SOURCE IDENTIFICATION AND APPORTIONMENT OF AIR POLLUTANTS IN IRAN

Air pollution can adversely affect human health, vegetation growth, buildings and monuments throughout the world, especially in developing countries. There is an increasing concern about the various air pollutants including particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air of Iran. VOCs and PAHs are important types of air pollutants which are generated from human activities (e.g. transportation and industrial activities) in cites with high population density, whereas PM is formed from a variety of natural and anthropogenic sources. Iran, like most other countries in the Middle East, is affected annually by multiple dust storms. In general, the level of ambient PM originated from natural sources in some of Iranian cities such as Ahvaz and Zabol has been reported as the highest value throughout the world. When PM are associated with pollutants such as VOCs and PAHs in the lower atmosphere lead to the buildup of multiple pollutants and have the longest atmospheric lifetime and more readily penetrate into the lungs and consequently increase the mortality rate. Therefore, reliable source identification and apportionment of air pollutants is necessary and can be a useful tool for management and implementation of associated control strategies. This review has been focused on the source identification and apportionment of PM, VOCs and PAHs in some cities of Iran.