Survey of Aeolian airborne dust over Iran from the point of view Geochemistry and Mineralogy (case study: Western Iran and North of Persian Gulf and Sea of Mokran)
Hesam Ahmady Birgani, Sadat Feiznia, Hasan Mirnejad , Neda Charehsaz
University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
hesamahmady@ut.ac.ir
This research aims to show the characteristics and particle-related pollution of massive dus storms reaching Iran and North of Persian Gulf and Sea of Mokran. Satellite images have shown that these Aeolian dust storms originate in Arabian countries in Middle East and North of Africa continent. We have conducted numbers of analysis to reveal the grain size analysis, SEM, XRD and ICP-MS to detection of the most important source areas with regard to radioactive, heavy and toxic trace elements. Result has revealed that the most dangerous source areas of dust storms reaching Iran are located in Iraq country and war implications by turns have the worst effect on Iraqi environment, natural resources and human health. Soon after dust storm, Iran country be affected by Toxic, Radioactive Elements and new Microorganism (Bacteria, fungus, viruses) and make all kinds of Human disease and soil pollution and lead to decreasing of forest and plant communities.
Fig. A sample of SEM image of Aeolian dust reaching Iran
References:
De Deckker (2008), G3, 9, 12.
Lue et al (2010), Atmospheric Environment, 44, 3477-3484.
Dynamics of the ecological state on protected areas of a mountain-climatic Sanatorium Chemal in Republic Altai
Kaz V.E., Roldugin V.V.
“Altay-Geo”, Gorno-Altaysk, Russia.
Vladimir.Roldugin@mail.Ru
It is known that the environmental condition is formed by natural factors that determine its quality and anthropogenic factors specifying the degree of technological changes.
The environmental assessment and influence of technogenic factors are studied rather actively for the long time. Many research works dedicated to evaluation ecological of state of protected areas were intensified, because these unique areas are under the influence of the development of tourism, intensive building objects of touristic industry, increasing number of tourists and transport. So, anthropogenic pressure on the environment and recreational areas in the Republic Altai increases.
Republic Altai is one of the unique natural regions of Russia. The especial landscapes were saved here because of its outlying location and absence of railways and industry. The Federal State-Funded Institution “Sanatorium Chemal” located on the confluence of the Chemal and Katun rivers in the village Chemal. It is the first and the only sanatorium of federal subordination in the Siberian and Far Eastern region with its population being about 27.5 million people. The sanatorium was founded in 1928. The climate is very special here. Humidity is an important feature of climate and it is about 64-65%. That’s why this place is unique and its conditions are compared with Yalta and Anapa. Pinery, an amazingly beautiful intermountain valley, scenic surroundings, fresh ionized air, clean water of mountain rivers, the presence of artificial reservoir at Chemal Hydroelectric power station, many sources of mineral waters and mild climate attract many people and guests. Chemal is one of the most visited places in the Republic Altai. Last years is about 300 thousand guests and 30-50 thousand transport units arrive here during the summer. There is a very high anthropogenic influence exceeding the maximum permissible standards on certain recreation areas. Such intensive using causes recreational degration of the environment, and there is necessity for researching, assessment and forecasting of changes [3].
Within bounds of federal program GEIK -100 there were many geoecological researchings and mappings for environmental assessment and its influence on human health in 1996-1998 in the Republic Altai. As the result of the scientific researches for the Republic Altai territory the geoecological map was made on zoning of the area with districts and rating of the influence ecological condition on population and its environment. Environmental assessment of favorable condition is determined according to the quantity with integrated (synthetic) indicator of the ecological state. The proposed indicator includes such integral factors as: the natural conditions (climate, landscape, soil, relief, etc.), the quality of the geological environment (the chemical composition of geological formations, natural geophysical fields, tectonic, seismicity, etc.) and chemical pollution of the soil cover (heavy metals, cesium-137, and components of rocket fuel). The complex indicators of environmental status of an area that associated with integral ecological indicators are divided into 5 categories in the absolute values from favorable to absolutely unfavorable for population. On the value of the indicator of environmental state for the territory in the vicinity of "Sanatorium Chemal" was estimated as favorable [2].
This year 2011 the government of the Russia offered to the Republic Altai to develop the project of sanitary protection zone for Sanatorium Chemal. According to the decree of Russian Federation No 145 the main condition for designing sanitary protection zone is environmental assessment. Within the bounds of the contract with the “Sanatorium Chemal” Plc. “Altai-Geo” in 2011 the ecological fieldworks were carried out in the third belt of the sanitary protection zone (testing of soil, bottom (depositions) sediments, natural water). The Federal State-Funded Institution of Health “The Center of hygiene and epidemiology of the Republic Altai” made environmental assessment of atmospheric air and radiological situation in the “Sanatorium Chemal”. As noted above, the district of Chemal refers to the protected areas. During 13 years the resent ecological assessment was in 1998) the main influence on the ecological state in Chemal was a tourist-recreational activities.
So as actually there is no objects of recreation on the territory of Sanatorium Chemal (in the third belt of the sanitary protection zone) and as it is on the leeside of the residential area of the village Chemal, so the main anthropogenic influence provides transport highway, located in the eastern part of the Sanatorium.
As a rule, the air condition is assessed (defined) by the content of main pollutants: particulate matter (dust), carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, soot, nitrogen dioxide. There is no monitoring researching of the atmospheric air in Chemal region.
According to our researches in 1998. (GEIK-1000, snowmelt testing), background average daily amount of dust (dust load) from the atmospheric air was 40 kg/km2 in a day on the territory. This level of dust load is estimated as low [4].
In December in 2011 by the request of the “Sanatorium Chemal” The Federal State-Funded Institution of Health “Center of hygiene and epidemiology in the Republic of Altai” the research of atmospheric air wea carried out on the territory of a sanatorium Chemal near the hydroelectric power station and the boat station. Polluting substances in concentrations higher than the maximum permissible standards were not found The value of the complex of pollutants (the sum of measured indicators to the maximum permissible standards) accounted 0.5, which corresponds to the low level of atmospheric pollution. [1]. .
Our research of soil cover on the territory of Sanatorium Chemal" established that the soils cover comprised heavy metals and toxic elements (52 items) at concentrations below the the maximum permissible standards and it is characterized as background values and it is the same as in the whole territory of the RA. During the past years (since 1998.) a relevant increase of concentrations of heavy metals and toxic elements in soils has not been established. But there is insignificant increase of concentrations of (it is higher about 10-30% in comparing with that of 1998) heavy metals such as cobalt, manganese, titanium, molybdenum, chromium, lead, tin, vanadium, apparently, due to the influence of the auto transport, because the number of it increased quickly. This fact is confirmed by the points preferences with higher concentrations near the road Chemal-Kuyus (the eastern border of the third belt of the sanitary protection zone). The value of the total pollution of the soil cover with heavy metalls was on average by the year of 2011 and 7.9 in 1998 units, so the soils are estimated as uncontaminated [4].
Testing of bottom sediments was conducted by us in Chemalsky reservoir and Chemal River. The concentration of the chemical elements in the bottom sediments has not changed and remained the same as in 1998. The explanation is the absence of technogenic contamination.
The predominant toxic metal in the bottom sediments in many watercourses of the RA is mercury, including the investigated territory. It can be explained by the metallogenic specialization of the territory (the presence of mercury-antimony ore zones, deposits of cinnabar). Mercury is well sorbed by bottom silts moving along rivers at considerable distances. It was established by previous works that there is a clear tendency of increasing concentration of mercury in thinly silted material, it approves its high sorption capacity. And there is a very uneven concentration of mercury in the bottom sediments, which is obviously connected with natural “traps” on the one hand and the uneven distribution of metal in soft sediments in the river transport, on the other. By the comparative analysis in 1995, 2005 and 2011 it was difined that the mercury concentrations in the bottom sediments are stand still the varied in the Chemal river and in the water reservoir (medium concentration respectively is 0,044 mg/kg, 0,087 mg/kg and 0,028 mg/kg). But it is not above maximum allowable concentration for soils (2.1 mg/kg). The same character of distribution of mercury was observed in the surface waters in 2000, 2005 and 2011г.г. Mercury concentrations of the Chemal river and Chemalsky reservoir respectively is 0,022 mg/l, 0,021 mg/l and less than 0,004 mg/l.
Ground water is devided on two types - soil upper quaternary alluvial aquifer and water-bearing zone of middle cambrian – lower ordovician terrigenous rocks. Ground waters are widely exploited single wells for centralized potable water supply for population and enterprises. Water well No 2/36 is used for domestic-drinking and technical water supply for the “Sanatorium Chemal”. From the point of view of the sanitary environment condition water intake is located outside the influence of pollution sources. According with the results of laboratory testing, issued by The Federal State-Funded Institution of Health "The Center of hygiene and epidemiology in the Republic of Altai", the quality of water in water wells (55 indicators: chemical, microelement, microbiological and radiation tests) corresponds to the requirements of SanPin 2.1.4.1074-01 and "Norms of radiation safety". Of the analyzed indicators no one has a value exceeded MPC. During the retrospective period of work of the water intake (the sample for 1993-2011г.г.) the quality of the water from the moment of drilling wells not changed. The components of the nitrogen group describing, as a rule, anthropogenic pollution in a retrospective period were present in the allowable concentrations. The stable nature of the qualitative composition of water at the intake “Sanatorium Chemal” in the long-term testifies to the absence of significant sources of pollution in the formation of captured ground water in intake of the sanatorium.
The quality of the natural environment (climate, relief, the composition of the geological formations, etc) in the vicinity of “Sanatorium Chemal” for the last period has not changed [5].
According to integrated indicator, which is an additive sum that is comfortable conditions (climate, relief), low level of atmospheric pollution, good quality of the geological environment, the lack of industrial pollution (soil are uncontaminated), the quality of drinking water the environmental situation in the area of the “Sanatorium Chemal” is estimated as favorable, and conditionally positive. Over the last 13 years the dynamics of deterioration of the ecological condition of the sanatorium territory is not estimated. The exception is the soil near the road, where concentrations of heavy metal are identified. Their concentrations are from 10% to 30% greater than those of 1998.
References:
GN 2.1.6.1338-03 Maximum permissible concentrations of pollutants in the atmospheric air of populated areas. M., Ministry of health, 2003. (in Russian)
Katz V. E. Complex approach to the assessment of the environmental state (on the example of the Republic of Altai). Ecology and rational nature management at the turn of the century. Results and prospects (Materials of the international conference on 14-17 march 2000.). Т.ІІ, Tomsk, 2000. (in Russian)
Pavlova, KS. Environmental aspects of the recreational nature management of the Republic of Altai// Geographical education in Siberia: Mater. Vseros. scientific-practical conference.-Barnaul:2011. (in Russian)
Saet U. E. and others. Geochemistry of the environment. M., 1990. (in Russian)
Trofimov V.T., Zeling D.G.. Environmental geology. M., Moscow state university, 2002.