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Avicenna Journal of Environmental Health Engineering - Volume:9 Issue: 2, Dec 2022

Avicenna Journal of Environmental Health Engineering
Volume:9 Issue: 2, Dec 2022

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1401/09/05
  • تعداد عناوین: 8
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  • Tajudeen Yahaya*, Yunusa Abdulganiyu, Bashar Haruna Gulumbe, Esther Oladele, Daniel Anyebe, Ufuoma Shemishere Pages 69-74

    Dumpsites are the most cost-effective and widely used method of waste disposal. However, studies have linked dumpsites to groundwater contamination, necessitating a safety assessment of groundwater sources near dumpsites. The safety of borehole water near the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota, Lagos, Nigeria, was investigated in this study. Water samples were collected at distances of 100, 200, and 300 m from the dumpsite and subjected to conventional heavy metal analysis and microbiological tests. The average daily intake (ADI) and hazard quotient (HQ) of heavy metals were also estimated. The heavy metal analysis revealed that copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) levels exceeded permissible limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) at the three locations, while manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations were within non-permissible levels only at the distances of 100 and 200 m. The concentrations of other heavy metals tested, such as zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr), were within tolerable limits. The ADI of heavy metals at the three locations was within acceptable levels. However, the HQ of Cd in all the locations, as well as Pb at the distance of 100 m and Cr at distances of 100 and 200 m, was greater than the threshold of 1. The microbiological analysis revealed that all the water samples had non-permissible bacteria and coliform counts. The results obtained suggest that the borehole water around the dumpsite is grossly contaminated, with contamination levels increasing significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with closeness to the dumpsite (100 > 200 > 300 m). Therefore, there is a need for heavy metal remediation and disinfection of the dumpsite.

    Keywords: Average daily intake, Bacteria, Dumpsites, Groundwater, Lead
  • Ali Mahmoodnia, Morteza Mousavi, Farshad Golbabaei Kootenaei*, Mahdi Asadi-Ghalhari Pages 75-84

    Acquiring information about groundwater quality is essential in developing management strategies. In this article, spatio-temporal variations of cations in groundwater in Esfarayen plain were investigated using data monitored in 134 groundwater wells, active in 1988, and 47 wells, active in 2019. To evaluate groundwater quality, interpolation methods have been used to interpolate existing limited spatial data. The performance of 8 current interpolation methods on the data for the two selected years (1988 and 2019) was compared. Finding the optimum interpolation method for the considered groundwater quality parameters is essential. Cross-validation and three indexes of R2, mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE) were used to compare the performance of the methods. By identifying universal kriging (UK) and global polynomial interpolation (GPI) methods as the optimum methods and using those for the selected years (1988 and 2019), spatial variation of the concentration of cations in groundwater across the plain has been presented. In 1988, the maximum concentration of the cations occurred in the southwest of the plain (about 80 mg/L), and the minimum concentration of the cations was observed in the northwest of the plain (approximately 8 mg/L). Similarly, in 2019, the highest concentration of the cations was found in the southwest of the plain (almost 64 mg/L), and its lowest concentration was observed in the northeast of the plain (roughly 13 mg/L). Moreover, temporal variations of the concentration of cations in groundwater from 1988 to 2019 have also been presented. The concentration of the cations increased by approximately 23 mg/L in the northwest and decreased to about 37 mg/L in the southwest of the study area from 1988 through 2019. According to the results, changes in the quality of groundwater are a complex problem and it is necessary to adopt proper strategies to reduce its adverse effects.

    Keywords: Groundwater, Cation, Interpolation methods, Spatio-temporal variability
  • Elham Mahdavian, Mohammad Hasan Ehrampoush, Sara Jambarsang, Fahimeh Teimouri*, Mohammad Javad Zare, Mohamad Nadi Sakhvidi Pages 85-92

    Exposure to pesticides is associated with various health concerns and may also be related to impaired cognitive function. This study investigated the relationship between greenhouse density and cognitive function in primary school children using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and environmental sampling. This study was conducted on 128 children (6–9 years old) in Ebrahimabad village, Ashkezar, Yazd, Iran in 2019, and 10 students were excluded from the study after filling consent form. The WISC-IV measured children’s cognitive function, and a flame ionization detector for gas chromatography (GC-FID) instrument was used to detect environmental exposure to pesticides. There was a significant inverse relationship between greenhouse density in children’s homes and cognitive function scores with verbal thinking scores (P value = 0.003) and the total scale (P value = 0.0001) on the WISC. Further, the results showed that the obtained verbal thinking scores are significantly related to their fathers’ education (P value = 0.008) and occupation (P value = 0.014). Moreover, the results of environmental exposure measurement confirmed the presence of malathion, ethion, chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, and oxadiazine with a maximum concentration of 183 μg/m3 in response to malathion. The present study indicated that increasing the density of the greenhouse reduces children’s cognitive functions. The results of ambient air analysis confirmed the environmental exposure to pesticides as well. Due to long-term chemical effects, management measures such as public education, substituting crop types, and the use of eco-friendly methods are unavoidable.

    Keywords: Greenhouse density, Cognitive function, Environmental assessment, Pesticide exposure
  • Mahdiah Soltani, Ehsan Abouee Mehrizi, Mohammad Taghi Ghaneian, Mohammad Hossein Salmani* Pages 93-99

    The entry of heavy metals (e.g., arsenite anions) into water sources due to industrial and mining activities is considered a serious problem for the environment. Therefore, arsenite removal from polluted water has attracted the attention of researchers due to its toxic effects on human health. In the present study, the efficiency of the electrochemical (EC) purification of arsenite anions in a high ionic strength solution was investigated using a carbon electrode impregnated with iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs). These NPs were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and immediately impregnated on the carbon rod. Experiments were performed by two electrodes (carbon and carbon impregnated with NP electrode) in a 50 mL EC reactor. The effect of different parameters such as electrical current (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 A), EC time (2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes), pH (3, 5, 7, 9 and 11), and the initial concentrations of arsenite anion (2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L) was investigated on the removal efficiency to achieve the highest removal of arsenite anions. Arsenite anions (10 mg/L) were completely removed from the aqueous solution with an ionic strength of 0.141 M at an electrical current of 0.7 A, a pH of 8, and an EC time of 20 minutes. In addition, pH was the most effective parameter in removing arsenite anions from aqueous solution in the EC method. According to the results, EC treatment using an electrode impregnated with iron oxide NPs is highly efficient in removing arsenite anions from the contaminated water.

    Keywords: Arsenite anions, Electrochemical process, Iron oxide nanoparticles, High ionic strength, Removal efficiency
  • Seyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi, Fathollah Gholami-Borujeni* Pages 100-108

    Wastewater is one of the most important ways of transmitting viral and bacterial pathogens that can cause nosocomial and clinical infections in humans. Although previous studies show that there is no current evidence that active coronaviruses are present in surface or ground waters or are transmitted through contaminated drinking water, there is an urgent need for more effective preventive measures to limit the spread of infection, which depends on understanding their routes of transmission and persistence in different environments. Here is a narrative review of the survival of the coronavirus family in feces, urine, and wastewater. Articles related to the presence of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 in feces, urine, and wastewater and their survival time were searched in the literature. Articles published in the last decade (2000–2021) were selected based on the PRISMA method. The literature review showed that due to the high concentration of RNA virus in blood and urine samples with positive oral and anal swabs, no positive case has been reported using respiratory tests. The main findings of this review show that the maximum survival time of the SARS-CoV-2 in feces and urine was 33 and 31 days, respectively. Moreover, environmental conditions (temperature and pH) are the most important factors in the survival of SRRSCoV in feces, urine, and wastewater. This study provides researchers with basic and useful information for future research orientations in relation to wastewater treatment plant systems to eliminate and manage emerging viral contaminants.

    Keywords: SARS COV-2, Survival, Wastewater, Feces, Urine
  • Abdolkazem Neisi, Gholamreza Goudarzi, Aliakbar Babaei, Vafa Hamid, Seyede Kosar Mousavi, Parnia Kanani, Niloufar Lajmorak, Heydar Maleki* Pages 109-116

    Recently, the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has increased among workers of meat processing plants (MPPs) around the world. This study reviewed the possible routes of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and useful actions against it in slaughterhouses. The results revealed that the main factors for the spread of the virus included low indoor temperature, crowded area, wrong standing along production lines, contamination of high-touch surfaces, difficult education of workers with diverse native languages, low financial income, large MPPs with over 10 million Ib of packed meat per month, higher speed of production lines with 175 birds/minute, temporary contract of the workers, and weak approach of some meat processing companies against COVID-19 infection such as National Beef. COVID-19 transmission rate was 24 times higher among the workers of MPPs than among the population of the US. The practical actions against the spread of the virus were mainly marker using for remembering the previous location, mandatory mask use, especially FFP2/3 masks, and decentralization of large MPPs. By using the results of this study, slaughterhouse managers would be able to significantly control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and future bio-threats to workers of MPPs and even to society.

    Keywords: COVID-19, Meat processing plants, Transmission routes, Practical actions, High-touch surface
  • Mehran Maleki Roveshti, Farahnaz Khajehnasiri, Elham Akhlaghi Pirposhteh, Nasir Amanat, Ali Salehi Sahlabadi, Javad Vatani, Mohsen Poursadeqiyan * Pages 117-123

    The most serious current challenge in the world is COVID-19 disease incidence. With the spread of COVID-19, in addition to widespread human and economic damages, concerns have increased about the world’s climate and ecosystem change. This change alters the genetic structure of viruses, leading to newer strains. This study addressed global challenges regarding the COVID-19 epidemic effects and possible two-way changes in climate and ecosystems. Studies conducted from 2019 to 2022 were reviewed in this systematic review. Articles on climate and ecosystem change related to the COVID-19 epidemic were searched in the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases in accordance with the MeSH search strategy using keywords such as “Climate Change” and “Ecosystem” or “COVID-19”. In this research, the coding method based on the PRISMA chart was used, and 13 related articles were included in the study after qualitative evaluation. The COVID-19 epidemic is likely to have significant implications for progress in climate and ecosystem change. The phenomenon of climate change and its interaction with the COVID-19 epidemic is not limited to natural issues. One of the most important consequences is its impact on the social and economic issues of human societies, the most important of which are air pollution and environmental degradation. An increase in normal and special wastes, water consumption and wastewater production, air pollution after the start of the global economy, damage to forests and animals, and tendencies to use fossil fuels are only a part of the direct and indirect negative effects of COVID-19 on climate and ecosystem change. Epidemics directly threaten people and the health system, while climate and ecosystem change more broadly weakens natural and human systems. The COVID-19 crisis requires solutions within weeks and months, whereas responses to the climate and ecosystem change crisis seem less acute. However, the effects of climate and ecosystem change worsen with further procrastination. Thus, such crises with overlapping conditions and interactions require more attention and immediate public mobilization. Thus, the necessary planning should be implemented to moderate and reduce its effects.

    Keywords: COVID-19, Global warming, Climate change
  • Harida Samudro, Ganjar Samudro, Sarwoko Mangkoedihardjo * Pages 124-129

    The condition of the space environment as a result of the interaction of physical, chemical, and biological factors, in a complex way, can have acute and chronic effects on the physical and psychological health of the occupants. This was the incidence of sick building syndrome, and efforts to reduce and eliminate the syndrome were presented in this case study. The aim was to produce healthy indoor quality and sustainable use by its occupants. The methods used minimum Indonesian standards regarding procedures for planning the housing environment in urban areas. The analysis of changes in the indoor volume employed indoor height variables for a particular floor area to apply flexibility to various building layouts. The variability of changes in the pollutant exposure area and indoor air volume was expressed as a relative change. Setting indoor height was a significant determinant for maintaining healthy indoor air quality through diluting air against pollutants. An additional 0.5 m of room height could increase the air volume by 15%-20% greater than the increase in the pollutant area. It was an effective method both at the design and building renovation stages. The physical and thermal mitigation was generally performed at the building use stage. Some of the conducted approaches included air conditioning (AC), electric or manual ventilation, and chemical-phytotechnological mitigation indoors by adding chemicals to space. The methods of indoor depollution during the use of buildings are still necessary using physical and chemical-phytotechnological methods by placing decorative plants.

    Keywords: Air quality, Healthy, Indoor, Pollution, Prevention, Resilient buildings