Search

Oil spills from pipeline accidents can have long-lasting health effects on residents of polluted regions. Assessing the potential health risk of these accidents is crucial for effective environmental health management. This study analyzed the concentration of 2-OHNAP in urine and hair as biomarkers of PAHs exposure among the people living in a region with frequent oil pipeline incident in Iran. Fifty pairs of hair and urine samples were collected from residents along with demographic information and dietary habits via a questionnaire. The concentration of 2-OHNAP was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). 2-OHNAP was detected in 100% of urine and 88% of hair samples. The mean concentration of 2-OHNAP in urine was 16.65 ± 21.98 μg/g creatinine and in hair was 8.16±7.62 ng/g dry weight (dw). However, there was no significant correlations between the levels of 2-OHNAP in urine and hair. The mean values of HQ and CR were below 1 and 10-6, respectively. Moreover, some simulated health risk indices were near the threshold levels, and the carcinogenic risk above 70% of the simulated CRs was above 10-6 as well. Therefore, the health risk attributed to the exposure to the parent compound of 2-OHNAP in the study area is currently acceptable, but it is not negligible and may be worsened in the future. This study provides a valuable scientific information for regional decision makers and stakeholders about human health programs and identification of environmental health priorities.

Pharmaceuticals as one of the emerging pollutants in water systems are a global environmental concern. This study aims to synthesize a new activated carbon from Gundelia tournefortii seeds (ACGT) for effective removal of acetaminophen (ACT) from aqueous solutions. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized by different techniques, namely FESEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, BET, TGA, and pHpzc. The effects of experimental parameters such as pH, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, contact time and ionic strength on the ACT adsorption were investigated. Optimization studies revealed that the maximum removal (98.31%) of ACT was obtained at 30 min of contact time, 0.25 g/L adsorbent, 20 mg/L Ca2+, pH 4.0 and temperature 25˚C. For predicting ACT adsorption on synthetized adsorbent, isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic characteristics were determined. The equilibrium data were well represented by Freundlich model (R2 = 0.97) and kinetics data were well fitted by the pseudo-second order model. The thermodynamic analysis discovered that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. Overall, the development of the ACGT can be a promising adsorbent for ACT removing from aqueous solutions.

Introduction: Gaseous air pollutants can cause oxidative stress, which can lead to lung damage by inducing inflammation. Polymorphisms in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene are involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including lung disease. Two glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) and glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) genes belong to this family, in which deletions occur and the resulting alleles are unable to produce active enzymes. Materials and Methods: In this study, 41 steel plant workers with impaired lung function were selected. Multiplex PCR technique was used to identify the genotyping of GST M1 and T1. Results: The results of the frequency of gene deletion among 41 patients showed that there were 10 individuals (17.2%) with deletion of GSTM1 gene, 4 individuals (11.8%) with deletion of GSTT1 gene. The results of the frequency of gene deletion among 50 healthy individuals (control group) also showed that there were 8 individuals (8.5%) with deletion of GSTM1 gene, and 12 individuals (8.3%) with deletion of GSTT1 gene. There were 7 individuals (14%) without deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1 removal. The results of Chi-square test between healthy and sick groups showed no significance at the level of p < 0.05. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that the sensitivity to lung function abnormalities in steel workers is directly related to the duration of employment.

Background and Aim: Irrigation with wastewater and the use of sludge as fertilizer is one of the important issues related to health and environmental concerns. The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of heavy metals of arsenic, cadmium and lead in potato and soil of agricultural lands in Sefid Dasht in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. Materials and Methods: This study was an experimental-laboratory study. Samples were obtained from three agricultural lands with an average area of ​​one hectare. Hach digestion and Sandstone were used for digestion of soil and potato samples, respectively. Finally, the concentrations of heavy metals were measured using Varian atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AA240 model). Results: The results of this study showed that lead metal had the highest rate of accumulation in soil and potato. The calculated transfer factor was according to the Arsenic > Cadmium > Lead pattern. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, measures should be taken to prevent contamination of the soil by heavy elements. Therefore, the amount of heavy elements in the soil of Sefid Dasht should be controlled by reducing use of livestock manure and chemical fertilizers.

Background and purpose: Bacterial and fungal bioaerosols play important roles in the atmosphere and have significant effects on human health. This study aimed at investigating the concentration of bioaerosols in ambient air in Shahrekord, Iran during two warm and cold seasons at three different points in 2019. Moreover, the effect of meteorological factors such as temperature, relative humidity, UV intensity, and wind speed and direction on bioaerosols were studied. Materials and methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, sampling of bioaerosols was conducted using Andersen single-stage sampler at a flow rate of 28.3 L/min for 5 min on Sabrod dextrose agar (SDA) and Tryptic Soy agar (TSA) media for bacterial and fungal bioaerosols, respectively. Results: The study showed that the concentration of fungal bioaerosols was higher than bacterial bioaerosols in warm and cold seasons. The predominant genera of bacteria in both seasons included Micrococcus luteus (21.35%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.68%), Bacillus subtilis (10.14%), and Staphylococcus aureus (9.93%). The predominant genus of fungi were Cladosporium (41%), Alternaria (16%), and Aspergillus (11%). Correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the concentration of bioaerosols and wind direction and relative humidity and a significant negative correlation between temperature, wind speed and UV intensity in warm season. Conclusion: The predominant species of bioaerosols identified in this study were opportunistic pathogens and allergens which can threaten public health. So, monitoring of the concentration of airborne bioaerosols in cities is a vital key to assess the health effects of ambient air pollution.

Background and purpose: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). Rapid spread of the virus around the world shows that identification of transmission routes and preventing environmental contamination, especially in healthcare settings plays a vital role in controlling the disease. In this study, air and surface contamination with SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated in different wards of Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord. Materials and methods: In current study, 13 samples of different surfaces and 15 air samples were taken using sterile swabs impregnated with VTM and standard impinger, respectively. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 was performed using RT-PCR. Results: Findings showed that 46.15% of surface samples and 26.66% of air samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. These contaminations were detected only in areas which were in close contact with COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: This study confirmed the contamination of air and surface with SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 admitting wards. Therefore, personal precautionary measures, including frequent hand-washing, timely changing of face mask, and using more protective equipment are highly recommended in healthcare settings. Moreover, cleaning and regular disinfection of surfaces and equipment and appropriate ventilation of wards are crucial for preventing the disease transmission.

This study aims to investigate the biosorption of Pb (II) by living and nonliving biomass of Penicillium notatum. Penicillium notatum PTCC 5074 was purchased from Iran Scientific-Industrial Research Organization in lyophilized form and after culturing in potato dextrose agar was propagated in Sabouraud dextrose broth medium. The highest adsorption by living and nonliving biomass (180.74 and 187.08 mg/g per dry weight of biomass, respectively) was at the Pb (II) concentration of 228 mg/L and ionic strength of 43 mg/L in terms of Ca2+ and 1.2 g/L biomass concentration. The optimum contact time and temperature in nonliving biomass were 37 hours and 32.5°C, respectively. Kinetic studies showed that Pb(II) adsorption in both cases follows a pseudo-second-order reaction. The adsorption process was consistent with the Langmuir model in the nonliving state, whereas the favourite models for the living state were Langmuir and Freundlich. Thermodynamic constants indicated that the adsorption process by nonliving and living biomass were exothermic and endothermic, respectively. The obtained results showed that Penicillium notatum in living and nonliving states is suitable for the development of an efficient and economic biosorbent for the removal of Pb (II) from aqueous environments.

Trifluralin is one of the most widely used herbicides, being accounted as the cause of cancer in human. In the present research, the UV/S2O82− and ZnO/UV processes’ efficiency in the removal of trifluralin was investigated. A lab scale equipped with a UV lamp was applied. The parameters were studied, including initial trifluralin concentration (0.4–1.2 mg/L), contact time (20–60 min), S2O82− concentration (20–60 μM), and ZnO concentration (50–150 mg/L). The remained trifluralin concentration was measured by HPLC. This study proved the trifluralin removal of 92.90 ± 1.6% and 87.91 ± 19.22% for UV/S2O82− and UV/ZnO processes in the best operation conditions (contact time of 60 min, the persulfate concentration of 40 μM, and the ZnO concentration of 100 mg/L). The optimal trifluraline concentrations were 1.2 mg/L and 0.6 mg/L for UV/S2O82− and UV/ZnO processes, respectively. In both processes, the removal efficiency of trifluralin increased significantly with increasing contact time. The findings exhibited that both processes UV/S2O82− and UV/ZnO followed the zero-order kinetic. The electrical energy consumed of UV/S2O82 and UV/ZnO was about 43.95 and 20.41 Kwh/kg, respectively. The results show that UV/S2O82− and ZnO/UV processes were appropriate as the effective treatment method for trifluralin removal. Therefore, it is proposed to study the performance of these processes as an environmentally friendly practice in full scale with real wastewater.

Nowadays, advanced oxidation processes, particularly photocatalyst process and catalytic ozonation by ZnO nanoparticles, are the most efficient method of eliminating pharmaceuticals. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency of ultraviolet/zinc oxide (UV/ZnO) and ozone/zinc oxide (O3/ZnO) techniques as advanced oxidation processes in the removal of trimethoprim (TMP) from aqueous solutions. The process consisted of 0.6 g/L of ozone (O3), pH = 7.5 ± 0.5, TMP with a concentration of 0.5–5 mg/L, ZnO with a dose of 50–500 mg/L, 5–30 min reaction time, and 30–180 min contact time with UV radiation (6 W, 256 nm) in a continuous reactor. The high removal efficiency was achieved after 25 minutes when ZnO is used in 1 mg/L TMP under an operational condition at pH 7.5. When the concentration of the pollutant increased from 0.5 to 1, the average removal efficiency increased from 78% to 94%, and then, it remained almost constant. An increase in the reaction time from 5 to 25 minutes will cause the average elimination to increase from 84% to 94%. The results showed that the efficiency of O3/ZnO process in the removal of TMP was 94%, while the removal efficiency of UV/ZnO process was 91%. The findings exhibited that the kinetic study followed the second-order kinetics, both processes. With regard to the results, the photocatalyst process and catalytic ozonation by ZnO nanoparticles can make acceptable levels for an efficient posttreatment. Finally, this combined system is proven to be a technically effective method for treating antibiotic contaminants.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the level of citizen participation in solid waste recycling in the Isfahan metropolis. Materials and Methods: To assess the proportionate rate of citizen participation in 15 districts of the city, 400 questionnaires were filled out by participants through stratified random sampling method. The statistical analysis (Correlation and regression analysis) of the data was performed using the SPSS software. Results: The results showed that despite popular belief, the situation of solid waste recycling in Isfahan is unfavorable. Moreover, the highest level of citizen participation is related to district 10 (29.91%) and the lowest amount is associated with district 5 (12.22%). Applying strategies tailored to the social, economical, and cultural characteristics of each district and based on the current level of participation of citizens in each district can improve the current status. Conclusion: The results showed that the citizens need more education to increase their participation in Comprehensive Waste management. However, the provision of educational programs through mass media along with municipality co-operation leads to elevate the people awareness.

Aims: This study aimed to comparatively investigate the efficiency of removal of formaldehyde using advanced oxidation process ultraviolet (UV)/S2O82-/Fe2+ and UV/S2O82- from aqueous solutions. Materials and Methods: In this experimental-laboratory study, the UV/S2O82 and UV/S2O82-/Fe2+ processes were used to remove formaldehyde. UV radiation was provided by a low pressure (6 W) UV lamp. Effects of various factors including pH, different irradiation durations, different concentrations of iron ions, initial concentration formaldehyde, and persulfate concentration were evaluated. The remaining formaldehyde concentration in the samples was measured by spectrophotometer at 412 nm wavelength. Results: The results showed that in the UV/S2O82- method, the formaldehyde removal efficiency decreased with increasing pH from 3 to 9, while in the UV/S2O82-/Fe2+ method, the formaldehyde removal efficiency increased with increasing pH and concentrations of iron ion. In both methods, as the initial concentration of formaldehyde was increased, its removal efficiency decreased, and the highest formaldehyde removal rate was obtained in UV/S2O82- method at persulfate concentration of 100 mM. However, in the UV/S2O82-/Fe2+ method, the removal efficiency decreased with increasing concentration of persulfate to 100 mM. Conclusion: The results showed that the UV/S2O82-/Fe2+ process was more efficient (87.57%) to remove formaldehyde at high concentrations. Therefore, it is recommended to study the efficiency of this process as one of the clean and environmentally friendly methods at full scale for real wastewater.

Aim: The aim of this study was to reduce the amount of diazinon from aqueous media using chemical–thermal-activated watermelon rind. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out in a laboratory. First, watermelon rind was activated by chemical–thermal method. Then, the effective parameters of the diazinon adsorption process, including the initial concentration of diazinon (0.17–1 μg/L), pH (3–10), adsorbent amount (0.05–1 g/l), and contact time (30–100 min), were investigated and optimized. The amount of residual diazinon was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. In this study, Taguchi method was used to determine the sample size and statistical analysis. Furthermore, in this study, to describe the adsorption equilibrium, Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were used. Results: The results showed that under an optimal pH of 6, the equilibrium time of 30 min, the amount of adsorbent 1 g/L, and the initial concentration 0.17 μg/L, the elimination efficiency of diazinon was 95.1%. Furthermore, the results of isothermic studies have shown that the removal of diazinon follows the Freundlich model (R2 = 0.921). Conclusion: Chemical–thermal-activated watermelon rind can effectively be used to remove low concentrations of diazinon from aqueous solutions.

Introduction: Violence against women is a global phenomenon, and varies based on the political, social and cultural characteristics of each place and location. Domestic violence is the most common type of violence against women. This study was performed with aim to investigate physical domestic violence and its most common contributing factors. Methods: This case-control study was performed in 2016-2019 on 23 pregnant women referred to trauma emergency of Shahid Hasheminezhad and Emal Reza hospitals of Mashhad with complaint of trauma due to domestic violence and other 23 patients due to trauma of other factors. Data collection was done by researcher-made questionnaire including three sections (demographic characteristics, type of domestic violence, and contributing factors). Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 16) and Chi-square, Fisher-exact, Student t, or Mann-Whitney tests. PResults: During the three year period of study, 23 pregnant women referred to the emergency department of two referral hospitals in Mashhad due to domestic violence. Regression analysis showed that the most common contributing factors of domestic violence were previous history of domestic violence, unemployment and economic problems, history of previous hospital admission due to domestic violence and drug abuse of spouse. 16 patients (34.6%) leaved the hospital against medical advice in domestic violence group and 30 patients (65.2%) patients hospitalized for further evaluation and treatment. Leaving the hospital against medical advice was significantly higher in domestic violence trauma patients (p=0.001). Conclusion: Among the most important causes of domestic violence in the present study were the positive history of domestic violence in the person or family, as well as unemployment and economic problems.