r. nabizadeh

Hospital wastes with the content of infectious, pathologic, sharp, pharmaceupitical and genotoxic materials are classified as hazardous wastes. Of which, genotoxic residues wirh mutagenic and teratogenic effects are of most great concern on human health. Genetic wastes are referred to as cytotoxic, chemical, and radioactive drugs used to treat cancer or treat transplantation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the management of hospital wastes in Mazandaran province with emphasis on genotoxic waste.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 35 governmental and social hospitals in Mazandaran province to determine the satus of hospital waste with focus on geotoxic waste. The quanity, quality and management approaches of hospital and genotoxic wastes in the studied hospitals were surveyed with a validated questionnaire. Results obtained from the present study were analyzed with Excel software.

The average waste per each hospital bed was estimated to be 3.51 kilograms. Of which, 2.2, 1.24, 1.9 kg were categorized as municipal, chemical, and genotoxic wastes, respectively. The average of the hospital waste management index in Mazandaran province was found to be about 84 out of 100, indicating good management of these wastes. The management of genotoxic waste in 7 specialized chemotherapy hospitals was estimated to be 64 out of 100, indicating the average state of genotoxic waste management for these hospitals. In 28 non-chemotherapy hospitals, the genotoxic waste management index was approximated 42 out of 100, indicating poor management of these wastes.

The main weaknesses in hospital waste management are associated with the management of chemical-pharmaceutical and genotoxic wastes. Accordingly, improvement the quality of genotoxic and chemical-pharmaceutical wastes should be concerned in the future planning.

Radon gas is one of the environmental risk factors which can increase the risk of lung cancer and it is well known as the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. The aim of the present study was to investigate indoor radon gas concentration in residential and public environments of Nourabad Mammasani city and to estimate the effective dose due to radon exposure. In this study, 52 homes and 8 public places were investigated to measure the concentration of indoor radon gas. Indoor radon concentrations were measured using passive sampling approach, alpha-track detectors (CR-39) for three months, and after that, detectors were sent to the laboratory to count the number of tracks. The results of this research showed that the average radon concentration (± SD) in the homes and public places was 42.4(±14.7) and 32.9(±20.1) Bq/m3, respectively. All radon concentration values were lower than the US Environmental Protection Agency standard and WHO guideline. The average of annual effective dose due to the radon exposure in homes was estimated to be 1.07 mSv. The evaluation of the results showed that there was a significant relationship between the room type and the number of floors with radon concentration in the residential buildings. The results indicated that the indoor radon concentration as an environmental risk factor in the studied places was lower than the WHO guideline levels. Consequently, the indoor radon is not likely a major environmental risk factor in the studied environments.

Iodized salt is one of the most important sources iodine in Iran. Former studies show that the iodine levels were insufficient both in distribution and consumption levels. The aim of this descriptive-analytical sectional study was to investigate the iodine content in table salts used by families covered by health services of Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 2017. 315 families from SIB (Integrated Health System) with random sampling method were studied. A questionnaire was filled out through interviews and salt samples were taken for analysis. The iodine in all samples was measured by iodine-meter kits and one third of the samples were also measured by titration. The average iodized salt consumed by the families was 18.53 µg/g iodine, which is less than the national standard. Iodine amount in %12 of the samples was not in compliance with WHO standards. In %59 of the samples, there was less iodine amount than the previous standard level set by the Iranian Ministry of Health (20-55 µg/g iodine). None of the samples were compatible with the new standards set by the Iranian Ministry of Health (30-60 µg/g iodine). it was found that there is no meaningful relation between the variables such as Material, type of salt container and the amounts of iodine (p>0.05). Families are not aware of the effects of iodine deficiency.

Waste produced by health and treatment centers (hospitals) including medical diagnostic laboratories is one of the sources of municipal waste production. Waste produced by medical diagnostic laboratories due to the existence of pathogens and infectious materials by high importance is one of the environmental issues. This survey has been done on the qualitative-quantitative analytical bases، and the investigation has focused on the management strategies of the waste material of medical diagnostic laboratories of Rasht، Iran in 2009.

In this descriptive study، samples were collected from 19 medical diagnostic laboratories of Rasht in 3 consecutive days (Monday، Tuesday and Wednesday every week)، after filling the questionnaire and interviewing with the managers. Then، the samples were separated manually، and divided into 46 different constituents and weighed. Next، the constituents were classified based on characteristics and potentiality of being hazardous.

The total amount of annual waste production by the medical diagnostic laboratories of Rasht is 25785. 143kg. In this study، the share of manufacturing conventional waste (domestic type wastes)، especially infectious، chemical، pharmaceutical، and radioactive wastes were 1. 16%، 95. 34%، 1. 42% and 2. 08%، respectively. The highest and lowest amount of waste production relates to plastic materials and wood which are 48. 37 and 0. 43%، respectively. In this study sharp cutting things were calculated to be 10. 52%. Furthermore، 84 percent of the managers of the medical diagnostic laboratories had not had enough information of the circulars and instructions on the enforceable management strategies of the medical wastes.

Concerning the management of the medical waste production in the medical diagnostic laboratories، it is suggested that the managers and the personnel be trained on the separation، collection، and disinfection techniques and final disposal، and the wastes have to be treated per regulations and instructions.

Background and objective Hydrogen peroxide solution with stabilized formulation with oligodynamic amounts of silver ion (trade mark: Nanosil) recently became a popular disinfectant for fruits vegetables surfaces medical instruments and so on. Methods This study was based on determining efficiency of hydrogen peroxide-silver ion complex in six different concentrations measured through removal of total coli forms from samples taken from Qom wastewater. All six different concentrations of disinfectant were incubated separately with wastewater for one hour. Sample size was 12 and sampling was done weekly. Results In the concentration of 80 and 480 mg/l logarithmic removal value of total coli forms was 1.9 and 4.5 respectively. In CT value 8600(mg/l).min and more the total coli forms effluent standard for surface water discharge and agriculture irrigation was achieved (Iranian environmental protection agency act). Conclusion Use of hydrogen peroxide-silver ion complex as a water and wastewater disinfectant has some benefits such as elimination of hazardous by products measurable residual amount and so on. However its application in wastewater effluent is more costly than other usual disinfectants so it is not economically advisable.