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In this study, the occurrence and environmental risks related to triclosan (TCS) in the two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were investigated in Isfahan, Iran. Influent and effluent samples were collected and analyzed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME)–GC–MS method with derivatization. Moreover, the risk of TCS exposure was conducted for aquatic organisms (algae, crustaceans, and fishes) and humans (males and females). TCS mean concentrations in influent and effluent of WWTPs were in the range of 3.70–52.99 and 0.83–1.09 μg/L, respectively. There were also no differences in the quantity of TCS and physicochemical parameters among the two WWTPs. The mean risk quotient (RQ) for TCS was higher than 1 (in algae) with dilution factors (DFs) equal to 1 in WWTP1. Moreover, the RQ value was higher than 1 for humans based on the reference dose of MDH (RFDMDH) in WWTP1. Furthermore, TCS concentration in wastewater effluent was the influential factor in varying the risk of TCS exposure. The results of the present study showed the risk of TCS exposure from the discharge of effluent of WWTP1 was higher than WWTP2. Moreover, the results of this study may be suitable for promoting WWTP processes to completely remove micropollutants. HIGHLIGHTS WWTP1 was at risk of TCS exposure for aquatic and human life.; Algae was highly vulnerable to TCS exposure among aquatic organisms.; The concentration of TCS was the significant effective factor in the risk of TCS.;

Introduction: Contamination of water sources with toxins is an environmental problem and a serious threat to the health of societies. This study aimed to ascertain the remaining levels of toxins in urban drinking water networks and compute the water quality index. Materials and Methods: To examine the residual concentration of diazinon, chlorpyrifos, and dichlorvos in urban drinking water distribution networks, 35 underground and surface water sources were sampled in Tiran-o-Karvan in Isfahan province, Iran. GC-ECD device was used to analyze the samples. Results: Diazinon was not observed in any of the sampling seasons. The maximum concentration of chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos was 61 and 100 ppb, respectively. Although chlorpyrifos was seen more in the hot season and dichlorvos in the cold season, the mean concentration of these toxins in different seasons was lower than the guidelines of Iran and the World Health Organization (WHO). The mean concentration of nitrate, and hardness, in wet and dry seasons was 46.23 and 46.42, and 343.7 and 338.8 mg/l, respectively. Conclusion: The mean and standard deviation of quality index of Iran's water resources (IRWQI) in wet and dry seasons were 52.16 ± 45.3 and 50.69 ± 15.8, respectively. The residual concentration of toxins in some water sources of this city exceeded the guidelines of Iran and the WHO in summer and spring.

Background: Based on the previous studies, antibiotics can have affected biological properties of biomass and fouling properties of mixed liquor in aeration tank. The present study was conducted to explore the fouling mechanisms of membrane bioreactor (MBR) system during the treatment of wastewater containing erythromycin (ERY) antibiotic under several mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentrations. Methods: A lab-scale two-chamber MBR system equipped with a polypropylene hollow fiber submerged membrane was fed with synthetic wastewater containing different initial concentrations of ERY. MBR system was operated under the constant flux mode and different MLSS concentrations (5.0-13.0 g/L) and the obtained results were evaluated using different individual and combined fouling models. Results: The variation of MLSS concentrations had not significantly affected the kind of best-fitted model. From the individual models, the standard model indicated the best performance for permeate prediction under different MLSS concentrations (R2 adj > 0.997). For all studied MLSS concentrations, the R2 adj values of combined fouling models were higher than 0.986 and demonstrated good fitness performance of combined models compared to individual models. Overall, the cake-intermediate model showed the lowest fitness, and cake-complete and complete-standard models were the most successful models in filtrated volume prediction in comparison with other combined fouling models. Conclusion: This study indicated that mechanistic models are suitable for fouling prediction of MBR systems in ERY removal and under a wide range of MLSS concentrations and provide valuable information on fouling mechanisms of full-scale MBR systems.

Background: Zayandeh-rud river is the most important river in the central regions of Iran and the present study aimed to provide new insights into microplastics (MPs) pollution in surface water and sediments of this river. Methods: Water and sediment samples were collected in July 2021 from 19 sampling sites along the river. Organics matters were removed from the samples by wet peroxide oxidation (WPO), and MPs were extracted by floatation in ZnCl2-saturated salt and filtration on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane filter. Trapped MPs on the filter were counted and qualified by a stereomicroscope. Results: MPs were found in 13 sites from 19 sampling sites along the river. The minimum and maximum levels of MPs in water samples were 0 and 51 ± 16.5 particles/m3, respectively. MPs also were detected in the sediments of all sampling sites except the first two sampling sites (the maximum level was 58 ± 25.9 particles/kg as dry sediment). Fragments were the most common shape of MPs in both water and sediment samples. 72.3% of MPs detected in water samples were 1-5 mm in size, while this percentage for sediment was 49.2%. The five main polymer types found in water and sediment samples were polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Conclusion: These levels of MPs in the water and sediments of Zayandeh-rud river and longtime persistence of plastics in the environment is a significant threat to environmental and human health and need serious attention to restrict MPs release into the river.

Background: In recent years, the world has faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a significant increase in the use of antibiotics to control the COVID-19 and other secondary infections. The nonbiodegradable characteristics of antibiotics and their residues in the environment leads to increased microbial and drug resistance. Therefore, due to the high importance of antibiotics, two antibiotics, ampicillin and penicillin G, were studied in Isfahan municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Methods: Sampling was performed for two months during 13 sampling periods and antibiotics were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detector (HPLC/UV) instrument. Results: Ampicillin and penicillin G were identified in all samples taken from the both WWTPs. The average concentration of penicillin G in WWTP E and S at the influent, effluent and its removal efficiency were 1050.54 ± 761.43 μg/L, 52.89 ± 49.27 μg/L, 89.80 ± 19.42%, 2055.12 ± 1788.08 μg/L, 143.01 ± 162.59 μg/L and 82.76 ± 21.85%, respectively. Also, the average concentration of ampicillin in WWTP E and S in the influent (796.44 ± 809.6 and 447.1 ± 322.39 μg/L), effluent (48.94 ± 24.25 and 90.31 ± 75.91 μg/L), and its removal efficiency (86.22 ± 19.84% and 66.85 ± 24.88%) were determined. Conclusion: In two studied WWTPs, the concentration of antibiotics was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with previous studies. The statistical analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between the concentration of antibiotics in WWTPs (P < 0.05). Also, the statistical results indicated that the correlation is not significant between removal efficiency of antibiotics and removal efficiency of wastewater main parameters.

Pollution of the aquatic environment by microplastics (MPs) is one of the most serious environmental issues worldwide and has raised many concerns about their availability and hazards for aquatic biota. In addition, fish is an important source of protein for humans, hence, the accumulation, and toxic effects of the MPs in fish deserve special attention. This study aims to examine the ingestion, tissue accumulation and toxic effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MPs) in juvenile common carp. Fluorescent-tagged PVC-MPs were found in various tissues of fish only after 4-5 days of exposure. The size of MPs showed a significant role in acute toxicity and mortality due to PVC-MPs. 100% mortality were observed after 7 and 10 days exposures to 1000 and 100 µg L-1 class A-PVC-MPs (100>µm) respectively, while 1000 µg L-1 of class A-PVC-MPs (300-1000 µm) killed only 16.6% of fish after ten days. Different grades of tissue damage were found in the gills, gut, and liver of fish in proportion to size, time, and concentration of PVC-MPs. Epithelial detachment, thinning of the bowel wall, and lesions of villi in the gastric wall were the dominant damages in the gastrointestinal tract. Gills also were affected in the form of necrosis, adhesion, and partial fusion of secondary lamellae. Hepatic damages (cellular necrosis and infiltration) were found only due to exposure of fish to class A-PVC-MPs. Altogether, these findings suggest that common carp intake significant levels of environmental microplastics (intentionally or accidentally), which seriously affect fish health and raise significant concerns about marine ecosystem health and seafood safety due to microplastic pollution.

Background: The present study aimed to assess the acute impact of erythromycin (ERY) as an inhibitor on peptone mixture utilization of activated sludge (AS) consortium. Methods: For this purpose, the inhibition of oxygen consumption was used based on the ISO 8192:2007 procedure. In this method, the AS consortium (10-day age) was extracted from labscale membrane bioreactor, then, percentage inhibition for total, heterotrophic, and nitrifying microorganisms, in separate batch respirometric tests were calculated in the absence and presence of N-allylthiourea (ATU) as a specific Nitrification inhibitor. Results: The obtained data showed that the height of oxygen uptake rate (OUR) profiles and amount of oxygen consumption reduced with increasing ERY dose. The half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of ERY for heterotrophic and nitrifier microorganisms were 269.4 and 1243.1 mg/L, respectively. In Run 1, the kinetic coefficients bH, fA,H, YH, and μH were calculated as 2.61 d-1, 0.44, 0.4945 mg VSS/mg COD, and 0.047 d-1, respectively. Also, for maximum ERY concentration (1000 mg/L), the kinetic coefficients bH., fA,H, YH, and μH were calculated as 2.27 d-1, 0.3, 0.4983 mg VSS/mg COD, and 0.0049 d-1, respectively. Conclusion: The findings showed that the inhibitory impact of ERY was observed as a decrease in the amount of oxygen consumption by OUR profiles in rapid respirometric method (ISO 8192), which offered a novel insight for the acute inhibitory impact of this antibiotic. Also, chemical oxygen demand (COD) as an overall substrate parameter is most helpful in interpreting the behavior and the metabolic functions of AS systems.

Background: Exposure of children and adolescents to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) causes the development of non-communicable diseases. Triclosan (TCS) is a fat-soluble antimicrobial agent, and methyl-triclosan (MTCS) is the predominant metabolite of TCS. The increasing use of consumables TCS (toothpaste, mouthwash, personal care products) in human has raised concerns about human health. Methods: The urinary concentrations of TCS and MTCS were measured by GC/MS. Lipid profiles (TG, TC, LDL, and HDL), anthropometric parameters (WC, BMI z-score, and BMI), FBS, SBP, and DBP tests were performed on 79 children and adolescents. Results: Of 79 people included as the study population, 42 subjects (53.16%) were males. Most of the study population as 32 subjects (40.50%) were obese. The mean concentrations of TCS and MTCS in the obese population were 5.47 ± 2.99 and 2.32 ± 1.04 μg/L, respectively. After adjusting for possible confounding factors, the results showed that a one-unit increase in DBP caused a 0.03 units increase in TCS levels in male subjects (P = 0.01). A one-unit increase in DBP also caused a 0.02 units increase in MTCS (P = 0.001). There was a significant relationship between TCS and HDL (OR = 0.90, P = 0.005), LDL (OR = 1.13, P = 0.01), and TG (OR =1.05, P < 0.0001). There was also a significant relationship between MTCS and HDL (OR = 0.88, P = 0.001), LDL (OR = 1.03, P = 0.009), and TG (OR = 1.04, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: According to the results, there is a relationship between TCS, MTCS, and predictive indicators of cardiovascular diseases and obesity.

Introduction: one of the most important complications of exposure to ionizing radiation is emergence of cancer tumors, which happens as a result of oxidative DNA. Therefore, the present study was conducted, aimed to measuring 8-DIHYDROxy- 2’- DEOXYGUANOSINE (8-OHdG) level in radiographers’ urine as oxidative damage biomarker, as well as comparing this biomarker with cumulative effective doses. Material and Methods: In the present study, the samples were selected into two categories, 35 of whom were from different radiography groups (including nuclear medicine, radiology, radiotherapy, CT scan), and 35 subjects were from the staff, who had no exposure to radiation. The results of the film badge were gathered from the hospitals. Since film badge monitoring period was found to be 2 months, the collective effective dose was obtained according to the respective formula for 30 last period and 6 last period. Then, at the end of the work shift, the urine samples were taken to determine the 8-OHdG concentration. The samples were obtained via the SPE (solid-phase extraction) method. After that, the 8-OHdG concentration was read by the GC/MS analyzer. Finally, the data extracted from the 8-OHdG concentration and the collective effective dose of the radiation were analyzed by SPSS software. Results: The results showed an increase in the level of 8-OHdG, as one of the oxidative biomarkers in the body of radiographers, but the level of 8-OHdG showed a direct relation in the body of the radiographers with an average collective effective dose of radiation in the last 30 as well as the last 6 periods. Conclusion: Observing the radiation protection principles by radiation workers results in decreased radiation and, in turn, reduces the level of oxidative stress, thus, reducing the potential effects of radiation.

Antibiotics are non-biodegradable drugs that inhibit the expansion and growth of microorganisms. Especially with the prevalence of Covid-19, the consumption of antibiotics has increased. Therefore, the presence of most prescribed antibiotics from ß-lactams including amoxicillin and cephalexin were studied at two municipal WWTPs in Isfahan. The analytical method was to extract antibiotics from the aqueous phase and then detected them via HPLC/UV. Samples were collected from 2 WWTPs for 13 sampling periods over 2 months between February and March 2020 during the outbreak of Covid-19. In WWTP A, the average concentration of amoxicillin in influent, effluent, and its removal efficiency was 509.64 ± 161.97 µg/L, 352.96 ± 203.88 µg/L, 34.35 ± 31.38%, and the average concentration of cephalexin in influent, effluent, and its removal efficiency was 189.42 ± 176.06 µg/L, 32.6 ± 49.59µg/L, 78.75 ± 23.81%, respectively. In WWTP B, the average concentration of amoxicillin in influent, effluent, and its removal efficiency was 2134.82 ± 3031.53µg/L, 401.09 ± 205.86µg/L, and 54.82 ± 33.29%, respectively. Also, the average concentration of cephalexin in influent, effluent, and its removal efficiency was 183.69 ± 123.48 µg/L, 23.01 ± 40.71 µg/L, and 87.65 ± 21.76%, respectively. According to Mann–Whitney test results, the concentration of antibiotics in both WWTPs had significant differences ( p -value

Background: Microcystin (MC) is a hepatotoxic and carcinogenic toxin that is generated by cyanotoxins which can have adverse effects on the human health. Therefore, it is very important to remove it from the environment. This study was performed to investigate the efficiency of titanium dioxide (TiO2)/ NaY-zeolite (T/N-Z) nanocomposite for removal of MC-LR under ultraviolet light. Methods: In the present study, T/N-Z nanocomposite was synthesized using the hydrothermal method. Specification of the photocatalysts was determined by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to survey the effects of operating variables such as pH, contact time, and catalyst dose on the removal of MC-LR. The MC-LR concentration was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: It was revealed that the increase of contact time and catalyst dose had a positive effect on enhancing the removal efficiency of MC-LR, but pH had a negative effect. Finally, the maximum MCLR removal efficiency was 97.63%, which occurred at pH = 5, contact time = 120 min, and catalyst dose = 1.2 g/L. Conclusion: In general, T/N-Z composite in aqueous solutions under the UV light can easily decompose MC-LR and it can also be proposed as an efficient composite for removal of MC-LR from contaminated water.

Introduction: Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) is a toxin with harmful effects on the liver, kidney, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. So, effective removal of MC-LR from water resources is of great importance. The aim of this study was to remove microcystin-LR (MC-LR) from aqueous solution by Titanium Dioxide (TiO2). Materials and Methods: In the present study, TiO2, as a semiconductor, was used for photodegradation of MC-LR under ultraviolet light (UV). The Response Surface Methodology was applied to investigate the effects of operating variables such as pH (A), contact time (B), and catalyst dose (B) on the removal of MC-LR. The MC-LR concentration was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The results showed that single variables such as A, B, and C had significant effects on MC-LR removal (pvalue < 0.05). In other words, increase of the contact time and catalyst dose had a positive effect on enhancing the removal efficiency of MC-LR, but the effect of pH was negative. The analysis of variance showed that BC, A2, and C2 variables had a significant effect on the MC-LR removal (pvalue < 0.05). Finally, the maximum removal efficiency of MC-LR was 95.1%, which occurred at pH = 5, contact time = 30 minutes, and catalyst dose = 1 g/l. Conclusion: According to the findings, TiO2, as a photocatalyst, had an appropriate effect on degradation of the MC-LR.

Background: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a polymeric resin of polyester group used in the manufacture of beverage bottles. Migration of PET ingredients such as acetaldehyde to the content of bottles has adverse effects on consumers’ health. The purpose of the present study is to measure acetaldehyde in bottles of water. Methods: A total of 36 bottles of water stored in PET from 12 commercial brands (6 brands from each mineral and drinking water) were collected from retail stage in Isfahan, Iran. Measurement of acetaldehyde was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results were compared with the limit defined in standard of European Community in SPSS software using t-test. Findings: Acetaldehyde was found in 26 samples with the frequency of 72%. The average of this compound was 22.18 ± 6.79 and 6.36 ± 4.53 parts per billion (ppb) in mineral and drinking water, respectively. Acetaldehyde observed more in mineral water compared to drinking water samples. The amount of acetaldehyde was less than the limit defined in standard of European Community in all samples. Conclusion: According to the comparison of the measured values for acetaldehyde in mineral and drinking water in the present study with standard limit of European Community, it is recommended to perform the studies for risk assessment of different compounds migrated from bottles to their content and their effects on health.

Abstract Background and aims: Although ionizing radiation is very effective in medical science to diagnose and treat diseases, it can also be the cause of cancer. Ionizing radiation produces free radicals that leading to oxidative DNA damage. 8-Hydroxy-2chr('39')-deoxyguanosine level (8-OHdG), oxidative modification of Guanine that is excreted in the urine, is one of the most sensitive biomarkers of oxidative DNA cell damage. Formation of 8-OHdG in serum, leukocytes, and urine is often measured to investigate the level of oxidative stress in humans. This compound is a known carcinogenic substance that is conjugated to thymidine, and G: C → T: A conversion occurs. Increasing the base level of DNA oxidation is accompanied by various diseases including diabetes mellitus, cancer, degenerative diseases of the nervous system, and the renal terminal diseases. The level of oxidative DNA lesions depends on several factors, including environmental risks and genotoxic factors, smoking, alcohol consumption, intracellular and extracellular metabolism, and exposure to the ionizing radiation.Oxidative stress is thought to be associated with the tumor formation. Therefore, determining the level of 8-OHdG can determine the individualchr('39')s susceptibility to developing a tumor and the resulting in emergence of cancer.Various methods have been developed for quantitative measurement of 8-OHdG in human DNA specimens, which include HPLC, GC/MS, the chemistry of immunity texture, and the ELISA test. The most sensitive method is to measure the FPG (the enzyme formamidopyrimidine glycolase DNA) and CG/MS. For some difficulties for determination of 8-hydroxy2-deoxyguanosine by chromatographic methods (such as expensive required instruments and difficult derivatization procedure), most researchers tend to determine 8-hydroxy2-deoxyguanosine with the available commercial ELISA kits. But it is notable that rate of detection of GC/MS method for determination of 8-hydroxy2-deoxyguanosine is at least 10 times better than ELISA method and there is no possibility for false positive or negative results in GC/MS determination.one of the environmental factors that affect human physiology and DNA oxidative damage is ionizing radiation, which has been investigated and documented sufficiently during the past century and after nuclear incidents and inhalation of, or exposure to ionizing radiation. Regardless of environmental exposure, artificial resources of ionizing radiation are used increasingly. Several studies have reported that the concentration of 8-OHdG increases with exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation. The findings of a study showed that levels of 8-OHdG in urine of individuals exposed to ionizing radiation were significantly higher than those who did not have exposure.The increasing use of radiological equipment, the development of radiological treatment strategies, and the increasing availability of ionizing radiation for therapeutic purposes have increased concerns over the dose of radiation received by personnel. Despite the unique benefits of ionizing radiation, radiation protection is a potential source of potential risks such as cancer and genetic abnormalities. The risk of cancer caused by diagnostic radiology is estimated to be about 0.6% to 6%. It is estimated that the dose resulting from the annual diagnostic radiology tests is responsible for 1 and 4 cases of cancer in the population of Japan and the United States, respectively. Although the dose of most diagnostic radiological tests is very low, the rapid increase in the use of radiographic tests in the last two decades has caused a wave of concern about the carcinogenic effects of ionizing radiation. There are more than 3 million radiographic tests and more than 100,000 nuclear medicine tests in the world every day. Staff in the radiology and radiotherapy departments are exposed to the cumulative effects of ionizing radiation. The limit dose varies for radiology staff and the general public. In radiology staff, the effective annual dose is 20 millisieverts. Therefore, it is necessary to study the degree of cancer susceptibility through biological monitoring in radiologists. The purpose of this study was to measure the concentration of 8-Hydroxy-2chr('39')-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the urine of Radiography staff as a biomarker of oxidative damage and to compare it with the non-radiation workers group. Methods: In this case-control study, 70 samples were selected in two groups. 35 staffs were various radiologists’ groups working in Isfahanchr('39')s public hospitals (including nuclear medicine, radiology, radiotherapy and CT scans) and 35 employees who had no exposure to radiation. Due to the limited number of radiography staff in the state hospitals of Isfahan, especially the radiotherapy and nuclear medicine groups, and the lack of cooperation between hospitals and private centers, the minimum considered number was 35 radiographers and 35 non-radiation workers. After coordinating with the management of the hospitals, informed consent was obtained from each of the participants. Initially, a checklist of participantschr('39') demographic information (gender, age, work experience, and type of occupational group) was prepared. The inclusion criteria to the study were investigated via a checklist for the radiographers and the non-radiation workers.When refusing urine, smoking, drinking tea and coffee during work shifts, drinking alcohol, take medication even a few days before sampling, suffer from acute and chronic diseases (such as cancer, diabetes, renal terminal diseases, degenerative diseases of the nervous system, hypertension, or any other known disease), as well as in the radiologist’s group, if employed in a second job facing ionizing radiation, samples were removed from the study and selected personnel at the end of the shift, an urine sample was taken to determine the 8-OHdG concentration. The samples were extracted by SPE (solid-phase extraction) method and then the concentration of the substance was read by GC/MS device. The concentration of creatinine in the urine was measured in an approved medical laboratory using its commercial kit purchased from Sigma Diagnostics. Preparation and clean-up of urine samples were performed according to a previously described method with some modifications. Waters Oasis® HLB Vac cartridges (60 mg of packing material) were used for cleaning-up of urine samples. After each step of the clean-up process, the cartridges were entirely dried under vacuum to avoid cross-contamination and to maximize the required recovery. Each cartridge was only used to clean-up one urine sample. The analysis was performed on a quadruple Agilent GC-MS D: model 7890A (Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA, USA) coupled to a mass selective detector model 5975C inert, equipped with a split/splitless injector. Quantification was performed at the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode based on the selection of mass peaks with the highest intensity for 8OHdG to gain the highest possible sensitivity, (m/z 207). Finally, the data from the determination of 8-OHdG concentration were analyzed through SPss software version 26. For this purpose, chi-square test was used to compare the qualitative data, and the independent t-test was used to determine the concentration of 8-OHdG in the two groups. Then one-way Anova and tukey post hoc tests were applied to compare the concentration of 8-OHdG in different groups of radiographers. Results: The results showed that the average concentration of 8-OHdG in radiologists’ urine (259/4±31.07 ng/mg creatinine) has a significant difference with the average concentrations of this material in non-radilogists’ urine (141/1±21/8 ng/mg creatinine) (P=0.003). Further analysis of the data showed that the mean concentration of 8- hydroxy-2-deoxy-guanosine in urine was also found in different groups of radiographers, as follows: One-way ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference in the mean concentration of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy-guanosine in urine between different occupations (P = 0.013). The tukey post hoc tes showed that the mean concentration of urine in people with nuclear medicine occupation was significantly higher than the ones with occupations such as radiotherapy (P = 0.02), radiology (P =0.014).However, there were no significant differences between the nuclear medicine and CT scan(P =0.09). Conclusions: Several studies have reported that the concentration of 8-OHdG increases with exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation. The findings of a study showed that levels of 8-OHdG in urine of individuals exposed to ionizing radiation were significantly higher than those who did not have exposure.The results of this study, which was done for the first time in the country by using solid-phase extraction method for data extraction and then analyzing by GC/MS to determining 8-OHdG level in urine, indicated that Ionizing radiation has been affected in the increase of 8-OHdG level as a potential biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. Increasing the concentration of 8-hydroxy2-deoxyguanosine in the urine of the nuclear medicine group indicates that with the higher the amount of radiation, the oxidative damage will be more. The dose received by staff working in the nuclear medicine group is higher than other workers due to work in the banned area (little distance of the technician from the source of radiation) than the rest of the staff. The higher the distance with the source, the lower the exposure. Any object between the technician and the source of radiation will reduce the amount of exposure, and as a general rule, if the object or matter between the technician and the source of the beam is denser, the better protection will be provide.Inevitably, compliance with the radiation safety principles by radiologists will reduce their radiation, which includes: reducing the exposure time to radiation, increasing the distance from the source, placing a protective shield between the person and the radiation source and protecting itself against radioactive contamination using appropriate clothing. Given the relation between oxidative stress and cancer, it seems that the consumption of antioxidants, such as vitamin E and C, and Beta-carotene is beneficial in preventing cancer. Also, the effect of exercise on oxidative stress has been investigated in some studies. oxidative DNA damage in athletes is less than that of non-athletes. This may be due to the history of regular resistance exercises in bodybuilding athletes, and it is possible that antioxidant capacity in athletes may be developed due to regular exercises.

Background and purpose: Chemotherapy with platinum-base cytotoxic drugs (PBCDs) are commonly used in treatment of different types of cancers. Significant amounts of these drugs enter the hospital effluent via urinary exertion of patients and could adversely affect the environment and different ecosystems. Materials and methods: The samples (n=7) of 24 hours' hospital effluent were collected from a central cancer hospital in Isfahan, Iran using an autosampler for one week. After preparation of the samples, platinum levels were determined by inductive coupled plasma spectrophotometry (ICP-OES). Data on annual PBCDs consumption were obtained from the hospital pharmacy. Data analysis was done applying ANOVA. Results: Annual consumption of PBCDs was 366.47 gr. Maximum and minimum concentrations of platinum in hospital effluent were 857 and 102 ng/L, respectively (mean concentration: 482.5±257 ng/L). Mean effluent platinum levels were found to be significantly correlated with daily administration of PBCDs (P

Abstract One-layer wound dressings cannot meet all the clinical needs due to their individual characteristics and shortcomings. Therefore, bilayer wound dressings which are composed of two layers with different properties have gained lots of attention. In the present study, polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/Gel) scaffold was electrospun on a dense membrane composed of polyurethane and ethanolic extract of propolis (PU/EEP). The PU/EEP membrane was used as the top layer to protect the wound area from external contamination and dehydration, while the PCL/Gel scaffold was used as the sublayer to facilitate cells’ adhesion and proliferation. The bilayer wound dressing was investigated regarding its microstructure, mechanical properties, surface wettability, anti-bacterial activity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and its efficacy in the animal wound model and histopathological analyzes. Scanning electron micrographs exhibited uniform morphology and bead-free structure of the PCL/Gel scaffold with average fibers’ diameter of 237.3 ± 65.1 nm. Significant anti-bacterial activity was observed against Staphylococcal aureus (5.4 ± 0.3 mm), Escherichia coli (1.9 ± 0.4 mm) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (1.0 ± 0.2 mm) according to inhibition zone test. The bilayer wound dressing exhibited high hydrophilicity (51.1 ± 4.9°), biodegradability, and biocompatibility. The bilayer wound dressing could significantly accelerate the wound closure and collagen deposition in the Wistar rats’ skin wound model. Taking together, the PU/EEP-PCL/Gel bilayer wound dressing can be a potential candidate for biomedical applications due to remarkable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, antibacterial features, and wound healing activities.

Aim: In this study, the levels of urinary metabolites of toluene and xylene isomers in pregnant women in Isfahan and Khansar cities and their associations with air quality index (AQI) and demographic factors were investigated. Materials and Methods: Depending on the population, 55 pregnant women from Isfahan and 15 pregnant women from Khansar, a total of 70 people were enrolled in the study and 140 urine samples were collected during their 1st and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy (autumn and spring). Urinary metabolites of hippuric acid (HA), ortho-, meta-, and para-methyl HA (o-m-p-MHA) were extracted by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method, derivatized and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometer. The results were statistically correlated with AQI level and demographic factors using appropriate statistical methods. Results: Mean urinary concentrations of HA, o-m-p-MHA in the 1st trimester of pregnancy were 371.2, 1.14, 2.48, and 1.97 mg/g cr, and those in the 3rd trimester were 582.1, 3.54, 6.93, and 2.43 mg/g cr, respectively. In the 1st trimester, the mean urinary level of ortho-MHA was significantly associated with the outdoor exposure time on workdays and fragrances use (P < 0.05). In the 3rd trimester, the mean concentration of HA was significantly correlated to age and outdoor exposure time on workdays (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The mean urinary concentrations of HA and MHA isomers in the 1st trimester of pregnancy in Isfahan were more than those in Khansar. Because the level of air pollution in Isfahan was higher than Khansar and that in autumn was higher than spring. In the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, the mean levels of MHA isomers in Isfahan were more than those in Khansar. Only the amount of p-MHA was significantly associated with AQI in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. Thus, women who lived in high-traffic urban areas with high AQI were more exposed to toluene and xylene compounds.

Background: Due to the complexities involved in the extraction of micropollutants, the information regarding micropollutants like paraben in wastewater and sludge is scarce. The aim of this study was to adopt a microwave-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction (MADLLME) method for the extraction of parabens in municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Methods: A mixed stock solution of methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butyl-parabens with concentration of 10 mg/mL were prepared in methanol. To validate this method, the limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), linearity, and m/z were measured. To adopt this method in different condition, the effect of pH (3, 7, 9, and 12), microwave power (180, 300, 450, and 600 W), solvent type (methanol, acetone, methanol/water, acetone/water), and 1 g folorisil were assessed. After adopting MADLLME method, the paraben fate of this WWTP was evaluated through mass loading and emission. Results: The optimum performance of MADLLME method was observed at pH = 7, microwave power= 450 W, reaction time = 30 s, and methanol as the solvent. The total concentrations of four paraben metabolites in the WWTP ranged between 2505 ng/L in influent, 1953 ng/L in effluent, and 8.03 ng/g at wet weight sludge samples. The total mass loading and emission of four parabens in this WWTP was 0.672 mg/d/1000 people and 0.186 mg/d/1000 people, respectively. Conclusion: MADLLME method seems to be an excellent alternative, as a green extraction technique, for determining various groups of emerging micropollutants in different matrices.

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) is a carcinogenic toxin, produced by cyanobacteria. The release of this toxin into drinking water sources can threaten public health and environmental safety. Therefore, effective MC-LR removal from water resources is necessary. In the present study, the hydrothermal method was used to synthesize a novel ternary BiVO4/TiO2/NaY-Zeolite (B/T/N-Z) nanocomposite for MC-LR degradation under visible light. FESEM, FTIR, XRD, and DRS were performed for characterizing the nanocomposite structure. Also, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied to determine the impact of catalyst dosage, pH, and contact time on the MC-LR removal. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed to measure the MC-LR concentration. Based on the results, independent parameters, including contact time, catalyst dosage, and pH, significantly affected the MC-LR removal (P

Aim: Microplastics (MPs) have become an emerging environmental contaminant and there are increasing concerns about potentially toxic effects on living organisms. This study is aimed to determine uptake, tissue accumulation, and toxic effects of polyurethane microplastics (PUR-MPs) on zebra fish. Materials and Methods: The zebra fish were exposed to different concentrations of PURs-MPs of different sizes for 10 days. Mortality and behavioral changes were monitored. Ingestion and tissue accumulation of PUR-MPs were studied by fluorescent tagging of PUR-MPs. Pathological damages of tissues were investigated with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results: Microsize PUR-MPs can be ingested by zebra fish and fluorescent-tagged PUR-MPs were found in gills and gastrointestinal (GI) tract of fish after 10 days of exposure. A significant negative correlation was found between fluorescence intensity in fish tissues and size of PUR-MPs. Gills, GI tract, and liver were the most affected tissues by PUR-MP toxicity. GI damages included epithelial detachment, thinning of the bowel wall, congestive inflammation, epithelial damage, and lesions of villi in the gastric wall. Necrosis, adhesion, and partial fusion of secondary lamellae were the dominant pathological damages in the gills. Liver also was affected by cellular necrosis, infiltration, and lipid droplets. Conclusion: Exposure of zebra fish to PUR-MPs leads to ingestion of these particles by fish and significant increase in fish mortality and tissue damages. Particle size and MP concentration were the key determinant factors in PUR-MP toxicity. The results of the present study provide novel insights into environmental toxicity of PUR-MPs and toxic effect of PUR-MPs in aquatic organisms.

Aim: In this study, the presence of four phthalate esters, including diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in pasteurized milk with plastic packages was investigated during the time allowed for consumption. Materials and Methods: The pasteurized milk samples, including 7 high-consumed brands, were purchased from reputable stores and two factories in Isfahan in 2019. The concentration of phthalate esters was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy paired with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. Results: According to the results of this study, among the analyzed samples of stores, DEHP (0.25 μg/l) and BBP (0.25 μg/l) had the highest mean concentrations in pasteurized milk, respectively. The analyzed results of the factories showed a high BBP of 0.1 μg/l. Among the studied brands, the highest concentration of phthalate esters was 0.42 μg/l. The mean concentrations obtained in this study were lower than the international standards set. Conclusion: Due to the low average concentration of phthalate esters in pasteurized milk, consumption of these products has no serious risk for humans and the share of pasteurized milk in terms of the presence of phthalate esters is negligible.

Background: Studies have shown that one of the most important complications of exposure to ionizing radiation is the emergence of cancer tumors, as a result of oxidative DNA. Since different radiography groups have high rate of exposure to ionizing radiation, examining the susceptibility rate of cancer in these groups is of prime importance. Therefore, the present study was conducted to measure the level of 8-hydroxy2-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG) in the radiographers' urine as a biomarker of oxidative damage while comparing it with the nonradiography staff. Methods: Samples of two groups were selected for this case-control study, wherein 35 subjects were selected from different radiography groups (including nuclear medicine, radiology, radiotherapy, and CT scan) while the other 35 subjects were staffs who had no exposure to radiation. Later, urine samples were collected at the end of the working shift to determine the 8-OHdG concentration. The samples were obtained via SPE (solid-phase extraction) method. Subsequently, the 8-OHdG concentration was measured by the GC-MS analyzer. Results: The results confirmed that, the average concentration of 8-OHdG in the radiographers' urine (253.4 ± 31.2 ng/mg of creatinine) had a significant difference as compared to the nonradiographers' urine (141.1 ± 21.9 ng/mg of creatinine) (P = 0.004). Conclusions: In conclusion, due to elimination of interfering factors, ionizing radiation affects the increase in 8-OHdG levels and acts as a potential biomarker for the damaged oxidative DNA.

Aims: Over 5.5 trillion cigarettes are produced annually. Based on the observations, 76% of these consumed cigarettes are littered in public areas instead of discarding in suitable bins. Rainwater drain system carries the water and other wastes such as cigarette butts from the ground and transfers them to the bigger aquatic media without any treatment in which hundreds of chemicals leach into animal's habitats and our water supply origin. The key purpose of this article was to measure the concentration of Arsenic (As) released into water from cigarette butts and to compare their levels among the different brands. Materials and Methods: Ten cigarette butts (comprising cigarette filter and remaining tobacco) of five cigarette brands named Winston, Bahman, Kent, Montana, and Magna were soaked into individual 100 ml of distilled water for 10 days. Five solutions were prepared for each brand, as was detected in all leachate of brands but with different quantities. Results: Arsenic levels were 53.51, 32.78, 55.33, 42.4, and 59.24 μg/l for Kent, Winston, Montana, Bahman, and Magna, respectively. Conclusion: As concentrations were placed in the following order: Winston < Bahman < Kent, Montana, Magna. Based on the present study, cigarette butt plays an important role in environmental pollution and its importance should not be ignored in terms of arsenic potential.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological studies on the relationship between organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure during pregnancy and neonatal anthropometric measures. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review and meta analyses, a comprehensive search of the literature for the association of maternal exposure to OP pesticides and birth outcome including birth weight, birth length, and head circumference was conducted from scientific databases of MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane library until the end of April 2019. We used the following keyword to identify the relevant studies: “birth weight,” “birth length,” “pregnancy outcome,“”birth outcome,” “organophosphate pesticides,” and “organophosphate metabolites.” Only English language studies investigating the relationship between pregnant mothers' exposure to OP metabolites and birth outcomes were examined. Results: Of the 10 articles reviewed, eight studies used to assess the association with birth weight, as well as five, and six studies were used in meta analysis to determine the association between OP exposure and birth length and head circumference. Pooled estimates were performed using a fixed effects model or random effects model. No significant association was observed between maternal exposure to OPs and birth weight (β = 1.520;95% confidence interval [CI] [−10.781, 13.820]), birth length (β = −0.011; [−0.132, 0.109]), and head circumference (β =0.022; 95%CI [−0.06, 0.103]). Conclusion: Although the effect of maternal exposure to OP on the birth outcome is not completely clear, strategies should be adopted to control the use of these substances.

Aims: Phthalates (e.g., diethylhexyl phthalate) act as one of the endocrine disruptive compounds and can have adverse effects on different biological pathways including hormonal receptors, affecting the synthesis, secretion, or metabolism of hormones. The aim of this study was, method development of the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME), to determine the monoesters of diethylhexyl phthalate in children and adolescents in Isfahan city, Iran. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in 2016 (during a year) on 242 children and adolescents, aged 6–18 years, living in Isfahan, Iran. In this method, acetonitrile and chlorobenzene were used as disperser and extractant, respectively, to extract the investigated monoesters. The analytes were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results: Acetonitrile (as disperser) and chlorobenzene (as extractant) were used for monoester phthalates extraction (750 μl of acetonitrile and 80 μl of chlorobenzene). The results indicated that the recovery and relative standard deviation (RSD) of the utilized method were 55–109 and 6.3%–13.2%, respectively. The limit of detection and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method were 0.024–0.088 and 0.05–0.48 μg/L, respectively. Monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), monoethyl oxo-hexyl-phthalate (MEOHP), and monoethyl hydroxyl-hexyl-phthalate (MEHHP) were observed in 99.6%, 95.87%, and 96.28% of the studied samples, respectively. The mean concentration of MEHP, MEOHP, and MEHHP in the study population was 151.7 ± 143.8, 258.26 ± 143.07, and 194.17 ± 147.3 μg/L, respectively. Conclusion: Acetonitrile (as disperser) and chlorobenzene (as extractant) were suitable solvents for phthalate monoesters extraction in method development of DLLME. On the other hand, the mean concentrations were very high values in comparison with other similar studies that require the attention and legislation regarding limitation of the application of phthalate compounds.