The study of Tehran gas stations pollution and its effect on the surface water

Subject Areas : environmental management

Amir Hesam Hassani ¹ , Golnaz Sajadi Naeini ²

1 - Faculty of Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University
2 - MSc. Student of Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University

Received: 2006-10-21 Accepted : 2006-12-16 Published : 2013-03-15

Keywords: surface water, non-point source pollutants, gas stations, hydrocarbon pollutant,

Abstract :

The issue of non-point pollution sources is among the topics which are studied in the world at the present time. Gas stations are an example of such sources the pollution of which can affect the environment, especially the area around them and in rainy weather. In this research, the gas stations located in the city of Tehran were identified. Then, among the city’s 104 gas stations, 9 were selected in the different parts of the city and their contamination level was studied. The tests of pH, EC (Electrical Conductivity), TSS (Total Suspended Solid), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), and TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons) were performed in three time periods, from October to February, on the samples of the 9 gas stations. The samples were taken from the surface water channels around the gas stations. The results demonstrated that the areas of gas stations were polluted due to their fuel run-off. The concentration of COD and TSS of the samples were 110 to 1140 mg/lit and 100 to 800 mg/lit, respectively. The amount of TPH detected in the samples was high in flat areas. The maximum contamination level occurred in November (a rainy month). The results also indicated that gas stations played an important role in polluting the surface water around stations and discharging hydrocarbon compounds in the environment.