University of Tehran Journal of Sciences, Islamic Republic of Iran 1016-1104 36 2 2025 04 01 Air Pollution and Violent Crimes in Iran: A Statistical Analysis of the Relationship Between Atmospheric Pollutants and Crime Rates in Metropolitan Ar 163 181 107912 10.22059/jsciences.2026.402066.1007953 EN Razieh Saberi 1 Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran 0000-0001-7564-7042 Mohadeseh Alsadat Farzammehr 2 Judiciary Research Institute, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran 0000-0002-4927-7938 Elham Tabrizi 3 Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Kharazmi, Islamic Republic of Iran Journal Article 2025 09 09 <span lang="EN">While the associations between pollution, human health, and behavior have been widely studied, the relationship between air pollution and violent crime remains underexplored. Using an interdisciplinary approach within green criminology, this study examines the statistical associations between air pollution, mental health, and violent behavior in Iran, aiming to contribute to evidence-informed environmental security discussions. Time-series analysis, regression models, and panel data techniques were used to explore relationships between key pollutants (PM₁₀, PM_2.5, CO, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃) and violent crime rates in Tehran and the provinces of Mashhad, Isfahan, Fars, Alborz, and Rasht from 2016 to 2021. Given the observational nature of the data, all results represent correlations rather than causal effects. In Tehran, ozone (O₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) show statistically significant positive associations with violent crime rates, while carbon monoxide (CO) displays a weak negative association; by contrast, PM_2.5shows no statistically significant relationship with violent crime. Although province-level descriptive patterns appear heterogeneous, the overall correlation between PM_2.5and crime is trivially small (0.068), and the panel regression coefficient is statistically insignificant (</span> <span lang="EN">), indicating that PM_2.5is not a meaningful correlational predictor in this context. The study identifies pollutant–crime co-movements rather than causal effects, with only O₃ and NO₂ exhibiting consistent statistical associations with violent crime, and highlights the importance of considering environmental, economic, and social conditions when examining pollution–crime relationships, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of environmental correlates relevant to urban planning, environmental management, and public security in Asian metropolitan regions.</span> https://jsciences.ut.ac.ir/article_107912_3af6e8216779b7bcad5c7e22fbf6a828.pdf