Ahmad Nikpey 1 , * ,
Ali Safari Varyani 1 ,
Sana Shokri 1 and
Mehran Ghalenoei 1
Authors Information
1 Occupational Health Department, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
* Corresponding author: Ahmad Nikpey, Occupational Health Department, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran [email protected]
Article information
Biotechnology and Health Sciences: February 28, 2018, 5 (1) ; e57881
Published Online : February 01, 2018
Article Type: Research Article
Received: March 03, 2017
Accepted: September 20, 2017
To Cite: Nikpey A, Safari Varyani A, Shokri S, Ghalenoei M. Evaluating the efficency of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEVS) in EmissionControl: A Case Study in the Alborz Industrial City in Iran, Biotech Health Sci. 2018 ; 5(1):e57881.
Abstract
Background: Healthy workplaces are created in the shadow of improved work environment quality. Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEVS) has a prominent place as a method of emission control from the source.
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of (LEVs) in a number of industries in Alborz Industrial City.
Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out on LEVs in a number of industries from Alborz Industrial City in winter 2015. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations were performed according to ACGIH standard methods.
Results: (LEVs) were evaluated in 23 companies, but 12 of them did not have measurable quantitative and qualitative characteristics. In other companies, design and implementation of (LEVs) have been conducted regardless of the emission sources characteristics and (LEVs) design principles. Physical defects and leakages in the studied systems were obvious, and the amount of leakage, considering life and system pressure, was about 20%. In terms of energy consumption, there was no match between the actual needs of the systems and electric powers. Comparing the number of airborne particles in the production halls with the factory yard showed not only inefficiency of (LEVs), but also direct discharge of polluted air into the environment.
Conclusions: LEVs surveyed were not in good condition. Improving the quality of (LEVs) requires serious rethinking in university education, reforming of laws (especially hard and hazardous jobs law), and improving the interaction of organizations involved in the field of occupational health, environment, and safety and creating a legal mechanism to enforce employers to recruit specialists in the field of design and implementation of (LEVs).
Keywords: Local Exhaust Ventilation System (LEVs); Hood; Work place improvement; air Quality
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References
1. References are available in the PDF.