Investigation and Determination of Health Risks of Chrome Heavy Metal in the Wastewater of Firooz Abad River of Tehran Using the Method of Analyzing Fracture States and Its Effects on Environment (EFMEA)

Subject Areas : Marine Chemistry

S. A.  Jozi ¹ (Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University)
H.  Kabiri Fard ² (ِDep of Chemistry North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University)
S.  Shakouri ³ (Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University)
A.  Ahmadi Majd ⁴ (Department of the Environment, Tehran Province)

Received: 2009-01-30 Accepted : 2009-04-18 Published : 2009-06-21

Keywords: Risk, Heavy metals, Health Risks, chrome, Environmental Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (EFMEA),

Abstract :

This study was conducted with the goal of investigating the amount of Chrome heavy metal in Firouz Abad river of Tehran. For this purpose, sampling from water was conducted by determining 5 measurement stations in the river path in the spring, summer and autumn of 2007. Analysis of samples was performed using Atomic Absorption method. The results of this study show that the levels of chrome metal measured in the third, fourth and fifth stations with the averages of 0.503mg/l, 1.29mg/l and 2.62mg/l, respectively are above the allowed level of chrome in the run-off determined by Environment Preservation Organization (0.5mg/l). In order to estimate the level of environmental risks of chrome in the environment of the affected area, the Environmental Failure Modes and Effects Analysis and its effects on environment was used. For this purpose, a table was first designed based on each station in which chrome concentration was graded within the scores span of 1 to 50 from the respects of risks severity and possible consequences. Then, Risk Priority Number (RPN) was calculated for each station from the product of risks severity in possible consequence. In the stations in which the level of chrome heavy metal was above the standard level, some measures were suggested for minimizing RPN. In this study, the level of environmental risks of this metal was estimated in 5 stations based on RPN as follows: RPN of first station = 2 < RPN of second station = 10 < RPN of thied station = 30 < RPN of forth station = 200 < RPN of fifth station = 450 Due to irrigation of agricultural lands by this river especially vegetable farming and growing summer crops in south of Tehran, the excess concentration of chrome has increased significant absorption of the aforesaid heavy metal in plants which its consequence is the entrance of this metal to food chain and its bad effects on human.