Journal of Natural Environment

Exploring air quality and industrial pollution sources in Bandar Abbas city: A three-year analysis (2020-2023)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Natural Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

2 Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Desertology, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

3 Department Environmental Science, Arman Sabz Mohit Researchers Company, Yazd University Technology and Innovation Center, Yazd Science and Technology Park, Yazd, Iran.

10.22059/jne.2024.367551.2618

Abstract

The Air Quality Index (AQI) serves as a crucial indicator for assessing daily air quality, informing individuals about cleanliness or pollution levels, and highlighting associated health impacts. This study delves into the dynamics of air quality in Bandar Abbas city over a three-year span from 2020 to 2023, exploring its correlation with meteorological factors. AQI data (For 11:00 AM and 11:00 PM every day) sourced from Bandar Abbas' air pollution monitoring station were analyzed alongside meteorological parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, cloud cover, temperature, and humidity obtained from the University of Iowa website. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software version 27. Results revealed direct relationships between AQI and wind direction, as well as temperature, and an inverse correlation with cloud cover at daytime. Moreover, AQI exhibited significantly higher levels during summer compared to other seasons. Additionally, a significant relationship was observed between the concentrations of O3 and SO2 and wind direction at nighttime.The study identified prominent sources of industrial pollution, including Setare Khalij Fars Refinery, Bandar Abbas Refinery, Al Mahdi Aluminum, Hormozgan Steel, Kaveh Steel, and Bandar Abbas Thermal Power Plant, primarily situated to the west of the city. Acknowledging the significant impact of wind direction on AQI, the study underscores the importance of considering both the prevailing wind direction and the distance of pollutant sources from the city in industrial site selection, especially in light of the region's complex topography.

Keywords

Akbari, E., Fakheri, M., PourGholam, E., Akbari, Z., 2015. monthly zoning of air pollution and investigation of its relationship with Climatic factors (Case study: Mashhad city). Journal of Natural Environment 68(4), 547-533. (In persian)
Arghadeep, B., Chowdhury I.R., 2023. Investigating the association between air pollutants’ concentration and meteorological parameters in a rapidly growing urban center of West Bengal, India: a statistical modeling-based approach. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment 9(4), 2877-2892.
Asadzadeh, S.N., Hashemi, M., Dolati, M., Kermani, M., 2017. Investigating the trend of changes in air pollutants and its relationship with meteorological parameters in Bojnord city in 2014. Rahvard Salamat 3 ( In persian).
Ataei, H., Hasheminasab, S., 2011. Statistical study of air pollution in Isfahan city and its relationship with climate parameters. Tehran: The 11th Congress of Geographers of Iran. (In Persian)
BaridKazemi, S.,, Moeinian, K., Taghipour, A., Nasehinia, H., 2019. Investigating the relationship between meteorological parameters and PM2.5 changes based on AQI index in Mashhad during 2014-2015. Journal of Torbat Heydarieh University of Medical Sciences 7(2). (In Persian)
Birim, N.G., Turhan, C., Atalay, A.S., Gokcen Akkurt, G., 2023. The influence of meteorological parameters on PM10: a statistical analysis of an urban and rural environment in Izmir/Türkiye. Atmosphere 14(3), 421.
DOE. 2023. aqms.doe.ir. Accessed 2023. aqms.doe.ir. (In Persian)
Environmental Research Institute, Occupational Health Center. 2011. Guide for calculating, determining and announcing the air quality index, requirements, instructions and specialized guidelines of the Occupational Health Center. Environmental Research Institute. (In Persian)
Farhadi, R., Kargar, M., Zolfaghari, Gh., 2021. Prediction of air pollutants (CO, O3, PM10) and meteorological parameters of a case study: Birjand city. Scientific Quarterly of Environment and Transsectoral Development 71, 64-75. (In Persian)
Heidari, M., Heidarinejad, Z., Alipour, V., Dindarloo, K., Rahmanian, O., Goodarzi, B., Mousapour, H., 2017. Evaluation of Air Quality based on Air Quality Index in Kerman City, 2015. Environmental Health Research 3(3), 208-218.
Horn, S.A., Dasgupta, P.K., 2024. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in historical and analytical perspective a tutorial review. Talanta 267, 125260.
Khajeh, M., Kheyrandish, H., Pishdad, S., 2014. Investigating the trend of the dust phenomenon and studying the winds affecting it (case study: Bandar Abbascity, Hormozgan province). Environmental Erosion Research 4(4), 37-48. (In Persian)
Khebri, Z., Nejadkoorki, F., Talebi,S., 2016. Developing Air Pollution Modeling (AERMOD) in MATLAB Software. Journal of Natural Environment 69(2), 377-399. (In Persian)
Lee, H., Lee, J., Oh, S., Park, S., Mayer, H., 2023. Air pollution assessment in Seoul, South Korea, using an updated daily air quality index. Atmospheric Pollution Research 14(4), 101728.
Li, X.B., Yuan, B., Parrish, D.D., Chen, D., Song, Y., Yang, S., Liu, Z., Shao, M., 2022. Long-term trend of ozone in southern China reveals future mitigation strategy for air pollution. Atmospheric Environment 269, 118869.
Lorestani, B., Cheraghi, M., Sobhan, S., 2008. "study and investigation of air polluting sources in Bandar Abbas city. the second specialized conference and exhibition of environmental engineering. Tehran. (In Persian)
Mokhtari, M., Miri, M., Mohammadi, A., Khorsandi, H., Hajizadeh, Y., Abdolahnejad, A., 2015. "Estimation of air quality index and health hazards attributed to PM10, PM2.5 and So2 in the air of Yazd city. Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences 25(131), 14-23. (In Persian)
Nabipeylashkarian, S., Habibi, A., Mahfozi, M., 2020. nvestigating the problem of dust production on the surface of Shoor and Khorkhoran wetlands in Hormozgan province. Tehran: he 4th national conference on soil protection and watershed management with a focus on dust. (In Persian)
NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 2014. Nighttime Tropospheric Ozone Impacts and Relationship to Air Quality. Washington: NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory-Health & Air Quality.
Panahi, A., 2018. Investigating the relationship between air quality index pollutants and meteorological parameters in extreme inversions of Tabriz city. Geographical Space Scientific Research Quarterly 18(62), 63-76. (In Persian)
Ramezani, N., Alijani, B., Borna, R., 2019. Analysis and scenario forecasting of climate change effects on air pollution in Tehran metropolis. Geography and Environmental Hazards 30, 115-132. (In Persian)
Salamati Hormozi, V., Hamzehnejad, M., Omidvar, K., Hosseinpur, M., 2016. Colloquial and remote analysis of the dust storm event in Hormozgan province. Environmental Science and Technology 21(12). (In Persian)
Sasmita, S., Kumar, D.B., Priyadharshini, B., 2022. Assessment of sources and health impacts of PM10 in an urban environment over eastern coastal plain of India. Environmental Challenges 7, 100457.
Shafieivarzaneh, Z., Emamimeybodi, A., 2016. "Investigating the air quality of Isfahan city based on AQI index during the years 2008 to 2013 (case study: Maidan Azadi station). The fifth international conference on new researches in management, economics and accounting. Saint Petersburg. (In persian)
Shen, L., Lu, X., Huynh, T.L.D., Liang, C., 2023. Air quality index and the Chinese stock market volatility: Evidence from both market and sector indices. International Review of Economics & Finance 84, 224-239.
Sicard, P., Paoletti, E., Agathokleous, E., Araminienė, V., Proietti, C., Coulibaly, F., De Marco, A., 2020. Ozone weekend effect in cities: Deep insights for urban air pollution control. Environmental Research 191, 110193.
Steinberger, E H, and E Ganor. 1980. "High ozone concentrations at night in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. Atmospheric Environment 14 (2): 221-225.
Toulabi, A., Zare, M., Mahvi, M., Shahryari, A., Sarkhosh, A., Rahmani, M., 2012. Investigating the air quality index in the air around Bandar Abbas Refinery. Hormozgan Medical Journal 16. (In Persian)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. 2023. AERMOD Model Formulation. Research Triangle Park, NC.
University of Iowa State. n.d. Iowa State University. Accessed 2020-2023. https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/request/download.phtml?network=IR__ASOS.
Zupancic, T.,, Claire, W., Mike, B., 2015. The impact of green space on heat and air pollution in urban communities: A meta-narrative systematic review. Vancouver: David Suzuki Foundation, Green Belt.
Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 78, Monitoring and Management of Natural Environmental Pollutants
June 2025
Pages 1-17