Comparative Investigation of Health Quality of Air in Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz Metropolises in 2011-2012

Background and Aims: Air pollution causes wide spectrum acute and chronic effects of health from slight physiological disorders to death from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. In order to set the control programs, air pollution monitoring and determination of air quality are necessary. The objective of this study was to compare health quality of air in Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz cities in 2011- 2012.Materials and Methods: This Study was a descriptive–analytic study. The moment concentrations of Tehran,Isfahan and Shiraz air pollutants were gathered through referring to the environmental protection agency.Then, Air Quality Index (AQI) was calculated based on the criteria pollutants’ levels (CO, NO2, SO2, PM10,PM2.5 and O3) for three cities through linear interpolation and was classified into describing classes accordingto tables of National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Data analysis was performed with Excel and SPSS software using One-Way ANOVA test.Results: The results showed that the AQI in Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz was higher than Iran’s environmental protection agency standards (AQI>100) in 341, 323 and 85 days, respectively. Furthermore, particulate matter (PM10) has been the critical pollutant in three cities for most days of the year. One-Way ANOVA test between AQI mean of the three cities showed a significant difference.Conclusion: The air quality of the three cities was unhealthy in 2011-2012 and the situation of Tehran andIsfahan air, however, was in the “bad situation”.Key words: Air pollutants, Air quality index, Pollution standard index, Responsible pollutan

Catalytic ozonation of azo dye Reactive Red 120 in the presence of MgO nanoparticles

Background and Aims: Dyes are widely used in different industries and consequently are disposed through different industrial effluents into the environment. Chronic and/or acute effects of the chemicals on microorganisms have been documented. Dyes may absorb and reflect the entering sun lights into the water and thereby decrease the algal photosynthesis. The later in turn can affect the food chain seriously. The aim of this study was, therefore, to use MgO nanoparticles as catalyst in heterogenic catalytic ozonation process (COP) for reactive red 120 dye removal (decolorization) from synthetic wastewater.Materials and Methods: MgO nanoparticles were produced by sol-gel method. The influences of several operational parameters including solution pH, reaction time, MgO dosage and initial dye concentration on removal (decolorization) efficiency were evaluated.Results: The optimum pH and MgO dosage for COP were determined as 10 and 3 g/L, respectively. Decolorization of 500 mg/L of dye was almost complete after 12 min under achieved optimum conditions. MgO nanocrystals markedly affected the COP and enhanced the dye removal efficiency by approximately 49% compared with the sole ozonation process.Conclusion: Higher O3 decomposition in presence a small amounts of catalyst and alkaline pH increases the radical production which in turn improves the decolorization efficiency. Increasing the initial concentration of dye deteriorated the removal efficiency; however, this can be compensated by increasing the ozonation rate.Key words: Catalytic Ozonation, MgO Nanoparticles, Reactive Red 120 dye (RR120)

Evaluation of cardiovascular and respiratory mortality attributed to atmospheric SO2 and CO using AirQ model

Background: Air pollutants have multiple adverse effects on human health. In this study, the health effects of exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and SO2 in the air of 6 Iranian metropolises in 2011-2012 were examined. Methods: Raw data was collected from the Iranian Department of Environment and the Iran Meteorological Organization. After validation, the required statistical indices were calculated through programming and modifying temperature and pressure in Excel software. The output of Excel was given to the AirQ model, and the results were presented as the cases of death. Results: The annual mean concentrations of SO2 were 2.45, 1.55, 0.6, 0.55, 1.05, and 3.8 times higher than the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) (20 μg/m3) in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Urmia, respectively. The concentrations of CO did not exceed the standard limit in any of the studied cities. The cumulative numbers of total deaths attributed to SO2 were 744, 122, 132, 44, 37, and 107 in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Urmia, respectively. The highest mortality rate was found in Urmia at 2.9% followed by Tehran at 1.52%; the lowest rate of 0.46% was found in Tabriz. Conclusion: The results show that of the 6 metropolises, the highest CO mortality rate of about 2.15% belonged to Isfahan followed by Arak with about 1.38%, and the lowest rate of 0.68% belonged to Mashhad. Because of the growing trend of air pollution and its mortality rate and adverse effects, practical solutions for the control and reduction of air pollution in Iranian metropolises are necessary

Estimation of Short-term Mortality and Morbidity Attributed to Fine Particulate Matter in the Ambient Air of Eight Iranian Cities

Amongst the various pollutants in the air, particulate matters (PM) have significant adverse effects on human health. The current research is based on existing epidemiological literature for quantitative estimation of the current health impacts related to particulate matters in some selected principal Iranian megacities. In order to find the influence of air pollution on human health, we used the AirQ software tool presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH), Bilthoven Division. The adverse health outcomes used in the study consist of mortality (all causes excluding accidental causes), due to cardiovascular (CVD) and respiratory (RES) diseases, and morbidity (hospital admissions for CVD and RES causes). For this purpose, hourly PM10 data were taken from the monitoring stations in eight study cities during 2011 and 2012. Results showed annual average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 in all megacities exceeded national and international air quality standards and even reached levels nearly ten times higher than WHO guidelines in some cities. Considering the short-term effects, PM2.5 had the maximum effects on the health of the 19,048,000 residents of the eight Iranian cities, causing total mortality of 5,670 out of 87,907 during a one-year time-period. Hence, reducing concentrations and controlling air pollution, particularly the presence of particles, is urgent in these metropolises

Concentration and Distribution Characteristics of Airborne Fungi in the Ambient Air of Milad Hospital, Blood Transfusion Organization and Tehran’s Shahrake Ghods Wastewater Treatment Plant

Background and aims: Recently contact with bioaerosols has been presented as an important problem which endangers human being’s health. The aim of this investigation is to compare potential of separation of fungal aerosols in the air around Tehran’s Milad hospital, blood transfusion organization and waste water treatment plant of Tehran’s Shahrake Ghods. methods: this cross-sectional investigation was done in Milad hospital, blood transfusion organization and Tehran’s Shahrake Ghods waste water treatment plant within for 4 months. The sampling was done passively for 1 hour and once in 6 days. The culture medium was Sabouraud dextrose agar. Results: comparing selected sampling stations the most fungal density was for 100 meters after the last unit of waste water treatment plant (67 CFU) and the least density was for Milad hospital (30 CFU). Dominant genera of fungal in waste water treatment plant and blood transfusion organization was related to Cladosporium (in order of 49% and 84%) and in air around Milad hospital was related to Alternaria (47%). Conclusion: according to the results processing and operating sections in waste water treatment plant can be effective in fungal density and separation of bioaerosols. Therefore it seems to be vital that the responsible organizations should do necessary actions to develop guidelines and standards related to bioaerosols. Also appropriate administration of environmental health in waste water treatment plant can be an important factor in reduction of aerosol separation

Catalytic ozonation of azo dye Reactive Red 120 in the presence of MgO nanoparticles

زمينه و هدف: مواد رنگزا به طورگسترده در صنایع مختلف مورد استفاده قرارگرفته و توسط فاضلابهای فرایندهای مختلف به محیط دفع و باعث بروز اثرات مزمن و یا حادی بر روی میکروارگانیسمها می‌شوند. این مواد رنگزا نور ورودی به آب را جذب و منعکس کرده و باعث کاهش فتوسنتز جلبکها و اثر سوء بر زنجیره غذایی می‌شوند. از اینرو هدف از این مطالعه استفاده از نانوذرات اکسید منیزیم سنتزشده، در فرایند ازن زنی کاتالیزوری غیرهمگن جهت حذف رنگزای راکتیو قرمز 120 از فاضلاب سنتتیک تعیین شد. مواد و روش‌ها: نانوذرات اکسید منیزیم به روش سل-ژل سنتز شده وتاثیر فاکتورهایی مانند pH محلول، زمان واکنش، دوز کاتالیست و غلظت اولیه رنگزا بر روی راندمان حذف مورد مطالعه قرار گرفتند. يافته‌ها: طبق نتایج حاصله مقدار pH بهینه برای فرایند 10 و دوز بهینه کاتالیست برابر با 3 گرم در لیتر بدست آمد. تحت شرایط بهینه بالا، راندمان حذف 100 درصد برای 500 میلی گرم در لیتر رنگزا بعد از 12 دقیقه حاصل شد و نانوذرات اکسید منیزیم راندمان حذف را در مقایسه با ازن زنی تنها (بدون حضور کاتالیست) 49 درصد افزایش دادند. نتيجه گيري: در pH قلیایی و حضور مقدار اندکی کاتالیست تجزیه ازن و تولید رادیکال افزایش یافته و راندمان حذف افزایش می‌یابد. افزایش غلظت اولیه رنگزا باعث کاهش راندمان حذف می‌گردد که در صورت نیاز می‌توان این کاهش راندمان را با استفاده از افزایش دوز ازن زنی و یا زمان ازن زنی افزایش داد.Background and Aims: Dyes are widely used in different industries and consequently are disposed through different industrial effluents into the environment. Chronic and/or acute effects of the chemicals on microorganisms have been documented. Dyes may absorb and reflect the entering sun lights into the water and thereby decrease the algal photosynthesis. The later in turn can affect the food chain seriously. The aim of this study was, therefore, to use MgO nanoparticles as catalyst in heterogenic catalytic ozonation process (COP) for reactive red 120 dye removal (decolorization) from synthetic wastewater.Materials and Methods: MgO nanoparticles were produced by sol-gel method. The influences of several operational parameters including solution pH, reaction time, MgO dosage and initial dye concentration on removal (decolorization) efficiency were evaluated.Results: The optimum pH and MgO dosage for COP were determined as 10 and 3 g/L, respectively. Decolorization of 500 mg/L of dye was almost complete after 12 min under achieved optimum conditions. MgO nanocrystals markedly affected the COP and enhanced the dye removal efficiency by approximately 49% compared with the sole ozonation process.Conclusion: Higher O3 decomposition in presence a small amounts of catalyst and alkaline pH increases the radical production which in turn improves the decolorization efficiency. Increasing the initial concentration of dye deteriorated the removal efficiency; however, this can be compensated by increasing the ozonation rate

Study of Air Quality Health Index and its Application in Seven Cities of Iran in 2011

Abstract Background: Poor air quality has a lot of damage on the environment and humans. Awareness of the air quality situation reduces health effects of air pollution. This study was performed with the aim of the comparative investigation of Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and its application in seven major cities of Iran in 2011. Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive–analytic one. First, the required data of four criteria pollutants were taken from Department of Environment in seven major cities of Iran. The data were validated by the World Health Organization criteria. The air quality health index was measured based on the instructions and classified into low, medium, high and very high degrees according to the air quality standard tables. Results: The results demonstrate that according to air quality health index, the level of air pollution in seven major cities of Iran has been undesirable and air quality has exceeded the standard level in Ahvaz 85%, Arak73%, Tehran70%, Esfahan60%, Shiraz 47%, Tabriz 43% and, Mashhad 29% of days. Conclusion: Due to poor air quality and health consequences resulting from it, importance of Air Quality Health Index is explored in planning to control and reduce air pollution and awareness of peoples from daily status of air quality and its health effects

Study on Concentration of Particulate Matter with Diameter Less than 10 Microns, Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Related to PM2.5 in the Ambient Air of Sina Hospital District

Background:In recent decades, extensive studies have shown a number of short and long-term health effects of particle matters. In addition to particle matters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals in airborne particles due to their mutagenic and carcinogenic properties are considered major air pollutants. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of PM2.5particulate, 7heavy metal concentrations and 13 PAHs compound associated with fine particles (PM2.5-boud PAHs) in the district of Sina hospital, Tehran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in air of Sina Hospital district in Tehran. Concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were determined by gravimetric. Also heavy metal concentrations in samples after digestion were determined with ICP-AES instrument through injection. Then the PAHs compounds from each sample were extracted by ultrasonic method. After this step, extracted sample was injected for analysis by GC-MS and concentration of each compound was read. Results: The daily average concentration of PM2.5 during the study was 41.19 µg/m3.Concentration values for zinc, lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and arsenic, were 92/69, 05/38, 2/18, 24/4, 19/4 and 34/1 ng/m3 respectively but mercury not found in this study. Average concentrations of PAHs compounds have been variable from0.07 ng/m3 for Chrysene to 1.21ng/m3 for Dibenzo(ah)anthracene. Conclusion: In this study, the daily average of PM2.5 concentrations was above the Iranian National PM, WHO (25 µg/m3) and EPA (35 µg/m3) standards established for PM2.5 particles. Heavy metal concentrations in this study were lower than values reported in previous studies in Tehran. The highest concentrations among PAHs compounds belonging toIndeo(cd 1,2,3)pyren, Dibenzo(ah) anthracene, Benzo (B) flouranthin and Benzo (K)flouranthin that all of these compounds are related to vehicle emissions

Comparing the efficiency of UV/ZrO2 and UV/H2O2/ZrO2 photocatalytic processes in furfural removal from aqueous solution

Abstract Furfural is a toxic chemical compound that is widely applied as a solvent in a great many of industries, and it can cause many problems to the human beings and environment. Various methods of removing furfural from the wastewaters have been studied. AOPs methods are utilized for the elimination of a vast majority of the pollutants due to their high efficiency as well as for their lack of creating secondary contamination. Therefore, the present study aims at comparing the efficiency of UV/ZrO2 and UV/H2O2/ZrO2 photocatalytic processes in removing furfural from aqueous solutions. The solution’s initial pH, furfural’s concentration, zirconium catalyst dosage and time were investigated as the parameters influencing the removal efficiency by the two foresaid processes, and the effect of H2O2 addition in various concentrations into UV/H2O2/ZrO2 process was also evaluated. Spectrophotometer device was employed to assay the concentration of the residual furfural. The results indicated that the pH of the environment, the amount of the nanoparticle and H2O2 input concentration largely influence the furfural omission. The optimal condition for the removal of furfural in UV/ZrO2 process in an initial concentration of 20 mg/L, a pH equal to 3, a catalyst dose of 0.25 g/L during a period of 60-min time was 81.6%, and it was 99% for UV/H2O2/ZrO2 process in a pH equal to 7 with the addition of H2O2 for a concentration of 0.75 mL/L under the same conditions. Generally, it can be concluded that UV/H2O2/ZrO2 and UV/ZrO2 photocatalytic processes can effectively be applied to remove furfural from the aqueous solutions, especially in lower concentrations