Assessment of pollutant elements content in ambient air dust of Khuzestan province

Background: One of the most concerning pollutants in urban areas across the globe is particulate matter suspended in the Earth’s atmosphere. The main objective of the current investigation is to explore the spatial and temporal patterns of ambient air particles (PM10 and PM2.5) and PM2.5/PM10 ratio in different urban areas of Khuzestan Province. Methods: In this way, the required data were gathered from the environmental protection organization based on hourly mean concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 of six air pollution-monitoring sites for 5 years. Results: Results indicated that the average concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and PM2.5/PM10 are about 134.14±39.23 µg/m3, 44.51±13.44 µg/m3 and 0.33±0.07, respectively. The examinations revealed a reductive trend on annual values of PMs in terms of temporal variations. A detailed investigation of the annual mean concentrations of PMs and PM2.5/PM10 in terms of spatial variations demonstrated the largest values for Naderi-Ahvaz and Abadan stations. Furthermore, the measured AQI was larger than 100 and the Exceedance Factor (EF) values of PM10 and PM2.5 ranged between 1.51-2.73 and 0.77-1.41. The statistical analysis obtained from linear regression revealed a significant positive relation between AQI and PM2.5 and PM10 with correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.8259 and 0.7934, respectively. Conclusion: Although the analysis and measurement revealed a reductive trend in the annual mean concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10, the measured AQI and EF values are still far from the standards of good quality and low pollution. Therefore, it is highly necessary to follow the air pollution protocols to control PM air pollution in Khuzestan Province.

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Development of a Rapid Survey Method of Sampling and Analysis for Asbestos in Ambient Air

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100096400 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. 630-631 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. E. Heffelfinger ◽

C. W. Melton ◽

D. L. Kiefer ◽

W. M. Henry ◽

R. J. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Neutron Activation ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Survey Method ◽

Potential Hazard ◽

Transmission Microscopy ◽

Comparative Analyses ◽

Asbestos Fibers ◽

Controlled Conditions ◽

Unequivocal Identification ◽

Identification And Quantification

A methodology has been developed and demonstrated which is capable of determining total amounts of asbestos fibers and fibrils in air ranging from as low as fractional nanograms per cubic meter (ng/m3) of air to several micrograms/m3. The method involves the collection of samples on an absolute filter and provides an unequivocal identification and quantification of the total asbestos contents including fibrils in the collected samples.The developed method depends on the trituration under controlled conditions to reduce the fibers to fibrils, separation of the asbestos fibrils from other collected air particulates (beneficiation), and the use of transmission microscopy for identification and quantification. Its validity has been tested by comparative analyses by neutron activation techniques. It can supply the data needed to set emissions criteria and to serve as a basis for assessing the potential hazard for asbestos pollution to the populace.

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Application of Electron Optics to Characterization of Particulate Pollutants

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010009508x ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. 364-365

Author(s):

J. B. Moran ◽

J. L. Miller

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Quality Standards ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Hazardous Substances ◽

Fuel Additives ◽

Ambient Air Quality ◽

Air Quality Standards ◽

Emission Standards ◽

Stationary Sources ◽

Ambient Air Quality Standards

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 provide the basis for a dramatic change in Federal air quality programs. The Act establishes new standards for motor vehicles and requires EPA to establish national ambient air quality standards, standards of performance for new stationary sources of pollution, and standards for stationary sources emitting hazardous substances. Further, it establishes procedures which allow states to set emission standards for existing sources in order to achieve national ambient air quality standards. The Act also permits the Administrator of EPA to register fuels and fuel additives and to regulate the use of motor vehicle fuels or fuel additives which pose a hazard to public health or welfare.National air quality standards for particulate matter have been established. Asbestos, mercury, and beryllium have been designated as hazardous air pollutants for which Federal emission standards have been proposed.

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Electron Microscopic Characterization and Quantitation of Air Borne Particulate Matter with Special Emphasis on Asbestos

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100095042 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. 356-357

Author(s):

Peter K. Mueller ◽

Glenn R. Smith ◽

Leslie M Carpenter ◽

Ronald L. Stanley

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Light And Electron Microscopy ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Quality Standard ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Cellulose Ester ◽

Main Concept ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Air Samples ◽

Diffraction Patterns

At the present time the primary objective of the electron microscopy group of the Air and Industrial Hygiene Laboratory is the development of a method suitable for use in establishing an air quality standard for asbestos in ambient air and for use in its surveillance. The main concept and thrust of our approach for the development of this method is to obtain a true picture of fiber occurrence as a function of particle size and asbestos type utilizing light and electron microscopy.We have now available an electron micrographic atlas of all asbestos types including selected area diffraction patterns and examples of fibers isolated from air samples. Several alternative approaches for measuring asbestos in ambient air have been developed and/or evaluated. Our experiences in this regard will be described. The most promising method involves: 1) taking air samples on cellulose ester membrane filters with a nominal pore size of 0.8 micron; 2) ashing in a low temperature oxygen plasma for several hours;

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