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Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal - Volume:3 Issue: 2, Spring 2016

Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal
Volume:3 Issue: 2, Spring 2016

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1395/04/30
  • تعداد عناوین: 8
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  • Dariush Naghipour, Zeinab Shaabaninezhad, Abdoliman Amouei* Pages 55-59
    Background
    Marine products, especially fish, play an increasingly significant role in human diets and health. This research evaluated the concentrations of cadmium, lead, chromium, and nickel in liver and muscle tissues of Rutilus frisii kutum along the Caspian Sea coasts of northern Iran.
    Methods
    Thirty samples of fishes were taken from five stations (Astara, Rezvanshahr, Anazali, Ramsar, and Tonekabon) during fishing season. An ICP-OES spectrophotometer was used to determine concentrations of the studied metals. Data was analyzed by SPSS 19 using descriptive statistical index, t test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test; P
    Results
    Mean concentrations of cadmium, lead, chromium and nickel in the livers were 0.06, 1.1, 2.1 and 1.5 μg/g respectively and in the muscles were 0.05, 0.8, 1.7 and 1.1 μg/g, respectively. In liver: cadmium= 0.01-0.13; lead= 0.3-2.7; chromium = 0.9-4.5; nickel = 0.1-2.8. In muscle: cadmium = 0.01-0.08; lead = 0.2-1.5; chromium = 0.7-2.7; nickel = 0.5-1.5. Mean contents of these heavy metals were higher in the liver than in muscle. The order of heavy metal concentrations in the liver and muscle tissues were: Cr>Ni>Pb>Cd. The results showed statistically significant differences in the concentrations of these metals in liver and muscle tissues (P
    Conclusion
    Based on calculations, the estimated permissible tolerable weekly intakes (PTWIs) of cadmium (0.042 and 0.567 mg) and lead (0.0021 and 0.027 mg) in this study are lower than the levels established by the World Health Organization (WHO) (0.455 mg for cadmium and 1.625 mg for lead).
    Keywords: Heavy metals, Rutilus frisii kutum, Caspian Sea
  • Mohammad Malakootian *, Mohammad Seddiq Mortazavi, Abdolkarim Ahmadi Pages 61-68
    Background
    This study purposed to assess the health risks of heavy metals including nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in three widely-consumed fish from the coast of Bandar Abbas (Persian Gulf) and to determine the maximum amounts allowed for consumption according to the degree of contamination.
    Methods
    This cross-sectional study was conducted in the summer and fall of 2013. Thunnus tonggol and Liza klunzingeri were selected from the Bandar Abbas market, and Pleuronectiformes were caught from the sea. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by atomic absorption. Risk assessment and allowable consumption levels were determined according to methods provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
    Results
    The highest average levels of Ni and Cr in Thunnus tonggol were 0.059 and 0.234 (μg/g dry weight), respectively. The highest average level of Hg in Pleuronectiformes was 0.095 (μg/g dry weight), and the highest average level of Pb in Liza klunzingeri was 0.006 (μg/g dry weight). The target hazard quotient (THQ) for all analyses of metals in the studied species and the hazard index (HI) were less than 1 for all three species.
    Conclusion
    The results showed that despite Ni, Cr, Hg, and Pb pollution, the consumption of up to 4 (kg/d) of Thunnus tonggol by adults and up to 2.2 (kg/d) by children does not cause health problems in terms of the tested heavy metals. For Liza klunzingeri, these levels are 7.32 and 4.02 (kg/d), respectively.
    Keywords: Nickel, Chromium, Mercury, fish, Risk assessment
  • Ali Ahmad Aghapour, Sepideh Nemati, Amir Mohammadi, Heshmatollah Nourmoradi, Sima Karimzadeh Pages 69-73
    Background
    Nitrate is an acute and well-known hazardous contaminant, and its contamination of water sources has been a growing concern worldwide in recent years. This study evaluated the feasibility of nitrate removal from water using the traditional coagulants alum and ferric chloride with lower concentrations than those used in the conventional coagulation process.
    Methods
    In this research, two coagulants, alum and ferric chloride, were compared for their efficiency in removing nitrate in a conventional water treatment system. The removal process was done in a batch system (jar test) to examine the effects of coagulant dosages and determine the conditions required to achieve optimum results.
    Results
    The results revealed that ferric chloride at an initial dose rate of 4 mg/L reduced nitrate concentration from 70 mg/L to less than the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value (50 mg/L N-NO3). However, the removal efficiency of alum was not salient to significant nitrate reduction.
    Conclusion
    In conclusion, ferric chloride was more effective than alumin removing NO-3, even in common dosage range, and can be considered a cost-effective and worthy treatment option to remediate nitrate-polluted water. Furthermore, the removal of nitrate by coagulation can be simple and more economical than other treatment alternatives.
    Keywords: Nitrate, Water treatment, Coagulation, Alum, Ferric chloride
  • Zabihollah Yousefi *, Farzad Kazemi, Reza Ali Mohammadpour Pages 75-80
    Background
    Scaling and corrosion are the two most important indexes in water quality evaluation. Pollutants are released in water due to corrosion of pipelines. The aim of this study is to assess the scale formation and corrosion of drinking water supplies in Ilam city (Iran).
    Methods
    This research is a descriptive and cross-sectional study which is based on the 20 drinking water sources in Ilam city. Experiments were carried out in accordance with the Water and Wastewater Co. standard methods for water and wastewater experiment. The data were analyzed by using Microsoft Excel and GraphPad Prism 5. The results were compared with national and international standards.
    Results
    The mean and standard deviation (SD) values of Ryznar, Langelier, Aggressive, Puckorius and Larson-Skold indices in year 2009 were equal to 7.833 (±0.28), -0.102 (±0.35), 11.88 (±0.34), 7.481 (±0.22) and 0.801 (±0.44), respectively, and were 7.861 (±0.28), -0.175 (±0.34), 11.84 (±0.37), 7.298(±0.32) and 0.633 (±0.47), for year 2013 respectively. The average of Langelier, Ryznar, Aggression, and Puckorius indices indicate that potable water resources in Ilam city have the tendency to be corrosive. Statistical analysis and figures carried out by GraphPad Prism version 5.04.
    Conclusion
    The results of different indices for water resources of Ilam city revealed that water supplies of Ilam city were corrosive. Water quality control and replacement of distribution pipes in development of water network should be carried out. Moreover, water pipelines should be preserved with several modes of corrosion inhibition.
    Keywords: Corrosion, Scale formation, Water resources, Ilam
  • Maryam Khodadadi, Alireza Mesdaghinia, Simin Nasseri, Mohammad Taghi Ghaneian, Mohammad Hassan Ehrampoush, Mahdi Hadi* Pages 81-89
    Background
    Data mining (DM) is an approach used in extracting valuable information from environmental processes. This research depicts a DM approach used in extracting some information from influent and effluent wastewater characteristic data of a waste stabilization pond (WSP) in Birjand, a city in Eastern Iran.
    Methods
    Multiple regression (MR) and neural network (NN) models were examined using influent characteristics (pH, Biochemical oxygen demand [BOD5], temperature, chemical oxygen demand [COD], total suspended solids [TSS], total dissolved solid [TDS], electrical conductivity [EC] and turbidity) as the regression input vectors. Models were adjusted to input attributes, effluent BOD5 (BODout) and COD (CODout). The models performances were estimated by 10-fold external cross-validation. An internal 5-fold cross-validation was also used for the training data set in NN model. The models were compared using regression error characteristic (REC) plot and other statistical measures such as relative absolute error (RAE). Sensitivity analysis was also applied to extract useful knowledge from NN model.
    Results
    NN models (with RAE = 78.71 ± 1.16 for BODout and 83.67 ± 1.35 for CODout) and MR models (with RAE = 84.40% ± 1.07 for BODout and 88.07 ± 0.80 for CODout) indicate different performances and the former was better (P
    Conclusion
    Modeling the performance of WSP systems using NN models along with sensitivity analysis can offer better understanding on exploring the most significant parameters for the prediction of system performance. The findings of this study could build the foundation for prospective work on the characterization of WSP operations and optimization of their performances with a view to conducting statistical approaches.
    Keywords: Data mining, Multiple regression, Neural network, Waste stabilization pond
  • Yusef Omidi, Gholamreza Goudarzi, Ali Mirza Heidari, Seyed Mohammad Daryanoosh* Pages 91-97
    Background
    Epidemiological studies have illustrated that exposure to atmospheric nitrogen oxides (NO2/NOX) is responsible for an increased risk of acute or chronic diseases such as cancer. In this study the health risks associated with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were assessed in the city of Kermanshah, the capital of Kermanshah province, Iran.
    Methods
    Data on hourly NO2 levels that had been measured with the Environ tech model M200 was taken from the Kermanshah Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA). The AirQ2.2.3 model was used to quantify data based on baseline incidence (BI), relative risk (RR), and attributable proportion (AP). The number of cases of cardiovascular mortality (CM), acute myocardial infarction (MI), and hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (HACOPD) was estimated.
    Results
    The results of the current study show that there were 33, 16, and 13 cases of CM, acute MI, and HACOPD, respectively, attributable to NO2 exposure. Furthermore, 26.85% of health impacts occurred on days when NO2 levels did not exceed 40 μg/m3. For every 10 μg/m3 increase in the NO2 level, the risk of CM, MI, and HACOPD rose about 0.2%, 0.36%, and 0.38%, respectively.
    Conclusion
    In order to reduce the number of cases of mortality and morbidity caused by exposure to NO2, several immediate steps should be taken by the government to control emissions from various sources, particularly car exhaust, to reduce the levels of NO2 in the atmosphere.
    Keywords: Health impact, Myocardial infarction, COPD, NO2, Kermanshah
  • Aida Tayebiyan *, Thamer Ahmad Mohammad Pages 99-106
    Background
    Several reservoir systems have been constructed for hydropower generation around the world. Hydropower offers an economical source of electricity with reduce carbon emissions. Therefore, it is such a clean and renewable source of energy. Reservoirs that generate hydropower are typically operated with the goal of maximizing energy revenue. Yet, reservoir systems are inefficiently operated and manage according to policies determined at the construction time. It is worth noting that with little enhancement in operation of reservoir system, there could be an increase in efficiency of the scheme for many consumers.
    Methods
    This research develops simulation-optimization models that reflect discrete hedging policy (DHP) to manage and operate hydropower reservoir system and analyse it in both single and multi-reservoir system. Accordingly, three operational models (2 single reservoir systems and 1 multi-reservoir system) were constructed and optimized by genetic algorithm (GA). Maximizing the total power generation in horizontal time is chosen as an objective function in order to improve the functional efficiency in hydropower production with consideration to operational and physical limitations. The constructed models, which is a cascade hydropower reservoirs system have been tested and evaluated in the Cameron Highland and Batang Padang in Malaysia.
    Results
    According to the given results, usage of DHP for hydropower reservoir system operation could increase the power generation output to nearly 13% in the studied reservoir system compared to present operating policy (TNB operation). This substantial increase in power production will enhance economic development. Moreover, the given results of single and multi-reservoir systems affirmed that hedging policy could manage the single system much better than operation of the multi-reservoir system.
    Conclusion
    It can be summarized that DHP is an efficient and feasible policy, which could be used for the operation of existing or new hydropower reservoir system.
    Keywords: Optimization, Hedging policy, Reservoir operating rule, Genetic algorithm, Hydropower reservoir system, Clean energy
  • Sohrab Golmohammadi, Mohammad Ahmadpour, Aliakbar Mohammadi, Azim Alinejad, Nezam Mirzaei, Mansour Ghaderpoori, Afshin Ghaderpoori* Pages 107-113
    Background
    The purpose of the present study was to assess the efficiency of ultrasound/hydrogen peroxide processes and ultrasound/hydrogen peroxide/ZnO nanoparticles in the removal of blue cat 41 dye from aqueous solutions.
    Methods
    ZnO nanoparticles were prepared using the hydrothermal method. Variables including pH, concentration of ZnO nanoparticles, initial dye concentration, concentration of hydrogen peroxide, and contact time were investigated.
    Results
    H2O2 alone is not effective in dye removal. In conditions of H2O2 = 20 mg/L and US = 30 kHz, removal efficiency rates of 6.5%, 23.5%, 30%, 51.8%, and 55%, respectively, were obtained. The maximum removal efficiency rate was obtained at the nanoparticle concentration of 3 g/l. Also, removal efficiency was reduced when the initial dye concentration was increased.
    Conclusion
    The combination of nanoparticles and US and H2O2 is very effective in removing blue cat 41 dye. As a result, photo catalytic processes can be considered to effectively remove environmental pollutants.
    Keywords: Advanced oxidation process, Ultrasonic waves, ZnO nanoparticles, Hydrothermal, Hydrogen peroxide, Dye