Assessing the Effectiveness of Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide Pollutants due to Abadan Oil Refinery on Hospital Areas Using CALPUFF Model in 2018: A Descriptive Study

Hospitals as one of the most important sensitive populated areas must be located in areas within standard air quality. The aim of this study was assessing Abadan hospitals outdoor air quality affected by oil refinery using CALPUFF (California Puff) model.

This descriptive study was performed on the dispersion of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the catalyst unit of Abadan oil refinery for 12 months of 2018. Upper and surface climate data, land cover map, physical properties of smokestacks and emission rate of pollutants were used as input data in CALPUFF modeling system.

Based on the results, the highest level of SO2-1hr occurred in January and in the other months this pollutant was higher than the standard limit. Maximum concentration of NO2-1hr was observed in January that was higher than the standard level. SO2-1hr and NO2-1hr had limited distribution in 1500 meters buffer of smokestacks. Outdoor air pollutants concentration in hospital areas were lower than the standards limit.

Admissible level of pollutants in the hospitals ambient outdoor was due to large area of oil refinery land and limitation of pollutants propagation in average monthly. Using advanced air pollution models can be useful in awareness increasing and the vulnerability reducing of medical centers.