Shafaq News– BaghdadThe rain falling across Iraq, particularly in heavilypolluted areas such as
Baghdad and
Basra provinces, is comparable to acid rainthat can harm soil, buildings, and public health, the environmental watchdogIraq Green Observatory warned on Saturday.According to a report, atmospheric conditions duringrainfall in Baghdad on January 9 were extremely poor, with high levels of airpollution. It urged authorities to address persistent air pollution, notingthat “no effective solution has been implemented so far despite official claimsof shutting down factories, addressing industrial activity, and tackling wastefires.”The Iraqi capital ranked second globally among most pollutedcities, according to data released in September by Switzerland-based airquality monitoring platform IQAir.Iraq is facing an environmental crisis marked by severe airpollution, widespread waste mismanagement. Baghdad remains among the region’smost polluted capitals, with PM2.5 levels frequently reaching unhealthyconcentrations. Pollution concerns extend beyond the capital, affecting waterquality nationwide, as up to 90% of rivers contain contaminants due tountreated sewage and industrial runoff.: The air we breathe: How pollution is quietly rewriting Iraq’s future