مجله سلامت و بهداشت
سال ششم شماره 4 (پیاپی 23، پاییز 1394)

Electrochemical processes have been applied effectively to remove organic compounds from aqueous solutions. In this work، the efficiencies of Electro Fenton (EF) process and Electrocoagulation (EC) using iron electrodes were investigated for removal of Acid Black 1. This experimental study was performed in a batch reactor and the effects of parameters such as pH، time، voltage، H2O2 and dye concentrations، and COD removal were investigated. In Electro Fenton process H2O2 was chemically added to the reactor while iron anode electrode was used as a ferrous ion source. The results showed that pH، voltage and H2O2 concentration were the main parameters in EF process. The optimum conditions in EF process were obtained at pH 3، H2O2concentration of 100 mg/l and 20 V. With increasing pH from 3 to 11 and voltage from 20 to 40 V the removal efficiency decreased، however، in the EC process the maximum efficiency was obtained at pH 7. Electro Fenton and Electrocoagulation using iron electrodes are suitable processes for dye degradation and treatment of colored wastewater.

Cardiovascular diseases are considered as the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in many countries. More than 19 percent of the population in Iran suffers from cardiovascular diseases. This study was performed to determine factors associated with preventive behaviors of cardiovascular diseases using the Health Belief Model. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 employees of Khuzestan province health center using convenience sampling method. Data were extracted from the questionnaire made based on the constructs of health belief model (α=078). Descriptive and analytical tests were used for data analysis by SPSS-v20. Participants’ mean age was 39. 17 years. 54. 3% were female، 72. 8% of them were married and most of them (76. 1%) had university qualification. Mean score of perceived severity was 13. 54±1. 7، perceived susceptibility 16. 65±2. 12، perceived barriers 12. 63±1. 79، perceived benefits 15. 83±2. 43، and preventive behaviors of cardiovascular diseases was 2. 56±1. 2. Within the variables of the studied pattern، statistically significant correlation (p<0. 05) was only observed between perceived barriers and preventive behaviors. Regression analysis showed that age and perceived barriers are suitable predictors for preventing behavior. Based on the results، providing necessary training with emphasis on reducing barriers of the preventive behaviors of cardiovascular disease can improve function of the control units on this behavior.

Increasing water resources pollution by heavy metals cause serious environmental and health concerns in the world. Selenium blood levels of >100 𝜇g/dl can result in selenosis. Atomic absorption spectroscopy is the most common method for selenium detection. This technique has several disadvantages such as high equipment and operational costs، time-consuming and the need for quality control of the test method. In this study، the HMS) Hexagonal mesoporous silica (activated by 4- (2-pyridylazo) -resorcinol (PAR) was used for spectrophotometric determination of selenium. The qualitative detection was done by colour change of sediment from orange to pink in water samples and the quantitative detection by a spectrophotometer. Various parameters such as pH، the initial concentration of the selenium، contact time، and the indicator doses were also examined. The results of this study showed that the qualitative and quantitative detection of selenium are better done with increasing the contact time. The best condition for selenium detection was observed at pH =10. Increasing the indicator doses had no significant effect on the identification process. Increasing initial concentration of selenium increased the pink colour formation and consequently enhanced accuracy of qualitative and quantitative detection. This study is a basic and applied research. The HMS sensor activated by 4- (2-pyridylazo) -resorcinol (PAR) can be used as an inexpensive and rapid indicator for quantitative (spectrophotometry) and qualitative (colour change) detection of selenium in water and wastewater in research and administrative unites.

Sedentary lifestyle is one of the most important modifiable factors associated with diabetes when the level of physical activity of the diabetics is poor. This study aimed to determine the predictive power of Trans Theoretical Model (TTM) for physical activity (PA) behavior in diabetic patients. In a cross sectional study 393 patients with type 2 diabetes in Khorramabad city were selected by convenience sampling method in 2013. Data were collected through a questionnaire consisted of 5 sections and analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient، chi-square، t-test، ANOVA and multiple linear regression tests using SPSS-18 software. In this study the majority of the participants (48. 9%، 192 patients) were in pre contemplation stage and only 15% and 6. 6% were in the action and maintenance stages، respectively. A significant difference was seen in stages of behavior change among educational levels. Mean daily PA in maintenance group was significantly higher than the other groups. A negative significant relationship was found between the average daily PA and perceived benefits and positive significant correlations were found between the average daily PA and processes of change، self-efficacy and decision balance. Multiple regressions showed that 33. 8% of daily PA variance can be explained and predicted by TTM constructs. Stages of change theory had appropriate predictive power for PA levels in diabetic patients. Paying attention to roles of this theory structures on promoting PA as well as the providing related educations in diabetes associations and health centers are recommended.

One of the major problems in environmental management is disposal of municipal waste. In spite of the presence of different methods for the disposal of municipal waste، landfilling is one of the essential elements in municipal solid waste management system. In order to prevent contamination of water and soil، outbreak of diseases and environmental destruction، selection of an appropriate site for solid waste landfilling have to be made through investigation of environmental properties of the surrounding area. The aim of this study was to select the most suitable site for landfilling of municipal waste in Ardebil city. In a study appropriate sites for landfilling of solid waste have already been determined in Ardabil by applying GIS and analytical hierarchical process model. After field visit from the designated sites and collection of necessary information، four sites were selected. The four sites were assessed using similarity to ideal alternative method and environmental impact assessment by Leopold matrix. From these four sites the most appropriate one was selected. The results of assessment by two methods showed that prioritizing the sites based on the similarity to ideal alternative method is similar to the result obtained from environmental impact assessment by Leopold matrix. The first priority was given to the first option and the second، fourth، and third alternatives stand in the next priorities. The alternative 1 is the most appropriate site for landfilling of municipal waste in Ardabil. This site is located in 11kilometer in east of Ardabil city in geographical coordinates of 48°25′46. 90″east and 38° 16′11. 63″north.

In a conventional method for determination of the chemical oxygen demand (COD)، organic compounds are oxidized by potassium dichromate in acidic condition and thermal digestion (150°C، 2 hr). Whereas microwave produces heat through rapid rotation of polar molecules and ionic polarization، microwave digestion was investigated for rapid measurement of COD in present study. In this experimental study، in order to compare the thermal and microwave digesters for COD determination، 243 standard samples of potassium hydrogen phthalate solution and raw wastewater and effluent samples were studied according to standard methods based on the colorimetry of reduced chromium ion. The results were analyzed by Wilcoxon test. The mean COD obtained from microwave digestion (360 Watt، 5 min) had no significant difference with the one determined by thermal reactor (150 °C، 2 hr.). Energy consumption of thermal reactor and microwave for determination of COD in each sample was determined as 736 and 30 W. hr، respectively. Therefore، the energy consumption and digestion time of thermal reactor in COD determination were about 24 fold higher than the microwave digestion. Application of microwave is preferred to the thermal reactor in terms of the time and energy consumption due to its catalytic ability in chemical oxidation.

Cement industries are a major source of pollution. Cement dust deposition affects photosynthesis، plant production and reproductivity. High dust concentration in air causes a severe reduction in the photosynthetic capacity of the leaves، fertility and plant growth. In this work، the effects of dust particles from Shahroud cement plant on diversity and density of the vegetation were studied. Quadrate method was used to assess type of the dominant vegetation and the diversity. The type and amount of the dust deposited on the plants، vegetation diversity and density were measured in different directions and distances from the emission source. Analysis of dust samples from the plants surface showed that the main component of contamination due to cement industry is calcium oxide (CaO). The results of the evaluation of plants density and diversity and the amount of particles deposited on plant surface showed that there is an inverse correlation between the amount of dust deposition and the vegetation density and diversity. As the distance from the source of particles emission increased، the particle deposition rate decreases and the density and diversity of the vegetation increase. In this region، the plants are replaced by the resistant species such as Artemisia aucheri and Hulthemia persica.

Temptation is one of the constructs of a trans theoretical model that may cause failure in smoking cessation. The aim of the current study was to investigate temptation situations and its relationships with stages of change among smokers. Secondary analsis was conducted on three separate studies and 1108 subjects who were selected based on convenient sampling method. Data were compiled using velicer et al. smoking temptation situations as well as Prochaska et al. stages of change questionnaires. Gatherd data were analyzed by descriptive statistics، Kruskall Wallis and Mann-whietny tests using SPSS software version 15. Mean score of temptation in smokers was 3. 34±0. 77 out of 5. Mean and SD were 3. 56±0. 92، 3. 70±0. 99 and 2. 67±0. 96 for positive social situations، negative affective، and craving، respectively. There was significant relationship between temptation and stages of change so that mean score of temptation in the subjects at contemplation and prepation stages was significantly higher than those of being in action and maintenace stages. There were significant relationships between initiation age of smoking and temptation scores. Smokers who initiated smoking under 20 years old had higher temptation score compared to the subjects started at ≥20 years of age. The results of the current study indicated that the smokers tempted more in negative affective situations. The rate of temptation was higher in contemplation and preparation stages comparing to other stages. Temptation was influenced by the earlier age smoking initiation.

Violence against women is a considerable concern in all communities. Although many studies have been done on mental health outcomes of the violence on women، it has still many unknown aspects. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and determinants of domestic violence against women in Isfahan. In a cross-sectional study all the women referred to health centers in Isfahan were studied in 2011. A self-developed questionnaire with known reliability and validity was used as a data collection tool. Data were analyzed using SPSS with 95% confidence interval. The most common violence against women was emotional violence with52. 82%. The prevalences of verbal، financial، and physical violence were 47. 69%، 35. 38%، 24. 87%، respectively. The results indicated that housewives are at the greatest risk for domestic violence. Moreover، the results showed that the types of violence against women are different in terms of their education. Most important reasons for abuse were husband’s impatience and fatigue (37. 38%)، husband’s fussiness (30. 14%)، husband’s pessimism (16. 54%)، relative and family interference (9. 9%) and wife’s smartass (6. 04%). The high rate of domestic violence is a cause of concern. Education is the best proposed solution to reduce domestic violence against women. Training life skills at school، health centers، and especially through media may be useful. Using counseling services and promotion of counseling culture are very important for young couples.

In addition to supplying the needed water of human body، drinking water contains salts and minerals that are essential for the human body. Deficiency or excess of some of these minerals cause different problems and diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of home water treatment systems on reducing or eliminating the physical and chemical parameters in 2013. This was an analytical descriptive study. 12 water treatment units with different characteristics، in terms of the number of filters and filter life were selected from different locations that have different water sources including wells and surface water. The results showed that mean removal efficiency of nitrate، nitrite، sulfate، chloride and fluoride by home water treatment systems، respectively are 79. 16، 24. 19، 48. 5، 83. 48، 72. 86%. The average efficiency for removing of total hardness، calcium hardness، magnesium، Na، K، turbidity، and residual chlorine were respectively 82. 41، 87. 10، 65. 78، 95. 05، 79. 48، 98. 57، and 100%. Obtained results showed that home water treatment systems have very high efficiency to remove water physicochemical parameters. Using these systems are not necessary since most of the drinking water parameters are blow the Iran drinking water standards. In most cases they reduce the parameters to lower than the standard limits and decrease the taste and fluoride concentration to less than the standard values.