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Showing 6 results for Environmental Pollution
Volume 2, Issue 1 (4-2012)
Abstract
Natural Resources are a life source and very valuable which have left for humanity to cherish. Irresponsible use of these resources can lead to Irreversible effects on the environment and life. Hereon, the soil is one of the valuable elements that taking care of it, is essential for durability like other elements. The soil of our planet is a result of millions of years of geological evolutions. Soil resources are irreversible and Excessive consuming of them Cause to loss of natural resources. Hence, soil conservation is very important and necessary. One of the most influential parameters on the quality of soil resources is in the field of architecture and construction. In this article we will discuss about brick, a most popular component made of soil which is used for building. Also the effects of using brick on the land quality and soil resources of Tehran have been discussed as well as environmental aspects. In this study, Tehran as the capital city of the Islamic Republic of Iran is chosen as case study in which more than eight million people reside in its metropolitan area. It is assumed that results from the analysis of soil resource challenges in Tehran could also be applicable to other large cities in developing countries. Even though using the brick is important to Iranian architecture it can also destroy the equilibrium of the environment because of the Excessive consumption of soil. The questions of this research are: 1. which damages can be followed by the use of brick in the construction industry? 2. Which advantages and Opportunities is caused by uses of bricks? To answer the research questions, the case study research method with combination strategies has been adopted. The technique used for collecting data is field survey, in which the quantitative data is chosen. The information and theoretical literature is based on studies, which is collected by the library method and Interview from Bricks manufacturers. Processing data is accomplished by graphs and illative methods.Our Research shows that environmental aspects of brick’s products in Tehran is very serious. In addition, industrial wastes without proper management, building waste and irregular construction especially in border of cities, has brought considerable risks for the environment of Tehran. While the using brick accurately, reduce damages on environment and natural resources in three period of time: manufacturing, consuming and post consuming. One of the most usable strategies to control environmental issues, is recycling and reusing of materials that the brick has high capacity in this context. Thereupon it can be appropriate opportunity for environment.
Volume 3, Issue 2 (6-2015)
Abstract
TheChah Nimeh reservoirs of Sistan is as one of the main water sources of Zabol City used for drinking, agriculture, industry and livestock purposes. This study aimed to determine the contribution of the natural and concentration factors of heavy metals such as Cd, Pb and Cu in sediment of Chah Nimeh of Sistan. The concentrations of heavy metals in surface sediments were studied in six stations during 2013. To determine the concentration of the heavy metals atomic absorption spectrometer (Contr AA 700) was used. Sequential extraction analysis was applied based on the share of natural and concentration factor sources of heavy metals. Sequential extraction analysis showed that a considerable part of the Pb (63.67%), Cd (55.17%) and Cu (57.17%) were from natural sources. The highest concentrations of Cd and Pb were 0.81 and 5.57 mg kg-1, respectively, obtained in station one and the maximum Cu concentration was observed in station five (37.8 mg kg-1), while the lowest concentration of Cd, Pb and Cu were 0.34, 3.95 and 31.4 mg kg-1, respectively.
Volume 13, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background: Due to high toxicity, durability in natural conditions, and bioaccumulation in the food chain, potentially toxic elements are considered serious pollutants.
Material and Method: toxic elements (Al, As, Cr, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, V, and Mn) in sediment samples from some coastal rivers flowing into the southern Caspian Sea (Tajan, Babolroud, and Shirood) were assessed. Single (C f 
, EF, Igeo, Hq, PLI, and QoC) and integrated contamination indices (m-PEC-q, m-PEL-q, MERMQ, NPI, and CSI) were used to assess the ecotoxicological risk of the metals.
Results: At all sites, the level of Cd was less than the detection limit (<5 mg.kg-1), indicating no significant source of pollution containing Cd. The mean concentration order of the metals in the rivers varied, suggesting that their contaminant sources significantly differed. The metal content of the Tajan River was substantially lower than that of the other rivers. EF values of Cu, Ni, and As showed partial enrichment, probably indicating their anthropogenic origin. According to the single indices of CF, Igeo, PLI, and Hq, the Babolrood and Shirood Rivers, sediment was significantly contaminated by As, Ni, and Zn. Based on NPI values, the Shirood River was extremely polluted by As. Integrated ecotoxicological risk indices of CSI, m-ERM-Q, and m-PEL-q suggest that metals pose medium to low levels of environmental toxicity in the Babolrood and Shirood Rivers.
Discussion and Conclusion: This research demonstrated the necessity of using management and pollution control strategies such as improving wastewater treatment, promoting sustainable agriculture, and regulating industrial discharges.
Material and Method: toxic elements (Al, As, Cr, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, V, and Mn) in sediment samples from some coastal rivers flowing into the southern Caspian Sea (Tajan, Babolroud, and Shirood) were assessed. Single (
, EF, Igeo, Hq, PLI, and QoC) and integrated contamination indices (m-PEC-q, m-PEL-q, MERMQ, NPI, and CSI) were used to assess the ecotoxicological risk of the metals.Results: At all sites, the level of Cd was less than the detection limit (<5 mg.kg-1), indicating no significant source of pollution containing Cd. The mean concentration order of the metals in the rivers varied, suggesting that their contaminant sources significantly differed. The metal content of the Tajan River was substantially lower than that of the other rivers. EF values of Cu, Ni, and As showed partial enrichment, probably indicating their anthropogenic origin. According to the single indices of CF, Igeo, PLI, and Hq, the Babolrood and Shirood Rivers, sediment was significantly contaminated by As, Ni, and Zn. Based on NPI values, the Shirood River was extremely polluted by As. Integrated ecotoxicological risk indices of CSI, m-ERM-Q, and m-PEL-q suggest that metals pose medium to low levels of environmental toxicity in the Babolrood and Shirood Rivers.
Discussion and Conclusion: This research demonstrated the necessity of using management and pollution control strategies such as improving wastewater treatment, promoting sustainable agriculture, and regulating industrial discharges.
Volume 20, Issue 3 (5-2018)
Abstract
The SP-A9 strain of Bacillus sp., which is most closely related to Bacillus subtilis, demonstrated excellent antifungal properties in laboratory analyses. The percentage of inhibition in the dual culture test was similar for all investigated phytopathogens (Fusarium culmorum, F. oxysporum and Monographella nivalis) at approximately 46%. The analyzed strain was found to be cellulolytic and strongly chitinolytic, and its biochemical properties indicate that it easily adapted to various environmental conditions. The strain's sporulation ability and high proliferation rate in acidic, alkaline, and highly saline environments (9% NaCl) further confirmed its adaptability to adverse conditions. In a pot experiment, the basic biometric parameters of spring wheat grain inoculated with Bacillus sp. SP-A9 were not modified, but a significant increase in grain yield was observed (by 18% in soil contaminated with F. culmorum and by 19% in soil contaminated with F. oxysporum). The increase in yield was correlated with the number of wheat plants, which suggests that the analyzed strain minimized the pathogen-induced inhibition of plant growth. Bacillus sp. SP-A9 can reduce economic losses resulting from diseases caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium and contribute to reduced use of crop protection chemicals, thus minimizing environmental pollution.
Dr Saman Ghaderi, Mr. Ramin Amani, Mahabad Amini,
Volume 23, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Volume 23, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Abstract
Aim and Introduction
Nowadays, the environmental impacts of human activities are considered one of the limitations of economic growth. Developing countries are facing the problem of environmental degradation, which hinders economic growth and development. On the other hand, the process of economic development of countries has become one of the environmental challenges and one of the most critical concerns of policymakers over the years. Due to the significant role of the government in the economy of the countries, government economic enterprises are also sources of pollution along with the private sector. The main reason is the unprecedented concentration of greenhouse gases, which leads to the intense and continuous production of carbon dioxide gas. In addition to being a dangerous factor for human health, air pollution also has an economic burden on societies, which causes a decrease in the quality of life and the welfare of society. Thus, developing countries, including Iran, are facing the problem of environmental degradation. Privatization can be a helpful policy and a government tool to influence economic productivity and social welfare through ecological pollution control. Most domestic research on privatisation's impact on environmental pollution has been interview-based and qualitative. For this reason, this research aims to investigate the impact of privatization on carbon dioxide emissions in Iran using the time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP – VAR) model. The model is considered dynamic due to the time factor, and the impact of privatization on environmental pollution in Iran can be accurately observed in different years.
Methodology
The present study investigates the impact of privatization on environmental pollution in Iran during 1991-2020 using the data of the Privatization Organization, the Central Bank of Iran, the World Bank, the Globalization Index website, and the energy balance sheet of the Ministry of Energy. Furthermore, the time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP – VAR) model has been used to study the relationship between variables. In this method, the optimal interval length of the model was determined first. Then, the data durability was checked through the unit root test of Zivot and Andrews (1992), considering the structural break. The next step examined cointegration tests, serial correlation, variance heteroscedasticity, and polynomial inverse root circle tests. In the end, the results of the impulse response function of the TVP – VAR model were presented. For this purpose, the emission rate of carbon dioxide has been used as an index of pollution, and the value of the transfer of shares and assets from the public sector to the private sector has been considered an index of privatization. The TVP – VAR method, unlike the vector autoregression model, allows the calculation of variable coefficients over time. Due to changing conditions, structural break and cyclical changes were observed in time series in macroeconomics. As a result, the TVP – VAR model enabled us to accurately obtain the nature of the economic structure’s temporal changes.
Findings
In this research, the mechanisms of the impact of privatization on environmental pollution have been analyzed, and the time series data of 1991-2020 and the TVP-VAR model have been used as experimental work. The present research findings show that despite the incomplete, unscientific, and politicized implementation of privatization in Iran, privatization has reduced the emission of carbon dioxide gas in Iran.
Discussion and Conclusion
Based on the results, the relationship between the privatization index and environmental pollution is confirmed. It indicates that privatization has a negative and significant effect on the emission of carbon dioxide in Iran. With the increase of privatization, pollution is decreased because when privatization increases, the productivity of labor and capital and the access to new technology for reducing pollutants is also increased. In developing countries like Iran, economic issues are prioritized over environmental considerations, leading to policymaking without considering environmental costs. In contrast, by including environmental calculations in the studies related to economic policies, it is possible to view the environmental damage caused. Based on the results, it is concluded that the economic globalization index, investment, gross domestic product without oil, and human development index have significant and positive effects on production and carbon dioxide emissions. When the size of the government increases, efficiency and productivity decrease. In Iran, one solution can be importing environment-friendly technologies and more investment in this area. According to the results, it can be seen that the increase in privatization can reduce greenhouse gases, and this is due to the rise in the efficiency of private companies in the exploitation and optimal use of natural resources. Thus, policymakers can consider privatization as a part of the solution to fight environmental pollution.
Keywords: Privatization, Environmental Pollution, Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregression (TVP – VAR), Iran
JEL Classification: C22, L33, Q53
Mrs. Najme Mohammadi, Dr. Bahram Sahabi, Dr. Hassan Heydari, Dr. Hossein Sadeghi,
Volume 23, Issue 4 (12-2023)
Volume 23, Issue 4 (12-2023)
Abstract
Aim and Introduction
Technology provides an opportunity for the economy to move from polluting sources to renewable sources to meet energy needs. Increasing economic complexity means more use of technology and innovation in production and may cause the expansion of effective technological products such as renewable energy. In the past few decades, the share of renewable energy has increased due to a wide range of factors, such as government regulations to promote the use of renewable energy, reduction in the cost of installing renewable energy and increasing production capacity, oil price fluctuations, and the positive effects of renewable energy in reducing emissions. Carbon and innovation processes have increased in the energy sector. Therefore, in this research, the effects of renewable energy consumption and economic complexity as well as their mutual effects on environmental pollution have been investigated using the GMM method in developing countries over the period 2000-2019.
Methodology
In dynamic models, due to the presence of a lagged dependent variable, OLS or GLS methods cannot be used to estimate the model, because the disturbance components are correlated with the lagged dependent variable, and the estimation results are biased and inconsistent as before. Therefore, to solve this problem, the GMM method proposed by Arellano and Bond (1991) is used. The GMM estimator belongs to the set of instrumental variables’ estimators. In this method, in addition to solve the problem of the correlation of the independent variable with disturbance components, the endogeneity of the variables and the heteroscedasticity of the variances are also removed. It should be noted that this method is applicable when T (number of periods) is smaller than N (number of sections).
Results
The results show that the economic complexity index has a negative and significant effect on carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries. Variables such as trade openness and energy intensity increase carbon dioxide emissions, and the Kuznets curve hypothesis is confirmed for developing countries, and economic complexity leads to an upward movement of the Kuznets curve. Renewable energy consumption has a significant effect on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and also at higher levels of economic complexity, renewable energy consumption causes a greater reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Conclusion and Discussion
The need for a more accurate understanding of economic phenomena has prompted economists to review previous theories and present new theories that have a new window to economic development literature. The goal of all countries is to achieve sustainable economic growth and development. Renewable energy technologies are promising, but there is very little information about its role as a limiting factor in reducing environmental pollution, especially in developing countries. Therefore, in this research, the effects of renewable energy consumption and economic complexity as well as their mutual effects on environmental pollution have been investigated using the GMM method in developing countries over the period 2000-2019. The results show that the economic complexity index has a negative and significant effect on the emission of carbon dioxide, so it can be said that for developing countries, moving towards a more knowledge-oriented economy can improve the quality of the environment. The variables of trade openness, energy intensity significantly affect positively CO2 emissions. The EKC hypothesis was confirmed with the positive logarithm of GDP per capita and its negative square coefficient. According to the results of the study, economic complexity in countries under study leads to an upward movement of EKC, which means that as economic complexity increases in developing countries due to increased energy demand, scale effects occur and lead to higher CO2 emissions.
In this study, energy intensity has a positive effect on the increase in carbon dioxide emissions and as a result the increase in environmental pollution in developing countries.
The specific result of this article is the significant effect of renewable energy consumption on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries. At higher levels of economic complexity, renewable energy consumption causes a greater reduction in CO2 emissions. In terms of the role of complexity, it can be argued that in countries under consideration, the share of renewable energy should be significantly increased by using innovation processes in the energy sector. Considering the negative effects of the share of renewable energies on carbon dioxide emissions per capita, it is suggested to define new patterns of energy consumption by relying on renewable energies in development programs and using incentive tools to replace renewable energies instead of fossil fuels to reduce pollution. Developing countries should support knowledge-based industries, increase the import and production of environmentally friendly technologies, and increase the share of renewable energy in their plans to protect the environment. In addition, pricing strategies can be proposed to avoid increased fossil fuel consumption.
Technology provides an opportunity for the economy to move from polluting sources to renewable sources to meet energy needs. Increasing economic complexity means more use of technology and innovation in production and may cause the expansion of effective technological products such as renewable energy. In the past few decades, the share of renewable energy has increased due to a wide range of factors, such as government regulations to promote the use of renewable energy, reduction in the cost of installing renewable energy and increasing production capacity, oil price fluctuations, and the positive effects of renewable energy in reducing emissions. Carbon and innovation processes have increased in the energy sector. Therefore, in this research, the effects of renewable energy consumption and economic complexity as well as their mutual effects on environmental pollution have been investigated using the GMM method in developing countries over the period 2000-2019.
Methodology
In dynamic models, due to the presence of a lagged dependent variable, OLS or GLS methods cannot be used to estimate the model, because the disturbance components are correlated with the lagged dependent variable, and the estimation results are biased and inconsistent as before. Therefore, to solve this problem, the GMM method proposed by Arellano and Bond (1991) is used. The GMM estimator belongs to the set of instrumental variables’ estimators. In this method, in addition to solve the problem of the correlation of the independent variable with disturbance components, the endogeneity of the variables and the heteroscedasticity of the variances are also removed. It should be noted that this method is applicable when T (number of periods) is smaller than N (number of sections).
Results
The results show that the economic complexity index has a negative and significant effect on carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries. Variables such as trade openness and energy intensity increase carbon dioxide emissions, and the Kuznets curve hypothesis is confirmed for developing countries, and economic complexity leads to an upward movement of the Kuznets curve. Renewable energy consumption has a significant effect on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and also at higher levels of economic complexity, renewable energy consumption causes a greater reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Conclusion and Discussion
The need for a more accurate understanding of economic phenomena has prompted economists to review previous theories and present new theories that have a new window to economic development literature. The goal of all countries is to achieve sustainable economic growth and development. Renewable energy technologies are promising, but there is very little information about its role as a limiting factor in reducing environmental pollution, especially in developing countries. Therefore, in this research, the effects of renewable energy consumption and economic complexity as well as their mutual effects on environmental pollution have been investigated using the GMM method in developing countries over the period 2000-2019. The results show that the economic complexity index has a negative and significant effect on the emission of carbon dioxide, so it can be said that for developing countries, moving towards a more knowledge-oriented economy can improve the quality of the environment. The variables of trade openness, energy intensity significantly affect positively CO2 emissions. The EKC hypothesis was confirmed with the positive logarithm of GDP per capita and its negative square coefficient. According to the results of the study, economic complexity in countries under study leads to an upward movement of EKC, which means that as economic complexity increases in developing countries due to increased energy demand, scale effects occur and lead to higher CO2 emissions.
In this study, energy intensity has a positive effect on the increase in carbon dioxide emissions and as a result the increase in environmental pollution in developing countries.
The specific result of this article is the significant effect of renewable energy consumption on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries. At higher levels of economic complexity, renewable energy consumption causes a greater reduction in CO2 emissions. In terms of the role of complexity, it can be argued that in countries under consideration, the share of renewable energy should be significantly increased by using innovation processes in the energy sector. Considering the negative effects of the share of renewable energies on carbon dioxide emissions per capita, it is suggested to define new patterns of energy consumption by relying on renewable energies in development programs and using incentive tools to replace renewable energies instead of fossil fuels to reduce pollution. Developing countries should support knowledge-based industries, increase the import and production of environmentally friendly technologies, and increase the share of renewable energy in their plans to protect the environment. In addition, pricing strategies can be proposed to avoid increased fossil fuel consumption.
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