Evaluation and Analysis of Ambient Air Heavy Metals  (Cd, Hg, Ni and Pb) of Provinces Subject to Fine Dust  Porticles of Iran (Case Study in 5 provinces)

Tabatabaee, Aazam; Dastgoshadeh, Fereshteh; Pourasad, Karim; Sepehrneya, Shahram

Evaluation and Analysis of Ambient Air Heavy Metals (Cd, Hg, Ni and Pb) of Provinces Subject to Fine Dust Porticles of Iran (Case Study in 5 provinces)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Abstract

Air pollution has particular importance due to the fluid nature of air and it is one of the most important environmental problems in urban and industrial areas which threaten human health. Two main important pollutants in the air are suspended particulate material in the air and fine dusts phenomenon. Fine dusts phenomenon isn’t limited to geographical boundaries within the country, but now it is a regional problem. Recognizing of the quality and quantity of fine dust has an important role in determining their origin and planning to find out how to deal with and eliminate them. In this respect, due to the possibility of presence of metals in particulate matter, analysis of Teflon and fiberglass filters installed in air pollution monitoring stations in five provinces of Iran, were selected to measure at the time period when there was the highest pollution. In this study, the metals included. Pb, Ni, Hg and Cd in air filters (Teflon or Fiberglass), the installed filters in air pollution monitoring stations (at Hamedan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan, Kirman and Zanjan provinces) were collected when there was the highest pollution. Then metals were detected by atomic absorption spectrometry after acid digestion. The results showed that the measured amount of Lead and Mercury in both types of air filters (Teflon and Fiberglass) in all provinces are below the international objective standards (WHO, EU Target, Federal and California) of Lead and Mercury. The concentrations of Nickel and Cadmium in both types of air filters (Teflon and Fiberglass) in some stations are below the international objective standards (WHO, EU Target) of Nickel and Cadmium and in others the concentrations of Nickel and Cadmium are the same as level of international objective standard ranges

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