ABSTRACT
Background: Occupational chemical accidents have increased in recent years in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In June and August 2015, three large explosions occurred at chemical warehouses in Rey, Tehran Province, and toxic vapours were released.
Aims: This study reviewed the three chemical accidents and assessed the extent to which the requirements for chemical safety and preparedness for chemical incidents under the International Health Regulations (IHR) are in place, and implemented at local and national levels in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Methods: Data were obtained from secondary data and field visits to selected chemical plants. The secondary data were used to complete a 33-item checklist based on the IHR and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education checklist. A sample of 15 warehouses in Kahrizak district, Rey County, were visited to assess their capacity in relation to the IHR using a 15-item checklist.
Results: Some weaknesses were seen in the IHR capacity in the study area. The main weaknesses were lack of an effective surveillance system for chemical accidents and low levels of safety in chemical plants and warehouses. Other weaknesses included the lack of awareness of residents about chemical hazards and poorly equipped health centres for the management of victims of chemical accidents. The study area was not prepared for chemical accidents both within industrial plants and residential areas.
Conclusions: Action is needed to improve the areas of weakness so as to achieve the necessary capacities for chemical safety, and preparedness and response to chemical incidents in line with the IHR
ABSTRACT
Background: Sampling was conducted on particles smaller than ten microns [PM10] in a high-traffic urban region once a week for two years in which fifteen heavy metals were measured
Methods: positive matrix factorization [EPA-PMF5], was used for source apportionment and characterization of the collected PM10. Assessment of cancer risk resulting from metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead was conducted in three concentration ranges of maximum, average and minimum
Results: Results for children and adults living in the region indicated that cancer risk indexes at different concentration ranges of carcinogenic metals were between 10-4 to 10-6 for adults and children. Since EPA recommendations suggest that planning should be conducted if cancer risk is in the range of 10-4 to 10-6, using PMF5 model, source characterization of pollutants was implemented by all measured heavy metals
Conclusion: It was found that 41.5% of PM10 resulted from fuel and combustion, 12% from waste dump soil of lead and zinc industries, 35.7% from suspended open soil and 11% from industrial activities. It was also found that cadmium, nickel and, chromium have higher cancer risk than other metals and, suspended open soil, industrial activities and industrial fuel and combustion are the main sources of these metals respectively
ABSTRACT
NO2 is a poisonous gas that potential to cause major threat to human being health and the environment, as a result, removing this gas from environment seems to be essential. The study aimed to remove this gas from environment using Iranian natural zeolite, clinoptilolite. After crushing and preparing two sizes of 1 and 2 mm zeolite they were activated in 380 to 420 §C for 20 minutes. NO2 was produced by reaction of copper [Cu] and nitric acid [HNO3] and diluted with enough air to achieve desired concentration. A laboratory reactor set with different concentration of NO2 [20, 30, and, 45 ppm], flows through the zeolite absorbent bed was prepared. Different parameters affected No2 absorption, such as concentration, height, and diameter of zeolite bed, zeolite granulation, and activation temperature were examined. In different condition, the adsorption range of the zeolite for NO2 was varied from 0.35% W for 2mm granulation and the 20 ppm concentration to 1.5% W using 1mm granulation and 45 ppm concentration of NO2. Activation temperature of 420 §C for 20 min was the best condition removing NO2. Efficiency of 1mm granulation was higher than 2mm. Reducing parameters such as height and diameter of zeolite bed decreased but increasing concentration of gas flow increased adsorption capacity of zeolite. Using Iranian zeolite in gas masks still not recommended