Anthropogenic Pollution Journal
Volume:8 Issue: 1, Winter and Spring 2024

The present applied research aimed to model energy management in office buildings of District 5Municipality of Tehran, Iran. The components affecting energy consumption were extracted via anintegrated approach (including in-depth survey and semi-structured interviews with experts) usingcoding method and prioritized by Analytic hierarchy process and Expert Choice. The proposedmodel was fitted by structural equation modeling and the strategies were developed by Hitt’sstrategic planning model. The results showed 10 components (in three dimensions) as effectivefactors in energy management. The highest and lowest weight percentages were respectivelyrelated to the components of "Using appropriate technology for manufacture and providing andusing 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 (forarchitecture 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 theroot mean square residual values were 0.079, 0.073 and 0.061, respectively, which were in theacceptable area due to being lower than the standard value (0.08). The strategies of "Strengtheningthe infrastructure and equipment in the field of energy consumption optimization" and "Usinggreen tax and incentive solutions in energy consumption" were placed in the first and last prioritieswith final weights of 4.16 and 3.156. These findings were a claim for the good and acceptable fitof the proposed 10-component and 9- strategy model.

Freshwater is a limited resource experiencing accelerated contamination in several nations due tovarious reasons, including both natural and human-induced influences such as climate, topography,mining, industry, and agriculture. South Africa is characterized by water scarcity, a conditionexacerbated by its status as a developing nation. Consequently, the country has the dual task ofsafeguarding water quality while simultaneously striving to enhance water supply and sanitationinfrastructure. This study aims to assess the impact of agricultural activities on the water qualityof the Crocodile River by using physiochemical tests and a water quality index tool. The grabsampling methodology was utilized on-site to collect water quality parameters which were analysedat a SANAS (South African National Accreditation System) laboratory. Statistical analysis wasperformed using the Seaborn software due to the extensive dataset contained in the present study.Highest concentrations of NO2+NO3were recorded in the Autumn season between 2020 and 2022with levels ranging between 1,2 to 0.7 mg/l. While spring and summer of 2018 and 2019 recordedthe lowest concentration of NO2+NO3at<0.4 mg/L, the low concentrations could be due to thedilution of the summer rainfalls as compared to the high concentrations that were recorded inthe drier season of the year leading into winter. This could also explain significant concentrationof PO4(0.35 mg/L) that were recorded during the winter of 2016. The findings indicate thatthroughout the autumn of 2017 and spring of 2019, the reported ammonia nitrate concentrationexceeded 0.225mg/L. The WQI results revealed that the water quality at Malelane is regular at avalue of 62.18, which suggests that the quality of the water is average to below standard.

To mitigate land degradation and desertification as an environmntal issue, it is crucial to monitorland degradation intensities, identify influential factors, and implement necessary measures. Thisstudy utilized remote sensing data and logistic regression modeling to assess desertificationin Larestan County. Multiple indicators were considered in this study, encompassing climatefactors (such as rainfall, evapotranspiration, and aridity index), groundwater indicators (includingelectrical conductivity, chloride content, sodium absorption ratio, and groundwater level decline),soil indicators (such as EC, texture, and organic matter content), land use and land cover (LULC)type, and wind erosion. The logistic regression model was employed to identify the most influentialfactors contributing to desertification. The findings revealed different risk classes: a small low-riskclass in the eastern and southern regions covering 2.4% of the total area, a moderate-risk classin the foothill-plain areas covering 38.3% of the total area. The high-risk class of desertificationis mainly concentrated in the central part of the study area, adjacent to regions with moderaterisk. It is characterized by relatively large patches, particularly in the southwest of the interiorplains, covering approximately 1,980 hectares, which accounts for 7.9% of the total area. Theconcentration of high-risk desertification in specific areas highlights the urgent need for proactivemeasures to preserve the environmental balance and sustainability of the study area.

This study aimed to explore the possibility of removing cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, from soilusing Dandelion greens. To accomplish this, a greenhouse experiment was conducted with sixtreatments including a control, and varying concentrations of cadmium in the soil. After the plantswere harvested, the concentration of cadmium was measured in the plant roots, the above-groundparts, and soil samples. The results indicated that Dandelion greens have a remarkable ability toabsorb cadmium from contaminated soils. The higher the concentration of cadmium in the soil, thegreater the amount of cadmium absorbed by the plant roots and the above-ground parts. Specifically,the concentration of cadmium in the above-ground parts increased by 20.4 times and in the roots by38 times with an increase in cadmium concentration. The average amount of cadmium absorbed inthe root and shoot was 69.17 and 59.14 mg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the study found that thetime required for plant purification increased with the increase of cadmium concentration, and theminimum time required for purification was found to be 5 mg/kg concentration. Dandelion greenshave a relatively short growth period and high yield, making them a viable option for treatingcadmium-contaminated soils. Therefore, Dandelion greens can be utilized as an ornamental plantfor phytoremediation of cadmium-contaminated soils. Overall, this study highlights the potentialof Dandelion greens as a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution for heavy metal pollution in soil.

Nowadays, buildings are one of the most consuming sectors that cause excessive energy loss. Thepresent applied research aimed to model the energy consumption pattern in conventional residentialapartments in Lahijan city (Gilan province, Iran). Design Builder software was used to model fourscenarios, including the current state, the use of a movable canopy, the use of photovoltaic panels,and the combined state. According to the results, the infiltration load coefficient was obtained tobe 1778 W/K. The highest heat dissipation in cold seasons was related to the roof and glazingparts. The lighting state was within the standard range in 12%, more than the standard in 52%and less than the standard in 36% of the points. The shortcomings of the study buildings weresignificant from the energy point of view, so that the average heat transfer coefficients of the walls,windows and ceilings were 2.5, 1.7 and 2.2 times the standard value of Standard Topic 19 ofthe National Building Regulations, respectively. The total electricity consumption was 776,543kilowatt-hours per year (kWh/year), and the panels were able to generate 14.87% of the requiredelectricity (115,544 kWh/year). The use of smart movable canopy and photovoltaic panel ledto energy savings of 18% and 17%, respectively. The simultaneous use of both would bring theamount of energy saving by 24%. To conclude, adopting purposeful and effective measures andtraining can lead to saving energy consumption and benefiting from clean energy in such buildings.

The International Olympic Committee emphasizes the implementation of the principles of sus-tainable development in sports realm. The current research was conducted with the aim ofidentifying and prioritizing the effective components of the green management in the context ofIran’s sports fabrics. The objective of this research is developmental and, in terms of methodology,it is descriptive-survey type, in which both quantitative and qualitative methods have been used.Initially, the data was collected and categorized using theoretical basses, literature review, andhigh-level documents. Through an in-depth study and interviews with 26 experts in the field ofsports and the country’s environment, the factors affecting the sustainable development of thecountry’s sports were identified. In order to prioritize the criteria, the fuzzy analytics hierarchicalprocess (FAHP) was employed. The results showed that the data distribution was normal. Basedon the research findings, 4 criteria and 21 sub-criteria were identified as effective components. Thesociocultural criterion with a weight of 0.54884 had the highest degree of importance, followedby the environmental/health criterion with a weight of 0.29265 and approach-management witha weight of 0.10670. Economic criterion also had the lowest priority with a weight of 0.05222.In addition, the pairwise-fuzzy comparison of the sub-criteria indicated that the sub-criterioncombating the social exclusion, with a weight of 0.229, held the highest significance, followedby the sub-criterion promoting activities by the youth, and improving their involvement in sociallife and sports authority institutions with a weight of 0.134. Meanwhile, the economic criterionhad less important and it indicated that this parameter did not play a role as a deterrent in movingtowards sustainable development. The results were aligned with the 21 Agenda of the OlympicMovement and the Rio Declaration. Finally, the main solution to make sustainable developmentspecial is to try to attract people and young people as well as participation in different social groupsin sports activities. Also, sports facilities, equipment and facilities are among the other proposedsolutions with environmental considerations in mind.

Symbols and signs stand out as prominent indicators in Iranian architecture. The present researchaimed to investigate the importance and application of natural motifs and environmental symbolsin contemporary Iranian architecture. This mixed methods research was conducted by analyticaland correlational methods. Data were collected using library surveys, observation, questionnaireand Delphi panel, and were analyzed by analytic hierarchy process and statistical methods. Theresults showed that the environmental symbols in the traditional architecture of Iran includedthree categories: four main states of matter (four elements: earth, air, fire and water), plant motifsand animal motifs; four main states of matter have been of special importance in both pre- andpost-Islamic eras. In the post-Islamic era, the importance and role of symbols changed so that plantmotifs were widely used more than animal motifs. Among the sub-criteria, the symbol ”earth”had the highest weight (0.966), followed by the symbols ”water” (0.874) and ”air” (0.863). Thelowest weight (0.318) belonged to the symbol ”camel”. In the case study of samples between 1941and 1981, it was found that four elements and plant motifs were observed in 60% and 30% ofthe samples, respectively, while animal motifs were not used in any of the studied samples. Toconclude, the animal motifs, unlike four elements and plant motifs, have not had an impact oncontemporary architecture.

Lead is one of the toxic and dangerous elements of the environment and has no biological role inthe body of living organisms. Three plant speciesProsopis juliflora,Eucalyptus microtheca, andZiziphus spina-christiwere considered as investigated plants in Ahvaz city of Iran.The highestamount of lead in the unwashed leaf samples of Algaroba trees at the low traffic station was72.56±0.01 mg/kg. The lowest amount of lead in leaf samples related to washed leaves of Lotustrees in low traffic station was 60.13±0.25 mg/kg. The pattern of lead accumulation in the washedand unwashed leaves of the studied trees in high traffic and low traffic areas was obtained asAlgaroba>Eucalyptus>Lotusand in the vicinity of the gas station as Eucalyptus>Lotus>Algaroba.The highest and lowest concentrations of lead in the soil were obtained 40.4 mg/kg and 18.33mg/kg, respectively. The results of this study on the accumulation of lead in all species and stationsshowed that the accumulation of lead was more than the WHO limit of 2 mg/kg. The BCF of theleaves of theProsopis juliflora,Eucalyptus microtheca, andZiziphus spina-christiin Ahvaz citywas higher than 1, so it can be concluded that these trees have the ability to accumulate lead intheir leaves, and they can be classified as hyperaccumulator plants.

This research aims to design a model for managing urban floods in Tehran. For this purpose,DSPIR model and Delphi panel (consensus of 18 experts) were used. In order to achieve effectivecriteria and indices, a researcher-made questionnaire was used, and to determine the validity andreliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach’s alpha method was used by SPSS, Version 21 software.Fuzzy AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method was used to determine the weights of criteria aswell as classes of each criterion, and PLS (Partial Least Squares) method to fit the model. Theresults indicated that the model in connection with flood driving force in Tehran comprises 5components and 16 dimensions. Evaluation of goodness for model fit shows that GFI is equal to0.954, which is within the acceptable range. RMR is equal to 0.011, which is within the acceptablerange. TLI, CFI and IFI are 0.931, 0.987 and 0.986, respectively, all of which are within acceptableranges. CMIN/DF is equal to 4.255, and RMSEA is equal to 0.065, therefore, they are withinacceptable ranges. In general, the results of model analysis and evaluation showed that the modelhas the accuracy needed to simulate urban runoff and this model can be used for urban floodmanagement plans and design of urban flood drainage network in the studied area.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs) are stable organic isomers known for theircarcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects, making monitoring and quantifying their presencein the environment critically important. This study aimed to identify, quantify, and determine theorigin of PAH compounds in street dust samples collected from Babylon City, Iraq in 2023. Atotal of 39 street dust samples were collected from 13 selected locations with three replicates. Theanalytes were extracted using the Soxhlet method, followed by identification and quantificationusing gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Ten PAH compounds were identifiedin the dust samples, with a mean concentration of 19.5 mg/kg. The total concentration rangedfrom 4.19 to 123 mg/kg. Low molecular weight isomers accounted for 86.2% of the total PAHcontent. The mean levels of phenanthrene (PHE), fluoranthene (FULA), and pyrene (PYR) isomerswere below the maximum levels set by the Dutch Ministry of Health, while other isomers didnot statistically differ from the permissible limit. Dust pollution with PAHs was very high at 7locations (>50.00 mg/kg) and high at the remaining 6 locations. Strong positive correlationswere observed among all isomers at a significance level of 99%, and multivariate data analysisindicated pyrogenic sources as the origin of PAHs in the dust samples. Results suggest that gasolinecombustion and mixed combustion are the primary sources of PAH dust pollution in the studyarea. Therefore, regular monitoring of PAH levels is recommended to mitigate associated risks inBabylon City, Iraq.

In this research, using research-descriptive methods and using data from the years2012−2022ofmeteorology and air pollution in Tabriz city, the correlation of meteorological factors and theireffect on the level of air pollution in Tabriz city was investigated and zoning maps were presented.Based on the results of the research, high amounts of CO, NO2, SO2and O3pollutants are mostlyaccumulated in areas 6, 7 and 8 of Tabriz municipality, and these pollutants have different amountsin different seasons and changing the impact of meteorological factors. Investigating the role ofclimatic elements in the increase of air pollutants in Tabriz city shows the existence of an inverserelationship between pollutants and the increase in altitude and rainfall. The role of wind in thespring and summer seasons leads to an increase in pollutants compared to the wind direction andis almost ineffective in the winter season. As the temperature increases, the amount of carbonmonoxide pollutant increases and the amount of sulfur dioxide gas decreases. In general, theexamination of the temperature factor shows that the amount of air pollution increases at lowertemperatures.

The purpose of this study was the environmental pollution risk assessment of urban undergroundpublic space development in Tehran (Iran). This applied research was conducted by survey andmixed methods in two phases: estimating risk potentials using Environmental Failure Mode andEffect Analysis (EFMEA), and Delphi Technique. The results identified 12 different environmentalrisks for the underground public space development. Among these, three risks showed highlevel, including sewage discharge (Risk Priority Number (RPN=504), inappropriate ventilation(RPN=567) and seismic hazard (RPN=640). Moreover, five cases were classified as medium levelrisks, including Construction waste accumulation of (RPN = 294), Land subsidence (RPN = 250),Municipal waste accumulation (RPN = 441), Non-renewable energy consumption (RPN = 256) andThermal pollution (RPN = 210). In addition, three items were among high-level risks, includingSewage discharge (RPN = 504), Inappropriate ventilation (RPN = 567) and Seismic hazard (RPN =640). The development of urban underground public space in Tehran can be a solution to improvethe level of services and urban per capita, which is a great help in the urban management of ametropolis like Tehran. Meanwhile, it is important to pay attention to the environmental, healthand safety polices.

The role of economic factors is significant in the municipal waste management. The presentdescriptive-applied study aimed to present a new model of municipal waste management costreduction priorities based on the Gray-TOPSIS model in Ahvaz City in 2022. Following thecollection of data on the current municipal waste management, effective criteria influencingcost reduction in municipal waste management were determined through document analysis.Expert analysis was also utilized to identify factors impacting cost reduction in municipal wastemanagement. The Gray-TOPSIS methodology was applied to prioritize solutions for cost reductionin municipal waste management. Through calculating the Kendall agreement index, 20 solutionsfor cost reduction in waste management were categorized and prioritized into educational, political,cultural, and executive groups. The findings revealed that while political measures such asapproving laws related to municipal waste management and incentive and punitive policies withspecial weightings of 0.804 and 0.799, respectively, are the most effective solutions for reducingwaste management costs, overall, educational process-related solutions with an average weightingof 0.686 have a higher priority than other processes. Government support and public educationthrough various means, especially non-governmental media and social networks, are potentialsolutions for reducing municipal waste management costs in Ahvaz City under current conditions.