Archives of Hygiene Sciences
Volume:9 Issue: 1, Winter 2020

of the Study: Hospital safety is a critical issue since hospitals are more vulnerable than other places to traumatic incidents. Investigation of occupational accidents in hospitals could prevent these events and preserve human and financial resources. With this background in mind, the present study aimed to investigate the occupational accident and its related factors in two university hospitals in Tehran.

This descriptive study was conducted at two hospitals (including one public and one specialized hospital) in Tehran. The study population consisted of 186 nursing group personnel working in different departments of hospitals who were selected by simple random selection. Data collection tool was a questionnaire which consisted of two parts: demographic variable and 18 questions about occupational incidents. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal Wallis tests.

Among 18 accidents, exposure to blood or body fluids showed to have the highest frequency, while falling had the lowest frequency. The obtained results demonstrated no relationship between gender and the number and type of accidents. Nonetheless, in some of the accidents, the number and type of accidents were significantly correlated with the department, work experiences, educational level, work shift, and type of hospital (P<0.05).

Due to the prevalence of accidents, such as exposure to blood or other body fluids, cutting with sharp objects, and needle sticks,it is suggested that accidents and their causes be recorded and preventive measures be implemented  to reduce the causes of accidents. Moreover, some interventions, such as training in personal and occupational protection techniques and risk assessment of different procedures are recommended.

 of the Study: The current study was designed to determine the quality of sediments in Karun in Ahvaz, Iran, according to aquatic pollution indices.

The sediment samples were obtained from six river stations in summer and winter. The sediment samples were air-dried, sifted, homogenized, and stored in plastic bags, and the concentrations of metals were determined in the laboratory.

The obtained findings revealed that the mean concentrations of lead, zinc, chrome, and cadmium were 26.27, 72.36, 53.47, and 3.85 mg/kg dw in summer and 13.41, 59.54, 30.28, and 0.42 mg/kg dw in winter, respectively. According to the mean scores of the potential ecological risk index (PERI), in two seasons, the sediment enrichment with metals was observed in the order of Cd > Pb > Cr > Zn; however, according to biological toxicity test (the effects range-median quotient), the sequences of the metals during summer and winter were Cd > Cr > Zn > Pb and Zn > Cr > Pb > Cd, respectively. The comparison of indices between stations showed that in summer, stations 3 and 4 were medium-low priority side according to the mean effects range-median quotient (mERM-Q) and were reported with moderate ecological risk based on the PERI. In winter, stations 2 and 4 had a medium-low priority side and moderate ecological risk according to mERM-Q and PERI, respectively. The results of hazard quotient (HQ) and modified hazard quotient also showed that the HQ values of Pb and Zn (0.1<hq</hq

Based on all the indices, station 4 was the most contaminated site, and Cd was reported with the highest risk. Therefore, entering the wastewater canal and input contaminants, especially cadmium into Karun can be regarded as a major concern.

 of the Study: Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by comatose lesions and cysts that can be accompanied by scarring in some cases. The physical and psychological effects of acne include deformities, scarring, depression, impaired social relationships, and discontentment. Moreover, the affected people experience social isolation, and they engage in social activities less frequently due to embarrassment and fear of being excluded from the community. Some studies reported that the prevalence of acne is 10 times higher in males, as compared to females. With this background in mind, the current study aimed to assess quality of life in patients with acne vulgaris and its consequent disabilities in Qom, 2016.

This is a cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study and the statistical population included acne patients who were referred to dermatological clinics in Qom. Therefore, 147 patients were selected by convenience sampling. Data collection tools were the Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaires.  CADI is a questionnaire which is specific for acne consisting of five questions about feelings, interference with social life, and interaction with the opposite gender, avoidance of public places, the appearance of the skin, and perceived severity of the disease over the last month. DLQI consists of 10 items covering symptoms and feelings (items 1 and 2), daily activities (items 3 and 4), leisure (items 5 and 6), work and school (item 7), personal relationships (items 8 and 9) and treatment (item 10). Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) using descriptive statistics and independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

83% of the cases were female and 35.4% of them had a family history of acne. 26.5% of patients had less than a high school diploma degree and the average score of quality of life in acne patients was 7.32 and the mean score of acne-related disability index was reported as 5.86. The results of the statistical tests demonstrated no significant difference in the mean score of quality of life and acne-related disability in terms of gender and family history of acne (P<0.05).Moreover, the results of the ANOVA test indicated no difference in mean scores of quality of life and acne-related disability index in terms of education (P<0.05). In addition, the Pearson correlation coefficient result revealed that the relationship of age and duration of illness with the mean score of quality of life and disability index was not significant (P<0.05). Nonetheless, this test demonstrated a direct and significant relationship between the mean score of quality of life and acne-related disability (P<0.05; r = 0.73).

As evidenced by the obtained results, there was a significant relationship between quality of life and acne-related disability (P<0.05). Acne can affect different aspects of patients' lives in a myriad of ways. Accordingly, their social, educational, and recreational activities, as well as their mental and psychological health are adversely affected by this disease

of the Study: Heavy metals, such as cadmium, lead, and chromium, are common environmental pollutants; however, they are used in various cosmetics. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to measure the concentrations of lead, cadmium, and chromium in the hair colors available in the markets of Qom, Iran.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 12 hair color brands (i.e., 7 domestic and 5 foreign brands). Three popular colors were chosen from each brand and purchased from randomly selected famous stores located in four districts of the city. After preparing the samples, the levels of lead, cadmium, and chromium were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (μg/kg). Collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 22) using independent t-test to compare the amount of heavy metals in different brands at a p-value of 0.05.    

The level of lead in the studied hair colors was higher than those of cadmium and chromium. In this regard, cadmium level was lower than the detection limit of the device and was about zero. In addition, the lead and chromium levels in hair colors were estimated at 552.37-11.5 and 35.12167-62.97, respectively. Furthermore, the mean weight of chromium and lead in Iranian hair color was significantly higher than that in the foreign ones.

Regarding the potential impacts of heavy metals on health and their accumulation property, it is required to perform comprehensive interventions to raise the awareness of the society in this regard.

 of the Study: Azo dyes utilized in industrial processes, such as the textile manufacturing, lead to the creation of huge amounts of colored wastewaters that contain non-organic and organic constituents. Therefore, it is necessary to search for remedies in this regard. This study investigated the degradation and mineralization of Acid red 14 (AR14), which is a mono Azo dye generally employed in textile manufacturing, using an Electro peroxone process. The Electro-peroxone is a grouping of ozone and electrochemically generated hydrogen peroxide that can result in the production of strong hydroxyl radicals.

This project was accompanied on synthetic wastewater that holds a high concentration of Acid red 14(400 mg/l) based on a Box-Behnken experimental design using an Electro-peroxone process for the remediation. Moreover, the influence of operational parameters was investigated in this study.

The results obtained from an Electro-peroxone process in a cylinder-shaped reactor showed 100% AR14 removal after 30 min with an initial dosage of dye  at 400 mg/l at an optimum condition (current intensity at 0.7 A, pH at 10, reaction time at 30 min, and electrolyte concentration at 0.1 M). Moreover, the removal percentage of the chemical oxygen demand was obtained at 69% after 30 min indicating the great performance of Electro-peroxone in the mineralization of AR14.

The hydrogen peroxide is produced electrochemically from O2 in the O2-O3 mixture, which was entered into the reactor. Subsequently, the hydroxyl radicals were shaped via the peroxone reaction. Based on the high removal percentages of COD in short reaction time, it can be found that the Electro-peroxone process produces no secondary pollutants. Therefore, it can be regarded as an environmentally-friendly water treatment method.

 of the Study: Job stress has negative effects on various organizational, motivational, and social factors. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of organizational intelligence, workplace-life skills, and employee empowerment training on promoting organizational productivity and socialization among the employees with job stress in Persian Gulf Star Oil Co., Bandar Abbas, Iran, during 2018-19.

This study included 80 employees with job stress who were selected based on Morgan's table using a simple random sampling. Subsequently, the participants were assigned into a control group (n=20), experimental group 1(organizational intelligence training, n=20), experimental group 2 (workplace-life skills training, n=20), and experimental group 3 (empowerment training, n=20) by a simple random sampling. The data were collected through Hersey and Goldsmith's Productivity Questionnaire, Taormina's Organizational Socialization Questionnaire, and Rice's Job Stress Questionnaire. Moreover, the data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 25) through multivariate analysis of covariance, analysis of covariance, multivariate analysis of variance, and univariate analysis of variance.

The results indicated that organizational intelligence, workplace-life skills, and employee empowerment training increased organizational productivity and socialization in employees with job stress in experimental groups 1, 2, and 3, compared to the control group (P=0.001).

Organizational intelligence, workplace-life skills, and empowerment training were effective factors in enhancing organizational productivity and socialization among employees with job stress by the creation of internal motivation through preparing the environment, providing necessary context for transmitting a sense of greater self-efficacy and more ability, as well as enhancing employees' perception of their abilities.

of the Study: Risky driving behaviors are a set of actions that put drivers at the risk of death or injuries which are caused by the violations of legal standards. These kinds of behaviors are the key factor leading to a higher risk of traffic crashes and injuries. The present study aimed to investigate the situation of some high-risk traffic behaviors and the related factors in Kashan.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 400 people were selected from among Kashan population by convenience sampling method. The self-reporting questionnaire consisted of two parts: demographic information (e.g., gender, age, marital status, level of education of the person and parents, and family income) and the number of traffic violations (e.g., paid fines, running red lights, parking prohibited in specified places, as well as unauthorized overtaking and speeding).Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 16) using descriptive statistics (e.g., frequency distribution, central and dispersion indices) and inferential statistics (e.g., independent t-test, analysis of variance, and chi-square).

The current study was conducted on 400 drivers who were selected from among Kashan population (314 men and 86 women) with the mean age of 38.15±10.29. The obtained results indicated that women were safer drivers. Moreover, it was found that people in older age groups committed fewer violations. In addition, the frequency of unauthorized speeding and overtaking was significantly higher among single people, as compared to the married ones. Regarding educational level, the frequency of unauthorized parking and overtaking was higher among the people with higher levels of education. Moreover, the frequency of unauthorized speeding was significantly higher among those with higher family income (P<0.05).

Based on the results of the present study and the relationship between demographic variables and risky traffic behaviors, it is suggested that the general public be trained on driving principles and regulations with respect to their age and educational level.  In addition, the implementation of appropriate measures for the prevention of road accidents and injuries is recommended.

Brucellosis is a bacterial infectious disease that can be transmitted between humans and animals through the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products or direct human contact with infected animals, placenta, or aborted fetuses. The present study aimed to investigate the epidemiological pattern and trend of brucellosis in diagnosed patients in Isfahan province, Iran, during 2011-9.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted during 2011-9 in Isfahan province. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 20) using descriptive tests.

The total number of studied patients who were diagnosed with brucellosis was 5268, including 3650 males (69.3%) and 1618 females (30.7%). The mean incidence rate of the disease was estimated at 14.5 per 100,000 people during the research period. The mean age of the patients was 35.98±18.1 and most of the participants were within the age range of 15-29 years. Moreover, 51.7%, 1.6%, 46.7% of the patients lived in rural, nomadic, and urban areas, respectively. Furthermore, 67.3% of the patients had a history of contact with livestock, and 17.9% of them had a family history of brucellosis. Besides, 59.2% of the infected people had a history of using unpasteurized dairy products.

Based on the results, it can be concluded that interventions, such as the provision of appropriate training for young people, especially in rural areas, and housewives, as well as recommendations for the use of pasteurized dairy products, can be very helpful in controlling this disease.