m. mojarrad

This study aims at assessing the health-related risk of As, Co, Cr, Ni, and Cu in the soil around Angouran Mineral Processing Complex (AMPC), due to environmentally sensitive nature of the area, having agricultural activities, habitats of animal and plant species, and industrial activities integrated with each other. Soil samples have been collected from 74 points (0-20 cm) of the area and concentrations of heavy metals have been measured, using ICP-OES. The Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Integrated Pollution Index (IPI) have been used to examine the pollution level. Moreover, hazard indices (HI), hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk (CR) have been utilized to assess the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks of heavy metals. The average concentration of heavy metals indicates that metals’ concentration in the soil have increased in the following order: Cr = Ni> As> Cu> Co. Results from Igeo, Ef, and IPI show that As and Ni are placed in the very high pollution category. The non-carcinogenic risk of dermal absorption (adults = 1.30 E + 00, children = 1.35 E + 00) of Cr and Co polluted particles turn out to be very high. In addition, the risk of cancer as a result of the ingestion of As- and Cr-contaminated soil particles is high in both of age groups, with children being 68% more likely to be at risk of cancer than adults. Therefore, actions such as soil remediation should be done to reduce the risk of exposure and protect the health of the residents, especially the farmers.

Solar energy is rapidly gaining attention in different industries, especially agricultural industries. Application of this clean energy in drying industry resulted in many investigations in academia. Dryers with energy storage can reduce thermal fluctuations of solar irradiations and also enhance drying efficiency of agricultural products. In this study, paraffin phase change material has been used as energy storage and the performance of a solar tray dryer with indirect forced convection has been investigated. The mathematical model of the energy balance for the process has been derived. The effect of parameters namely inlet air velocity and collector surface area on the final moisture content of samples and air outlet temperature have been studied. Air inlet temperature has been tested at two levels of 1 and 3m/s using a collector surface area of 2m2 with and without energy storage. The integration of energy storage enhances the efficiency by 37% and reduces the outlet moisture content. Lower inlet air velocity and larger collector surface area results in lower final moisture content of samples. On the other hand, for higher ambient temperature even higher inlet air velocity can result in lower moisture content of products. Comparison of experimental data with simulation results shows correlation coefficient of 96.27.

Several studies have shown that goiter is more prevalent in females than in males, although before puberty there is no difference between genders, indicating that sex steroids may play a role in thyroid volume. Iodine deficiency may result in an increase prevalence in goiter prevalence but the difference between genders is not clear. This study is a metaanalysis of studies that have compared goiter prevalence between genders at different ages, with differing iodine status.

This is a systematic review and metaanalysis based on Cochrane’ criteria. Databases of MEDLINE-EMBASE-Cochrane and Persian databases of Iranmedex– Magiran- SID- Irondoc were searched and all articles on goiter in both sexes goiter were examined were included.

A hundred and five studies, with total number of 429252 individuals, age range 1-80 y, were included. Odds ratio of female to male goiter was OR=1.39 (95%CI=1.28-1.51), a ratio higher in longstanding iodine insufficient areas, than in areas of recent iodine sufficiency (1.94 vs. 1.36), the difference in iodine sufficient area being non significant. This ratio for grade 2 of goiter was higher than grade 1(1.78 vs. 1.30), and in persons> 15 years old rose significantly, especially in iodine deficient areas.

Goiter is more prevalent in females than in males.