Evaluation and Prioritization of the Effects of Dust on Urban Environment (Case Study: Kerman)

Background & objectives: The phenomenon of dust is very critical and catastrophic in our country, especially in Kerman region. Part of the damage caused by this phenomenon is due to lack of sufficient recognition of the impact of dust on the environment. Therefore, the present study conducted to evaluate and prioritize the effects of dust on water, air, soil and animal and plant ecosystems in Kerman city in 2019 in order to inform citizens and authorities about the damage caused by this phenomenon and to plan for controlling them. Methods: The research method was applied descriptive-analytical study. Five criteria including aquatic, soil, air, plant and animal ecosystems, each with 4 sub-criteria, were considered for measuring the environmental effects of dust. Library and field studies (in the form of questionnaires, observations and interviews) were used to collect the information. The statistical population of the study was all environmental experts in Kerman. VIKOR model was used to rank the measurement criteria. Results: Among the criteria studied using VIKOR model, air, water and soil criteria with quality level of 0, 0.105 and 0.351 were in the first, second and third ranks of negative dust effects, respectively. Animal and plant ecosystems with a quality level of 0.656 were ranked fourth. Among the research indices, the index of endangering the public health of citizens by increasing heavy metals, threatening the city's drinking water resources and increasing respiratory diseases with an average of 4.07, 4.04 and 4.01were in the highest average of harmful effects of dust, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings, among the 5 criteria studied, dust had the most negative effect on the air of Kerman and then on the water and soil of the region, respectively. Therefore, based on the priority obtained in this study and coherent planning, Kerman urban crisis management can take successful steps to reduce and deal with the dust phenomenon.