Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal
Year:2017 | Volume:4 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which consist of fused conjugated aromatic rings, not only are toxic to humans and other living organisms, but will also pollute groundwater. These compounds can be point source or non-point source and are one of the most widespread organic pollutants. Some of them are suspected carcinogens and are linked to other health problems. This study was carried out to assess the petroleum hydrocarbon phytoremediation potential of the Aeluropus littoralis species. Accumulation of PAHs in roots and upper parts of A. littoralis has been determined. Translocation factor (TF) was also calculated. Methods: In this study, soil samples were taken from the vicinity of Isfahan oil refinery, and the PAHs compounds were analyzed with gas chromatography. One-meter soil columns were prepared from the control and contaminated soil. Unplanted A. littoralis treatments were also prepared to eliminate the effects of environmental factors on the reduction of oil-based contaminants. Seventeen weeks after planting, soil columns were sampled at 25, 50, 75, and 100 cm depths, and the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons and number of oil-degrading bacteria were counted. Moreover, the roots and shoots of A. littoralis were separated and weighed. Results: Results indicated that A. littoralis reduced the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons to a significantly higher extent than the control treatment. Increasing depth was associated with improved petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations and decreased number of oil-degrading bacteria. Mostly, the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of PAHs was <1, which shows A. littoralis could be an excluder of PAHs. The results also showed that the TF of PAHs was less than one, and hence, A. littoralis could be considered as an accumulator of PAHs. Conclusion: It can be concluded that this species is suitable for use in the phytoremediation of PAHS contamination. For further confirmation, an evaluation under field conditions should be undertaken.

Background: Air Quality software is a useful tool for assessing the health risks associated with air pollutants. Quantifying the effects of exposure to air pollutants in terms of public health has become a critical component of policy discussion. The present study purposed to quantify the health effects of particulate matters on mortality and morbidity in a Bukan city hospital from 2015-2016. Methods: Information regarding coordinates, exposed population, number of stations used in profiling, mean and maximum concentrations (annual, winter, and summer), annual 98th percentile, baseline incidence (BI) per 100 000 per year, and relative risk was needed for use with the software. Results: The average particulate matter concentration was higher in summer than in winter. The concentrations of PM10 in summer and winter were 84. 37 and 74. 86 μ g m-3, respectively. The Air Quality model predicted that total mortality rates related to PM10 and PM2. 5 were 33. 3 and 49. 8 deaths, respectively. As a result, 3. 79% of the total mortality was due to PM10. In Bukan city, 2. 004% of total deaths were due to cardiovascular mortality. The Air Quality model predicted that the deaths of 92. 2 people were related to hospital admissions for respiratory disease. Conclusion: The continual evaluation of air quality data is necessary for investigating the effect of pollutants on human health.

Background: The presence of heavy metals in water resources above threshold levels can be toxic and carcinogenic for consumers. This study determined the concentrations of heavy metals in the drinking water distribution network and resources of the city of Ilam in Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study from 6 sources of water supply and also, different parts of the water supply system of Ilam city, samples were collected based on standard sampling methods. The samples were tested with a BRAIC atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The data was analyzed using nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. Results: The concentration of zinc in all water sources of the city of Ilam was higher than WHO guidelines and Iranian standard 1053. Contamination by cobalt, arsenic and lead from Ilam dam, Pich-e Ashoori well and Haft Cheshmeh well was higher than national and international standards. The amount of cobalt and mercury at Ilam dam was significantly different from the levels at other sources (P < 0. 05). Conclusion: The use of pesticides in the agricultural sector, contamination of water by human waste and aged and worn water pipes are the likely sources of the increased concentrations of heavy metals, especially lead and arsenic. Because there is a cumulative effect from these metals, appropriate measures are necessary by the relevant agencies to address this problem.

Background: Reducing the effects of climate change and air pollution is a global priority at present. To formulate effective policies for achieving such a reduction requires a good understanding of the underlying phenomena. This study assessed the role of Nasr Kashan Factory in the emissions of particulate matter (PM). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, PM concentrations at 9 stations inside and around the Nasr Kashan Concrete Factory were determined at the unit’ s active and inactive times. The air quality index (AQI) was obtained and data was entered into ArcGIS 10. 2 to obtain a zoning map of PM dispersion. Results: The results showed that all AQI peaks were within the very healthy or the healthy range at the Factory’ s inactive times. When the factory was working, the AQIs ranged from 24. 1 to 634 μ g/m3, which falls into the good and very hazardous categories. These results were dependent upon distance from the factory and were further affected by other produced factors of PM10. Conclusion: The results of this paper showed that average PM emissions at the Nasr Kashan Concrete Factory were much lower during inactive times than during times of activity. Therefore, the Nasr Kashan Concrete Factory plays an important role in the emission of PM and in air pollution in the studied area. PM concentrations were higher near and inside the studied factory, and the AQI was in the hazardous category.

Background: The reuse of treated municipal wastewater is an important source of water for different, purposes. This study evaluated the efficiency of the electrocoagulation process in removing turbidity, a total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate, and phosphate from wastewater at the treatment facility in Karaj, Iran. Methods: This experimental study was performed at a pilot scale and in a batch system. A 4-liter tank made from safety glass with 4 plate electrodes made from aluminum was unipolarly connected to a direct current power supply with a parallel arrangement. Wastewater samples were taken from the influent at the Karaj wastewater treatment facility. Rates of turbidity, TSS, COD, nitrate, and phosphate removal under different conditions were determined. Results: The highest efficiency of COD, TSS, nitrate, turbidity, and phosphate elimination was achieved at a voltage of 30 volts and a reaction time of 30 minutes. The rates were 88. 43%, 87. 39%, 100%, 80. 52%, and 82. 69%, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, electrocoagulation is an appropriate method for use in removing nitrate, phosphate, COD, turbidity, and TSS from wastewater.

Background: Modeling the dispersion of pollutants from factory stacks addresses the problem of matching emissions of a cement plant with the capacity of the environment to avoid affecting the environment and society. The main objective of this study was to simulate the dispersion of carbon monoxide (CO) from the main stack of a cement plant in Doroud, Iran using SCREEN3 software developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Methods: Four samplings were conducted to measure the concentration of CO in the three-stack flow of a cement factory. The input parameters were those affecting gas dispersion and included CO rate, meteorological parameters, factors associated with the stack, and various factors related to the receptor. All factors were incorporated in the model, and dispersion was modeled by SCREEN3. Results: Southwesterly winds have been dominant in the past 5 years. According to the results of this study, the highest and the lowest CO levels were estimated by the model in spring and autumn as having maximum amounts of 842. 06 and 88. 31 μ g/m3, respectively, within distances of 526 and 960 m from the cement plant, respectively, at a downwind southwesterly direction from the plant. Conclusion: Although the maximum predicted CO levels in each of the four seasons were lower than the NAAQS criteria, the simulation results can be used as a base for reducing CO emissions to prevent the potentially significant health and environmental impacts imposed by long-term contact to such emissions.

Background: Oxbow lakes are abundant in indigenous fishes, but they are subject to unsustainable fishing practices, potential overexploitation, and indiscriminate use of fine-meshed fishing gear. To quantify the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and impact of fishing gears on fish abundance, a survey was carried out in an oxbow lake in eastern India. Methods: The gear-wise CPUE for fish caught in per unit hour of operation was calculated by dividing the total sampling gear catch in biomass, which is the observed value of fish caught by a particular gear, by the total sampling effort hours. A value of P < 0. 05 was accepted as statistical significance. Results: Average annual values of the CPUE of triangular push nets, gill nets, long lines, seine nets, drag nets, stationary dip nets, cone-framed cast nets, and line and hook were calculated as 328. 34, 4. 12, 36. 71, 572. 92, 3928. 57, 237. 78, 235. 80, and 0. 44 grams of fish per hour of operation, respectively. All the 8 different gears exhibited lower CPUE during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons than in the premonsoon season. The line and hook was dominant (>71%). Cone-framed cast net hauled the maximum catch in biomass (31. 51%), and gill nets contributed the maximum number of fish (64. 92%). The lower CPUE values of line and hook, gill net, cone-framed cast net and long lines identified them as the most harmful among all gears. Conclusion: Indiscriminate use of gear, particularly line and hook, gill nets, cone-framed cast nets, and long lines, demands regulations and preventions concerning such gear to obtain higher fish abundance.

Background: The use of waste stabilization ponds is one of the cheapest wastewater treatment processes. This study evaluated the effects of baffles and fixed media on coliform removal in facultative lagoons. Methods: In this study, the settled wastewater from four pond systems of the city of Ahvaz was used as input. Each system was composed of two ponds that were connected to each other serially. Three of them were equipped with two, three, and four baffles. Packages of fixed media were installed in the first baffled pond equal to the number of baffles. During a 12-month sampling period from March 2016 to February 2017, the capability of each system to remove coliform with different detention times was studied. Results: The control system with no baffle and no media reduced the coliform index by an average of 67% in a detention time of 6 to 12 days. Increasing the baffles and fixed media in the ponds improved the coliform removal efficiency; systems with two, three, and four baffles achieved coliform removal in the amounts of 77%, 81%, and 83%, respectively. The coliform die-off coefficients (Kb) were higher in the attached growth systems than in the control system. The coefficients were determined to be 0. 21, 0. 26, 0. 29, and 0. 31 d-1 for the second ponds of the control, two-, three-, and four-baffle systems, respectively. Conclusion: This method can be used to upgrade the existing waste stabilization pond and to design new ponds with at least two baffles in the facultative lagoons.