Anthropogenic Pollution Journal
Volume:7 Issue: 2, Summer-Autumn 2023

This study was conducted with the purpose of measuring the remaining of Chlorpyrifos insecticide in apples produced in Ahmadabad region of Damavand at the beginning of crop spraying and after its currency period over two periods of the second and third crop spraying in September and October, 2016 and also June, 2017. Samples were collected from three selected stations during September and October, 2016 and also June, 2017. Afterwards, there were some laboratory stages to measure the concentration chlorpyrifos in each sample by means of GC-MASS. According to the calculations made by SPSS software, chlorpyrifos with an average of 1.6917 has a higher level than EPA, ISIRI, CODEX and EFSA standards. Also, in the tests of September and October, chlorpyrifos in all stations has values lower than the EFSA CODEX standard, but in station 1 it is higher than the EPA and ISIRI standards; other stations have values lower than all standards. During the calculations made by SPSS software, it shows that chlorpyrifos with an average of 0.123 has a lower level than CODEX and EFSA standards, but it has a higher level than EPA and ISIRI standards.

The depletion of freshwater resources emphasizes the significance of water desalination, while the high energy consumption and operating costs associated with existing desalination methods necessitate the search for cost-effective solutions. Therefore, this study presents a unique and innovative solution by employing advanced materials, specifically the combination of graphene oxide (GO)-based covalent organic frameworks (COF) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA)-modified Iranian natural zeolite in the desalination of Caspian Sea water and well water in the Dark area of Isfahan. In this regard, GO was synthesized using Homer’s modified method and subsequently functionalized with COF and the clinoptilolite zeolite was modified with HDTMA. A series of 28 column experiments were carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) to examine the elimination of electrical conductivity (EC), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and chloride (Cl−) under the influence of five operational parameters: initial salinity (7.3−9.6 ds/m), flow rates (1−5 mL/min), GO amounts (0−30 mg), HDTMA quantities (0−13 g), and COF quantities (0−30 mg). The results revealed that the initial salinity concentration had the most significant impact on the reduction of EC, Na+, K+, and Mg2+. Conversely, the quantities of COF had the greatest influence on the reduction of Ca2+. Regarding Cl−, the interaction between HDTMA and salinity exhibited the most notable effect. Overall, this study highlights the potential of utilizing GO and HDTMA-modified Iranian zeolite for desalination purposes, offering a promising approach for addressing water scarcity and salinity challenges in arid regions.

Cadmium, a heavy metal, can have devastating effects on the activity and composition of soil organisms. This can lead to environmental pollution which can be detrimental to human health. In order to evaluate the quality of contaminated soils, microbial parameters are used. The Atropa belladonna was used in a factorial experiment to investigate the efficacy of green purification and the role of arbuscular root fungi and growth-promoting bacteria in reducing the effects of cadmium. The experiment included two factors: cadmium at four levels (0, 20, 50 and 100 mg/kg of soil) and microbial inoculation treatment at three levels (control, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi). The study found that an increase in soil cadmium pollution caused a significant increase in shoot cadmium concentration and metabolic rate. Cadmium also caused a significant decrease in shoot function, microbial biomass carbon, microbial respiration, substrate-stimulated respiration, Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria population and mycorrhizal symbiosis. However, the inoculation of microbial treatments to the soil was found to decrease the inhibition effects of cadmium on the measured indicators. Overall, the results of the study showed that using growth-promoting microorganisms can reduce the adverse effect of cadmium on plant growth and microbial indicators of soil quality in soils contaminated with cadmium. Therefore, the application of growth-promoting microorganisms represents a promising approach for the remediation of cadmium-contaminated soils, as it not only supports plant growth but also enhances the overall quality of soil ecosystems.

Despite being classified as informal, street vendors play a crucial role in urban economies. Street selling and rubbish picking are the primary occupations engaged in by those affected by unregulated urbanization. These activities also subject them to other waste-related challenges within the outdoor setting. This waste is not properly disposed of, which in turn poses threats to the environment and public health. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the waste management practices of street vendors in Cape Town’s informal settlements. Subsequently, to achieve this objective the current study collected qualitative and quantitative data using a structured questionnaire research tool featuring a series of questions used to collect useful information from street vendors. Moreover, the purposive sampling technique was used in this regard to collect data given that this method is time and cost-effective. The quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Product for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 whilst qualitative data used thematic analysis. The result of the current study indicates that the majority of the street vendors (40%) dump waste illegally behind the stalls and in an open space. This is not startling given that the vending business venture is predominantly characterized by individuals with secondary education or no formal education at all. Therefore, it was not surprising that only a small percentage of street vendors (12.3%) systematically manage their waste. The current discovery shows that street vendors in the informal settlements of Cape Town need environmental education to understand the importance of systematically managing waste and the risks associated with the indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

Increasing population growth and civilization have caused great impacts on water quality. Among these, changes and excessive exploitation of land use have led to changes in the surface water quality to provide human needs. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of land use on water quality using a spatial-statistical approach. To this end, the water quality data of 22 water quality-sampling stations were applied in the Qarasu watershed in Ardabil. Then, spatial analysis was conducted, including land use classification maps, watershed mapping and overlaying maps using GIS. Finally, correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between water quality and land use variables. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed proper percentages of vegetation cover, agricultural lands, woodlands, residential users, barren land and forest as well as weak pastureland have significant correlation with water quality variables. Multiple linear regression analysis with stepwise approach also indicated that of dependent parameters as water quality variables, the parameters of pH, Cl, Ca, Mg, Na and SAR are associated with land use as independent parameters including irrigated agriculture, first-grade pasture, third-grade pasture, woodlands, moorland, forest and residential users. Furthermore, validation of the model based on two models of the survey of predicted and actual values as well as root-mean-square error (RMSE) demonstrated good accuracy of the resulting model.

This research aims to assess the concentrations of benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene along the Hakim Expressway, from Milad Tower to Resalat Tunnel, in order to investigate the impact of traffic, a major contributor to air pollution in Tehran, and the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) resulting from fossil fuel burning. Conducted in the fall of 2020, the study reveals that heavy-traffic regions exhibit higher VOC levels. The accumulation of VOCs in the examined areas is influenced by wind direction and time of day. Measurements were taken during both morning and evening periods. The amount of benzene in the morning at Geisha Station is 39.1 ppb and the lowest amount at Azadegan Blvd about 21.22 ppb. The amount of toluene in the morning at Chamran Station is 461.1 ppb and the lowest amount is 359.1 ppb at Azadegan Blvd. The amount of Ethylbenzene in the morning at Chamran Station is 2.86 ppb. These stations showed the highest values in the morning. In the evening, the highest values observed in the Gisha Station, 38.2 ppb the lowest amount at Azadegan Blvd 21.42 ppb. Highest amount of toluene at night were seen at Gisha Station 489 ppb the lowest amount at Azadegan Blvd about 231 ppb. The highest amount of Ethylbenzene was seen at Resalat Tunnel 1.4 ppb and lowest amount at Chamran. Benzene and toluene concentrations remained consistent between morning and night, while ethylbenzene concentrations varied. The traffic load in the sampled areas exhibited a direct effect on BTX (benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene) concentrations.

Preserving the health of food resources, including drinking water, is considered one of the most important issues in human usability. Therefore, all efforts and research are based on finding and utilizing the best methods to safeguard the hygiene of water and municipal wastewater, aiming to protect human health and improve the quality of treated sanitary sewage. Hence, the objective of this study is to investigate water contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria (E.coli) and the removal of this microorganism as an indicator of drinking water contamination and the degree of treatment of sanitary wastewater using a Pulsed Electric Field (PEF). In this research, the PEF device was utilized within the range of 1 to 13 kV/cm with a frequency of 500 Hz for some time of 3 to 60 min. The investigation was conducted using the Most Probable Number (MPN/100 mL) test in a 9-tube format. The results of this assessment at a temperature of 20 ºC showed that the minimum removal efficiency of total coliform bacteria was achieved at 1 kV voltage with a contact time of 1 min, yielding a 0% efficiency, while the highest removal efficiency was obtained at 13 kV voltage with a contact time of 30 min, resulting in a 99.8% efficiency.

The present applied research aimed to model energy management in office buildings of District 5 Municipality of Tehran, Iran. The components affecting energy consumption were extracted via an integrated approach (including in-depth survey and semi-structured interviews with experts) using coding method and prioritized by Analytic hierarchy process and Expert Choice. The proposed model was fitted by structural equation modeling and the strategies were developed by Hitt’s strategic planning model. The results showed 10 components (in three dimensions) as effective factors in energy management. The highest and lowest weight percentages were respectively related to the components of “Using appropriate technology for manufacture and providing and using low-consumption supplies and equipment” (26.8%), and “Implementing green tax policy” (1.7%). Goodness of fit index values for the three domains of the integrated model were 0.942 (for architecture and engineering), 0.941 (for behavioral patterns) and 0.901 (for rules and regulations), which were in the acceptable area due to being more than the standard value (0.9), as well as the root mean square residual values were 0.079, 0.073 and 0.061, respectively, which were in the acceptable area due to being lower than the standard value (0.08). The strategies of “Strengthening the infrastructure and equipment in the field of energy consumption optimization” and “Using green tax and incentive solutions in energy consumption” were placed in the first and last priorities with final weights of 4.16 and 3.156. These findings were a claim for the good and acceptable fit of the proposed 10-component and 9-strategy model.

A nanoparticle is a small particle that ranges between 1 to 100 nanometers in size. Undetectable by the human eye, nanoparticles can exhibit significantly different physical and chemical properties to their larger material counterparts. Metal oxide nanoparticles pollution has become a major environmental concern due to its widespread production and usage. The potential toxic effects of nanoparticles on human and animal health have been investigated, but their impact on urban animals remains poorly understood. This study provides evidence that exposure to metal oxide nanoparticles leads to significant toxicity in the ovarian and respiratory tissues of urban animals. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and controlling the release of nanoparticles into the environment to protect the health of animals and humans. Thus, the effects of metal oxide nanoparticles on urban animals provides valuable insights into the potential risks and environmental safety concerns. Continued research in this field is crucial for sustainable development and protection of both human and animal health.