Archives of Hygiene Sciences
Volume:4 Issue: 4, Autumn 2015

Background & Aims of the Study: The last 25 years have seen a remarkable increase in public concern about food contamination. Food and water are the main sources of our essential metals.These are also the media through which we are exposed to various toxic metalsAs such, this study aimed to assess the risks arising from the use of greenhouse vegetables, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers in Hamadan Province. Soil and plant samples were digested using wet digestion method (HClO4/HNO3, 2:1) ratio solution, and the concentrations of total As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AE). High concentrations of elements As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were found in vegetables sampled from overused phosphate fertilized soils, which increased the daily intake of metals in food. The Health risk assessment values of all tested vegetables (pepper, cucumber and tomato) were below 1 in As and Cd. The health risk index (HRI) value above 1 indicated a relative health risk through the ingestion of contaminated vegetables. Heavy metal concentrations should be periodically monitored in vegetables grown in contaminated soils. This study found that long-term fertilizer use led to a growing accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in soils. It would also be beneficial to implement effective remediation technologies to minimize possible impacts on human health.

Background & Aims of the Study: Concentrations of Cd, Hg and As were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) in muscle, liver and gill tissues of common carp from the Shirinsu Wetland during February to March 2013. Fish samples (Cyprinus carpio) were caught from Shirinsu Wetland, western Iran from February to March 2013. Specimens were frozen in prewashed polyethylene bags and frozen samples brought to the laboratory in ice chests. Samples (2 g) were digested with 5 ml of HNO3 (65% v/v), 1 ml of H2O2 (30% v/v) with a microwave oven. A blank digest was carried out in the same way. The digestion program began at a potency of 1200W then ramped for 10 min, after which samples were held for 10 min at 1200W. The second step began at a potency of 0W and held for 15 min. All metal concentrations were determined on a wet weight basis as μg g−1. Metal levels measured in muscle tissue were in the following ranges (μg g−1): Cd 0.007-0.011, Hg 0.006-0.01 and As not detected. In liver tissue were (μg g−1): Cd 0.035-0.043, Hg and As not detected. In gill tissue were (μg g−1): Cd 0.31-0.55, Hg 0.002-0.004 and As 0.001-0.003. The results presented on metal contents in the examined tissues give an indication of the environmental conditions. Concentrations of Cd, Hg and As obtained were far below the established values by the European Community Regulations. However, Cd level found in gill tissue was higher than the recommended legal limits for human consumption and as such may cause a human health issue. Analytical data shows that the metal concentrations for the fish tissues were generally within the FAO/WHO, ASTDR and EEC recommended limits for fish. Therefore there is no serious health risk associated with the consumption of the three studied metals in the muscle and liver tissues analyzed.

Background & Aims of the Study: Particulate matter pollutants have harmful effects on human health and can intensify mortality and disease. The aim of this study is evaluate to adverse health effects caused by exposure to PM10 in Ahwaz, Bushehr and Kermanshah Cities during 2011. In this study, the Air Q2.2.3 model was used for estimated adverse health effects of exposure to PM10. Air Q model provided by the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH). Air Q software proved to be a valid and reliable tool to estimate the potential short term effects of air pollution. Daily concentrations of PM10 were taken from Department of Environment (ADoE). Then processing data’s and finally the cardiovascular and respiratory disease attributable to this pollutant were calculated. Results show that the non hospitalized patients suffer from the cardiovascular and respiratory diseases attributable to Pm10. The patients from Ahwaz allocate the highest rate of hospital admittance to themselves with 19% respiratory and 20% cardiovascular charts those from Bushehr refer to hospitals 14% for respiratory illness and 15% for cardiac disease and the subjects from Kermanshah go to the hospitals 12% for respiratory complications and 14% for cardiac failures. The results indicate a direct relationship between the concentration of PM10 and health effects resulting from exposure to them. The highest rate belongs to Ahwaz becomes it has greater concentration of dusty air. Therefore, the higher relative risk value can depict mismanagement in urban air quality.

Background & Aims of the Study: Natural organic matters (NOMs) are a mixture of chemically complex polyelectrolytes produced mainly from the decomposition of plant and animal residues that are present in all surface and groundwater resources. This paper evaluates the aqueous NOMs adsorption efficiency on walnut shell modified with Zinc Oxide (ZnO). This study examined the feasibility of removing NOMs from aqueous solutions using walnut shell modified with ZnO. The effects of NOMs concentration, modified walnut shell with ZnO dosage, and pH on adsorption of NOMs by modified walnut shell with ZnO were evaluated. The adsorption capacities of modified walnut shell with ZnO in the best conditions were 37.93 mg/g. The results also demonstrated that adsorption capacity of NOMs on modified walnut shell with ZnO was higher in lower pHs due to significantly high electrostatic attraction exists between the positively charged surface of the adsorbent and negatively charged NOMs. And finally adsorption capacity decreases as adsorbent dose increase. Walnut shell modified with ZnO can be proposed as a natural adsorbent in the removal of NOMs from aqueous solutions

Background & Aims of the Study: To prevent lots of work-related accidents in different industries and workplaces, managers should consider macro-factors such as safety culture and its elements like safety climate as the main subject to reflect attitude toward safety. This study aimed at finding the best work shift group in an Iranian process industry by safety attitude/climate analysis conducted in 2010. Through a cross-sectional study 151 workers were selected in order to fill the safety climate questionnaires. After gathering safety climate questionnaires, the statistical tests of T-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation were used through SPSS V16 to analysis data. To find the best work shift group TOPSIS method was also utilized. 134 out of 151 completed questionnaires were valid, making the response rate %88.74. Questionnaire’s reliability was assessed by Cronbach’s Alpha to be 0.928. The mean score of safety climate was 154.84 while the maximum score could be 245. Furthermore, 68.7% of workers had positive safety climate. A significant relationship was found between age and safety climate (P< 0.05). The most effective and least attractive alternatives shift groups for intervention were selected in this company using TOPSIS method. By taking into account variant effects of accidents in process industries in different categories such as personal injuries/death, damage to property, and effects on environment and community, the results showed the importance of attention to safety principles and developing a positive attitude among employees with regard to safety.

Background & Aims of the Study: Due to widespread use and adverse effect of dyes, the removal of dyes from effluents is necessary. This study was aimed to remove the reactive blue 19 dye removal from aqueous solution by dried Lemna minor. The effect of various parameters including contact time, solution pH, adsorbent dosage and dye concentration was investigated in this experimental-lab study, Also, the isotherm and kinetic studies was performed for RB19 dye adsorption process. The results indicated that RB19 dye removal efficiency increases by increasing of contact time and adsorbent dosage. The equilibrium time was 75 min ad the maximum dye removal efficiency was obtained in pH=3. Also, the dye removal efficiency decreases by increasing of pH and initial concentration. It was found that the equilibrium data was best follow by Langmuier isotherm. Also, the pseudo-second-kinetic model was best applicable for RB 19 dye adsorption. It can be concluded that the dried Lemna minor can be considered as an effective adsorbent to remove the RB19 dye.

Background & Aims of the Study: In some situation like rainfall seasons raw water become very turbid so it affected the water treatment plant processes and quality of produced water. Treatment of very high turbid water has some concerns like precursors for disinfection by-products and very loading rate of particle on filter's media and consequently increases in water consumption for filter backwash. This paper investigates the performance of a composite inorganic polymer of aluminium and ferric salt, Polyaluminium ferric chloride (PAFCl), for the removal of turbidity, color and natural organic matter (NOM) from high turbid water. Experiments were carried out by Jar test experiment by synthetic water samples with 250 and 500 NTU turbidity that prepared in laboratory. The results of conventional jar test showed that the optimum pH for coagulation of water sample was 7.5 to 8 and optimum dosage of the coagulant was 10 mg/L. Removal efficiency of turbidity, color and UV adsorbent at 254 nm at optimum dose and pH without filtration was 99.92%, 100% and 80.6% respectively for first sample (250 NTU) and 99.95%, 99.49% and 84.77 for second sample (500 NTU) respectively. It concluded that polyaluminium ferric chloride has a very good efficiency for the removal of turbidity, color and organic matter in high turbid water. Also it can be select as a coagulant for high turbid water and some waste water from water treatment plant like filter backwash water.

Dyes are one of the most contaminants in textile industrial wastewater that they are often carcinogenic, mutagenic and non-degradable. Therefore, with regard to environmental aspects, their removal from effluents is very essential. The purpose of this study was the perception of adsorption process and promotion of an economic technology for colored wastewater treatment. Therefore, activated carbon from Oak fruit bark was used as an effective and economic adsorbent. This study was performed at laboratory scale and batch system. At present study, the adsorbent surface properties was evaluated by use of the (FT-IR) test and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). Also, effect of various operating parameters such as pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration and temperature on dye removal from synthetic wastewater were studied. In this study, maximum removal efficiency of methylene blue were achieved at optimal pH=6, reaction time 180 minutes, and adsorbent dose 2 gl-1. Methylene blue removal efficiency with initial concentration of 100 mg.l-1 was 91.08%. According to results, it was cleared that : Quercus branti activated carbon can be used as an effective and economic adsorbent in waste water treatment processes.