International Journal of Technical Research and Applications e-ISSN: 2320-8163,

www.ijtra.com, Volume 5, Issue 2 (March - April 2017), PP. 112-114

AIR QUALITY INDEX OVER BASRA

PROVINCE, SOUTH OF IRAQ
1
Shaymaa H. Shehabalden, 2 Nayyef M. Azeez
Department of Ecology, College of Science, University of Basrah
Basra, Iraq
[email protected]

Abstract — This study is one of the recent approaches to

deal with management of environmental pollution. It was II. MATERIAL AND METHODS
carried out to analysis the pollution levels in the ambient
air, of Basra province. Five different stations for gases
A. Study Area:
concentrations were chosen through a period of time from
January to December 2015. Air pollutants were monitored
by a handheld gas analyzer (Instruments E- 4400) for The city of Basra is place in south of Iraq and the center
NOX, SO2, CO2 and CO, while PDR -1200 ( Personal area of Basra city is overcrowded, congested and commercial
Data Ram) device to measure total suspended particles area. The selected sampling sites include industrialized, heavy
(TSP). The reason of choosing this subject is the negative traffic, commercial, residential and more populated areas. The
effects of air pollution on the citizens, which causes natures of the sites are described in Table (1)
economical and health issues. This study contains
important information for Basra province and pollution B. Instruments:
risk of health on people .the result show annual and
seasonal AQI values found high concentrations of
pollutants distributed clearly in the study stations, as 1. Gases analyzer ( portable combustion gas analyzers
winter record greatest values that most concentrations E4400 ) has been used for outdoor air quality
were higher than the global limitations but within the local monitoring. pollutant gases were measured using this
limitations. instrument. Air gases were sucked in to the analyzer
such as SO2, NOx , CO and CO2.
Index Terms — Basra, air quality index, gases, TSP,
AQI. 2. Fine Particulate Sampler PDR( personal data ram)
device type 1200 (Thermo Electron Corporation):
I. INTRODUCTION has been used for sampling total suspended particles)
Pollution can be defined as un acceptable change in the TSP ).
biological, chemical or physical characteristics of the air, water
or land that can effect on organisms and all life. When the Table (1) Sampling sites selected for the study in Basra city
humans are exposed to air pollution, it can cause respiratory Site Description of the site
related decreases and aggravate the conditions such as asthma, Qurna large scale industries functioning, moderate
bronchitis. Energy needs of the industries and domestic 31°00'49.0"N traffic
activities are met by burning fuels, which also emit poisonous 47°25'52.1"E
wastes leading to air contamination. Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Ashar Heavy traffic, maximum commercial activities
Nitrogen dioxide) NO2) and particulate matters (PM) are 30°31'01.6"N
known to be the major air pollutants in Iraq. Degradation of air 47°50'12.2"E
quality in Iraq cities is mainly due to emissions from the Tannuma Residential area with moderate traffic
vehicles on road, power plant and oil fields. In the past few 30°31'47.4"N
decades or so, there has been a tremendous raise in road 47°51'15.1"E
transportation, increase in the number of fuel consuming Abu-Khaseb Moderate scale industries functioning,
vehicles and establishment of large number of industries have 30°27'10.2"N Moderate traffic
resulted in drastic increase in the concentration of gaseous and 47°59'04.8"E
particulate matter in air. Air quality standards and guidelines
Zubair Extension area with less traffic, thin
have been proven based upon air pollution affect also to the
30°23'26.0"N population
human health and well being. The best available background
47°41'49.4"E
materifor estimate of health effects of the US- EPA criteria
documents and the air quality guidelines for Europe.

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 International Journal of Technical Research and Applications e-ISSN: 2320-8163,
www.ijtra.com, Volume 5, Issue 2 (March - April 2017), PP. 112-114
Table (2) Seasonal mean concentration of gases and particles in
different seasons.

# 1 2 3 4 5
station Season Qurna Ashar Tannum Abu- Zubayr
a Khaseb
TSP winter 147.35 222.04 215.15 180.18 249.01
(μg/m3
) spring 292.79 370.36 297.48 219.36 437.69
summer 186.02 261.81 219.071 207.973 304.71
9 4 7
autumn 175.55 228.61 185.65 132.02 232.1
SO2 winter 0.165 0.162 0.121 0.016 0.126
(ppm)
spring 0.267 0.227 0.206 0.081 0.266
summer 0.431 0.336 0.338 0.155 0.334
autumn 0.147 0.169 0.165 0.028 0.138
winter 5.54 9.57 8.31 4.4 8.13
CO
(ppm) spring 2.34 4.2 3.92 2.57 3.86
summer 3.25 4.91 3.95 2.33 3.87
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
autumn 4.45 8.14 4.15 3.82 5.27
CO2 winter 221.5 300.05 294 207.5 270.02
The obtained seasonal concentration of TSP, SO2, CO, (ppm)
CO2 and NOx are recorded in tables (2) and (3) , From these spring 214.33 237.68 241.67 166.35 221.03
tables It can be seen that there are considerable variations in summer 232.07 258 254.44 203 250.37
the pollution level over different seasons and show the range autumn 244.51 270.5 234.51 203.5 239.49
of air quality index with AQI category that appear the side
NOx winter 0.153 0.169 0.167 0.039 0.168
effect on the people health . (ppm)
AQI index for the current study gases, the stations recorded spring 0.197 0.105 0.102 0.052 0.101
indicators ranging from 30 to 48. This category is good for the summer 0.617 0.506 0.27 0.1 0.538
concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), while the Ashar autumn 0.185 0.055 0.076 0.055 0.104
station was marked by the highest values of the AQI index.
The average values of AQI were zero for the nitrogen and
sulfur oxides concentrations. They were good and for all penetrate depths of the human lung when inhaled in large
stations. The values of TSP index were marked by the highest quantities and stay for long periods may destroy the lungs,
AQI values ranging from 104 to 172. The indicator class was leading to death.
unhealthy for the sensitive groups of all stations, except Zubair
station that recorded a non-health indicator (Unhealthy). Most of the oxides in the study stations were caused by
human activities, such as car exhaust products and fossil fuel
The present study found that the values of the AQI index combustion, as is the case in power plants other than a part of
for single gases in the different study stations did not exceed the naturally occurring suspended matter. Inhalation is the
100 and less than 150 occurred within the green color, which common method of exposure to polluted oxides when acute
indicates that the presence of these gases under the conditions exposure to high concentrations of carbon monoxide resulting
of air quality within the normal level is a good indicator. from incomplete combustion will reduce the body's oxygen
Registration of yellow color (moderate) which indicates that air ability, causing anemia, chest pain, mental alertness, and
quality is moderate and acceptable conditions. However, the nitrogen oxides cause a dangerous effect on the body. Or
contamination within this category may be a moderate health breathing and mucous membranes and irritation of the eyes,
problem with a small number of individuals who have a nose, throat and lungs.
sensitive to ozone or particles pollution and those who suffer
from respiratory diseases. As recorded for TSP, the score of The results in figure 2 obtained for the annual values of the
AQI was high values exceeded the normal levels of the index AQI indicators for all the study stations show that the Abu-
and most stations recorded orange color that warns the group of Khaseb station recorded the lowest annual values of 45 in the
sensitive persons and was characterized by the station. Zubair category of good (green color), while the Qurna station
station recorded red indicator indicates that the air is unhealthy recorded the value of 104, Al-Ashar 119, Al- Tannuma 104
for people may begin to face the various health effects and Al-Zubayr 108, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.
resulting from inhalation particles and dust in the air. The
particles of the outstanding atmosphere have the ability to

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 International Journal of Technical Research and Applications e-ISSN: 2320-8163,
www.ijtra.com, Volume 5, Issue 2 (March - April 2017), PP. 112-114

Table(3) Describes the Range of Air Quality Index ( AQI )

and its AQI category
Gases station mean AQI AQI category Standard
AQI
CO (ppm) 1 3.505 04 Good 04 - 4
2 5.201 05 Moderate 144- 01
3 4.235 05 Good
0 2.690 34 Good
0 4.290 05 Good
NOx(ppm) 1 0.108 4 Good
2 0.109 4 Good
3 0.127 4 Good
4 0.091 4 Good Figure 2: Annual AQI proportion of all gases in the study
5 0.102 4 Good stations in Basra Province
TSP(µg/m3) 1 162.54 140 Unhealthy for 101-150
Sensitive Groups ACKNOWLEDGMENT
2 236.02 101 Unhealthy for We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Dunya A.
Sensitive Groups Al-Abbawy for her supports.
3 223.52 130 Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups
4 192.66 111 Unhealthy for
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