Iranian Journal of

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Background and Objectives: Air pollution and its effects on human health had become a major concern of many healthcare centers decision makers. In this study, air pollution effect on variation of Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level in diabetic patients was evaluated, which is a unique study in Iran and Middle East region.
Materials and Methods: During November-January 2010-11, Tehran, capital of Iran, was exposed with high levels of air pollution. A retrospective cohort study was carried out on 330 patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus for at least 12 months referring to 3 endocrinal care clinics. A questionnaire in two demographic and diabetic related sections was prepared. The patients' HbA1C level recorded on November-January 2009-10 was compared with November-January 2010-11. Descriptive analysis and paired t-test were carried out using SPSS 18 software.
Results: The patients investigated were divided into two groups. The first group was composed of 108 patients (53.7% female and 46.3% male) with diabetes mellitus type I (Insulin Dependent), age mean of 17.22, and SD of 11.57. The second group was composed of 222 patients (58.6% female and 41.4% male) with diabetes mellitus type II (Noninsulin Dependent), age mean of 53.91, and SD of 12.12. The change of HbAIC level in both groups wa not statistically significant in first group, HbA1C level increased from 7.71 to 7.75 mg / 100 ml (P =0.828) and in second group, it increased from 7.06 to 7.08 mg / 100 ml (P = 0.798).
Conclusion: According to the results obtained, it can be concluded that relation of air pollution and HbA1C mean variation in diabetic patients was insignificant.

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Background and Objectives: Wastewater contains various pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc. These microorganisms can easily become airborne during normal operations of wastewater treatment plant and contaminate the neighborhood environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the type and density of bioaerosols in a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant in Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, bioaerosols density was measured in different units of a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant according to the NIOSH 0800 method and the values measured were compared with background level (control area). For this purpose, air samples were collected on blood agar and dextro agar in Andersen single-stage sampler with air flow of 28.3 l/min for 10 minutes. Samples collected were shipped to the laboratory immediately and were incubated for 48 hours. Then, incubated samples were counted for colonies concentration.
 Results: Average concentration of bacteria and fungi bioaerosols measured were 731.70±185.49 and 28.43±10.58 (M±SD) CFU/m3 respectively throughout the wastewater treatment plant units. These values were 35 and 1.45 times higher than background level (Control area). The differences between average concentrations of bacteria in all units of wastewater treatment plant with control area were statistically significant.
Conclusions: Generally, it was found that the density of bioaerosols, especially bacteria was much higher than the background level. The maximum density was measured at aeration chamber, where the emission of bioaerosols could be reduced through replacing nozzle diffused aeration system.

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Background and Objectives: In recent years exposure to fine airborne particles has been identified as an important factor affecting human health. Epidemiological studies have showed that the aerosol laden air can be an agent for microorganisms’ dispersion. Ignoring internal sources, ambient air quality significantly affects indoor air quality. Since people spend most of their times in the indoor spaces and little data are available on the general understanding of the indoor air quality, therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the particulate matter concentrations in indoor and ambient air of Tehran Children Medical Center Hospital.
Materials and Method: PM₁₀/PM_2.5 samples were collected in the indoor environment of the Tehran Children Medical Center Hospital and its adjacent outdoor environment by a portable GRIMM dust monitor model 1.108 from November 26 to March 10, 2007. The places of sampling for indoor and ambient air were in the patient room and the roof of the hospital respectively.
Results: The results showed that indoor PM₁₀ level was higher than WHO standards in 80% cases in patient room, whereas, for indoor PM_2.5 level, this value was 42 and 64% more than the EPA standards and WHO standards respectively. The relationship between outdoor and indoor particulate matters was examined by linear regression analysis. The indoor particulate matter levels were correlated with the corresponding ambient air ones.
Conclusion: Our analysis revealed that infiltration of ambient air could substantially increased indoor pollutants and thereby influences the indoor air quality.

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Background and Objectives: According to the WHO estimates, air pollution is accounted for about 800000 premature death of cardiovascular and respiratory disease and lung cancer resulted from air pollution throughout the world approximately 150000 cases of those deaths occur in south Asia. The studies conducting on short-term and long-term effects are reported in terms of admission rate, consulting with a physician, number of a particular disease, death, and years of the lost life (YOLL). We used Air Q2.2.3 (Air Quality Health Impact Assessment) Model to evaluate adverse health effects caused by NO2 exposure in Ahvaz City during 2009. NO₂ reacts with ammonia, moisture, and other compounds to form small particles. These small particles penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease, such as emphysema and bronchitis, and can aggravate existing heart disease, leading to increased hospital admissions and premature death.
Materials and Methods: First the data required was collected from Ahvaz Environment Organization and Meteorological Organization. Then, this data were processed by Excel software through correcting temperature and pressure, coding, averaging and filtering. Finally, the data processed were entered to Air Q model. This model is a valid and reliable WHO-proved tool to estimate the potential short term effects of air pollution. This model includes four screen inputs (Supplier, AQ data, Location, Parameter) and two output screens (Table and Graph).
Results: It was found that the Meteorological and Environment Organization stations have had the maximum and minimum NO2 concentration respectively. Moreover, the annual, summer, and winter average and 98cile of this pollutant was 27, 6, 43, and 115 µg/m³ respectively. The cumulative number of myocardial infarction resulted from NO₂ exposure was estimated to be nine persons per year. This value for the cardiovascular death was found to be 19 cases. Finally, the COPD cases was estimated to be seven per year.
Conclusion: Air Q software calculated relative risks, attributable proportion, and baseline incidence using data processed by Excel and presents the output as the cause specific deaths. It is noteworthy that there is no model that can estimate all of the pollutants health effects simultaneously. Cumulative number of persons for acute MI attributed to NO₂ exposure was 9 in 2009. Moreover, 51% of this number occurred in the days with concentrations lower than 60 µg/m³. It should be noted that 72% of this value are corresponded to the days with concentrations below 90 µg/m³. The total cumulative number of cardiovascular death attributed to exposure with NO2 during one year of monitoring was 19 persons. 60% of these cases have occurred in days with NO2 levels not exceeding 90 µg/m³. Cumulative number of hospital admission of COPD attributed to exposure with NO₂ during one year of monitoring was 7 persons.87 % of these cases have occurred in days with NO2 levels not exceeding 110 µg/m³.

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Background and Objectives: Tous gas power plant as an emission source of gas pollutants is located in the northwest of Mashhad City. This power plant is located in the neighborhood of various (linear, point and area) sources of pollution including Tous thermal power plant, Tous industrial town and motor vehicles hence, it is not possible to determine precisely and accurately the share of these gases emission contribution at this power plant using conventional instruments. Therefore, we used modeling in order to estimate the dispersion of the pollutants emitted from this power plant.
Materials and Methods: we used Screen 3 software using data of exhaust fume concentration, mass emission, chimney features of each unit, meteorology data, and fuel types consumed in order to model dispersion of NOx and SO2 emitted from Tous gas power plant having V94.2 turbine equipped with DLN torches.
Results: Maximum concentration of NOx and SO2 at the distance about 30 km from the power plant was 1.08 and 3.69 µg/L respectively. The results of dispersion modeling of pollutants indicated that in most cases emission of air pollutants towards southeast. Conclusion: The NOx and SO2 concentration measured revealed that the concentration of these pollutants is lower than the standards of Clean Air Act.

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Background and Objectives: Cyclone is one of the most utilized dust collectors for airborne particles control. It separates particles from airflow by centrifugal force. However, it is not effective in collecting very fine particles smaller than 10 μm in diameter. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of charging particles on cyclone efficiency in collecting particles smaller than 1 μm.
 Materials and Methods: To achieve the above aim, a pilot air conditioning system equipped with conventional cyclone of Lapple model was designed and installed. A high voltage (18 KV) DC power supply was used for charging silica particle in corona charger. Isokinetic probe was used for particles sampling at upstream and downstream of cyclone under different study conditions and measurement was carried out using Grimm 1.08 dust counter.
Results: Charging fine airborne silica particles caused a significant increase in collection efficiency. There is a direct relationship between collection efficiency and charging voltage, so that the total particles collection efficiency was increased from 2.7 to about 72% with respect of increasing charging voltage from zero to 18 Kv. However, inlet air velocity has a negative effect on the collection efficiency of particles charged.
Conclusion: Applying electrocyclone in collecting fine particles smaller than 1 µm is more efficient compared with that of conventional cyclones.

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Background and Objectives: Exceeding the standard level in most cases, Tehran air pollution has become a national environmental challenge. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze Tehran air-pollution data set during 2000-2009 for trend analysis.
Materials and Methods: In this study, we collected the hourly data of Tehran air pollution during 2000-2009 recorded by monitoring station of Tehran Air Pollution Control Company and statistical methods was used to determine the trend of the five pollutants, including: CO, PM10, SO2, NO2 and O3.
Results: The results indicate that average annual concentration of PM10, CO, NO₂, SO₂ and O₃ has changed from 91, 11.18, 102.6, 46.8, and 22.1 at monitoring station in 2000 to 88 µg/m3, 3.64 ppm, 66.1 ppb, 21.4 ppb, and 83 ppb in 2009 respectively.
Conclusion: Our findings revealed that although the air quality in Tehran has improved in term of particulate matter, SO2 and NO2 during this decade as a result of government's recent program in air pollution control, ozone concentration has increased.

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Background and Objectives: Microorganisms are the agents that can cause disruption in the biochemical and physiological reactions through mechanisms such as infection, allergy or toxic properties in the case of entering human body and if the body’s immune system be unable to destroy and eliminate biological agents, illness and even death will occur. This study evaluates air pollution (aerosol and bioaerosol) in different parts of a hospital in Tehran.
Materials and Methods: We assessed and evaluated bioaerosols by applying 0800 NIOSH method using Bacterial sampler and specific cultures for bacteria and fungi separately in ICU (intensive care unit), Pathology laboratory, Operating room, Recovery, and CSR (Central Service Room) of a hospital.
Results: The assessment showed that the average density of bacteria in the hospital studied was in the range of 1226.88 - 294.47 CFU/m3 the highest density was observed in the CSR and the lowest density measured was in the operating room. The bacteria identified included gram-positive bacillus (50.6%), Staphylococcus epidermis (20.29%), Staphylococcus Saprophyticus (2.6%), Staphylococcus aureus (7.03%), other Staphylococcus (5.9%) and Micrococcus (13.43%). Moreover, it was found that the average density of fungi was in the range of 0-188.45 CFU/m3 the maximum density in ICU and the minimum density in operating room and recovery room. The fungi identified included Aspergillus flavus (31.65%), Aspergillus fomigatus (25.17%), Aspergillus niger (15.82%), and penicilliom (27.33%) .
Conclusion: Comparison of bacteria density in different parts of the hospital with the recommended limits of ACGIH (500 CFU/m3) showed that density exceeded the limits in all units except in operating room whereas, density of fungi was less than the recommended limits of ACGIH (100 CFU/m3) in all units of hospital.

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Backgrounds and Objectives: Precise air pollutants prediction, as the first step in facing air pollution problem, could provide helpful information for authorities in order to have appropriate actions toward this challenge. Regarding the importance of carbon monoxide (CO) in Tehran atmosphere, this study aims to introduce a suitable model for predicting this pollutant.
Materials and Method: We used the air pollutants and meteorological data of Gholhak station located in the north of Tehran these data provided 12 variables as inputs for predicting the average CO concentration of the next day. First, support vector machine (SVM) model was used for forecasting CO daily average concentration. Then, we reduced the SVM inputs to seven variables using forward selection (FS) method. Finally, the hybrid model, FS-SVM, was developed for CO daily average concentration forecasting.
Result: In the research, we used correlation coefficient to evaluate the accuracy of both SVM and FS-SVM models. Findings indicated that correlation coefficient for both models in testing step was equal (R~0.88). It means that both models have proper accuracy for predicting CO concentration. However, it is noteworthy that FS-SVM model charged fewer amounts of computational and economical costs due to fewer inputs than SVM model.
Conclusion: Results showed that although both models have relatively equal accuracy in predicting CO concentration, FS-SVM model is the superior model due to its less number of inputs and therefore, less computational burden.

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Background and Objectives: Dust phenomenon has adverse effects on the health of the population.Due to the increasing concentration of Kermanshah dust phenomenon in recent years, The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of the sensitivity coefficients between dust phenomenon hospitalization and mortality rates for heart and respiratory.

Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study in which we studied the sensitivity coefficient of hospitalization and mortality rates for heart disease and respiratory to changes of dust concentration.. The study duration was during March-September 2010 and 2011. We collected the dust phenomenon data from Kermanshah Province Environmental Protection Department. The admissions and mortality of the cardiovascular and respiratory sufferers was collected from the Imam Ali, Imam Reza, and Imam Khomeini governmental hosiptals in Kermanshah.

Results: 1% increase in air pollution caused by the dust phenomenon will result in increasing about 0.5 % of the respiratory patients, 1% cardiac patients, and about 0.3% of the heart disease mortality. The relationship between dust phenomenon and respiratory sufferers was statistically not significant.

Conclusions: We found that respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admission has a high sensitivity to dust phenomenon. This sensitivity has increased from 2010 to 2011. This sensitivity was greater for males than females. At least, during March-September 2010, for every 100% increase in the concentration of dust phenomenon, cardiovascular mortality increased by 29%.

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Background and Objectives: Weather pollution, caused by Ozone (O3) in metropolitans, is one of the major components of pollutants, which damage the environment and hurt all living organisms. Therefore, this study attempts to provide a model for the estimation of O3 concentration in Tabriz at two pollution monitoring stations: Abresan and Rastekuche.
Materials and Methods: In this research, Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to consider the impact of the meteorological and weather pollution parameters upon O3 concentration, and weight matrix of ANNs with Garson equation were used for sensitivity analysis of the input parameters to ANNs.
 Results: The results indicate that the O3 concentration is simultaneously affected by the meteorological and the weather pollution parameters. Among the meteorological parameters used by ANNs, maximum temperature and among the air pollution parameters, carbon monoxide had the maximum effect.
Conclusion: The results are representative of the acceptable performance of ANNs to predict O3 concentration. In addition, the parameters used in the modeling process could assess variations of the ozone concentration at the investigated stations.

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Background & Objectives: In this study, treatability of wastewater from a laundry unit was investigated by applying electrocoagulation method in which two pairs of aluminum and iron electrodes were utilized. Electrocoagulation is a noble treatment method suitable for different kinds of wastewater which has been given a considerable attentions by researchers recently. Applying direct current to two or several suitable metallic electrode in a batch reactor containing effluent would result in flocks of metal hydroxide. Materials & Methods: We studied the effect of different operational parameters such as pH, electrodes distance, intensity of electrical current, and type of electrodes on the treatment efficiencies. Results: Aluminum electrodes showed better effects on the treatment efficiencies in nitrate and COD removal. Maximum phosphate removal (99.93%)took place at pH=7 using Al electrodes. Whereas, in the case of iron electrode, maximum nitrate and COD removal efficiencies were about 97.60 and 80% at pH=9 and pH=6 respectively. Operational cost analysis showed that the corresponding costs of Al application as an electrode is different from that of iron electrode application. Conclusion: Although application of both iron and aluminum electrodes lead to obtaining considerable removal phosphate, nitrate and COD, iron electrodes could result in reasonable removals to meet Environmental Standards with lower operational costs.

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Background and Objectives: Optimization of mazut biocracking with different variables is one of the bioengineering applications in petroleum industry. The purpose of this study was to optimize biocracking of mazut by native microorganisms. Materials and Methods: To optimize mazut cracking, using Taguchi method we run 32 experiments using seven factors including amount of microbial inoculation, initial pH, surfactant, glucose, phosphor source, nitrogen source and sea salt each of them with four levels and factor of microorganism type with two levels for design of experiment using that 32 experiments were designed by them. Results: Results showed that microbial mixture, 0.016 OD600 microbial inoculations, pH 8.3, Tween80 concentration of 2 g/L, glucose concentration of 4 g/L, phosphate concentration of 5 g/L, ammonium concentration of 9 g/L and sea salt concentration of 0.5 g/L were optimized conditions for biocracking of mazut process. Conclusion: Optimized level for each factor was not essentially inevitably the highest or the lowest level. Based on the analysis of variance, phosphor source with 15.8% and pH with 14.8% had the highest effect among other factors however overally, error factor with 31.6% had the highest influence. Amount of microbial inoculation with 0.63% had the lowest effect on optimizing biocracking of mazut.

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Background & Objectives: Cationic dyes such as basic violet have many applications in different industries. The degradation of basic violet by means of UV, UV/H2O2, US, and US/H2O2 processes was investigated. Materials and Methods: Photolysis process was accomplished in a laboratory-scale batch photoreactor equipped with a 55 W immersed-type low-pressure mercury vapor lamp (UVC) and sonolysis process was investigated in a sonoreactor with high frequency (130 KHZ) Plate Type transducer at 100 W of acoustic power with emphasis on the effect of various parameters and addition of Na2SO4 on discoloration and degradation efficiency. Results: Complete decolonization of cationic BV 16 was achieved in 8 minutes using UV/H2O2 process. In addition, it was found that sonochemical decolorization is a less efficient process, comparing with photochemical process, as the decolorization proceeds to only 65% within 120 min. Low concentration of dye and natural pH resulting from dissolution of salt favors the degradation rate of dye. The results showed that sodium sulfate enhances the rate of sonochemical degradation of dye. In addition, kinetic parameters were obtained by application of first order equations. Conclusion: The results showed that UV/H2O2 and US/H2O2 processes can be effective in the removal of BV16 from aqueous solutions. Considering dye removal efficiency and availability, photochemical process combined with hydrogen peroxide can be recommended as a fast effective method for removal of dyes from aqueous solutions.

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Background and Objectives: Nemone Tehran Poultry Slaughterhouse having an area of 13000 m² is located at District 3, Region 5 of Tehran Municipality and in Morad Abad Quarter .This study aimed at analysis the environmental impacts of the abovementioned slaughterhouse. For this purpose, we applied analytical hierarchy process (AHP) as one of the multiple criteria decision making methods (MCDM). Materials and Method: First, we determined the criteria and options required through analyzing the project impacts. Then, for final validity of criteria, we used experts questionnaire. Special vector technique through using the Expert Choice software was used in order to set priorities for criteria and options. Results: Analysis of the slaughterhouse effluent indicated that it can neither be discharged into the surface water and well nor suitable for irrigation and agricultural purposes. Noise evaluation showed that rate of noise measured is beyond the standard limits. The laboratory experiment results on air pollutants was lower than the standard level. Conclusion: The results indicated that from the pollution perspective in the slaughterhouse, wastewater weighted 0.497 is the primary preference and sound, air, and odour weighted 0.229, 0.136 and 0.080 are the subsequent preferences. Cultural and socioeconomical environment ranked hgiher relative to the chemical-physical environment and then biological environment. Finally, regarding to the main significant environmental problem of slaughterhouse (Wastewater), optimization of the slaughterhouse wastewater treatment system and constant monitoring of the external sewage quality is in priority.

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Background and objectives: Dichloromethane (DCM) is one of the hazardous contaminants of the environment, especially ambient air that threatens human health at both acute and chronic exposures. In this study, the performance of a pilot-scale hybrid bubble column/biofilter (HBCB) bioreactor was studied for the removal of DCM from waste gas streams at steady state. Materials and methods: The experiments were conducted in four stages with relatively constant concentrations of DCM (approximately 240 ppm) and variable empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 50, 100, 150 and 200 s. In addition to determining DCM removal rate and efficiency, quality parameters of mixed liquor of the bubble column bioreactor were studied and kinetic of biofiltration was analyzed. Results: The average DCM removal efficiency of the HBCB bioreactor at EBRT of 200 and 150 s were 79 and 71% respectively. However, further reduction of EBRT resulted in significantly decreased DCM removal efficiency, so that at EBRT of 50 s, the DCM removal efficiency decreased to 32%. In addition, the EBRT reduction from 200 s to 50 s through increasing DCM loading rate resulted in increasing DCM removal rate from 12.1 to 19.6 g/m³.h. The results of kinetic analysis showed that the kinetic data of biofiltration were in the best fitness with the first order rate equation (R²>0.99 and &epsilon%<2.2) and the DCM removal rate constant was determined 0.0114 s^-1. The mixed liquor characterization indicated that the daily adjustment of pH and EC was sufficient to prevent any limitation in the performance of the HBCB bioreactor. Conclusion: This study indicated that the DCM removal rate and efficiency of the HBCB bioreactor were relatively high and the HBCB bioreactor had reliable performance during the variable operational conditions.

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Background and Objectives: Emission of volatile organic compounds and unpleasant smell are the important characteristics of the rendering plant, causing disturbance for the workers and nearby residents. In order to prevent the spread of air pollutants and to provide favorable environment, application of treatment technologies is essential. Materials and Methods: In this study, in order to select suitable collector and ventilation system for rendering plant, air sampling was performed via NIOSH sampling methods (1501, 1300, 1600, and 2002). Totally, 24 air samples were collected from the ambient air, air pollution source, and worker’s breathing zone using two sorbent, activated charcoal and silica gel and were analyzed using GC-MS. Then, the local ventilation system was designed based on the qualification and quantitation analysis of air samples. The stairmand high efficiency cyclone and thermal oxidizer were designed for dust control and gas cleaning respectively. Results: In total, 41 chemical pollutants in exhaust air from rendering plant were identified these compounds included hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, ethers, halogenated compounds, sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds, and acids. The results of ventilation system designing showed that the system with airflow of 5725 m³/h and a cyclone with the diameter of 1 m and the height of 4 m could remove 50% of particles with 9.45-micron diameter. Gaseous pollutants were removed using thermal oxidation via the consumption of 96 m³/h fuel gas flow. The chamber volume was 6.67 m³. The daily fuel costs were estimated 310000 RLS. Conclusion: Application of local exhaust ventilation system and integrated collectors for control of air pollutants in rendering plant can remove large amounts of particulate and gaseous pollutants. Control of these pollutants can cause loss of smell nuisance and environmental pollution and improving the health and welfare of workers and neighboring residents of such industries.

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Background & Objectives: Determining the impacts of air pollution in cities is facing two major challenges first, the limited data on the health effects of pollutants, and secondly, the lack of information on exposure to air pollutants and their concentration. This is an applied-observational carried out to determine the concentration, seasonal changes, and to estimate the health impacts attributed to the particulate matters in Tabriz during September 2012 to July 2013. Materials and Methods: The particulate matters were sampled using high volume sampler and were analyzed using portable HAZ-DUST EPAM-5000. The health impacts of particulate matterswere estimated using AirQ software developed by W.H.O. Results: The annual mean concentration of TSP, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁ in the urban sampling site were 139, 83, 38, and 27 µg/m³ respectively. In addition, these concentrations were 178, 110, 40, and 27µg/m³ in industrial area. The average of PM₁₀/TSP, PM_2.5/PM₁₀, PM₁/PM₁₀, and PM₁/PM_2.5 ratio level was 0.6, 0.48, 0.33, and 0.7 in the urban areas and 0.61, 0.37, 0.28, and 0.77 in the industrial areas respectively. The total mortalities associated with the TSP, PM₁₀, and PM_2.5 concentrations were estimated as 327, 363, and 360 respectively. Nevertheless, the calculated cardiovascular mortality for TSP and PM₁₀ were estimated to be 202 and 227 respectively. Conclusion: This research found that the concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were 73 and 69% more than National Standard and 8 and 5% more than USEPA Standards respectively. In Tabriz, especially industrial area, the soils of surrounding ground and re-suspension of particles fromcontaminated soils have a significant contribution to particulate emissions.

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Background & Objectives: Entering LAS through the wastewater plant’s effluent to water resources causes taste and odor changes, aquatics death, oxygen transfer limitation, and disorders in water treatment processes. Therefore, the study objective was to determine optimum conditions for fenton oxidation process to remove linear alkyl benzene sulfonate from aqueous environments using taguchi method and its requirement evaluation for additional treatment of Biolac effluent. Materials &Methods: LAS removal using Fenton oxidation was evaluated in a 500 mL laboratory-scale batch reactor. In order to save the costs, to determine the optimum conditions of the Fenton oxidation, 25 runs were computed using Taghuchi method by Minitab 16 software. Sampling and required tests were performed based on standard methods examination for water and wastewater. For evaluation of Biolac process sufficiency in LAS removal, biolac efficiency in Urmia Wastewater Treatment Plant was studied in 2012. Results: Based on the LAS removal and chemicals required, Minitab software (Ver. 16) recommended the optimum conditions of Fenton oxidation at 900 mg/L H2O2, 170 mg/L Ferrous ion, pH of 4, and reaction time of 20 minutes. It was found that the Fenton oxidation for LAS removal had 86.5% efficiency under optimum condithions and it was second order reaction with the rate coefficient of 0.0152 L/mg.min. Biolac process does not need any additional treatment due to meeting LAS standard in municipal wastewater treatment. Thus, this process decreased annually mean LAS from 5.28 mg/L to 0.734 mg/L in municipal wastewater. Conclusion: Although the Fenton oxidation appears as a chemical process with high efficiency in the removal of LAS, the low efficiency of COD corresponding to the LAS indicated partial decomposition of linear alkyl benzene sulfonate by Fenton oxidation.

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Background & Objectives: Dust storms happening frequently in arid and semiarid regions of the world carry huge amount of particulate matters hence, these are recognized as one of the most important environmental issues at regional and international scales. This study aimed to evaluate heavy metals laden dustfall particles in Sanandaj, Khoramabad, and Andimeshk cities, West Iran. Materials & Methods: Sampling of dustfall particles was conducted once every 10 days from June 20, 2012 for one year at three stations of Sanandaj, Khorramabad, and Andimeshk simultaneously using Deposit Gauge Method. The concentration of Fe and Mn were measured using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy was used for analyzing Ni, Cr, Ag, As, Cu, and Zn. Then, pollution levels for the heavy metals were evaluated using Geo-Accumulation Index (Igeo) and Integrated Pollution Index (IPI). Mineralogy and morphology of the dustfall particles were inspected using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Results: Igeo index indicated that levels of pollution for Ag and Cu were higher than As and Zn among the dustfall particles of the three stations whereas the concentrations of the other heavy metals were not evaluated as contaminant. Moreover, means of IPI values calculated for stations of Sanandaj, Khorramabad, and Andimeshk were 2.86, 1.55 and 1.40 respectively. X-ray diffraction revealed abundance of silicate (quartz) and carbonate (calcite) minerals in dustfall particles. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy emphasized on similarity of shape of dustfall particles in the three stations. Conclusion: Although mean of dustfall particles on area unit in Sanandaj station was less than Khorramabad and Andimeshk, heavy metals concentration was relatively higher among the sampled dustfall particles.