Volume 2, Issue 2 — Year 2025 — Article e100048

Sanaz Ebrahimi¹; Tahere Vosogian²; Ali Fatemi³; Gholamreza Mosavi Lavasan⁴

1. Department of Civil Engineering, Islamic Azad University Malekan Branch, Malekan 5561788389, Iran
2. Department of Civil Engineering, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz 5158913791, Iran
3. Department of Civil Engineering, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz 5158913791, Iran
4. Faculty of Engineering, Maragheh University of Technology, Maragheh 5518183111, Iran

Air pollution from asphalt plants is a major environmental and health concern, especially in developing regions. This study evaluated concentrations of suspended particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) around several medium- and small-scale asphalt plants located in semi-urban and rural areas. Field measurements using standard air sampling methods were conducted to determine ambient PM levels, and the efficiency of various dust control systems (baghouse filters, cyclone separators, and wet scrubbers) was assessed. Results showed that plants without advanced filtration had PM levels far above national and WHO standards. Baghouse filters achieved the highest removal efficiency, while older or poorly maintained systems were far less effective. Environmental inspections revealed visible dust accumulation on nearby vegetation and buildings, and possible contamination of surface water from airborne particles. The study highlights the urgent need for stricter air quality regulations, better maintenance of filtration systems, and wider adoption of efficient emission control technologies in smaller asphalt plants. Implementing these improvements could substantially reduce air pollution and improve local environmental and public health conditions.

Asphalt plants, Particulate matter, Air pollution, Filtration systems, Environmental impact