نشریه علوم محیطی
سال دوازدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 45، پاییز 1393)

Air pollutants modeling contribute to the understanding of the causes and extent of the air pollution problem and it is an essential step to lay down the right laws and appropriate policies to improve air quality. In this study the concentration of CO induced by emission of polluting sources in Iran has been modeled. Two winter weeks with different meteorological fluctuations is modeled. The model used in this research, CMAQ,is a comprehensive model in transport of pollutants and chemical reactions in the atmosphere. The CMAQ inputs comprise the meteorological and atmospheric conditions which are analyzed by a meteorological model called WRF. Results show that CMAQ can estimate the carbon monoxide variation based on metrological parameters but the results are less than the measured data, which can be related to low quality of emission data and coarse grid. Comparing the results of two weeks indicate a higher precision in the week with less meteorological change. The result of this study can be used in future researches, more accurate modeling, prediction of pollutant concentration and emission reduction strategies.

Classification of atmospheric aerosols is one of the important topics in the airborne and ground-based instruments remote sensing. Polarized sky radiance resulting from interaction between sunlight and atmospheric particles strongly depends on the presenceof aerosols in the atmosphere, and can be monitored by looking at the aerosol polarized phase function. In this paper, the ability the polarized phase function to classify atmospheric aerosols has been investigated for the atmosphere of the Zanjan. To do this, aerosol optical depth (AOD), Angstrom exponent (α), single scattering albedo (SSA), and polarized phase function have been retrieved from the measurements of SPM in the period of February 2010 to December 2012. The results show that the maximum valueof aerosol polarized phase function is strongly correlated (R = 0.95) with the Angstrom exponent. Furthermore the polarized phase function shows a moderate negative correlation with respect to the atmospheric aerosol optical depth and single-scattering albedo (R =−0.76 and−0.33, respectively). Therefore the polarized phase function can be regarded as a key parameter to characterize the atmospheric particles of the region –a populated city in the semi-arid area and surrounded by some dust sources of the Earth’s dust belt.

Soil quality index is able to assist quantifying soil status in different usage. The objective of this study was to present a new method for one of the most important environmental challenges, municipal solid waste landfill siting, based on determining soil quality index. After presenting the proposed method, it was used for landfill site selection of Marvdasht. First, soil functions including daily waste cover, container and support of waste, renovating some waste products and landfill final cover were determine to find out soil quality index. Thereafter, proper extractable soil properties from soil map were defined to quantify soil functions. Subsequent to data standardization, data weighting were performed by analytic hierarchy process. Next, with gathering data, soil quality index was derived for each soil map unit. The result of proposed method shows that almost 8000 hectares of the study area is suitable for landfill construction. The situations of suitable areas were comparable with the result of common environmental landfill siting in the study area. But in the new proposed method, the numbers of evaluation criteria were less than the traditional method and the site selection approach was easier and more cost effective. Further, the productivity of soils for more valuable usage like agriculture was considered.

Portable emission measurement tests get reliable data in comparison with chassis dynamometer tests. In portable emission tests, volume concentration and mass flow of exhaust gas measured second by second. This two series of data may be measured in one point of exhaust path from engine to tailpipe so mass flow correspond to volume concentration in each moment. If they measure in different points, data should be synchronize. Same trend of NOx and Manifold absolute pressure(MAP) is used to syncing data. Unsynchronized data cause up to 30% error of final emission factors. Each vehicle is tested in different driving conditions, different road and manner, like uphill road or highly congested trafficto determine the real emission produced.

According to experts, competitiveness requires application of specific kinds of spatial development patterns like clustering, with a logic based on Marshal-Romer, Porter and Jacobes Models stating that proximity is the main requirement for knowledge transfer, formation of knowledge spillovers,facilitation of innovation production, and competitiveness. Thus, unconditional acceptance of "clustering" policy-making tool is impossible and unjustified without regard to historical, economic, institutional and geographical paths. Therefore, the hypothesis of the present study was that competitiveness geography is a function of context based on two factors, i.e., first. The type of knowledge source, and two. Second. type of interaction of active units. This study investigated two questions, i.e, to whatextent and under what conditions competitive units are dependent on spatial aggregation, and if these aggregations follow clustering development pattern. After in-depth interviews with managers of competitive active units, the type of knowledge source used, and interactions with other active units, the most appropriate statement and theoretical framework of competitiveness spatial development were extracted using Structural Equation Modeling with regard to specific conditions of Tehran. Also, spatial map analysis was used in determining the willingness of units toward a specific type of location pattern. The output of these studies was the presentation of a policy-making framework for competitiveness spatial development. This framework shows that competitive application of all activities is not always resulted by clustering, and some competitive activities are not related to clusters (cross-sectoral links). Some others are dependent on a specific location and some are independent of location.

Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province has an area with numerous hot springs.The Springsis located in FoldedZagros geological zone, and the host rocks of the springs are Cretaceous to Miocene limestones. Water samples from four hot springs and one cold spring were collected in two times, April (wet condition) and September (dry condition) 2013, In order to evaluate their environmental geochemistry. Temperature, pH, Eh and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured on site. Major and trace elements were analyzed by ICP-OES method. Also, elements such as Hg, As, Bi and Sb were measured by using atomic fluorescence method at detection limit of ppb. Trace elements are relatively high from environmental standards. Concentrations of U, Th and REE in springs water is high. Hydro geochemical studies indicate that high concentration of chloride in the water springs. The hydro chemical facies of hot and cold springs are NaCl and H2S gas boiling type. Genesis of the thermal springs indicate that these springs was derived from an ancient hydrothermal\source and high concentrations of chloride, indicating the high depth of the source.

Ahvaz as the focal point of south western of Iran has impressed by Middle East Dust (MED) storms which has originated from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and also Africa. The main objective of this study was to evaluate heavy metals contents of PM10during normal and dust event days in Ahvaz. High volume sampler device was selected to take sample at a high traffic area of the city. Result showed that during dust event days, the average concentrations of PM10were 300 and 278 μgm-3in the spring and summer, while during normal days, the corresponding values were 145 and 126, respectively. Findings of enrichment factors indicated that Al with low enrichment factor had crustal origin, whereas Pb and Zn with high EF had anthropogenic sources such as transportation as well as industrial emissions. In present study, the concentrations of PM10were higher than the standard values.

Dust deposition phenomenon is an important climatic and environmental issue in arid to semi-arid regions which causes great losses for human. This study was carried out to compare the concentration of selected heavy metals in soil samples with that of dust and also to identify the possible sources of heavy metals in dust of Kerman city. A total of 245 dust samples were monthly collected from 35 study sites during the months of May to November 1391, using glass traps. To compare the results of atmospheric dust with those of soil, 60 surface soil samples (0-10 cm) from outside Kerman and 35 soil samples from urban areas were also collected. After sample preparation, the total concentration of major heavy metals including Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Mn was determined by an atomic absorption spectrometer following the digestion of soil and dust samples with 6N HNO3solution. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis were performed to identify possible sources of heavy metals in dust. The results showed that heavy metal concentrations in atmospheric dust samples were higher than those in soil samples indicating the influence of human factors. There was a highly significant correlation among Cu, Pb, and Zn and also among Cu, Mn, and Ni indicating different sources for these 2 groups of heavy metals. Also, principal component analysis and cluster analysis confirmed the results and further indicated that Ni and Mn derived from natural sources while Cu, Pb, and Zn had an anthropogenic origin. Since the role of human activities on increasing the concentration of pollutants is evident, it is necessary to take appropriate management measures to reduce the amount of pollutants produced in factories and various industries.

Vitamin D is one of the essential ingredients in terms of metabolic and physiological processes in the human body.25-Hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D] is the most sensitive index of vitamin D status and reflective of its dietary intake and skin production. Considering the importance of vitamin D in human body, especially in pregnant women and in turn in their infants, the present study was conductedto examine the association of air pollution with serum 25(OH)Din pregnant women and in the umbilical cord of their newborns. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 in Isfahan, Iran. This study comprised 100 pregnant women and their newborns. The air quality index (AQI) was registered. The associations of AQI and 25(OH)D were assessed by multiple linear regression. The independent inverse association of 25(OH)D with air quality can explain the high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in pregnant women living in this sunny region.

In this study, external costs due to air pollution in the city of Tehran are estimated for CO2, SO2, NOXand PM pollutants in 1390. In the first step, employing up to down procedure, these pollutants’ emission from oil products, liquid gas and natural gas fuel from transportation, industrial, household and commercial, army and departments, plants and refineries are estimated. Then the external costs due to these emissions have been computed based on presented Expenditure in universal bank and Iran’s environment organization report at 1381. The results show that external costs due to four mentioned air pollutants are approximately 18/06 thousand billion Rials (based on constant prices in 1981) in Tehran city in 1390. The maximum external costs are 83 percent for PM pollutant, 94 percent for transportation and 72 percent for gasoil fuel from point of views of pollutants type, pollutants producing section and the type of fuel consumed, respectively. Also, the total air pollution external costs due to these four pollutants are 0.18 and 0.71 percent with respect to Gross Domestic Production (GDP) of Iran and Tehran,respectively. In this study, realization of external costs is done under the light of Cost Plus method by inflation andexchange rates. In the first approach, external costs are estimated to be 24.88 thousand billiard Rials and in the second approach, they are found to be approximately 66.74 thousand billiard Rials.

In this study, the performance of WRF/CAMx modeling system in predicting primary and secondary gasephase pollutants is evaluated. The main goal of this research was investigating the impact of initial and boundary concentrations, used to feed the CAMx model, on the accuracy of the model and the level of pollutants over Tehran modeling domain. For this purpose, CAMx model was ran in two cases with different initial and boundary concentration. The model performance in two cases compared against observations measured at air quality monitoring stations. Results showed significant impact of initial and boundary concentrations on model accuracy and level of pollutant concentrations over the city. When using constant zero initial and boundary concentrations model showed poor performance in predicting level of pollutants and daily maximum concentrations, especially for NO2and O3concentrations which mostly produce during chemical reactions in the atmosphere. But using MOZART data to prepare initial and boundary concentrations lead to improve in model accuracy and predicting daily maximum concentrations.

Health problems associated with exposure to air pollution impose healthcare costs, and leads to absence from work andjob loss, and in extreme cases, permanent disability and death (1). Due to presence of many large industrial plants and the entry of new vehicles in the urban traffic cycle, Tabriz is one of the most polluted Iranian cities. The aim of the present study was to quantify and compare the health effects of the air pollutant SO2in Tabriz. Information was obtained from the Department of Environment and Meteorological Organization. The information included data from six air pollution measurement station in Tabriz in a 12-month period from March 21, 2011 to March 20, 2012. These data were then corrected for temperature and pressure in EXCEL, programed, processed (averaged), filtered, and undergone final processing. The processed data were then entered to the AIRQ model. The cumulative number of deaths due to SO2emissions in Tabriz was 108. The number of deaths from cardiovascular disease attributed to SO2was estimated to be 105. Per 10 μg/m3increase in concentrations of SO2, the risk of cardiovascular death increased by 0.8%. The cumulative number of deaths from respiratory disease attributed to SO2emissions was 17. The cumulative number of cases of acute myocardial infarction attributed to SO2was 22, and cumulative estimated number of patients referred to the hospital due to COPD caused by exposure to high concentrations of SO2(above 10 μg/m3) were estimated to be 12 patients.