Archives of Hygiene Sciences
Volume:2 Issue: 2, Spring 2013

Background & Aims of the Study: We evaluated corrosion and scaling potential of water treated by “Takab city (Western Iran) water treatment plant (called Chahar Tagh facilities)” using field observation of water treatment plant, and study of physical and chemical parameter values of water. In this cross-sectional study, during a 10-month period (from January to October 2012) in each month, 15 grab samples with 2 to 3 L of water were collected for analysis. Some physical and chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, total dissolved solids, calcium and magnesium hardness, calcium and magnesium ions concentration, total alkalinity, bicarbonate concentration and electrical conductivity were measured. The corrosion and scaling potential of water were calculated by Langelier saturation index (LSI), Risnar index (RI), aggressive index (AI) and Puckorius scaling index (PSI). Values recorded for all physicochemical parameters were in acceptable standard levels. The calculated values of LSI index indicated slightly scale forming and corrosive, RI index showed heavy corrosion, AI index showed water is non-aggressive and based on PSI index results water is likely to dissolve scale. Based on LSI, RI, AI and PSI monthly indices results the water of water treatment plant showed a uniform quality of corrosion and precipitation potential. The results showed that values of all measured physical and chemical parameters were in the range of national and international standards. Based on LSI and AI indices results, water tends to scale forming while based on RI and PSI indices results water tend to be corrosive.

an increasing trend. So we investigated some epidemiological aspects of the Leishmaniasis disease in order to update our information about infection routes and epidemiological characteristics of the disease in Qomrood District, Qom Province, Central Iran. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, patients population includes those have been treated and followed with the diagnosis of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Qomrood District Health Center clinically or based on laboratory data from the beginning of April to the end of March 2009 and the related information have been documented in summarized epidemiologic data forms of cutaneous Leishmaniasis by the «disease control» personnel of the province health center. Data were analyzed using chi- square test. The incidence of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Qomrood rural areas has reached to 32. 7/1000 in 2009 which used to be 9/1000 in 2008 The most common sites of skin lesions have been upper and lower extremities. The disease has been appeared in winter and autumn. According to the current condition, recognizing the vector and reservoir, and to arranging controlling programs in the area according to epidemiological aspects of the disease and mass education are mandatory.

Background & Aims of the Study: This study was conducted to investigate effects of biofertilizers application and its interaction with organic manures on Scindapsus aureus performance. The experiment was performed in a randomized block design with factorial arrangement of two above mentioned factors at greenhouse of Municipality fertilizer production factory. Three different fertilizers (vermicompost, granular compost fortified with sulphur and trash compost) were applied at four levels of 5, 10, 15, and 20 percent of soil. The comparisons among means were made using the least significant difference test calculated at p-values <0.05. Around leaves area index (LAI), performance of vermicompost (8.31) was better than other fertilizers. This increase can be related to more absorb nutrients, better nutrition and thus improve plant performance in the presence of vermicompost. Thus use of fertilizers and especially vermicompost in the Scindapsus aureus growth with 10% of soil, will achieve increase in all indicators of plant growth. Thus, the processes of biological conversion such as composting in addition to economic value also have benefits for environmental protection.

Background & Aims of the Study: Ozone is a summer pollutant which can cause respiratory complications, eye burning sensation and failure of immune defense against infectious diseases. Ahvaz city (southwestern Iran) is one of the seven polluted Iranian metropolises. In this study we examined the health impacts of ozone pollution in Ahvaz city during years 2010 and 2011. The health effects of ozone pollution in Ahvaz estimated by determining mortality and morbidity, and incidence of diseases attributed to the ozone, i.e., cardiopulmonary mortalities and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using Air Quality Model. Ozone data were taken from Ahvaz Department of Environment (ADoE). Conversion between volumetric and gravimetric units (correction of temperature and pressure), coding, processing (averaging) and filtering were implemented. Sum of accumulative cases of mortalities attributed to ozone was 358 cases in 2010 and 276 cases in 2011. Cardiovascular and respiratory mortality attributed to ozone were 118 and 31 persons, respectively; which revealed a considerable reduction compared to those values in 2010. Number of cases for hospital admissions due to COPD was 35 in 2011, while it was 45 cases in 2010. The concentration of ozone in 2011 was lower than that of 2010 and this is why both mortalities and morbidities of 2011 attributed to ozone pollutant had decreased when compared to those values of 2010. Mortality and morbidity attributed to ozone concentrations in 2011 were lower than those of 2010. The most important reason was less concentration in ground level ozone of 2011 than that of 2010 in Ahvaz city air.

Background & Aims of the Study: Lack of access to safe drinking water can lead to undesirable aesthetic problems and adverse health effects such as infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the microbiological quality of the drinking water distribution network in Divandareh City (Kordestan-western Iran). This study was performed in a 12 months period from March 2011 to February 2012. For purposes of drinking water resources quality measurement in Divandareh City, samples from springs, deep and semi-deep wells were analyzed for residual free chlorines, turbidity, total and fecal coliform. The size of samples was 2088 and the sampling was performed according to guidelines of WHO for water sampling. The results were analyzed using the Statistical software SPSS and Excel and for the comparison between average parameters ANOVA test were used. In 95% of samples, the residual free chlorine was in the range of 0 to 0.5 mg/L, turbidity 0 to 1.8 NTU and total and fecal coliforms 0 to 240 and 0 to 9.1 (MPN/100mL), respectively. According to data analysis, the chlorine residual and turbidity had significant effect on the amount of thermophilic coliforms (P=0.047). High rate of total and fecal coliforms in the drinking water is due to failures in the transport system, lack of sanitation in the water resource, and lack or failure in the chlorination system.