring sulfur odor emissions in Baghdad and neighboring provinces, to determine their causes and provide solutions,” a statement from his office said at the time.