نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 گروه زمینشناسی زیستمحیطی، دانشگاه پیام نور مرکز مشهد، مشهد، ایران
2 گروه زمینشناسی زیستمحیطی، دانشکده علوم، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد، مشهد، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Introduction: Dust storms are atmospheric phenomena that create numerous problems and deficiencies. Some of these problems include environmental and ecosystem degradation in the region, the spread of various diseases, social and civic dissatisfaction, and reduced productivity and efficiency. The present study is a basic research investigation that examines the sources and environmental consequences of dust particles in the northern and northwestern parts of Mashhad.
Material and methods: After conducting preliminary investigations and reviewing general concepts and previous studies, this research evaluated data and performed statistical analyses for the years 2015 and 2016 (1394–1395 in the Iranian calendar). It also examined the sources of pollution, the level of air pollution, and its consequences. Finally, based on statistics related to dust events, the study compared the two years and conducted zoning of dust concentration and identification of their sources.
Results and discussion: The occurrence of dust particles is increasing worldwide, particularly in the Middle East and Iran, and the city of Mashhad is no exception. Measurements conducted over recent years indicate a continuous increase in dust particles, which unfortunately can be attributed to inadequate decision‑making and ineffective management strategies by responsible authorities, as well as insufficient environmental awareness and compliance among citizens. The results of this study, based on sampling from 40 locations, showed no significant difference between the years 2015 and 2016 in terms of air quality index, dust concentration, and their spatial distribution. According to the zoning map of the average PM concentration in northern Mashhad, the eastern part of the study area showed high pollution levels, while the northwestern part of Mashhad (western section of the study area) showed lower pollution levels. Other areas exhibited varying concentrations of dust depending on land use and other factors. According to existing standards, the air quality in the study area is considered clean. However, it should be noted that this result is based solely on samples collected on a single day and cannot be generalized to the entire year. Various factors affecting dust concentration (such as peak traffic hours, wind, temperature, etc.) may have had unexpected influences at the time of sampling.
Conclusion: The results indicate that although the area falls within the clean air quality range, several relatively weak dust production centers can still be identified based on different PM levels. Each of these centers generates dust particles with specific PM characteristics depending on the type of monitoring station, which may be classified as traffic-related, industrial, residential, or construction-related. The types of dust particles present in the area also vary depending on the station type (residential, residential–educational, residential–medical, residential–commercial, and traffic). The use of public transportation is recommended to reduce pollution caused by vehicles. In this regard, several recommendations are proposed, including improving and standardizing factories and related industries, as well as enhancing vehicle manufacturing standards to reduce emissions. Proper irrigation practices in agricultural lands should be implemented to preserve soil structure and improve vegetation cover. Additionally, planting shrubs and vegetation compatible with the local climate is recommended to ensure greater ecological stability. To collect and store precipitation, which can increase soil moisture and support vegetation preservation, the construction of underground reservoirs is also suggested.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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