Journal of Natural Environment
Year:2021 | Volume:74 | Issue:4|Papers Count:15

More than 90 percent of air strikes are related to the presence of birds. Payam airport is located in the southwest of Karaj City. The proximity of this airport to Halghe-Darreh landfill has led to the attraction of birds to this airport. In this study, the risk of bird strikes with airplanes was investigated. To do so, field survey mthod was carried out in all four seasons of 2019, from spring to winter. Results showed that nine species of birds were present at the airport. The probability and the severity of strike variables were in the medium and low class, respectively; therefore, the matrix of risk assessment of bird strikes lies in the green category, which shows low risk. To minimize the probability of bird strikes with airplanes, a long-term approach is that airplanes should not be near the important areas for birds or the route of their flight. The most effective ways to control birds are those which decrease carrying capacity of airplane for birds. Moreover, frightening methods should be selected periodically to avoid birds’ habituation. Airport personnel should monitor bird’s presence and all the strikes should be recorded. Finally, the proper management of wastes in Halghe-Darreh landfill near the airport has a positive effect in lowering the number of birds at the airport.

Milk and dairy products, due to their high nutritional value and consumption by all ages, are an important part of the human diet in many parts of the world. Nitrate and heavy metals contamination of milk is a danger to humans that is much more common in childhood. The Lenjan county in the southwest of Isfahan province and different industries, such as Esfahan Steel Company and Mobarakeh Steel Company, are located around the region. In addition, because of the intensive agricultural activities in this region, dairy products, including raw milk, could be exposed to nitrate and heavy metals pollution. The objective of this study is to investigate the concentration of lead, nitrate, and nitrite in the raw milk of livestock in the Lenjan region. Raw milk sampling was performed in polyethylene containers from 30 farms including industrial, semi-industrial, and traditional units situated in the different parts of the county. Furthermore, eight samples of raw and pasteurized milk from a dairy processing company in the region were collected in four different working days. The vanadium trichloride reduction and graphite furnace atomic absorption methods were used to measure the nitrate and lead concentrations of the samples, respectively. The results demonstrated that the concentration range of nitrate was 0-12.6 with a mean of 1.41 mg/kg; nitrite was 0-3.3 with a mean of 0.11 mg/kg; and lead was 0.006-0.387 with a mean of 0.03 mg/kg. Nitrite and nitrate levels of the samples were less than the standard of Codex (1 and 10 mg/kg, respectively). Moreover, the amount of lead in 16.7% of the samples was higher than the world standard (0.002 mg/kg). The risk assessment of lead and nitrate for humans through the consumption of raw milk was in the safety range. Risk factors (THQ) for lead, nitrate, and nitrite were 0.14, 0.01, and 0.0, respectively. However, monitoring of various contaminants in dairy products in the areas, which are at high risk of contamination, seems to be necessary.

The goal of this research is to assess landscape degradation in the Dena Protected Area in the Province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Iran, between 2009 and 2017 by using landscape indicators and study the role of human activities according to the natural characteristics of the region. To conduct the research, the rural districts of the region were used as the study units. To quantify the land use measures, the overlap of the land use-cover map and the network of roads in the area were used. According to the landscape degradation model, ecological vulnerability and the severity of activities as well as the degradation degree were calculated for the targeted landscape. The results of this research indicated that Pataveh with a value of 26 had the highest level of landscape degradation, and Padena Vosta and SadatMahmodi with values of 24 and 23, respectively, were on the next orders.  In addition, Sarrod shomali with a 3.5 value had the least level of degradation. The results also further classifed the area into varied degrees of degredation as follows: 43.4% very severe, 22.8% severe, 16.6% mean, and 17.2% low degradation. Areas with severe and very severe degradation should be considered for conservation. Preventing the development of agricultural lands followed by converting into gardens in these areas, especially those under the forest floor and the, is one of the most important initial protection measures in these regions.

The growing need for marine food resources and the entry of various pollutants, including heavy metals, into coasts and marines are major challenges humanbeings face with. For this purpose, in this study, the concentration of heavy metals in the muscle tissue of Mudskipper and sediments of Khuzestan coast was studied. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the concentrations of cadmium, zinc, and iron accumulated in the muscle tissue of Mudskipper between different stations (P <0.05). But, there is no significant correlation between the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Zn, Ni, and Fe in the sediments of different stations and their concentrations in the muscle tissue of Mudskipper (P> 0.05). The average concentration of As, Ni, and Cd in muscle tissue were higher than the WHO global standard (2004, Table 1). Also, the average concentration of Zn and Fe in fish muscle tissue was lower than the standard. Comparison of metal concentrations with the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (2004, Table 2) showed that the concentration of Ni in the sediments of different stations is in intense pollution (more than 40 ppm). Based on other studies on this species, Mudskipper can be considered as an indicator of contamination, and the results of this study also show the effect of contaminated areas on the accumulation of heavy metals in muscle tissue. Therefore, it is better to undertake more studies to prevent the impact of pollutants, especially heavy metals on genetic erosion and the removal of this species from nature.

Municipal wastewater investigation is one of the most important ways of studying micro and nanoplastics since effluents are an important factor in bringing these pollutants to the environment. In this study, from November-December 2019 to December 2020, 4-liter effluents (48 samples in total) of the wastewater treatment plant in the south of Tehran were sampled every month. After preparing these samples and examining them by SEM microscopy, the particles were detectable in three forms (i.e. fiber, fragment, and film); on average, 47.48% of the fiber, 47.47% of the fragment and 13.04% of the film. The average number of samples was estimated more than 3000 microplastics per 1 liter of effluent sample. The lowest and highest numbers of microplastics were found in spring (5905) and summer samples (4873), respectively, 34.72% of which was related to nanoplastics. Also, the average results of 20 Raman tests from 48 samples showed that the highest amount of microplastics is primarily related to polypropylene and then related to polyethylene.

Work culture based on Islamic perspective in organizations is one of the most important ways to redeem the countries from economic problems, especially underdeveloped countries. This study aimed to investigate the status of work culture based on Islamic perspective in the country's environmental organization. In this descriptive-survey study, a total number of 400 experts familiar with the theories of work culture based on Islamic perspective and employees with high organizational rank (in 31 provinces) were selected according to Cochran's formula. A questionnaire was therefore used to collect data. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation, univariate t-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis) were applied. Dimension and component indicators of Islamic work culture proposed by experts include Individual factors (need for success, sense of independence and desire for power), Organizational (customer orientation, financial resource management and maintaining the position of the organization), Social (participation and teamwork, employee trust and well-being), Environmental (achievement of functional goals, creativity and political intervention) and Technological (thinking and analysis, staff training methods and communication skills). According to the friedman test,"Organizational factors" and "Maintaining the position of the organization" were at the first place. In the meantime, tWork culture based on Islamic perspective and its dimensions were in a desired condition.

There is always an adamant need to comprehend and draw the complex challenges of sustainability and help to organizing studies due to the increasing human-related pressures on coastal zones. Hence, by formulating such a comprehensive framework, it could be possible to anticipate changes and supporting managerial decisions, as well as the degree of environment resilience in the region. One of the approaches utilized in littoral zones is the conceptual framework of drivers, pressure, status, impact and responses, DPSIR. Qeshm Island, the largest island in the Persian Gulf, accounts for being the most vital and strategic area in the region. In recent decades, Qeshm has become one of the major cultural, natural, geological as well as tourism hubs of the country due to its unique regional characteristics, along with its biodiversity and environmental sensitivity. Thereby, in the present research, a combined approach was followed to explore the resilience of the marine environment in the northern coast of the Qeshm Island by taking advantage of the socio-economic criteria. In this respect, the conceptual framework of the DPSIR model is utilized in combination with the structural squation model (SEM-PLS), which is one of the non-experimental techniques, to quantify the results in the best possible manner. On the basis of the fuzzy cognitive map (FCM), the Regional economic index bears the weights of 0.62, 0.62 and 0.5 along with the Institutional-managerial and Biological indexes, respectively, denoting a two-way positive correlation whereas having a two-way but adverse correlation with a weight of 0.65 in terms of the Socio-cultural index. There is also a one-way and negative relationship, as to the Economic index, with a weight of 0.69 in relevance with the Physio-chemical index likewise.

Climate change affects many plants and animals by changing the growing season or temperature patterns that stimulate life cycle changes. Hordeum bulbosum is widely distributed in the Zagros region, especially under the storey of western oak forests in the vegetation zone of the Irano-Turanian region, and is considered as an important species for rangeland restoration and improvement. In this study, the effect of climate change on the geographical distribution of this species was assessed in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, located in central Zagros region. For this purpose, 73 points of presence were recorded using the global positioning system (GPS). In addition,11 environmental variables including bioclimatic, physiographic and landuse variables were used in the modeling process. Ensemble modeling include artificial neural network model, generalized boosting method, generalized linear model, flexible discriminant analysis, random forest and multivariate adaptive regression. Finally, the most reliable model was determined as the random forest model. The final forecast for 2070 is based on three scenarios of increasing greenhouse gases (SSP126, SSP370, and SSP585) as well as two general circulation models 9GFDL-ESM4 and MRI-ESM2-0). Findings showed that 25% of the study area is currently identified as suitable habitat for Hordeum bulbosum, and the most effective variables in species distribution are the Annual precipitation, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, and Total rainfall is the hottest season of the year. It is also predicted that based on GFDL-ESM4 and MRI-ESM2-0 models, 27.32% (SSP370) - 31.02% (SSP585) and 26.06% (SSP370)-31.68% (SSP585) of the suitable habitats will be reduced, respectively, by 2070 due to climate change. The present and future habitat maps prepared in this study can be used for the development and implementation of the given species’ management and conservation plans.

Consumption of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions have had various environmental, social, and economic consequences. The rate of urbanization and industrial growth in developing countries has increased dramatically since the beginning of the 21st century, leading to the high consumption of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, the factors affecting energy consumption from 1969 to 2017 were investigated using a threshold regression model. The Urban growth rate variable was used as an indicator of migration and the Ratio of value-added by the industrial sector to the total GDP as an indicator of the industrialization of threshold variables. Accordingly, the effects of different factors on energy consumption under the thresholds of these two variables were estimated. The test results confirmed the existence of two thresholds for each of the threshold variables. As for the Urban growth rate variable, threshold values ​​of 0.940 and 1.416 percent were obtained; and for the Industrialization rate variable, these threshold values were equal to 3.687 and 3.808 percent. The results show that the growth rate of urbanization and urban population has negative and positive effects on energy consumption, respectively. The results also revealed that in a situation where the growth of urbanization and industrialization of the middle ranges are slowing down, social and economic phenomena such as migration and the concentration of financial, administrative, and credit systems would intensify the effects of these factors. By increasing energy consumption due to the above two factors, we can expect an increase in GDP as a critical indicator of economic development.

Several factors play a role in the suitability of the natural environment for the beekeeping industry through a systematic view. In this paper, first, the possibility of identifying proper regions for beekeeping was identified by fuzzy analysis considering the physical and climatic factors in Isfahan Province. In the second step, honey samples were selected with suitable distribution in the province to evaluate the quality of honey and to distinguish original honey by measuring physical and chemical parameters through melissopalynology and chemical analysis. Having primarily assessed the study case, about 85% of areas of the province were found improper for the beekeeping industry while about 14 percent of the areas were identified as the suitable regions for apiculture and honey production.Based on results, 8.5 and 6.08 percent of the suitable beekeeping areas lie in good and moderate categories, respectively. Pollen analysis showed that the samples basically belong to 86 plant types in four regions of Isfahan province including Khansar, Najafabad, Semirom, and Fereydunshahr counties. On the basis of chemical analysis and melissopalynology outputs, out of 60 honey samples sent to the laboratory, only 39 samples were identified with pollen (original honey) and the rest was detected as adulterated honey without pollen. Chemical analysis of honey showed that high-quality honey samples were obtained from all of the four regions of Isfahan province. Finally, the Semirom region was identified as the most suitable area for investing in the apiculture industry, producing high-quality medical (monofloral) honey.

Balighli-chai and Ghare-Sou Dare Roud rivers are the main rivers of Ardabil Province in Iran which have had considerable alterations due to climatic changes and high-water withdrawals. The present study was planned to assess the water quality condition of these rivers based on the presence and abundance of the aquatic invertebrates macrofauna and Iran's water resources quality (IRWQISC) indices. The levels of abundance, Shannon-wiener index, Simpson's diversity index, FBI index, and IRWQISC were calculated in Fall 2018 for 18 stations along with the rivers. 12 families of aquatic macrofauna were identified in samples, with the highest abundance for Baetidae and Chironomidae and the lowest abundance for Asellidae. The levels of the Shannon-wiener index were between 0.4 and 0.6 for most of the sampling stations. The Simpson's diversity index had values between 0.3 and 0.6 for most of the sampling points. FBI index values for sampling points were in the fair to very good classes while the levels of IRWQISC showed relatively bad to bad conditions. Generally, the results indicated moderate water quality conditions for the studied rivers, which further revealed an urgent need for educated planning strategies to improve the ecological health conditions of these riverine ecosystems.

In this study, trends in population and species diversity of wintering waterbirds in the south Caspian Sea region, based on mid-winter censuses of waterbirds over a thirty-year period from 1988 to 2017, have been studied. The trends in population and the ecological indicators of biodiversity were respectively calculated using the RTRIM statistical package (TRends and Indices for Monitoring Data in R software) and the software SDR-IV (Species Diversity and Richness). Results showed that the average number of waterbirds in the whole Caspian region for the last thirty years was 947,853±71,073 with a range of 326.281-1.934,226 individuals. The share of Mazandaran province alone was more than the other two provinces during the study period. The total number of waterbirds recorded increased in 2004 and then formed a stable trend. Calculation of the statistical trend of changes over the 30 years in the waterbirds population size of the south Caspian region indicated a slight increase with a slope of 3.3% per year, but over the last ten years, the population has gradually declined, showing a 2.7% decrease over this latter period. The results for species diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener and Simpson D), species richness (Margalf and Minhinick), and species evenness (Pielou and Simpson E) confirmed that high values ​​of species diversity and richness and low values ​​of species evenness indices during the period of 2004-2009 were basically due to the increase in the number of species recorded and conducting more accurate censuses backed by a comprehensive census program and the participation of foreign birdwatchers. The results of this study can play a practical role in informing the ecological management of the wetlands and southern coast of the Caspian Sea.

This study was conducted to investigate the concentration, ecological, and health risk assessment of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS(, as the most common anionic surfactant in detergent formulations, in the Khako and Dare-Moradbaig Rivers in Hamadan Province. 13 stations accordingly were selected for water sampling, and some water quality parameters were measured at the sampling site. The samples were then transferred to the laboratory, the LAS absorption was read by spectrophotometer (UV-VIS-NIR) at 650 nm, and the final LAS concentration was calculated using the calibration curve equation. The results showed the LAS concentration was in a range of 0.2-1.66 mg/L. The Pearson correlation test did not show a significant linear relationship between LAS and water quality factors. The results of the ecological risk assessment in 9 stations were high risk, medium risk in 2 stations, and low risk in the 2 other stations. The results of the health risk assessment of LAS also showed no risk at different age groups. The comparison of LAS concentration with standard surfactant discharge (in surface water, irrigation, and agricultural applications in Iran) showed that the mean concentration of LAS in terms of discharge into surface waters is less than the allowable limit. By contrast, in terms of use for agriculture and irrigation, the mean LAS concentration is higher than the allowable limit. Given the importance of these rivers in terms of drinking water and agriculture supply and the need to maintain the health of the environment and society, it is necessary to take effective measures to control the entry of untreated wastewater into the Khako and the Dare-Moradbaig Rivers.

Agriculture has intrinsically depended on nature, which is associated with risk and lack of certainty. Decreased precipitation, extreme cold, freezing, drought, and the prevalence of plant diseases and pests are the only small part of the risk that farmers are facing. Climatic and weather changes in different regions are often interconnected, and this coincidence may affect a huge part of the country. In other words, such abrupt changes usually result in a systematic risk of gardening products yield. Adverse weather events in one year have different effects in different areas, hitting some regions strongly while involving others less severely. In this research, the systematic risk of date yield and factors affecting its severity were investigated using spatial dynamic panel patterns. The statistical data of 8 major date producers and meteorological variables over the Provinces of Bushehr, Khuzestan, South Khorasan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Fars, Kerman, Hormozgan, and Yazd during the years 2008 to 2019 were extracted from the Meteorological Organization and the Ministry of Agriculture. The results of the spatial Durbin model showed that the spatial spillover of the Annual precipitation in the date-producing provinces has a positive (2.90) and significant effect whereas the spatial spillover of Untimely precipitation variables has a negative and significant effect on the average yield of the Iranian date. Besides, the effect of the spatial spillover of the Average maximum summer temperature was determined at 1.83, which shows the given variable has a negative and significant effect on the date yield likewise. Comparing direct and indirect effects in the dynamic spatial panel model showed that in the short-term, Annual precipitation variables have a negative and significant relationship on the average date yield. Meanwhile, the long-term results proved the direct but negative effect of Untimely annual cold and Annual precipitation variables on the average date yield.

The use of photocatalysts to remove contaminants has received more attention in recent years due to its unique properties. Carbon nitride graphite (g-C3N4) is one of the most up-to-date and efficient types of environmentally friendly photocatalysts. It should be noted that the use of novel compounds without considering the evaluation of their life cycle is not consistent with the attitude of sustainable development. In the present study, for the first time, an LCA analysis was performed for the g-C3N4 photocatalyst used to desulfurize industrial effluents in the South Pars region, on the shores of the Persian Gulf. In this case, the ReCiPe method was used to specialize in water consumption, chemical energy demand (CED) for calculating energy consumption, greenhouse gas protocol (GGP) for calculating greenhouse gas emissions, and ecological footprint (EP) method. The results showed that the greatest environmental impact of g-C3N4 synthesis mainly appeared in aquatic ecosystems, in specific marine and freshwater ecotoxicity with a total of 74.06% and by human toxicity (6.15%). The final indicator application showed the destructive environmental effects as follows: resources (63.05%) > human health (34.56%) > ecosystems (39.39%), respectively. Sensitivity analysis also determined the consumption of electricity as the most effective parameter for the occurrence of harmful effects on the environment. Therefore, based on the obtained results, it is stated that the use of renewable energies and their replacement with fossil-based energy sources can play an effective role in reducing the environmental consequences of the g-C3N4 synthesis. The results of this study can be also used as a preliminary strategy to conduct further studies in the field of LCA and environmental impact assessment of novel compounds before their large-scale application.