Abstract

Background and purpose: Airports are proved to have adverse effects on the air quality of neighboring areas. This study aimed at determining the concentrations of air pollutants including PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, SO2, CO, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) in Mehrabad International Airport. Materials and methods: The samples were taken from two sites (runway and passengers waiting hall) in Mehrabad in December 2015. The concentrations of BTEX, particulate matter, and other gaseous pollutants were measured using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID), MetOne aerocet 531s, and Aeroqual Series 500, respectively. The effect of meteorological parameters (temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity) on the concentrations of air pollutants were analyzed using nonparametric correlation test. Results: In runway, the temperature was found to have a significant correlation with all the pollutants except PM2.5 (p<0.05). Relative humidity showed a significant correlation with all pollutants, except PM2.5 and O3 (p<0.05). Moreover, wind speed was significantly correlated with all the pollutants except O3, NO2, and toluene (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between the concentrations of pollutants in two sampling sites, except for benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene (p<0.05). Conclusion: Prevention of air pollution in neighboring areas of Mehrabad airport could be done using appropriate management system and flight schedule planning according to current findings, especially the effect of meteorological parameters. © 2018, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.