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Chemical industries are among the process industries and cause many risks. The present research aimed to analyze the health risks of a chemical warehouse of drilling rigs chemical Supply Company based on COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), CHEM-SAM (Chemical Risk Management Self-Assessment Model), and SQRA (Subjective Quantified Risk Assessment) methods in 2021. The information was collected based on document review, MSDS of chemicals, processes, employees, and chemical exposure. Flammability, toxicity, allergy-causing, corrosivity, reactivity, LD50, and permissible thresholds of chemicals were also collected. The present research results showed that out of 59 main chemicals in the operational processes of the chemical warehouse of drilling rigs, 14 chemicals are flammable, 22 cause allergy responses, and three can cause death if inhaled. According to the results of the CHEM-SAM method, the employees and people outside the organization are at medium and low chemical risk based on the current management of the chemical warehouse, respectively. The results of the COSHH health assessment showed that chemicals had low, medium, high, and very high risk in 31, 13, 12, and 3 cases, respectively. The high-risk cases consisted of Ammonium Nitrate، Caustic Soda, and Poly.Aluminum.Chloride. Health risk assessment was also performed using the SQRA method, and results showed that chemicals have a very low, low, medium, high, and very high risk in 27, 12, 8, 9, and 3 cases, respectively. The results showed that the adverse health effects of chemical exposure in the drilling industry are alarming. Employees of different sectors of oil and gas industries are exposed to chemicals.

Abstract Fluoride and nitrate are one of the developed compounds that can enter water resources in different ways. The present research examines the effectiveness of activated carbon made from oak fruit to remove fluoride and nitrate from water, and then the as-synthesized adsorbent is functionalized using ammonium chloride species. The results showed that activated carbon-containing NH4Cl had the highest adsorption capacity for fluoride and nitrate pollutant. The maximum absorbing capacity is 26.00 mg/g for fluoride and 26.53 mg/g for nitrate. The results of the reaction kinetics and adsorption isotherms showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherm fit the data from this study better than other experimental models. Eventually, recycling the adsorbent for seven cycles to adsorb the pollutant showed no remarkable activity loss. Until now, most absorption methods have been performed to remove the pollutant concentration of 30 mg/l. In the current study, with the input pollutant concentration of 50 mg/l, it can be mentioned that the activated carbon modified from the oak fruit is a cheap, efficient, and effective adsorbent. It is considered available to remove fluoride from aqueous solutions.

Background: The abundance of humic substances in nature and their entry into water resources cause changes in color, taste and smell in water. which makes a huge amount of water in the world useless, Recently various methods have been presented to remove natural organic substances from water. But surface adsorption has a high removal capacity compared to the other methods. In this research the performance of modified watermelon skin in adsorption of humic acid from aqueous solutions on a continuous scale have been investigated. Methods: In this study, the effect of different parameters such as contact time, activation temperature,pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentration and ionic strength and thermodynamics on humic acid removal efficiency were investigated.Using SEM spectrum (scanning electron microscope) the appearance characteristics of the adsorbent were done. Humic acid concentration was determined using spectrophotometer in 254 nm wavelength. findings: Results of the research showed that the highest amount of removal occurs in acidic environment, By increasing time and adsorbent dose and decreasing the initial concentration, the removal efficiency of humic acid increased for example:in time(45 minutes) and PH=4 and amount of adsorbent(0.1 g.L-1) with concentration removal is (50 mg.L-1) and the maximum removal of humic acid reached (90.98%) and the humic acid adsorption thermodynamically is an endothermic process. Conclusion: Activated carbon produced from watermelon skin as a new adsorbent from agricultural wastes is very effective in removing humic organic substances due to its abundance, low price and high efficiency.

Background: Nowadays, the growing population has increased the demand for food especially for protein triggering the aquaculture industry's expansion. However, unplanned and unregulated farm will caused be at the subsequent yield failure and cost of environmental stress in the aquaculture farm. Accordingly, ecological potential evaluation and site selection of suitable areas for establishment of aquaculture farms can be prevent the interference of different land uses, minimize the environmental impact of aquaculture development and prevent disruptions in development. Therefore, the currentstudy was conducted to ecological potential evaluation of rainbow trout (Onchorynchus mykiss (culture as coldwater fish species in Hamedan province, west of Iran. Methods: In the current study, biological requisites of rainbow trout, socioeconomic factors, springs information, water flow, water temperature, pH, slope, protected areas and antiquities were used for ecological potential evaluation and site selection of suitable sites for rainbow trout culture. In so doing, 'Makhdoum Aquaculture Model' and ArcGIS 10.3 were used. Results: Based on the results obtained, 1420 ha of Nahavand county, 571 ha of Razan county, 472 ha of Bahar county, 311 ha of Hamedan county, 263 ha of Malayer county, 145 ha of Toyserkan county, 121 ha of Asadabad county and 84.0 ha of Kabudarahang county were identified as the suitable areas for establishment of rainbow trout culture farms. Conclusion: Ecological potential evaluation and site selection for aquaculture by considering the land suitability could be taking to sustainable development and reduce of environmental stress of the aquaculture farm.

Background: Chemical industries are among the process industries and have many risks that can lead to catastrophic and irreparable consequences. The current research analyzed the health risk of chemicals in a company supplying chemicals to drilling rigs using WASPAS and SQRA methods in 2022. Methods: The basic information of the materials used was collected based on intuitive methods, document review, MSDS of chemicals, processes, efficiency, and exposure to chemicals. In the SQRA risk assessment, hazard rate (HR) and exposure rate (ER) factors were calculated based on information related to acute toxicity, LD50, and LC50. The developed version of WASPAS-IVIF has been used to prioritize the health risk of chemicals. 10 process safety experts were used for scoring. Risk assessment calculations were done in the Excel2016 software environment, and the data fuzzification process was in Fuzzy Toolbox in the Matbal2019a software environment. Findings: The results of the health risk assessment of chemicals using the SQRA method, out of 45 chemicals, 34 were evaluated as having no health risk potential. The health risk level for Acetone, Calcium Chloride, CITRIC ACID, Fuel Oil, and Naphthalene is low. For biocide, n-Butyl, ammonium nitrate, and xylenes are at medium level, toluene at a high level, and Benzene at a very high level. The results of the WASPAS-IVIF evaluation also show that Benzene is the most critical risk factor in the chemical storage of drilling fluids, with a coefficient of 0.828. Conclusion: This research showed that the health effects caused by exposure to chemicals used in the drilling industry are worrying.

Introduction and purpose: Nowadays, the entrance of heavy metals as inorganic pollutants into agricultural waters is one of the major concerns in all over the world. In the past few years, the adsorption of heavy metals by various categories of bio-adsorbents has been investigated via different process, including surface and chemical adsorption. In this research, corn silk has been used as an efficient bio-adsorbent for adsorption of lead ions from agricultural effluents. Materials and methods: Firstly, corn silk prepared from the fields around Kermanshah, afterward washed with distilled water and heated in an oven for 24 hours until it dried and rubbed. The prepared sample used for the adsorption of lead metal experiments. Findings: In higher concentration of the adsorbent, the absorption capacity of ions decreases drastically. Also, the optimal pH value for the absorption process obtained around 5. The kinetic data exhibited that the metal adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Furthermore, thermodynamic data revealed that the process of metal absorption is spontaneous and the absorption happened physically. Conclusion: The results clearly showed that the corn silk as a biosorbent can be effective for the removal of lead ions from aquatic solutions compared to previous reports. We can conclude that, the efficiency of biosorbent refers to the functional groups with high absorption power such as hydroxyl. In addition, the rate of adsorption of pollutants by the corn silk is significant, so that after 30 minutes the surface adsorption process reaches equilibrium stage.

Background & Objective: Nowadays, trace elements are known as useful indicators for monitoring of environmental pollution caused from traffic emmissions. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effect of urban traffic and distance from the street side on heavy metals (Pb, Cd and Cu) concentration in surface soil and plant species of roadsides environment of city of Hamedan, west of Iran. Methods: In this descriptive study, a total of 48 surface soil and plant samples were collected from four areas of city of Hamedan with different traffic density. After samples preparation, the concentrations of the analyzed elements in the soil and plant samples were determined using ICP-OES. Also, all statistical analyses of the obtained data were performed using SPSS software version 19.0. Results: Based on the results obtained, metals accumulation in soils and plants of the area with heavy traffic volume especially Basij Boulevard were higher than the other sampling areas. Also, distance from street side had been inverse relation with metals accumulation in soil and plant samples. So as the most accumulation of elements was recorded for samples collected at a distance of 5.0 m from street side. Conclusion: Generally, inverse relation of metals accumulation in soil and plant samples with distance from street side might be related to vehicular emissions. Moreover, the results of this study also could be useful for managers and planners in the fields of architecture and urban design, urban land use planning, and urban traffic control managers.

Background and Objective: Wastewater of food industries contains large amounts of suspended solids and other chemicals which produced during cleaning and sanitary purposes. Therefore, removal of these pollutants from effluent is very important. The aim of this study was to removal of turbidity from the effluent of Hamedan Pegah Dairy Company using extracted natural coagulant from plane seed Methods and Methods: In this descriptive study, the effects of contact time, adsorbent dose, pH and turbidity values on efficiency of turbidity removal from food industries effluent were investigated. Also, adsorbent characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), moreover, the adsorption of turbidity studied from both kinetics and equilibrium points of view. Results: Based on the results obtained, the highest turbidity removal efficiency at optimum conditions (i.e. pH of 8, contact time of 60 min, initial turbidity of 1 NTU and adsorbent dose of 0.1 g/l) was found to be 98%. Also, the adsorption kinetic of turbidity via plane tree seed coagulant followed pseudo second-order (PSO) model (R2 = 0.991), while the adsorption isotherm obeyed Langmuir model (R2 = 0.994) with maximum adsorption capacities of 0.203 mg/g. Conclusion: In conclusion, due to the natural coagulant from plane tree seed showed a high efficiency to removal of turbidity from wastewater, it could be used as a suitable alternative in comparing with common chemical coagulants for reduce the pollutants from the effluent of food industries in wastewater treatment plants.

Ibuprofen is one of the most widely used drugs in the world, which affects the health of living organisms by causing pollution in water sources. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of modified carbon of straw and sesame stubble in removing ibuprofen from aqueous solutions. For this purpose, ammonium chloride, zinc chloride, and phosphoric acid were used to optimize the adsorbent. Also, the changes in the absorbent surface and its characteristics were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique. After determining the optimal conditions of pH variables, contact time, temperature, and adsorbent dose, the surface adsorption process was investigated under three Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radoshkevich models. On the other hand, first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were used to process the adsorption data. The results showed that the surface adsorption process followed the Freundlich isotherm model pseudo-second-order kinetics. pH, contact time, initial concentration of ibuprofen, and optimal adsorbent dose were 3, 120 min, 50 mg/l, and 0.10 g/l respectively at 25°C. The results of this study showed that agricultural residues such as straw and sesame stubble can be used as effective and cost-effective adsorbents to remove the remaining pharmaceutical compounds from aqueous solutions.

The study of sediments as one of the reservoirs for absorbing environmental pollutants and especially heavy metals is of particular importance. Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of identifying and evaluating the contamination of arsenic, cadmium, nickel, and vanadium elements in the sediments of Farahabad coast of the Caspian Sea in 2018. In this study, after collecting 36 sediment samples from 12 selected stations, the values ​​of pH, EC, organic matter, and texture of sediments were determined. The concentrations of elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical spectroscopy. In addition, in order to evaluate the pollution of sediments, environmental toxicology criteria were calculated, including indicators of pollution coefficient, enrichment, and pollution load. In order to identify the potential sources of elements and their grouping in the sediment samples, multivariate statistical methods were used, namely principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering. For statistical processing of the results, one-way analysis of variance, one-sample t-test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used in the SPSS software. The average concentration of arsenic, cadmium, nickel, and vanadium was 12.7, 0.191, 35.0, and 31.9 mg/kg, respectively. The output results of PCA, HCA models, EF index values, ​​and coefficient of variation, as well as Pearson's correlation matrix, showed that arsenic probably originates from man-made sources and cadmium, nickel, and vanadium elements have natural sources.

Fluoride is one of the developed compounds that can enter water resources in different ways. The World Health Organization has recommended its maximum permissible concentration in drinking water of 1.5 mg/l so that its concentration exceeding the permissible limit can be harmful to the health of living organisms and ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of activated carbon modified by the thermo-chemical method from oak fruit in fluoride removal. This research was conducted in a discontinuous system on a laboratory scale, and for this purpose, the effect of effective parameters such as time, pH, concentration, adsorbent dose, and other factors was investigated. The results of the experiments showed that the maximum amount of removal takes place during 90 min, pH=3, adsorbent dose of 0.1 g/l, and pollutant concentration of 50 mg/l. The results of the synthetic models showed that the Freundlich model with the coefficient of determination (R2=0.863) is a better model than the Langmuir model with the coefficient of determination (R2=0.736) to describe the synthetic behavior of the absorber. Until now, most absorption methods have been performed to remove the pollutant concentration of 30 mg/l. In the current study, with the input pollutant concentration of 50 mg/l, it can be stated that the activated carbon modified from the oak fruit is a cheap, efficient, and effective adsorbent. It is considered available to remove fluoride from aqueous solutions.

Nowadays, discharge of toxic heavy metals through industrial, domestic, and agricultural effluents into the environment, in this study, the efficiency of thin-layer nanocomposite (TFN) nanofiltration membranes made using surface polymerization in combination with modified cellulose nanoparticles (mNC) was assessed for the removal of lead and chromium ions from aqueous solutions. In so doing, after modification of MNCSNCs, fabrication of membrane substrate and also PA selective layer, and then testing the performance of the membrane, the physical properties of the modified nanoparticles and nanocomposite membranes were also investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and zeta potential. Based on the Results obtained, the water flux of TFN2 membranes increased from 42 to 125 l/m2/h. Also, at pH = 8.5, the removal rate of Pb(II) and Cr(III) was 93% and 100%, respectively. Moreover, under these conditions, the adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic models. In general, the results showed that the synthesized nanofiltration nanocomposite membrane by embedding modified cellulose nanocrystals can be used to effectively remove Pb(II) and Cr(III) ions from aqueous solutions.

Background and Objective: Since use of domestic wastewater contain organic pollutants for irrigation of agricultural farms will lead to be adverse health effects, this study was conducted to compare the efficiency of brick kiln ash, thermal power plant ash and also commercial activated carbon for removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from domestic wastewater. Materials and Methods: In order to removal of COD from domestic wastewater by studied adsorbents, under optimal conditions the effects of pH, amount of adsorbent, contact time and agitation speed were evaluated. Also, equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir (L) and Freundlich (F) isotherm models. Results: The results showed that the removal efficiency was increased by increasing in adsorbent dose, contact time and agitation speed. The optimum pH for COD removal was 7. Also, the results indicated that, the adsorption isotherm was well fitted by the Langmuir model with R2 = 0.997, 0.996 and 0.993 for commercial activated carbon, thermal power plant ash and brick kiln ash, respectively. Moreover, maximum adsorption capacity of COD for commercial activated carbon, thermal power plant ash and brick kiln ash were obtained 83.0, 28.6 and 14.9 mg/g, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, the commercial activated carbon found to be as an effective adsorbent for removal of COD from domestic wastewater compared to thermal power plant ash and brick kiln ash, but due to low cost of them, thermal power plant ash and also brick kiln ash could be used for removal of COD from wastewater.

Background and Objective: Amoxicillin (AMX) is one of the commonly used commercial antibiotics due to its high resistance to bacteria and its large spectrum against a wide variety of microorganisms, which it´s existence in the wastewater from pharmaceutical industries and hospital effluents causes unpleasant odor, skin disorder, and microbial resistance among pathogen organisms, and it can lead to the death of microorganisms which are effective in wastewater treatment. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate of removal efficacy of AMX from aqueous solutions using GO@Fe3O4@CeO2. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, GO@Fe3O4@CeO2 was synthesized and then used as a photocatalyst for the removal of AMX from aqueous solution. GO@Fe3O4@CeO2 was characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), SEM-EDX elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) methods. Additionally, the influence of variables including pH (3-11), amount of photocatalyst (0.006-0.04 g), contact time (0-150 min), and temperature (25-55 °C) was assessed on the efficacy of AMX removal. Results: The results indicated that removal efficiency increased up to 90 min contact time, 0.02 g of photocatalyst, and at the temperature of 25 °C. The optimum pH for AMX removal was 10. Conclusion: GO@Fe3O4@CeO2 could be an effective and available photocatalyst for the removal of AMX from industrial wastewater under UV light.

Since pharmaceutical residues are important pollutants that lead to producing serious hazards to humans, and other living organisms, their removal from the effluents is essential for environmental protection. This study was conducted to the evaluation of the removal efficacy of methotrexate from aqueous solutions using AC@Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposite. In so doing, AC@Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposite was synthesized by hydrothermal method and used as a novel adsorbent for the removal of methotrexate from an aqueous solution. AC@Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposite characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), pHpzc, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) analysis methods. The influence of pH, amount of adsorbent, temperature, and contact time on the removal efficacy were studied. Based on the results, the removal efficiency increased until 0.02 g adsorbent and 60 min contact time. The optimum pH for methotrexate removal was 7.0. In addition, under these conditions, the adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm with a correlation coefficient of 0.994 and a pseudo-second-order kinetic model with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The maximum adsorption capacity of the synthesized adsorbent was 400 mg/g. In conclusion, the AC@Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposite could be considered as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of methotrexate from pharmaceutical wastewater.

Among the methods used to remove heavy metals are membrane processes that, with less use of chemicals, are able to quickly produce high-quality penetration. In this study, a nanocomposite membrane with the ability to separate lead was used. The black titanium dioxide nanoparticle was synthesized using the pyrolysis method. Adsorption experiments were performed using a nanofiltration unit. The results of lead adsorption isotherms showed that the lead adsorption process using the membrane follows the Langmuir model with a correlation coefficient of 0.995. The results of the study of lead metal adsorption kinetics showed that the process of adsorption of lead by the adsorbent follows the quasi-second order kinetics so that the correlation coefficient of the second-order quasi-model is equal to 0.999 which is compared with the quasi-correlation coefficient. The maximum and minimum fluxes between different membranes were related to 0.1 mg/l of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in terms of time and pressure for 50 and 600 minutes and pressures of 45 and 145 bar, with increasing the initial concentration of pollutants, the percentage of adsorption decreases. This can be due to the delay in balancing the adsorbent and the contaminant.

Background and Objective: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants produced by anthropogenic activities that contaminate all environmental matrices, including soils, and can enter the food chains. Therefore, this study was conducted for the analysis of PAHs compounds content in agricultural soils of Hamedan city, west of Iran, in 2021. Materials and Methods: a total of 36 surface soil specimens were collected from 12 sampling sites in agricultural soils and after extraction of analytes based on the soxhlet method, the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was used for the determination of PAHs compounds in the samples. Furthermore, soil samples were further analuzed for the amounts of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total organic carbon (TOC). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: Results showed that 16 PAHs (∑16PAHs) total concentrations ranged from 435 to 3292 µg/kg with an average value of 1806 µg/kg. PAHs with higher molecular weight (≥ 4 rings) were dominant in PAHs profiles accounting for 78%. Based on the results, the mean concentrations of all 16 PAHs were lower than MPC established by MHWaS. Furthermore, the mean concentrations of Pyr, B(a)A, Chy, B(b)F, B(k)F­, B(a)P, and B(ghi)P were higher than the MPC established by the Iranian Department of Environment. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, as the mean contents of some PAHs were higher than the MPC, therefore, periodic monitoring of soil contamination with PAHs is recommended for the environmental and human health aspects.

Phytoremediation is one of the most important sustainable biological methods to deal with the increasing effects of pollutants. In this study, the efficiency of Avicennia marina for refining heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and nickel from aqueous media was investigated. For sampling of mangroves and sediments in 2019, 20 stations throughout Khorkhoran wetland located in the west of Bandar Abbas were identified and samples were collected from water, sediments and different parts of the plant. According to the results, the highest accumulation of metals with a value of 4.38 mg/kg in the root of mangrove was related to lead and the lowest accumulation of metals with a value of 0.261 mg/kg in the root of the mangrove was related to cadmium. The results of transfer coefficient for lead and cadmium in mangrove roots was greater than 1 and for nickel less than 1. Moreover, there was a statistically significant correlation between pH and temperature parameters with the mean concentration of all heavy metals in sediment and between EC and the mean concentration of all heavy metals except nickel in water (P> 0.05). According to the results, the difference in the concentration of metals in the leaf and root tissue of mangroves may be due to differences in the physiological structure of the tissues; Therefore, mangrove roots seem to be more suitable than heavy leaves for refining heavy metals.

Background and Objective: Soils and sediments contamination with trace and toxic elements lead to potential ecological risk and adverse effects on human health and so have been the cause of increasing concern worldwide. Therefore, this study was carried out to potential ecological risk assessment of As, Cd, Ni and V in surface sediments of Khazar Abad, southern parts of Caspian Sea in 2019. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 36 surface sediment samples were collected from 12 sampling sites. After samples preparation, the elemental contents were determined using ICP-OES. Also, potential ecological risk factor (Eir) and cumulative potential ecological risk index (RI) were calculated. All statistical analyses were performed by SPSS software. Results: Based on the results obtained, the mean contents of As, Cd, Ni and V in analyzed samples were found to be 12.7, 0.191, 35.0, and 31.9 mg/kg, respectively. The computed values of Eir showed that factor values were decreased in the order Cd > As > Ni > V. Additionally, the mean values of RI with 53.7 indicated that all the examined elements have the "low potential ecological risk". Conclusion: Accordingly, although the examined elements have shown a low potential ecological risk, cadmium with 46.4% and arsenic with 45.4% mean values of RI can cause for concern. Therefore, source identification and management of organic and inorganic pollutants and also periodic monitoring of water and sediments as the sink of environmental pollution are recommended.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of persistent organic pollutants that due to their characteristics including bioaccumulation potential and persistence in the environment; can pose adverse effects on human and environmental health. Therefore, this study was performed to analysis, source identification and health risk assessment of PCBs in surface soil samples collected from some land types of northern, eastern and western parts of city of Tehran in 2019. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 45 surface soil samples were collected from 15 sampling sites including business districts, residential areas, cultural and educational areas, public green space and roadside. After extraction of analytes, the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was used to determination of PCBs in the soil specimens. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software. Results: Based on the results obtained, 13 congeners of PCBs were detected in the analyzed soil samples. Also, the minimum, maximum and mean concentrations of ∑13PCBs (µg/kg) were 0.031, 23.1 and 6.77, respectively. Moreover, the results of principal component analysis (PCA) and significant distribution of low molecular weight homologues of PCBs in the analyzed soil samples indicated that the presence of PCB compounds in the soil samples would be connected with combustion processes in the soil. Besides, since among the detected PCBs, the TEF values only established for PCB189, therefore, exposure to contaminated soil with this congener could be lead to a "very low level of carcinogenic risk". Conclusion: Given that PCBs have adverse effects on the environment and human health, detection, content determination, source identification and periodic monitoring of these compounds in different mediums especially water and soil for human and environmental health maintenance are recommended

Background & Objective: Compost production is a biological treatment process of organic solid wastes that are used to recovering and volume reducing waste and stabilization programs. The aim of this study was to compare physicochemical and microbiological parameters between compost and vermicompost producing through windrow method from aerobic digestion sludge of Hamedan wastewater treatment plant. Materials & Methods: By using the Windrow method, act to produce compost from the sludge of excreted bed of dryer sludge (lagoon) of Hamedan wastewater treatment plant and mixing with bulk materials. At the same time with this activity, vermicompost production from excreted sludge carried out by using Eisenia fetida for 15 weeks. All statistical analyses were done by SPSS software. Results: There is no significant difference in C/N ratio, pH, moisture, ash, organic matter and sodium parameters between compost and vermicompost, but there is a significant difference in Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, Zn and temperature, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, total and fecal coliform parameters between compost and vermicompost producing from aerobic digestion sludge. Also, the average concentrations of heavy metals in both compost and vermicompost produced from aerobic digestion sludge were lower than the MPC established by EPA. Conclusion: Concentrations showed that Ni and Pb, C, N, P, Mg values and microbial population of fecal coliform in producing compost is more from vermicompost and Ni and Cu, Cd, Zn amounts and microbial population of total coliform in producing vermicompost is more from compost producing. Therefore, it is concluded that both compost fertilizers could be appropriate quality for agricultural and horticultural uses.

Background & Objective: Individuals spend a lot of time indoors; thus they are generally exposed to phthalates used in consumer products. Therefore, those exposed to phthalates as indoor contaminants are at high risks. Therefore, the present study was performed to evaluate the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic hazard of phthalate esters (PAEs) in the indoor dust collected from 9 pre-elementary and elementary schools of central and southern parts of city of Tehran in 2019. Materials & Methods: A total of 27 indoor dust specimens were collected using a vacuum cleaner. After transferring dust samples to the laboratory, 100 mg of each sample was centrifuged and mixed with 20 ml acetone, and kept through a night and ultrasonicated within 30 min. Finally, analyte contents were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: Based on the results obtained, mean concentrations (mg/kg) of dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di(nbutyl) phthalate (DnBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dioctyl phthalate (DnOP) were found to be 1.14, 0.11, 6.15, 0.71, 421 and 9.31 respectively. Moreover, the overall PAEs average daily exposure doses (ADD) via dust ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation were 2.16E-03, 2.35E-06 and 2.15E-07 mg/kg, respectively, and the lifetime average daily exposure doses (LADD) were 2.52E-04, 5.01E-07 and 3.40E-08 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusion: In general, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of DnBP, DEHP and DnOP congeners were considerable for children and adults and ingestion of dust particles was found to be the main pathway of exposure to PAEs for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. Although, based on the results except for DEHP the carcinogenic risks of the studied samples were below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency threshold of 1.00E-06, due to the disadvantages of phthalates in human safety, these kinds of investigations are helpful in understanding the main ways of exposure to PAEs and providing a science-based framework for the future attempts for mitigating the PAEs indoor emissions.

Background: In this study, the ferrous sulfate was used to remove Cr(VI) and Ni(II) ions from a real Ni-Cr plating industry wastewater.Methods: This is an applied study. The type of sampling was composite by three 5 L containers. Wastewater chemical and physical characteristics were measured in accordance with the standard methods. The concentration of un-removed metal ions was estimated by ICP-OES. The Jar test was used to carry out the chemical coagulation experiment. The results indicated that the rate of removal depended on the pH of 1.5-11, the diverse contact time of 30-120 min, and the coagulant measurement ranging from 0.5-2 g/l.Results: The optimum removal of Cr(VI) ions was observed at a pH of 7 up to 83.88% in 0.5 g/l of coagulant for 40 min. While the optimum removal of Ni(II) ions was found at a pH of 5 up to 56.33 % in 0.5 g/l of coagulant for 40 min. The scanning electron microscopy results revealed the difference between the coagulant surface while coagulation. Also, the Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis showed the presence of Cr(VI) and Ni(II) ions on the surface of the ferrous sulfate after coagulation. Conclusion: Ultimately, the results indicated that ferrous sulfate could be an operative chemical coagulant to remove Cr(VI) and Ni(II) ions from the plating industry wastewater, especially for Cr(VI) particles. The results of this study can be a useful guide to the real plating industry wastewater treatment operators.

Environmental Protection Agency of America has classified heavy metals such as Cd, Hg, As, Ni, Pb and Cr, as the toxic pollutants of environment. These elements imported into the environmental cycle by the chemical industries and other industries, such as water, agricultural products and human body, and ultimately its harmful effects on human. In this respect, separating and removal of heavy metals is an important task in controlling environmental pollutants. In the recent years the usage of nanoparticles as an adsorbent with high adsorption efficiency has attracted a lot of attention. Nano graphene oxide used in this study is classifying in the category of high capacity adsorbents due to its high specific surface area. In this study in addition to graphene oxide, Almond shell and Carboxymethyl cellulose were also used to improve the removal efficiency of heavy metals. The aim of this research is to synthesize Graphene oxide nanoparticles modified with Almond shell and Carboxymethyl cellulose and also to evaluate its performance in the removal of nickel and cadmium from water. The Nano Graphene oxide was synthesized by the Freeze- drying method and in order for characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles, FT-IR and SEM methods were used. Various parameters such as pH solution, contact time and adsorbent amount were investigated and the optimal values of each of factors were determined. The modeling of the absorption process was carried out using two models of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and the results show that the adsorption rate is consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model for nickle and Freundlich isotherm for the adsorption of cadmium. The results showed that the modified nanoparticles have better absorption capacity than unmodified ones, and its effectiveness to remove the element of Cd is more than Ni.

Trace elements are the common pollutants of soils, sediments and street dust in the urban environment, which pose a potential threat to public health. Therefore, this study was conducted to potential ecological risk assessment of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn in street dust collected from industrial, commercial and residential areas of city of Hamedan in 2019 using ecotoxicological criteria. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive study, a total of 378 street dust specimens were collected from 18 sampling sites. After acid digestion of dust specimens, the element contents were determined using ICP-OES. Also, potential ecological risk factor (Er), risk index (RI) and the ecotoxicological criteria were calculated. All statistical analyses were done by SPSS software. Results: Based on the results obtained, the mean contents of the examined elements in dust specimens (mg/kg) were 2.31, 0.225, 41.3, 48.8, 65.2, 79.2 and 211 for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn, respectively. The computed values of Er showed that, factor values were decreased in the order Cd > As > Pb > Ni > Cu > Zn > Cr. Also, the mean values of RI with 77 represented that, all the examined elements have the "low potential ecological risk". Moreover, the computed values of the ecotoxicological criteria showed that the street dust specimens of the study area were non-polluted with trace elements. Conclusion: Although the examined elements have been shown the low potential ecological risk, Cd with 38.2% of the mean values of RI showed significant potential to occurrence the ecological risk, therefore, source identification and sources control of this element and also periodic monitoring of contaminated soils are recommended for maintenance of public health.

Background and Objective: Monitoring of traffic emissions is a good way to build a safe ecosystem for living organisms. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the feasibility of using Achillea wilhelmsii and Cardaria draba located along the suburban roads of Hamadan for Zn, Pb and Ni removal by their aerial and underground organs in 2020. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, after selecting 3 sampling stations, a total of 126 plant samples and 63 soil samples were collected. In the laboratory, the samples were prepared, and were then digested with acid. Subsequentely, the concentration of each heavy metal was measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Moreover, bioconcentration factor (BCF), bioaccumulation factor (BAF), transfer factor (TF) and metal accumulation index (MAI) were also calculated. Statistical analyses of the results were performed using SPSS statistical software. Results: The mean values of BCF and BAF in both A. wilhelmsii and C. draba for all tested elements were greater than 1. On the other hand, A. wilhelmsii showed TF greater than 1 for zinc while C. draba showed TF greater than 1 for zinc and lead. The highest mean values of MAI in unwashed and washed shoots and roots of A. wilhelmsii were 98.48, 64.87 and 72.38, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the calculated average values of BCF, BAF and TF of each elements, it can be argued that A. wilhelmsii and C. draba species have the potential of phytoextraction and Phytostabilization of the measured heavy metals and can be used for biomonitoring and bioremediation from soil and air in the heavy metals polluted areas.

Heavy metals are a major environmental problem and have become a global problem due to their high toxicity and their ability to accumulate in the body of living organisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of heavy metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Gago-Ferrero et al.), copper (Cu), silver (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) in samples of water and fish from the Malayer Dam in Hamadan Province, Iran. Samples of water and fish were collected in five steps (in May, June, September, October, February) from 19 locations in Kalan dam route of Malayer, in Hamedan, Iran. Water and fish species including Vimba vimba and Cyprinus carpio species were transferred to the laboratory. Fish samples were digested by 4 ml HNO3 and 1 ml HClO4. The amounts of heavy metals in water and fish were determined using ICP-AES and Duncan's test (0.05) was used for data analysis with SAS software. Results showed that the mean concentrations of the studied heavy metals were lower than the WHO, FAO, and USEPA guidelines for drinking water. The mean concentrations of Zn and Cr were significantly higher than other heavy metals in water samples. The results also showed that the highest concentrations of heavy metals (except Zn) were observed in spring than other seasons. The mean concentration of the heavy metals for Cyprinus carpio followed the sequence Cr≥ Zn>Ni>Cu>Cd>Hg>As>Mn in first sampling. There were significant correlations between all heavy metals’ accumulation in the Cyprinus carpio fish with heavy metals concentration in water samples. The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals in fish samples was correlated with the concentration of heavy metals in water samples and the accumulation of heavy metals in fish increased with increasing concentrations of heavy metals in water samples. The concentrations of heavy metals studied in fish are lower than those limits in the WHO and FAO guidelines and will not cause any harm in human consumption.

Background: Using available water resources, protection and monitoring of water resources is essential and vital. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in water quality in Lake of Kalan Malayer Dam in Hamedan province during the year 2017-2018. Methods: Using GIS software and land use maps, sampling locations in the dam lake were selected. In samples was carried out on 5 occasions, pH, EC, Ca, Mg, Cl, SO4, PO4, NO3, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD, COD, TOC, Turbidity and concentration of common pesticides used in the area were measured. Results: The results showed that according to WHO guidline, turbidity in May and electrical conductivity, BOD and COD in all sampling times, limit the consumption of drinking water. The average concentration of BOD and COD was higher in the primary stations and decreased from the average concentration in the lake and stations near the dam wall, that be related to the discharge and route of pollutants upstream of the river, which increases the amount of biochemical and chemical oxygen demand. Nutrient concentrations (NO3, Cl, SO4 and Na) in all samples were within the allowable range determined by WHO. Conclusion: Water in winter was of better quality due to increased river flow and water stored behind the dam, lowering the temperature and reducing agricultural activities.

Background & Objective: Nowadays, since increasing environmental pollution particularly soil contamination can cause adverse health effects, kind of methods such as phytoremediation techniques are commonly used to remediate organic, inorganic and nuclear pollutants from contaminated sites. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess of chelating agents with different biodegradability rates on the enhanced phytoremediation efficiency of Amaranthus caudatus and Tagetes patula as ornamental species in cadmium contaminated soils in 2018. Materials & Methods: In pot experiments, the soil specimens were moderately artificially contaminated by cadmium chloride (50 and 100 mg/kg). Then 2.5 mmol/kg of EDTA, 2.0 mmol/kg of salicylic acid (SA) and 2.5 mmol/kg of citric acid (CA) solution were added to the contaminated soils to study the influence of these chelating agents on phytoremediation efficiency by studied ornamental plants. Finally, after acid digestion of cultivated soil, roots and stems of A. caudatus and T. patula, the Cd content was determined using ICP-OES. Results: The results showed that after 60 days of pots irrigation, the maximum mean content of Cd (mg/kg) in cultivated soil, root and stem samples of A. caudatus with 1.87, 4.50 and 1.89 were found in the SA, EDTA and SA treatments, respectively. Moreover, the maximum mean content of Cd in cultivated soil, root and stem samples of T. patula with 1.86, 1.18 and 3.10 were found in the control, CA and SA treatments, respectively. Also, the values of translocation and bioconcentration factors indicate that A. patula can be considered to be potential plant species for phytostabilization and phytoextraction of cadmium, respectively. Conclusion: The results reported in this study show that the organic acids such as SA and CA have considerable role in soil refining electrokinetic or enhance of soil electrokinetic bioremediation through mechanisms resembling hormonelike effects, phosphate release and dissolution, enhancing of cadmium mobility and some enzymatic activities, microstructural variations and retention capacity decreasing of clay particles. Therefore, due to the desirable effects of organic acids as chelate agents to enhancing phytoremediation efficiency of hyperaccumulator species use of these compounds in the cleanup of contaminated soil is recommended.

Background: Heavy metals (HMs) contamination from industrial wastewater is a major environmental problem that has been increasing in the past few years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of HMs contamination in Bu-Ali industrial town, Hamedan, western Iran. Methods: The concentration of 9 serious HMs (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, and zinc) in groundwater samples was studied during spring 2017. In order to evaluate water quality for aquaculture and drinking purposes, heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), heavy metal pollution index (HPI), and contamination (Cd) indicator were calculated. Health risk of HMs was also calculated to assess the risk of cancer. Results: The results showed that the mean concentration of the HMs according to the Cd index was as follows: Pb > Ni > Cr > Fe > Cd > As > Cu > Zn > Mn. The mean HEI and HPI values were 89.1 and 815.5, respectively. The results also showed that there was no relationship between the HMs concentration and cancer risk. Conclusion: The concentration of the studied HMs in most samples was higher than the permissible limit for drinking water. The HEI and HPI values in high-risk samples were higher than the permissible limit of drinking water, therefore, there is high risk and limitation for aquatic life, but there is no risk of cancer.

In this work, a rapid method termed as microfunnel-filter-based emulsification microextraction is coupled with high performance liquid chromatography for a simple determination of the banned Sudan dyes (I, II, and III) in fruit juice, spice, and water samples. According to the method, in order to speed-up the extraction and concentration of the target analytes, a micro-volume of a low-density organic solvent (1-octanol) is dispersed into an aqueous sample solution (45 mL), and a simple separation of the extractant phase is obtained using a syringe filter and microfunnel. The method provides a low-toxic extraction, it is centrifuge-less, and the extraction process is totally performed in a few minutes. The influencing factors including the type of organic solvent, number of extraction cycles, pH of the sample solution, and volume of the extraction solvent are investigated to achieve the optimal conditions. A good linearity (in the range of 0.7–1000 ng mL−1 (R2 > 0.995)) and a low limit of detection (in the range of 0.2-0.5 ng mL−1) are obtained, the extraction recovery is in the range of 94-107%, and the developed method provides a high enrichment factor (in the range of 294-354).

Introduction: The main objective of the petrochemical industry is the production of petrochemical and chemical products and sub-products from oil, oil derivatives, and natural gas. Accordingly, the activities and processes have the potential to cause adverse effects on the environment.This study aimed to evaluate the environmental risks of Ilam Petrochemical Company using analytical network analysis (ANP)andTechnique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution Methods (TOPSIS)by proposing appropriate management measures to reduce the risk effects of multiple incidents in processes. Materials & Methods: At first, potential dangers and risks of the Ilam Petrochemical Complex wereidentified through field visits and interviews with project technical experts.Accordingly, a questionnairewasdesignedand20 experts from the Petrochemical Company and the Environmental Protection Agencywere asked to complete the designed questionnaire. The obtained results led to the identification of significant risksfactors, which were then categorized according to physio-chemical, biological, and socio-cultural-economic environment hazards. Subsequently, the weight associated with the each index was determinedusinganalytical network analysis (ANP) as well as the analysis of data in Super Decision software. In the next step, the obtained weights were prioritized for the identified risks by TOPSISmethod, and critical risks were identified. Finally, we propose the proper strategies for the controlandomissionof these risks. Findings: According to the obtained results,thehigh risk factors include the risk of air pollution with the rate of 0.972 inthephysico-chemicalenvironment, the risk of lowwater quality with therate of 0.883in the biological environment, and the risk ofgeneral health with a rate of 0.679 inthe socio-cultural-economic environment. Discussion & Conclusions: The results showed that the most important petrochemical riskswereair pollution, low water quality, and publichealth hazard. Therefore, it is recommendedto take the inspection and monitoring measures in accordance with the identified risksin order to eliminate the factors generatingenvironmental risks. It is also suggested to set these measures asthe main objectives of management planning.

Food industries are among the main national industries allocating a significant contribution in terms of total production, water consumption, and effluent generation. Khosh Noosh company is one of the main food industry in Hamedan City that its effluent releases into the Jorghan River after treatment and finally IS USED for irrigation of agricultural lands. The aim of this study was to assess the company's effluent quality and its comparison with the standards of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, World Health Organization and the National Department of Environment. During this study, a station from the exit of the company and the entrance to the Jorghan River was selected and parameters of pH, TSS, TDS, COD, BOD5, total coliform and fecal coliform were evaluated. The study found that there is a significant relationship between pH and the standard of National Department of Environment at 95% confidential level. However, no significant relationship was stablished between other parameters and this standard. With a confidence level of 95%, there was a significant difference between TDS and the World Health Organization and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. The correlation between chemical and biological factors in Khosh Noosh Company indicated that there is a significant relationship only between BOD5 to COD and pH and also between pH and total coliforms with 95% confidence level. While no significant relationship exists between other factors.

Background: Fruits especially citrus species are an integral part of human diet. Contamination of foodstuffs by heavy and toxic metals via environmental pollution has become an inevitable challenge these days. Therefore, the effect of pollutants on food safety for human consumption is a global public concern. In this regards, this study was conducted for Al and Cu health risk assessment through the consumption of citrus species (orange, grapefruit, sweet lime and tangerine) in Hamedan city in 2015. Methods: After collecting and preparing 4 samples from each citrus species with acid digestion method, the concentrations of Al and Cu were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES) with three replications. In addition, SPSS was employed to compare the mean concentrations of metals with maximum permissible limits (MPL) of the World Health Organization (WHO). Results: The results showed that the mean concentrations of Al in citrus samples were 3.25±0.35 mg/kg and higher than WHO maximum permissible limits. The mean concentrations of Cu in citrus samples with 0.16±0.05 mg/kg are lower than WHO maximum permissible limits. Also, the computed health risk assessment revealed that there was no potential risk for children and adult by consuming the studied citrus. Conclusion: Based on the results, consumption of citrus species has no adverse effect on the consumers’ health, but as a result of the increased utilization of agricultural inputs (metal based fertilizers and pesticides, sewage sludge and wastewater) by farmers and orchardists, regular periodic monitoring of chemical pollutants content in foodstuffs are recommended for food safety.

Introduction and Aims As regards of industrial fruit juices are tasty and usually have exceptional nutritional qualities, they are one of the most popular beverages worldwide. Due to these products can be a potential source of toxic and carcinogenic elements, this study was carried out for analysis and health risk assessment of Zn and Cd in some commercial fruit juices marketed in Hamedan City in 2015. Materials and Methods After purchase and prepare of 16 samples of fruit juices, the concentrations of elements were determined using ICP-OES and health index was obtained. All statistical analyses (Shapiro-Wilk test and One-Sample t-test) were performed using the SPSS v.20 statistical package. Results The maximum mean concentrations of Zn and Cd in fruit juice samples were 0.30±0.12 and 0.40±0.10 mg/l, respectively. Also the mean concentration of Cd in samples was upper than WHO and EPA maximum permissible limits (MPL). The results of HI showed that the HI for children and adult were 0.0011 and 0.00023, respectively for Zn, and for Cd were 0.36 and 0.077, respectively for children and adult and less than 1 for both analyzed elements. Conclusion According to the results, there was no health risk due to commercial fruit juice consumption, but because of heavy metals bio concentration and non-biodegradable potential, long-term health problems would not be unexpected in uncontrolled consumptions. * Corresponding Author: Islamic Azad University Hamedan Branch, Department of the Environment. E-mail: s_sobhan@iauh.ac.ir

In this study, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) coated magnetite modified with 2, 4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine was used to remove Cr (VI) ions from aqueous solution. The modified magnetite nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and SEM–EDXS measurement. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited a high surface area of 75.5 m2 g−1 and were of 20 - 35 nm in particle size. The effects of parameters, including pH, dose of adsorbent, temperature and contact time were investigated to find the optimum adsorption conditions. Adsorption data fits well with the Langmuir isotherm model with a maximum adsorption capacity (qm) and a Langmuir adsorption equilibrium constant (b) of 169.5 mg g-1 and 0.168 L mg-1, respectively. The adsorption kinetic agrees well with pseudo-second-order model.

Background:A critical environmental impact of the petroleum industry is the contamination of soil by oil and other related products which are highly toxic and exhibit molecular recalcitrance. Therefore, this study focused on investigating the total amount of petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in soil of urban fuel stations in Hamedan City, Iran. Methods:Thirteen high traffic urban fuel stations were selected and random soil samples were collected from surface soils at selected fuel stations. The physical and chemical proper-ties of the soil samples were determined in the laboratory. The concentration of TPHs in soils was determined by GC/MC. Results: Results showed that concentration of TPHs in all stations was more than the stand-ard level in soil (2000 mg kg-1). The minimum and maximum TPHs concentration observed in No. 5 and No.13 fuel station, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that spillage in urban fuel stations has clear effect on the content of TPH in soil, as concentration TPH in all of fuel stations was in the upper limit of the standard levels in soil. .Soil pollution with petroleum hydrocarbons has clear effects on soil biological, chemical and physical characteristics and results in decreasedg food elements, productivity and soil plant productions.

Background: Reprocessing of sewage sludge to agricultural land is preferred to disposal through landfill or incineration due to its potentially beneficial effects on soil fertility from organic matter and plant nutrients, such as N and P, present in the sludge. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of sewage sludge and chemical fertilizers on Pb and Cd accumulation in fenugreek, Trigonella gracum. Methods: The experiment was carried out in earthen pots, 30 cm in diameter and 30 cm in depth. The study was done on five groups- control, S1: sewage sludge (50 tone/ha), S2: sew-age sludge (50 tone/ha)+heavy metals [85 ppm of Cd(Cl)2; 840 ppm of Pb(NO3)2], F1: chemi-cal fertilizer (250 kg/ha), and F2: chemical fertilizer (250 kg/ha)+ heavy metals [85 ppm of Cd(Cl)2; 840 ppm of Pb(NO3)2]- in three replicates. Results: The results showed that total Pb concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 2 mg/kg, with the maximum level in the sewage sludge treatment (S2) while Cd concentrations in the plant ranged from 0.07 to 1.1 mg/kg with the maximum content in the chemical fertilizer treatment (F2). The concentrations of Pb and Cd in vegetables were significantly higher than the permis-sible limits. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential risks involved in the cultivation and consump-tion of vegetables on plots irrigated with sewage sludge, a practice which may endanger the health of urban populations that consume these vegetables.

Background: The presence of lead in natural waters has become an important issue around the world. Lead has been identified as a highly toxic metal that can cause severe environmental and public health problems and its decontamination is of utmost importance. The aim of this work was to evaluate the adsorption of lead (Pb(II)) on waste tea leaves as a cheap purification method. Methods: In this experimental study, prepared waste tea leaves were used as adsorbent for the removal of Pb (II) from aqueous solutions. Adsorption experiments were carried out as batch studies at different contact time, pH, amount of adsorbent, initial metal concentration and temperature. Results: The results showed that maximum removal efficiency was observed at pH 6. Also the adsorption of Pb (II) ions increased with decreasing initial metal concentration. The Langmuir isotherm model fits well with the equilibrium adsorption isotherm data and its calculated maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was 166.6 mg g-1 at a temperature of 25±0.1˚C. The kinetic data obtained have been analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The best fitted kinetic model was found to be pseudo-second-order. Conclusion: The results suggest that tea wastes could be employed as cheap material for the removal of lead from aqueous solutions.

As a low cost byproduct, Actinidia deliciosa shell can be made into sorbent materials which are used in heavy metals immobilization. It has been investigated as a replacement for currently expensive methods of heavy metal immobilization from soil. In this study, soil samples were contaminated with copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) at the rate of 600 ppm in separate dishes. The 5% Actinidia deliciosa shell was added into the samples. The samples were incubated for 3 hours, and 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days at 28° C with constant moisture. After incubation, metals in contaminated soil with Actinidia deliciosa shell and control soils were fractionated by the sequential extraction procedure. The results of this study indicated that addition of Actinidia deliciosa shell led to increased organic matter fraction and stabilized Cu and Zn in contaminated soil. In the control soils, the dominating chemical form for Zn and Cu were Fe-Mn oxides and residual, respectively. Sequential extraction also revealed that the addition of Actinidia deliciosa decreased the easily accessible fraction of Zn through the transformation into less accessible fractions. The experiment was performed in three replicates and two treatments.

Ahangaran lead-zinc mining area located in the west part of Iran is a mountainous region. In this study, medical plants and soils from 3 different sites in this area were collected in spring 2012. Soil and medical plants were analyzed for heavy metals [lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu)] concentrations using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) optical emission spectrometer (Varian 710-Es) and the physical properties of soils [(pH) and electrical conductivity (EC)] were measured. Soil and medical plants of the mineralized zone and surrounding areas have higher heavy metal contamination (P < 0.05) as compared to the reference site, which can be attributed to the dispersion of metals due to mining. This high heavy metal contamination may pose potential threats to local medical plants and soil of Ahangaran region. Furthermore, the concentrations of Pb and Cd in soil surrounding the mine were higher than the US environmental protection agency (USEPA) standard, and the concentration of Pb in medical plant species surrounding the mine was higher than the world health organization (WHO) standard for edible plants (P < 0.05).

Copper ion (Cu2+) is one of the heavy metal ions that cause environmental pollution specifically in water. Copper ion cations are not biodegradable and tend to cumulate in living organisms. Consequently, the removal of Cu2+ in environmental samples plays an important role in environmental pollution monitoring. The purpose of the present work was to prepare oxidized Multi-Walled Carbon Nano Tubes (MWCNTs) for removal of Cu2+ ions from aqueous solutions. This study was conducted under laboratory conditions. Multi-Walled Carbon Nano Tubes were oxidized and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and the Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) methods. The effects of various factors, such as solution pH (3 - 9), adsorbent dose (0.006 - 0.06 g) and contact time (10 - 120 minutes) were investigated. Results showed that the suitable pH for Cu2+ ions removal was about 6.0, and the optimal dose was 0.03 g. Isotherm studies indicated that the Langmuir model fits the experimental data better than the Freundlich model. Maximum Cu2+ adsorption capacity was calculated as 200 mg g-1. The kinetics of the adsorption process was tested for the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The comparison among the models showed that the pseudo-second order model best described the adsorption kinetics. The results showed that oxidized MWCNTs can be used as a low cost adsorbent for the removal of Cu2+ ions from aqueous solutions.