Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Mina Ghahrchi ¹
• Edris Bazrafshan ¹
• Yousef Kor ²
• Mohammad Reza Khani ³
• Mohammad Sarmadi ¹
• Yousef Dadban Shahamat ⁴

¹ Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health; Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran

² Environmental Health Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

³ Water Purification Research Center; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Environmental Health Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineerin, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

Abstract

Aims: In this study, the concentration of particulate matter (PM)_2.5and PM₁₀particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was measured from July of 2016 to June of 2017 in Gorgan City and the values of the air quality index (AQI) for particles were calculated and investigated. Materials and Methods: The concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and VOCs were measured at eight stations in the city, and the relationship between different atmospheric conditions and the concentration of pollutants was assessed by statistical tests of variance analysis. Furthermore, the AQI values for the particles were measured, and based on the values of this index, using ArcGIS 10.3 software (ESRI Compony, USA), the zoning maps were prepared. Results: The average concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and VOCs in the eight stations were 30.6 μg/m³, 41.3 μg/m³, and 0.82 ppm, respectively. The average concentration of PM_2.5and VOCs is higher than Environmental Protection Agency and clean air standards. Analysis of variance test was showed that the concentration difference of particles in different stations was not significant (P > 0.05), but for VOCs concentration, there was a statistically significant difference between the station of Seyed Masoud restaurant and Terminal square (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the results were showed that the temperature has an inverse relationship with the concentration of pollutants. AQI values for PM_2.5in the cold months of the year and in the central parts of the city were in the range of 101–150. The maximum AQI for PM₁₀was equivalent to 55, which was in December 2016. Conclusion: The air quality of Gorgan City was not in desirable conditions due to the high concentration of pollutants, especially PM_2.5and VOCs, and should be taken control proceedings.

Keywords

• Air pollution
• air quality index
• atmospheric factors
• GIS
• particles
• volatile organic compounds