JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND HYGIENE
Year:2012 | Volume:2 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

Background & Objectives: Pollution due to heavy metals is one of the most serious environmental problems nowadays. Extensive application of Cr (VI) leads to discharge a large amount of chromium containing wastewater into the environment. The aim of this research was evaluation of alumina nanoparticles efficiency to remove chromium (VI) from aqueous solutions through adsorption.Methods: This fundamental and practical study was performed in batch conditions and room temperature. The structure of the sorbent was characterized by TEM technique. Residual concentrations of Cr (VI) were measured by a spectrophotometer at 540nm. Effects of the process parameters such as Al2O3 loading (0.5–2 g/L), contact time (5-90 min), and pH (5-9) were investigated.Results: The results showed that removal efficiency of Cr (VI) increase with increasing of contact time and pH. The optimum pH was found to be 5 with decreasing of removal efficiency afterward. The value of qm (mg/L) in this work was 30.3 for each gram of nano alumina adsorbent. Furthermore, chromium sorption kinetics was well fitted by pseudo second- order kinetic model, and well explained by Freundlich isotherm (R2>0.992).Conclusion: In general, alumina nanoparticle powder is recognized as an effective sorbent to remove chromium (VI) from aqueous solutions.

Background & Objectives: Waste management practices at health centers and health posts is very important due to their significant role on transmission of infectious diseases among hospitalized patients and ordinary people as well as the environmental pollution caused through unsafe collection and disposal. This study aimed to determine the status of waste management at health centers and health posts in Ardabil city.Methods: In this descriptive study, 14 health centers and 14 health posts located in Ardabil city were investigated in 1388. Quantity of waste produced and status of storage, temporary waste sites, collection, and disposal were determined through observation and interview, in accordance with current regulations and recorded in checklist designed for this work.Results: Daily production of waste in health centers and health posts were 52.925 and 14.84 kg per day, respectively. Daily production rate of regular solid waste in health centers was 36.45 and in health posts was 11.22 kg per day. Daily production rate of infectious waste was 13.555 for health centers and 1.155 kg per day for health posts.Conclusion: The results obtained indicate that waste management in Ardabil health centers has serious problems and thus, major revision of waste management system is necessary.

Background & Objectives: MMR vaccine was added to Iranian children's vaccination schedule from 2004 and there is no comprehensive research on adverse reactions of this vaccine in Iran. The aim of this study was determination of adverse reactions during one month after MMR vaccination.Methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study that has been done on 210 MMR vaccinated children from January 2005 through December 2006 in Ardabil city. Samples were selected from both sex and two age groups, 12-15- month and 4-6 years old. We used a checklist to collect demographic data as well as the parents contact numbers to follow possible adverse reactions 3-4 weeks after vaccination by phone call. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical method using SPSS software.Results: 112 (53%) children were boys and the remaining being girls.34.76% of boys and 45.11% of girls were in the age group of 12-15- months and the remaining in 4-6 year of age.92 (43.8%) children developed adverse reactions. The most common reactions were: fever in 59 (28.09%), illness in 23 (10.95%), injection site pain in 21 (10%), rash in 14 (6.66%), nausea and vomiting in 10 (4.76%), and salivary gland and parotid swelling in 5 (2.38%) cases.Conclusion: In this study fever was the most common side effects reported after MMR vaccination and that caring of children for fever is recommended after vaccination.

Background & Objectives: Epilepsy is relatively common neurological disease of childhood that affects approximately 5-10 per 1000 children. This disorder affects ability and performance of children and influences their mental health. This study aimed to determine the social competence and behavioral problems of healthy school-age children and children with epilepsy.Methods: In this descriptive–analytical study, 150 children in the age of 6-12 years including 50 with epilepsy and 100 healthy ones were selected from Ghaem Hospital and 11 schools located in Region 6 of Mashhad city. Parents completed "Strength and difficulties", "Child behavior", and "demographic characteristics" Questionnaires within 20 minutes. Validity of questionnaires was determined through content and face validity methods and reliability was assessed by internal consistency. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney, variance analysis, and multiple regression tests.Results: Statistically significant difference was observed between social competence of epileptic and healthy boys (p=0.02). Problems in relation with peers (p=0.01) and emotional problem (p=0.03) in children with epilepsy significantly differed from those of healthy children.Conclusion: Epilepsy disorder reduces social ability of school-age children and they have more difficulties regarding to behavioral, emotional, and communication with peers than their healthy peers.

Background & Objectives: Infants are more sensitive than adults in pain staining due to disformation of descending control system. Since, non-pharmacological methods are recommended for infants' pain control, this study aimed to determine combined effect of breastfeeding and maternal-infant skin to skin contact on pain of first injection in healthy term infants.Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on case and control groups in delivery room of Alavi Hospital for a period of 8 months in 1389.200 infants were randomly selected and divided in four groups, group1: Control, group2: breast-feeding, Group 3: skin to skin contact of mother and infant, and group4: breastfeeding and skin to skin contact of mother and infants. Researchers observed all the DAN scale factors and completed observation paper from the moment of injection until 45 seconds later. Data were analyzed by chi- sq square and t test using SPSS software.Results: Average pain severity was 5.34 for group 1, 3.70 for group 2, 4.16 for group 3, and 3.48 for group 4, based on DAN scale criteria. Statistically significant difference was observed between group 1 (no intervention) and group 4 (breastfeeding with skin to skin contact) (p=0.04).Conclusion: Since pain severity is decreased during breastfeeding and maternal- infants skin to skin contact, these two methods may be used to prevent mental and emotional consequences of intramuscular injection pain.

Background and objectives: Cement is soft and green powder containing calcium silicate hydrate, aluminum and magnesium oxide, calcium sulfate, and clay. Exposure to cement dust is one of the factors influencing health of cement industry workers, causing different respiratory and allergic reactions. Considering the importance of workforce health, this study aimed to determine airborne concentrations and silica fraction of dust in a cement plant in South Khorasane.Methods: In this descriptive study, dust levels were determined using personal sampling method based on NIOSH 7500.148 personal samples were taken from breathing zone of employees working in different parts of the plant. X-ray fluorescence method was used to determine silica fraction in raw material,, clinker, and cement powder. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPPS software.Results: Respirable dust concentration ranged from 0.25±0.35 in management and administration area to 12.7±30.8 mg per cubic meter in crusher area. Inhalable and respirable dust concentrations were higher than threshold limit values (TLV) in all plant areas except the management and administrative area. Silica fractions were determined to be 22 in cement and clinker and 15% in raw materials.Conclusion: Concentrations of inhalable and respirable cement dusts are much higher than those of occupational exposure limits proposed by Iranian Technical Committee of Occupational Health. Occupational exposure of all employees working in "production line" is higher than the permissible limit.

Background & Objectives: Nutrition as an important factor in body health can affect student's educational progress at school. Studies show that breakfast and snack consumption has an important effect on students' learning capacity. Therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate pattern of breakfast and snack consumption and their effective factors among primary school students in Qazvin.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 1300, 7-11 years old students in primary schools of Qazvin in 1387-8. Data were gathered through interview and using a questionnaire. X2 test was applied to analyze data using SPSS software.Results: 89.5 percent of students had eaten their breakfast before going to school. The most important reason for not having breakfast was late waking up in the morning.85.4% of the students had bread and cheese and only 20.1% had milk for breakfast.In addition, only 8.5% of students have eaten no snack during school time. Cakes and cookies was the most frequent snack consumed (85.1%) among students.Conclusion: The results of the present study show that most of the students consume breakfast before going to school. Cheese and bread, commonly consumed food in Iranian culture, were the abundant food consumed at breakfast. As milk was less frequently consumed among the students, it is recommended to implement wide ranging educational programs to encourage daily milk consumption.

Background & Objectives: University and its stressful experiences may play an important role in increasing problems such as depression, anxiety, behavioral disorders, and some other mental diseases. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationships between mental health and emotional intelligence and comparing these psychological variables in athlete and nonathlete male students of Payam-Noor University, Ardabil branch.Methods: In this causal-comparison study, 120 athlete and 120 non-athlete students of Payam-Noor University were selected based on classical randomized sampling method. Sharing Emotional Intelligence and GHQ-28 Questionnaires were used to measure emotional intelligence and mental health, respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyze data using SPSS.V.18 software. Significant level of a=0.05 was applied for all hypotheses.Results: Results from Pearson Correlation Coefficient Test showed a positive significant relationship between mental health and emotional intelligence for both groups. Independent t test produced significant differences in emotional intelligence and mental health between athlete and non-athlete students. The emotional intelligence and mental health of athletes were significantly higher than those of non-athletes. In addition, mental health and emotional intelligence of married students were higher than those of singles. Furthermore, students in Physical Education Major had higher emotional intelligence and mental health levels than other majors. Results from one-way analysis of variance indicated that values for mental health and emotional intelligence do not significantly differ between age groups.Conclusion: In general, it seems that university life involves numerous complex stresses and the ability to deal with these stresses through acquiring emotional capabilities with participating in athletic activities lead to physical, emotional, and mental health promotion.