Archives of Hygiene Sciences
Volume:11 Issue: 3, Summer 2022

Background & Aims:

Dairy industries are among the major sectors consuming huge amounts of water converting it into effluents during various processes. Developing an efficient method to treat such effluents is inevitable. In this research, magnesium oxide iron oxide (MgO-Fe3O4)-zeolite was used in the ultrasound-assisted adsorption of dairy wastewater.

The MgO-Fe3O4-zeolite composite was prepared via a facile method. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted on a laboratory scale. Typically, 200 mL of the effluent was poured into an Erlenmeyer flask and sonicated in the presence of an adsorbent. The effects of four factors (i.e., initial chemical oxygen demand [COD], adsorbent dosage, pH, and time) at five different levels were surveyed and optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN). Finally, the analysis of variance was performed to assess the accuracy and validity of the models.

Using RSM, the optimization of the adsorption process led to a swift reduction in COD (83.22%) within 20 minutes at an initial COD of 300 mgL-1, an adsorbent dosage of 4 gL-1, and a pH of 9. The modeling of the process by the ANN demonstrated that the adsorbent dosage was the most important factor with a 38.30% impact on the COD extent. The isothermal and kinetics studies indicated that the process could be attributed to chemical adsorption. Studies associated with thermodynamics revealed that this process was endothermic and spontaneous.

Based on the findings, it is concluded that the MgO-Fe3O4-zeolite has considerable potential in reducing the COD of dairy wastewater as a magnetically separable adsorbent.

Background & Aims:

Currently, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the main occupational health concerns. These disorders are particularly observed in the upper limbs in the assembly lines of production units. The aim of this study was to perform ergonomic interventions in the workstations of the assemblers of a manufacturing company in 2016.

In this cross-sectional study, 60 workers who were active in the production of auto equipment and gas control with at least 3 years of experience were randomly selected for evaluation. To evaluate the ergonomics activities, data were collected using a researcher-made demographic questionnaire and the Assessment Repetitive Tasks method, and the interventions were performed in this production unit. The statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS software (Version 22) by comparing the mean of the assessment of repetitive task (ART) scores of a paired t-test.

In an initial assessment of 60 people, 18% and 29% were at high and medium risk, respectively. To investigate the effect of the interventions, 39 people were selected from those who had moderate (64.10%) and high (5.2%) exposure risk and had similar workstations and equipment. The levels of exposure changed after performing engineering and management interventions in the workstations of these people. The number of people at the level of safe exposure was 30.70% before the intervention and increased to 53.85% after the intervention. The frequency of people at the moderate risk level decreased from 64% before intervention to 43% after the intervention, and the frequency of people at the high-risk level decreased from 5% to 2.5% (P < 0.05).

Interventions in this industry confirmed the effectiveness of these methods in reducing MSDs, and it can be concluded that a variety of ergonomic interventions have been effective in decreasing disorders.

Background & Aims:

The aim of this study was to examine industrial waste minimization through identifying physicochemical properties and recyclable components and classifying hazardous wastes. On the other hand, the importance of this study is that it envisages opportunities as the eco-industrial park through using industrial waste management at international and national levels to reduce waste and pollution.

All the industrial units of industrial towns of Qom province (Shokohieh, Salafchegan, and Mahmoud Abad) and Taghroud industrial area, which have been active in the production of chemical, pharmaceutical, metal, and non-metal materials, were considered as the studied society in this cross-sectional study. The quantity and quality of industrial hazardous waste were evaluated by a questionnaire approved by the Iranian Environmental Protection Organization and field inspections.

The results of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the industrial hazardous wastes of industrial towns, including Shokohiyeh, Salafchegan, Mahmoud Abad, and Taghrud (1239 industrial units) demonstrated that 118.449 tons/day of industrial wastes and 15.743 tons/day of hazardous wastes, including 65% solid waste, 31% liquid waste, 3% semi-solid waste and less than 1% and equivalent to 0.02%), were produced in industrial towns. It was found that the industrial units of non-metallic minerals (35.25 tons/day) and then food industries (31.9 tons/day) had the highest amount of industrial waste and dioctyl phthalate units (DOP, 5.8 tons/day), and chemical industry (4.84 tons/day) and lead recycling units (4.14 tons/day) produced the highest amounts of special waste, respectively. Based on the relevant diagrams, the highest values of hazardous wastes were related to Basel Convention code (Y9) for unit process waste DOP (511.5 tons per day) and Basel Convention code (Y31) for lead recycling unit wastes (3.587 tons/day).

Planning and necessary training for managers and technical officials of industrial units in the field of hazardous waste management and the development of a comprehensive plan in this regard is inevitable.

Background & Aims:

The aim of this study was to assess the health effect of exposure to particulate matter (PM10) in the selected Iranian west and southwest cities.

The hourly in-situ PM10 data were transformed to daily, then used to assess mortality among under exposed people of Ahvaz, Khorramabad, and Ilan by the baseline incidence and relative risk (RR). The rate of total mortality (M-total), cardiovascular mortality (M-CV), and respiratory mortality (M-RD) were calculated finally.

Our results revealed that the highest percentage of person-days (%PDE) was estimated at 130-139 μg m-3. In addition, 6.8% (95% CI: 5.8-7.8%), 6.0% (95% CI: 5.1-6.9%), and 3.7% (95% CI: 3.1-4.2%) of M-total, 7.3% (95% CI: 4.8-15.1%), 6.4% (95% CI: 4.1-13.4%), and 3.9% (95% CI: 2.5-8.5%) of M-CV, and eventually 10.6% (95% CI: 7.3-15.1%), 9.3% (95% CI: 6.4-24.1%), and 5.8% (95% CI: 4.0-16.0%) of M-RD were for PM10 exposure more than 10 μg m-3 in the studied cities.

To control dust storms, some efforts should be organized on a governmental scale, including the desertification of the dust sources by green space. Further, health-care centers should recommend the public to use proven individual air masks.

Background & Aims:

In light of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is important to have mental health interventions that are easily integrated during crises. However, the present study has been conducted on the effectiveness of group behavioral activation therapy (BAT) on depression and alexithymia in depressive infertile women during the COVID-19 lockdown.

In this quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design with a control group, 28 women undergoing infertility care with depressive disorders were selected following initial clinical evaluations and research conditions. They were randomly divided into the BAT (n = 14), and control (n = 14) groups. The experimental group received six sessions of weekly treatment (1.5 hours) based on BAT. All the participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Alexithymia Scale, in the pre-test and post-test stages.

The results revealed that BA-based weekly treatment reduced depression and alexithymia among women undergoing infertility care during the COVID-19 lockdown (P > 0.05).

Overall, an online BA program might be proven to be useful during crises such as a pandemic. In this study, BA treatment had a positive impact on depression and alexithymia among women receiving infertility treatment during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Background & Aims:

About 40 000 people in Iran annually die due to exposure to a concentration of airborne particulate matter less than PM2.5. This study aimed to zone the concentration of particulate matter PM2.5 and predict the total number of deaths of people over 30 due to all causes of these particles in Ahvaz during 2008-2017.

This analytical-descriptive study was based on estimation modeling. The data relating to the concentration of PM2.5 during 2008-2017 were obtained from the Environmental Protection Organization of Khuzestan province, and the 10-year mortality data were obtained from the Deputy of Health of Khuzestan province. The normality of data distribution was checked in SPSS by the Kolmogorov-Smirnoff normality test methods. Finally, the central tendency, indices of dispersion, distribution, and relative dispersion were examined as well. For the spatial analysis of PM2.5 using ArcGIS 8.10 through the IDW method, relative to the amount of changes in the PM2.5 concentration in Ahvaz in terms of pollution, after normalizing the data, the deaths attributed to PM2.5 were estimated by AirQ + .

The results showed that the highest and lowest daily PM2.5 concentrations during a ten-year period in Ahvaz were 234.19 μg/m3 and 18.15 μg/m3 in 2009 and 2017, respectively. The comparison of relative risk indices and the number of cases attributed to PM2.5 for death from all causes in the basic incidence of 55.806 people in the population over 30 demonstrated that the highest and lowest relative risk was 1.44 in 2010 and 1.23 in 2014, respectively. Further, the highest and lowest total number of deaths due to all causes attributed to PM2.5 were 1344 in 2010 and 811 in 2014, respectively. Based on the results of the correlation test between PM2.5 and the total mortality of people over 30 for all causes, there was a significant correlation at a 99% confidence level.

The results revealed the presence of pollution round the clock and the high impact of PM2.5 on public health in Ahvaz. Based on these results, during ten years of the study, 10,201 cases corresponding to 64.22% of all deaths from all causes were attributed to PM2.5, which is a warning for the public and officials to look at this problem, not as a temporary, but as a pervasive problem that affects every member of the society and stops the process of air pollution by taking effective measures.

Background & Aims:

Prevention is the best solution to break the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection chain. The aim of the present study was to investigate the degree of adherence to environmental health parameters for COVID-19 prevention in South Khorasan Province.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 410 residents of South Khorasan in 2021. The data collection instrument containing a researcher-made questionnaire included demographic, knowledge, and performance questions. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed, an online questionnaire was prepared, and the questionnaire link was sent via online networks. Data were entered into SPSS version 16 and analyzed using an independent t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation coefficient. P value ≤ 0.05 was considered as the significance level.

The results showed that 35.9% and 64.1% of participants were women and men, respectively. A total of 82.9% of people wore masks outdoors, and 83.7% of people washed their hands with sanitizer or soap on a daily basis. Further, statistical analysis revealed no significant relationship between performance and demographic characteristics. However, knowledge was significantly associated with gender, job, and education (P ≤ 0.05).

The participants had poor knowledge and performance, and there was a need to provide education in this regard in order to update COVID-19 knowledge and change the behavior of the general public towards this emerging disease.

Background & Aims:

Atmospheric phenomena can directly influence the occurrence of dust events. The western and southwestern parts of Iran are considered dust hotspots. This study aimed to examine and determine the origin of dust particles in Ilam province and its relationship with climatic components in the period 2012-2018.

In this descriptive-applied study, satellite images were obtained from the data transmitted from the Landsat TM satellite. In addition, HYSPLIT model was used to search for dust sources at an altitude of 1500 m or less (dust occurrence altitude class). Using SPSS 18 and OriginPro 2018, time series of data and linear regression equations were analyzed to determine the relationship between particulate matter and climate indicators.

The results for the origin of particulate matter in Ilam province indicated that out of a total of 165 daily dust events that occurred in this province from 2012 to 2017, 69 (daily) dust events (42%) originated from Iraq, 36 (22%) from Syria, 29 (17%) from Saudi Arabia, 16 (10%) from the Persian Gulf, and 15 (9%) from Jordan. The results of multiple regression analysis based on the influence coefficient of the absolute value of the standardized coefficients indicated that temperature with an influence coefficient of 0.370 was identified as a significant factor related to the particulate matter. In the correlation analysis, the variables of temperature, humidity, dew point, and cloudiness showed a significant correlation with particulate matter at the level of 0.03.

Considering the relationships between dust phenomena and climatic factors, they can be used to predict dust phenomenon.