Survey of knowledge and practice of Yazd people regarding municipal solid waste management in 2008

Waste production is an integral part of human life. This waste should be eliminated from human life and be recycled again into material and energy. Effective steps have to be taken to improve public health. So for a good management of materials, this study aimed to clarify the knowledge and practice of Yazd people in the management of municipal solid waste in 2008. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study which was conducted by filling up questionnaires. Validity of the data and monitoring was performed by using Cronbach alpha test. Totally 300 questionnaires were completed in different parts of the city of Yazd. The data were then entered into the software SPSS. 11.5 and were analyzed by Chi-square test and frequency distribution tables and charts. The results of the study showed that performance of the citizens regarding separation of waste from the beginning and transportation of waste to the collection vehicle is not in a good condition, the performance of the citizens in delivering waste and storage of waste at home before delivery; is in a good condition, the performance of the citizens in relation to the municipality is in a weak condition. Knowledge of recycling items such as waste paper, cardboard, glass, metals and plastics stands in the rank of moderate to good. Reducing waste production and disposal methods situation is not favorable. Citizens' awareness of the waste-borne diseases is ranks moderate to good. Waste management system in the city of Yazd requires promoting public awareness and performance and Municipal communication with citizens Also a regular educational program for increasing public knowledge related to specific waste management is necessary

comparison between tubular and batch reactors in removal of methylene blue dye from simulated textile wastewater using TiO[2]/UV-C photocatalytic process

Dyes are structurally complex materials which enter the environment due to various textile industry processes like dyeing and cloth completion processes. Methylene blue is one of the cationic dyes which is now used in textile industry. Textile industrial wastewaters are one of the important sources of environmental contaminants. The aim of this research is photo catalytic degradation of methylene blue dye with the TiO[2] Nan particle with UV-C irradiation using batch and tubular reactor. In this research, photo catalytic degradation of methylene blue dye was studied using different concentration of TiO[2] Nan particles [with lower than 21 nm of size] under UV irradiation in a batch and tubular reactor. The variables were: concentrations of color, titanium dioxide nana-particles and air Bubbling. The results of this research show that removal of methylene blue dye has direct correlation with the time of UV irradiation. All tests were performed in neutral pH [pH:7]. The best efficiency results for dye removal and COD in the batch reactor were 100 and 42.2% respectively. However the best color removal efficiency and COD results in tubular reactor were 93 and 47.8% for titanium dioxide nana particle concentration of 1.2 gr/1[-1] during 60 minutes. Furthermore as color concentrations increased, color removal rate decreased. Finally, it was concluded that model of batch reactor is the best efficiency that may be selected with regard to the characteristic of textile wastewater, desired treatment efficiency and the discharge standards

Quality of drinking water consumed in interurban bus transportation system ofkerman in the first half of 2008

Promoting the hygiene and health level of the society would not be achieved while there is no pure source of potable water. A suitable and healthy drinking water should bear both a good chemical quality and a hygienic condition. The running water of the pipelines network is free from microbial infections due to free chlorine residue. In some cases, while transferring water from one container to another, there is the risk of pollution because of the conditions that are out of control. One of these cases is the water consumed in interurban transportation bus system. If this water is contaminated, there would be the risk of getting infected by water borne diseases. This study was performed to find out the quality of water consumed in the public bus transportation systems ofKerman in the first half of 2008. This is a cross-sectional study including 84 samples. We evaluated and assessed total coliform, fecal coliform, turbidity, free chlorine, pH and temperature. The collected data were analyzed by MINITAB. The results revealed total coliform in%45 of samples, positive fecal coliform in%35, turbidity 3MTU in% 42.5, 4MTU in% 46.25 and 5MTU in 11.25. The amount of free chlorine residue among%73.75 samples was zero. Temperature and pH ranged between 10-19 C and 7-8 C. In general, the microbial quality of the water consumed in the buses was recognized as unhygienic. The results of this study are consistent with similar studies performed in Kermanshah 1996, Isfahan 2004, Bandar Abbass 2004, and Mashhad 2006.The results achieved in this study showed a higher rate of pollution in total coliform than the similar rates in other cities. The index rate of total coliform in Kermanshah was higher than the one in Kerman. The rate of pollution related to fecal coliform in the consuming water of buses in Kerman was lower than the ones in Kermanshah and Mashhad and higher than the ones in Isfahan and Bandar Abbass

Radon level in dwellings basement of Yazd-Iran

Indoor radon gas [[222]Rn] has been recognized as one of the health hazards for human. Air radon comes mainly from basement soil and construction materials. Saghand region with rich uranium mines lies 180 km from Yazd, so the indoor radon concentration can be high. Yazd, with population of about 457000, is the biggest city near Saghand, thus, indoor gamma background radiation of Yazd could be more than the other cities of Yazd province. In this study the air radon level of 84 dwellings basement from various regions of Yazd were measured during the year 2007. To do so, a portable radon gas surveyor was used which is an active measurement method. Using this device, alpha radiation of each basement was measured by a solid state detector for 24 hours. Radon concentrations of the basements were between 5.55 to 747.4 Bq/m[3] with mean of 137.36 Bq/m[3]. The mean radon concentration wasn't significantly different from the EPA guide line that is mitigation recommendations level [148 Bq/m[3]]. However, more than 30% of the basements had radon concentration more than EPA guide line. Using good air conditioning system in the dwelling basements is suggested

survey of outdoor air pollution on the basis of pm[10] SO[2], CO and smoke factors in Yazd city and offering educational strategies for controlling it-1382

Air pollution is one of the most pressing problems around the world but more common in industrialized countries. Pollution of the atmosphere occurs due to industrialization and urbanization and has now reached a level imposing a potential threat to the health of populations as well as adverse effects upon the climate and weather. In an analytical cross- sectional study, the status of air pollution was identified in Yazd city. Air sampling was randomly performed at different settings. Our results showed that the maximum rate of pollution was due to the transportation system of the city from center to the north and east in which emission factors for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons were found 22 PPM in Imam khomeini street and 15 PPM in the northern and eastern streets. The maximum mean variations of pollutants were related to the sulfur dioxide in winter [27-34 g/m[3]] and aerosols in autumn [241- 285 g.m[3]]. The range of variation of carbon monoxide in winter was also greater than that of other seasons [8-22 PPM]. The measurement results also showed that the amount of emission of these factors in spring and summer were about 30% more than the permissible level. However, the carbon monoxide contaminants were approximately 80% higher than the permissible level in autumn and winter. It, therefore, may be concluded that the high levels of hydrocarbons and carbon monxide were associated with the number of automobils in winter and autumn and /or with the activity of the services of schools

Evaluation of dustfall in the air of Yazd

Air pollution phenomenon in urban areas is a consequence of industrial revolution. Since air pollution destroys the environment, destruction, many countries have devoted research work to this issue and have developed considerable amount of programs to control air pollution. There are a lot of industrial activities in addition to sandstorms that lead to the spread of dust and particles in the air in Yazd city. In this work, dustfall and its relation with climate conditions in Yazd were determined. The study method was descriptive and cross-sectional. The sampling was done from 25/8/2005 to 19/3/2006 in 4 month long periods. [end of August-end of September], [end of September -end of October], [end of October-end of November], [19 February-19 March]. The sampling was done in Jomhuri bulevard, Homafar Square, Shahid Beheshti Square, Seyd Gole Sorkh Ave. and Kashani Street by dust fall jar method. Results of this research shows that maximum concentration of dust fall was in the first period equal to 9.74 g/m[2].mo and minimum concentration was in the third period [October-November] and was equal to 3.13 g/m[2].mo. the maximum concentration was related to Homafar Square [8.91 g/m[2].mo] and the minimum concentration was related to Kashani Street was equal to 3.68 g/m[2].mo. Concentration average of dustfall in 4 the periods was 6.49 g/m[2].mo. The volatile part of dustfall was 50.6% and the fixed part was 49.4%. Correlations between concentration of dustfall, humidity, temperature, wind speed, and precipitation and the corresponding Pvalue were calculated and the results show that there is a direct relationship between the amount of dustfall and wind speed while humidity and precipitation are inversely proportional to the amount of dustfall. No relationship was found between temperature and dustfall concentration