Assessment of suspended particulate matters and their heavy metal content in the ambient air of Mobarakeh city, Isfahan, Iran

Mobarakeh, Avazali Saririan; Nabavi, Bibi Fatemeh; Nikaeen, Mahnaz; Amin, Mohammad Mehdi; Hassanzadeh, Akbar; Nadafi, Kazem

doi:10.4103/2277-9183.148280

Assessment of suspended particulate matters and their heavy metal content in the ambient air of Mobarakeh city, Isfahan, Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Avazali Saririan Mobarakeh ¹

Bibi Fatemeh Nabavi ²

Mahnaz Nikaeen ²

Mohammad Mehdi Amin ²

Akbar Hassanzadeh ³

Kazem Nadafi ⁴

¹ Mobarakeh Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Isfahan, Iran

² Environment Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, and Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Student Research Center, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

³ Department of Statistic and Epidemiology, School of Health, IUMS, Isfahan, Iran

⁴ Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.4103/2277-9183.148280

Abstract

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the quality of Mobarakeh ambient air in terms of suspended particles and heavy metals. Material and Methods: The current study was carried out in Mobarakeh city, Isfahan, Iran. Air sampling was performed in three sites for a 1-year period (in 2007). Measurement of total suspended particles (TSP) and heavy metals was achieved using high volume air sampler with fiberglass filter. The concentration of heavy metals, including Pb, Ni, Zn, Fe, and Cu was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: The average concentration of TSP was maximum and minimum in autumn and spring, respectively. In addition, the average of annual TSP concentration (124.61 mg/L) was more than World Health Organization (WHO) and US Environmental Protection Agency standard values. The analysis of filtered suspended particles for heavy metals showed the highest concentration for Iron. The average annual concentration of Nickel was also more than its proposed standard by WHO. Conclusion: This study showed that ambient air of Mobarakeh city is polluted by TSP. The high concentration of Fe and Ni in this area may be attributed to the nearby industrial emissions. Therefore, in industrial areas, efforts should be taken to control the atmospheric pollution in order to protect humans from hazardous health effects of these potentially toxic pollutants.

Keywords

Air pollution

heavy metals

Mobarakeh city

TSP