Predictive environmental impact assessment of total petroleum hydrocarbons in petrochemical wastewater effluent and surface sediment

The contamination level of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in wastewater and surface sediment samples from the Petrochemical Special Economic Zone (PETZONE) and adjacent coastal area in Musa Bay (in Northwest of Persian Gulf) was examined. Concentrations of TPH in the Musa Bay sediments ranged from 16.48 to 97.15 µg/g dry weight (dw) with average value of 48.98 ± 30.36 µg/g dw. The highest concentrations were estimated in stations close to the coastline, locations affected by intensive petrochemical discharges and shipping activities. The average TPH concentration in the PETZONE wastewater effluent samples was 5.22 mg/L, with a range of 0.06–35.33 mg/L. Regarding environmental impact assessment, the concentration of TPH was lower than the wastewater effluent discharge standard at most of the monitoring stations inside PETZONE companies, with the exception of stations 15, 16 (Imam Khomeini petrochemical company 1, 2) and 17 (Razi petrochemical company). These stations were considered as moderate environmental aspects, suggesting that concentration of TPH in the wastewater effluents of these petrochemical companies could be considered as contaminants of concern in the PETZONE area.     

A comprehensive VIKOR method for integration of various exploratory data in mineral potential mapping

The central Iranian volcanic-sedimentary belt in Kerman province of Iran that is located within the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc zone is chosen to integrate diverse evidential layers for mineral potential mapping. The studied area has high potential of mineral occurrences especially porphyry copper, and the prepared potential maps aim to outline new prospect zones for further investigation. Two evidential layers including the downward continued map and the analytic signal of filtered magnetic data are generated to be used as geophysical plausible traces of porphyry copper occurrences. The low values of the resistivity layer acquired from airborne frequency domain electromagnetic data are also used as an electrical criterion in this study. Four remote sensing evidential layers including argillic, phyllic, propylitic, and hydroxyl alterations are extracted from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) images in order to map the altered areas associated with porphyry copper deposits. The Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) images are used as well to prepare iron oxide layer. Since potassic alteration is generally the mainstay of copper ore mineralization, the airborne potassium radiometry data is used to explore both phyllic and potassic alteration. Finally, the geochemical layers of Cu/B/Pb/Zn elements and the main geochemical component responsible for ore mineralization extracted from principal component analysis are included in the integration process to prepare final potential maps. The conventional and the extended version of VIKOR method (as a well-known algorithm in multi-criteria decision making problems) produced two mineral potential maps, and the results were compared with the ones acquired from prevalent methods of the index overlay and fuzzy logic operators of sum and gamma. The final mineral potential maps based upon desired geo-data set indicate adequately matching of high potential zones with previous working and active mines of copper deposits.     

Delineation of groundwater salinization in a coastal aquifer, Bousheher, South of Iran

The geochemical processes controlling chemical composition of groundwater are studied using hydrochemical and isotopic data in Abdan-Dayer coastal plain, south of Iran. The salinity of groundwater in the coastal plain ranges from 1,000, a fresh end-member, to more than 50,000 μS cm^?1, a saline end-member. Groundwater salinity increases from the recharge area toward areas with a shallow water table close to the Persian Gulf coast due to direct evaporation and sea water intrusion as confirmed by mixing binary diagrams, stable isotope content, and Br^?/Cl^? ratio. Groundwater flow pattern in the study area has been modified due to over-pumping of groundwater in recent years which resulted in further saline water migration toward fresh water and their mixing. The maximum mixing ratio is estimated about 15% in different parts of the study area according to chloride concentration.     

DEFLOGIC: a method for assessment of groundwater potential in karst terrains: Gurpi Anticline,southwest Iran

A new hydro-tectonic model, includes eight layers that affect karst hydrogeology was proposed for mapping of groundwater potential in karst areas of Gurpi Anticline, southwest Iran. To produce the groundwater potential map, remote sensing (RS) and GIS techniques were combined with fuzzy logic modeling. Criterion maps include the distances from discharge sites (D), the elevation difference from discharge sites (E), the distance from fractures (F), the fracture length density (L), the slope (O), the lithology (G), the distance from fractures intersections (I), and the fractures intersection density (C) were produced using GIS and RS techniques (DEFLOGIC layers). The approach of fuzzy sets was used to commensurate criterion maps, then fuzzy algebraic sum and gamma operators were applied to aggregate them. The weights of parameters of DEFLOGIC proposed in the range of 1 to 5, which standardized between 0 to 1, based on their importance in karst hydrogeology, professional judgments, and available exploration data. The final groundwater potential maps were verified by geoelectric and well-drilling data. The potential map prepared using fuzzy gamma operator with γ?=?0.92, which it is a flexible distinctive parameters of sum and product of fuzzy operator, depicts the best coincidence with exploration data. The final DEFLOGIC map shows the high groundwater potential in karst formations between Hati and Pebde valleys. The results support the efficiency of DEFLOGIC model to evaluating of groundwater potential in karst terrains, especially in Zagros ranges.     

Costs related to drowning and near drowning in northern Iran (Guilan province)

In Iran and many other low- and middle-income countries, few studies have been carried out in order to assess which cost analysis methods should be undertaken at the household and community level in relation to incidences of drowning. In this study, we have attempted to develop a model for estimating the impact of the economic burden that drowning and near drowning events incur for victims’ families in the Guilan province in the north of Iran by using an incidence approach. During the financial year of March 2007 to 2008, the following cost-related aspects of drowning episodes were evaluated: (note: main cost elements were income adjusted by family and years) medical costs, productivity loss costs and death costs. A total of 137 drowning fatalities and 104 near drowning incidents were recorded. Males in the age span of 10-29 years constitute a majority of the epidemiology and economy data. When the number of variables included in cost analysis was expanded, the estimated burden of economic duress increased dramatically; however, drowning cost for one drowned victim was equivalent to 17 times the country’s gross domestic product(GDP) per capital. Identification of injured person-based costs in this study will enable development of more effective prevention programs and provide indicators of other costs related to drowning episodes such as property damage and the impact of these accidents on community services and the public health care system.     

A late Quaternary lake record from the Qilian Mountains (NW China): evolution of the primary production and the water depth reconstructed from macrofossil, pollen, biomarker, and isotope data

The history (45–0 ka BP) of the aquatic vegetation composition of the shallow alpine Lake Luanhaizi from the NE Tibetan Plateau is inferred from aquatic plant macrofossil frequencies and aquatic pollen and algae concentrations in the sediments. C/N (range: 0.3–100), δ¹³C (range: −28 to −15‰), and n-alkane measurements yielded further information on the quantitative composition of sedimentary organic matter. The inferred primary production of the former lake ecosystem has been examined in respect of the alternative stable state theory of shallow lakes [Scheffer, M., 1989. Alternative stable states in eutrophic, shallow freshwater systems: a minimal model. Hydrobiological Bulletin 23, 73–83]. Switches between clear and turbid water conditions are explained by a colder climate and forest decline in the catchment area of Lake Luanhaizi. The macrofossil-based reconstruction of past water depth and salinity ranges, as well as other organic matter (OM) proxies allowed climatic inferences of the summer monsoon intensity during the late Quaternary. Around 45 ka BP, conditions similar to or even moister than present-day climate occurred. The Lake Luanhaizi record is further evidence against an extensive glaciation of the Tibetan Plateau and its bordering mountain ranges during the Last Glacial Maximum. Highest lake levels and consequently a strong summer monsoon are recorded for the early Holocene period, while gradually decreasing lake levels are reconstructed for the middle and late Holocene.