Dispersion modelling of particulate matter concentrations of sand product plants in a mineral complex

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sand and gravel product plants are among the significant sources of dust pollutants. This study was conducted to estimate dust concentrations released from these plants in a mineral complex in the southwest of Tehran.METHODS: Initially, the amount of silt and moisture cont...

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Autores principales:	Y. Zehtab Yazdi, N. Mansouri, F. Atabi, H. Aghamohammadi
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	GJESM Publisher 2022
Materias:	aermod model air quality emission factor particulate matter sand and gravel product plant Environmental sciences GE1-350
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/82bdc269266c4f789fbfe4b007933ad9
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:82bdc269266c4f789fbfe4b007933ad92021-11-17T10:35:02ZDispersion modelling of particulate matter concentrations of sand product plants in a mineral complex2383-35722383-386610.22034/GJESM.2022.02.09https://doaj.org/article/82bdc269266c4f789fbfe4b007933ad92022-04-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.gjesm.net/article_246819_41c68afe8e9f6c72c0049861640cbc20.pdfhttps://doaj.org/toc/2383-3572https://doaj.org/toc/2383-3866BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sand and gravel product plants are among the significant sources of dust pollutants. This study was conducted to estimate dust concentrations released from these plants in a mineral complex in the southwest of Tehran.METHODS: Initially, the amount of silt and moisture content of the samples taken from these plants were determined according to the American Society for Testing and Materials C136 and D2216 methods, respectively. Accordingly, the rates of particulate matter emissions from these plants were determined by the AP-42 dust emission estimation methods published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Next, a Gaussian model was used to estimate the particulate matter concentrations in the surrounding residential areas. Finally, the simulated concentrations were compared with the United States Environmental Protect Agency and World Health Organization standards.FINDINGS: Results showed that hauling operations, with producing 70%, 86%, and 90% of total PM2.5, PM10 and total suspended particulates, respectively, were the major sources of dust emission in the sand and gravel product plants. The lowest dust emission was related to stockpiling handling, producing 0.24%, 0.33%, and 0.16% of the total PM2.5, PM10 and total suspended particulates. The results of the presented model indicated that 24-hour average concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and total suspended particulates produced by mining activities were about 36, 183, and 690 µg/m3 in the working zone and less than 30, 100, and 400 µg/m3 beyond the mineral complex boundary, respectively. Thus, annual average dust concentrations were negligible. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 produced by these plants in the mineral complex ambient air were higher than the standard average values recommended by the United States Environmental Protect Agency and World Health Organization. However, the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 from these plants in the residential areas around the complex, were below the standard limits proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.CONCLUSION: Sand and gravel mining activities increased the concentrations of particulate matter in the air of the surrounding areas and, to some extent, farther cities. PM2.5 and PM10 resulting from the sand and gravel mining activities could damage the workers in the mineral complex. They exceeded the 24-hour average permissible limits proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency about 1 and 33 µg/m3, respectively. This study showed the necessity of changing the industrial policies adopted to decrease dust emission rates. The results of this study can help the air pollution experts develop proper strategies for improving the air quality in the vicinity of surface mines.Y. Zehtab YazdiN. MansouriF. AtabiH. AghamohammadiGJESM Publisherarticleaermod modelair qualityemission factorparticulate mattersand and gravel product plantEnvironmental sciencesGE1-350ENGlobal Journal of Environmental Science and Management, Vol 8, Iss 2, Pp 265-280 (2022)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	aermod model air quality emission factor particulate matter sand and gravel product plant Environmental sciences GE1-350
spellingShingle	aermod model air quality emission factor particulate matter sand and gravel product plant Environmental sciences GE1-350 Y. Zehtab Yazdi N. Mansouri F. Atabi H. Aghamohammadi Dispersion modelling of particulate matter concentrations of sand product plants in a mineral complex
description	BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sand and gravel product plants are among the significant sources of dust pollutants. This study was conducted to estimate dust concentrations released from these plants in a mineral complex in the southwest of Tehran.METHODS: Initially, the amount of silt and moisture content of the samples taken from these plants were determined according to the American Society for Testing and Materials C136 and D2216 methods, respectively. Accordingly, the rates of particulate matter emissions from these plants were determined by the AP-42 dust emission estimation methods published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Next, a Gaussian model was used to estimate the particulate matter concentrations in the surrounding residential areas. Finally, the simulated concentrations were compared with the United States Environmental Protect Agency and World Health Organization standards.FINDINGS: Results showed that hauling operations, with producing 70%, 86%, and 90% of total PM2.5, PM10 and total suspended particulates, respectively, were the major sources of dust emission in the sand and gravel product plants. The lowest dust emission was related to stockpiling handling, producing 0.24%, 0.33%, and 0.16% of the total PM2.5, PM10 and total suspended particulates. The results of the presented model indicated that 24-hour average concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and total suspended particulates produced by mining activities were about 36, 183, and 690 µg/m3 in the working zone and less than 30, 100, and 400 µg/m3 beyond the mineral complex boundary, respectively. Thus, annual average dust concentrations were negligible. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 produced by these plants in the mineral complex ambient air were higher than the standard average values recommended by the United States Environmental Protect Agency and World Health Organization. However, the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 from these plants in the residential areas around the complex, were below the standard limits proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.CONCLUSION: Sand and gravel mining activities increased the concentrations of particulate matter in the air of the surrounding areas and, to some extent, farther cities. PM2.5 and PM10 resulting from the sand and gravel mining activities could damage the workers in the mineral complex. They exceeded the 24-hour average permissible limits proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency about 1 and 33 µg/m3, respectively. This study showed the necessity of changing the industrial policies adopted to decrease dust emission rates. The results of this study can help the air pollution experts develop proper strategies for improving the air quality in the vicinity of surface mines.
format	article
author	Y. Zehtab Yazdi N. Mansouri F. Atabi H. Aghamohammadi
author_facet	Y. Zehtab Yazdi N. Mansouri F. Atabi H. Aghamohammadi
author_sort	Y. Zehtab Yazdi
title	Dispersion modelling of particulate matter concentrations of sand product plants in a mineral complex
title_short	Dispersion modelling of particulate matter concentrations of sand product plants in a mineral complex
title_full	Dispersion modelling of particulate matter concentrations of sand product plants in a mineral complex
title_fullStr	Dispersion modelling of particulate matter concentrations of sand product plants in a mineral complex
title_full_unstemmed	Dispersion modelling of particulate matter concentrations of sand product plants in a mineral complex
title_sort	dispersion modelling of particulate matter concentrations of sand product plants in a mineral complex
publisher	GJESM Publisher
publishDate	2022
url	https://doaj.org/article/82bdc269266c4f789fbfe4b007933ad9
work_keys_str_mv	AT yzehtabyazdi dispersionmodellingofparticulatematterconcentrationsofsandproductplantsinamineralcomplex AT nmansouri dispersionmodellingofparticulatematterconcentrationsofsandproductplantsinamineralcomplex AT fatabi dispersionmodellingofparticulatematterconcentrationsofsandproductplantsinamineralcomplex AT haghamohammadi dispersionmodellingofparticulatematterconcentrationsofsandproductplantsinamineralcomplex
_version_	1718425621539848192

Dispersion modelling of particulate matter concentrations of sand product plants in a mineral complex

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