Environmental Sciences
Year:2010 | Volume:8 | Issue:1|Papers Count:18

Lavij coal deposit is situated at a distance of 48km to the southwest of Amol in the Central Alborz coalfield in the North of Iran. Lavij coal-bearing strata in the central Alborz zone are found within rocks of the Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic era. The coal-bearing sediments in this area belong to the Shemshak Formation (Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic). This formation mainly consists of sandstone, shale, calcareous sandstone, argillite and siltstone. Several coal seams with different thicknesses are interbedded with sediments. The ecosystem, landscape and biodiversity of the area have all been affected by coal mining activities during the last few years. The environmental impacts of this mining can be studied from different viewpoints, but the research presented here concerns the geochemical environmental impacts. The surface and ground water of the Lavij area seem to have been polluted during the mining, natural erosion and dissolution of maceral and minerals of the coals of Lavij area. The present paper deals with geochemical environmental impacts of these coals and 14 samples were analyzed from surface and ground water of the Lavij area. The samples were analyzed by ICP-OES for As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Eu, Ga, Ge, La, Li, Mo, Pb, Mn, Zn, S, Nd, Ni, P, Sc, Sn, Sr, V, Y and Yb. Data processing showed the pollution in the water and soil of the area is very low.

Many environmental problems are caused by the irregular expansion of Tehran. The most important problems are due to petroleum installations to the south of the Tehran Aquifer, lack of due attention paid to environmental standards, produced by local petroleum companies. The aim of this study is the survey of measure soluble petroleum in Tehran Oil Refinery groundwater. The area of investigation comprises Rey industrial zone with 900 hectares where its drinking water is provided by sevenqanats, deep and handy wells, and the Jajrood, Karaj and Kan Rivers. The annual average temperature, rainfall and evaporation are 17oC, 200 mm and 2500 mm, respectively. Hence, sampling from 8 water wells and analysis of the samples were carried out during the summer and winter of 2008-2009. Finally, the results were shown in some figures and compared with national standards. The results of analysis for parameters (such as BOD, COD, oil and grease, phenol, TPHs, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons) are as below: COD (10-55000 mg/L), BOD (1-30555 mg/L), phenol (0.01-0.08 mg/L), oil and grease (5-130 mg/L), TPHs (0.05-25.5 mg/L), aliphatic hydrocarbons(1.7- 0.001 mg/L) ad, aromatic hydrocarbons (0.034-2.13 mg/L). Results show that the quantity of oil pollutants in stations 4 (Bagher Abad), 5 (Esmail Abad) and 3 (Azim Abad) is high compared with the other stations. In other words, the quantity of oil pollutants in Dorsun Abad, Esmail Abad and Azim Abad villages is more than in Kheir Abad, Bagher Abad, Shahr Sang and the western side of Tehran Oil Refinery Company. Also, the concentration of oil pollutants in the winter compared to spring is very high. As a consequence of this investigation, it is obvious that the quality of major water sources is not suitable for drinking or agriculture consumption. In addition, the wastewater produced by Tehran Oil Refinery Company, spills from Tehran’s domestic wastewater channel and leakage from underground oil transfer lines are the most important of sources of pollution in local groundwater resources.

Bacteria attachment to soil is an important component in bacteria transport models. The objective of this study was to quantify the influence of calcium carbonate on bacteria attachment and detachment in calcareous soil. Consequently, 60 calcareous soil samples were collected from Central Province and their bacteria (Escherichia coli) adsorption isotherm, physical and chemical properties were measured. Three types of adsorption isotherms were evaluated. The results indicated that linear isotherm leads to a better prediction of bacteria attachment to calcareous soil in comparison with the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. A pedotransfer function was also derived to predict the kd parameter of the linear isotherm from soil particle size distribution and calcium carbonate content. The attachment and detachment of bacteria in three treatments of calcium carbonate content (10, 21 and 37%) were tested in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. According to the results, increasing soil calcium carbonate content leads to enhanced equilibrium and kinetic bacteria attachment (p<0.05). Bacteria detachment also decreases by increasing soil calcium carbonate (p<0.05).

The sampling process in alpha spectroscopy for measuring the activity and concentration of uranium isotopes is a very sensitive one due to the short range of alpha particles in special compounds of uranium in soil and the close energy peaks of the alpha particles emitted from its isotopes. In this research, the effect of certain parameters such as the quality of acid dissolution, the presence of a tracer in the sample, pH, electro deposition, spectroscopic electronics and so on were investigated in sampling and spectroscopy, according to ASTM. The average yield of (64.4±15.7) % was achieved after eight times of sampling by incorporating IAEA, ASTM and Talvite electro deposition methods. A BU-014-300-500 PIPS detector was utilized in this study.

Most recreation areas in Iran been constructed on the basis of the fabric principle with less attention paid to the mental and behavioral needs of users, in spite of increasing demand for such facilities. In this paper we attempt to analyze the motivation of users with by employing seeking-escaping and Pull and Push theory. At first, we survey people’s main motivation for using the natural and man-made attractions of Oun-Ebn-Ali recreation center, based on seeking-escaping theory and then, as a final reward to the users, the relationship between their perceptions and improved indices of the quality of place were evaluated. The results show that the users go to Oun-Ebn-Ali to escape from pressures of everyday life and achieve peace through observing nature, doing sport and meeting friends. Although some undesirable factors such as a shortage of trees for shade and street furniture, congestion and unsuitable accessibility have adversely affected the process of developing recreation place uses and restricted the number of users. According to the results, improving the natural attractions and recreational furniture, better accessibility and distribution of furniture around different parts of the site have increased the desirability of using Oun-Ebn-Ali recreation place.

Changes in the detection of the mangrove area in Niband Bay adjacent to the South Pars industrial complexes by satellite imaging over different time periods can be a suitable indictor for assessment of possible environmental damage caused by the extensive activities of the aforementioned industry. Environmental damage from industrial activities, particularly with regard to the oil industry, has been inevitable ever since the industrial revolution. The importance of damage which often undermines the positive economic impacts of these industries has drawn attention to the use of different effective techniques for reducing the damage, such as analyzing satellite data since the 1960s. Hence, this paper attempts to investigate the mangrove area by using IRS data (in 2008) and analyzing them with ILWIS package. For this purpose, multi-bands color images 2, 3, 4 have been used for mapping the mangroves and identifying their location. GPS is used for ground veracity. The aim of this research is to consider the application of satellite data (IRS) along with the vegetation index for assessing the mangrove areas and for measuring the possible environmental damage caused by the above mentioned industry. The results show the application of vegetation indices, particularly those in IRS4/IIRS3, within the other four indices used for mapping the mangrove in this research. Mangrove areas measured in this research show considerable differences in comparison with those found in previous research studies.

Zoning in the management area of protected areas through the resolution of conflicts has decreased protected areas and necessary measures will need to be provided. The study area of this research was chosen with the aim of modeling and zoning Manesht and Ghalarang protected area with an area of 33000 ha in Ilam Province. In order to obtain the optimal protection model, fuzzy logic has been employed. For this purpose, field studies to identify and collect information were initially conducted. All the factors that have an effective role in protecting were collected and then analyzed using an analytical hierarchical process and the priority factors were classified. This study showed that the characteristics of slope, soil, geology, vegetation, erosion, land use and distance from the channel or river are related to the highest weight assigned to and therefore the main factor in effective protection in the region. These data were saved in the raster and vector format in ILWIS software and analysis based on Fuzzy set theory was used. Fuzzy analysis using the IDRISI software was made to determine the values and membership functions. In this study, different fuzzy operators such as Sum, Product and Gamma were used. The results showed that the fuzzy gamma operator with l=0.975 provided the highest value of modeling accuracy of the study area protection.

The aim of the present study was to predict organic matter (OM) loss in Kojor Watershed which is a hyrcanian ecosystem. For this purpose, discharges, suspended sediment (SS) and OM loss resulting from storm events were sampled at one fixed point of the river using a manual sampler. Results showed that soil erosion rate during the sampling period were dramatically affected by the loss of OM. Also, the results of modeling among OM loss, SS and discharge indicate that OM loss was not estimated by the discharge, while SS can estimate the loss of OM with a determination coefficient and estimation error of of 95% and 24%, respectively. These results could facilitate the application of methods obtained in the present study to other areas with similar conditions.

A close relationship exists between forest product industries and the water cycle. Water as a natural resource is assumed to be a necessary and vital element in pulp and paper manufacturing as well as power generation in the related power plants. The objective of the current study is to determine the main factors affecting water consumption in recycled paper manufacturing companies using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Several questionnaires and related tables were forwarded to selected recycled paper manufacturing companies to evaluate the water reduction criteria in different sectors including the manufacturing process, final product, raw material, human resources, costs and expenditures, environmental regulations and technical modifications. The results were analyzed using Expert Choice 2000 software. The results indicated that the final product criterion was ranked first followed by manufacturing process, human resources, costs and expenditures, environmental regulations and technical modifications, in that order. Also among alternatives, final product, cooling water network, and water storage tanks were categorized in the first three priorities. The specified priorities would assist managers and production experts to achieve optimal water consumption with the minimum possible cost.

Nowadays, the need for sustainable resource management has led to introducing new methods for classification of managed resources. The importance of biodiversity and its management and considering to new methods for determining management units introduced the initial idea for this research. For this study of biodiversity in lowland forests of Khanikan located in Chalous, environmental units were initially determined by Two-way Indicator Species Analysis. The study area was classified into five different environmental units. For analyses of the diversity, richness and evenness of the environmental units, the Simpson, Margalef and Hill indices were used. For investigation of soil characteristics, four soil profiles were taken at different depths of the profiles (0-10, 10- 20, and 20 -30cm) for each environmental unit and conveyed to the laboratory. Some soil characteristics were analyzed in the laboratory. Factor analysis is a statistical technique for producing a foundation algorithm or specific model for determination of the complex relationship among variables. To identify the relationships within biodiversity, different indices with soil physic-chemical and biological characteristics were studied by principal component analysis (PCA). The location of soil variables on the axes indicates that nitrogen at the third depth, cation exchangeable capacity of the first and third depths, available phosphorous at all depths are settled on axis 1. The settling location all the biodiversity indices was also in the direction of axis 1. The left orientation of axis 1 was devoted to Simpson diversity, Margalef richness, and Hill evenness indices. Thus, each of the biodiversity indices had a direct relationship with soil characteristics in the left orientation of axis 1. Available phosphorous was introduced as the most effective factor on biodiversity indices.

Due to the location of a domestic, industrial and agricultural zone near the Caspian Sea, this water body has long been under pressure and environmental threat. As a result of development of oil production activities in Caspian region, such as oil exploration and extraction in the central and eastern part, a large volume of oil related pollutants is released annually into this important water body. Considering the fact that hydrocarbons may cause adverse impacts on the aquatic and marginal life, the monitoring of sediment as hydrocarbons in the sea has long been considered. In this paper, oil contamination of surface sediments in large areas of the Mazandran and Golestan coasts (southeastern Caspian) are investigated in detail. In this study, using different concentrations of hydrocarbon components and developing related ratios and indices, the biodegradation and weathering extent of oil residues in the bottom sediments of the southern and southeastern Caspian Sea were appraised. The general concentration of the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), normal Alkanes (n-Alkanes) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the study area shows the relatively clean condition of sediments in the western part of the sea and moderate contamination in the central and eastern parts. Indices developed also corroborate the presence of degraded oil residue, high relative biodegradation and a degree of weathering of hydrocarbons in the surface sediment of the area, which suggest a chronic input of oil-related hydrocarbons in the neighbourhood of the study region.

Shadegan wetland, one of the largest wetlands in Iran, is subject to different pollutants. One of these contaminants is the residue of organochlorine pesticides such as DDT and its metabolites used to combat pests. Residues of DDT and its metabolites (p, p¢-DDT, o, p¢-DDT, p, p¢-DDE, o, p¢-DDE, p, p¢-DDD) were investigated in five edible fish species of Shadegan wetland, and the effect of the amount of this pesticide on the weight, age and diet was investigated. Total DDT (the sum of 5 metabolites) in Barbus grypus and Cyprino carpio was 6.50 and 3.27 ng g-1, respectively. Results showed that p, p¢-DDE had a maximum concentration in all species and p, p¢-DDT in Barbus sharpeyi(0.12 ng g-1) and Cyprino carpio (0.09 ng g-1), o, p¢-DDE metabolite in Barbus grypus(0.12 ng g-1) and Aspius vorax (0.20 ng g-1) and o, p¢-DDT metabolite in Barbus barbules had a minimum concentration. These results show any new application of this pesticide in the land around the wetland. The mean concentration of DDTs was higher in weight group>320 g (6.77 ng g-1) and in age group>3 years (6.70 ng g-1) and those of an omnivorous diet (7.34 ng g-1) than in the other groups. The calculation of estimated daily intake (EDI) of this pesticide and comparison with international standards, showed no risks for residents in this area.

In order to reach to global standards, training in conducting EIA is essential and one pererequisite for effective training is needs assessment. In this research, the training needs of EIA investigators in Iran’s Environment Protection Organization were assessed to increase their efficiency. We used a questionnaire to collect the information whit 180 questionnaires sent to EIA offices, committee and also the headquarters in all provinces of Iran of which 113 questionnaires were completed. After surveying the result, the average of scores was classified. The training needs of EIA were determined after carrying out statistical analysis and tested according to the given percentages according to the 50% and 75% of responders who had chosen the best answer. In the percentage given by 75%, all of the questions failed in the statistical test. In the percentage given by 50%, 8 out of 19 questions passed the statistical test. The results indicate the EIA investigators in Iran need to be trained, retrained and upgraded in many stage of the EIA process.

More than half of the Greenhouse Effect is from carbon dioxide emissions. Emissions of carbon dioxide cause undesirable climatic and environmental effects and, finally, affect the global economy. Because of the importance of determining the economic impacts of increasing CO2 emissions, this study investigates the cointegration relationship between per capita Gross Domestic Production (GDP) and per capita CO2 emissions during 1974-2004 and also tests the existence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve for Carbon Dioxide during this period. The Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method and Error Correction Model (ECM) were used to study the cointegration relationship. Results indicated that in both short- and long-term period, a significant relationship exists between variables. On the other hand, the coefficient of error correction term was -0.19 and statistically significant. According to the results of the differential models between per capita GDP and per capita CO2 emission, Environmental Kuznets Curve for CO2 exists during this period.