Journal of Health
Year:2012 | Volume:3 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background & Objectives: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons due to their toxicity, carcinogenicity, and resistant to bacterial degradation are considered as one of the important environmental threatening factors. Chrysene is an aromatic compound with four rings. In this research chrysene degrading bacteria were isolated from oil contaminated soils in pars special economic energy zone. Degradation of chrysene in laboratory condition and the effect of different chrysene concentration on bacterial growth were investigated.Methods: After filtration of samples they were cultivated in culture medium containing inorganic compounds and chrysene and then incubated at 32°C for two weeks. Isolated bacteria were identified by common microbiological and biochemical tests. The rate of bacterial growth was evaluated by measuring optical density (OD 600) in presence of 0.1-0.4 g/l chrysene. Degradation and removal rate of chrysene by isolated bacteria was investigated using chromatography machine.Results: Four bacterial species, Pseudomonas putida, Mycobacterium sp, micrococcus varians and Bacillus coagulans were isolated and identified. Pseudomonas putida was the strongest bacteria for chrysene degradation. The bacterium grew in minimum possible time and its optical density was higher than other bacteria for all the concentrations tested. This bacterium degraded and removed 95% of chrysene with primary concentration of 0.1 g/l during 10 days. Mycobacterium sp was the second strongest bacterium for chrysene degradation. The weakest bacterium in chrysene degradation was Bacillus coagulans that degraded 42% of chrysene after 10 days.Conclusion: Pseudomonas putida had the highest optical density and degradation ability for chrysene. Due to different reasons such as presence at different environmental conditions and having degrading enzymes this bacterium has the ability to degrade and remove polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Background & Objectives: Road surfaces accumulate significant quantities of pollutants so their runoff is considered a major source of the pollution for the environment. Directly discharging storm water into natural water bodies or ecosystem may exert acute or chronic adverse effects on the receiving soil or aquatic ecosystem and human life. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of nano iron oxide column in presence of magnetic field on pollutant removal from synthetic urban runoff.Methods: Downflow columns contained a Stainless Steel Wool with a pair of magnets installed around the column providing 1.5 T magnetic charge density. The size of the iron oxide particles was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Atomic absorption spectroscopy, DR 5000, turbidimeter and pH meter were used for quantifying heavy metals, nitrate and phosphate, turbidity, and pH, respectively.Results: Result of XRD analysis revealed the average size of particles to be 32 nm. The average removal efficiencies for the column were determined as, 41.5% for turbidity, 93.9% for Pb, 96.2% for Zn, 88.4% for Cd, 87.4% for phosphate and 0.0% for nitrate.Conclusion: Iron oxide nanoparticle column with magnetic field can be used to remove heavy metals from urban runoff although it has less efficiency on turbidity and inefficient on nitrate removal.

Background & objectives: Human force is the most important and efficient factor to achieve goals of each organization. Motivational factors culminate in elevating sense of responsibility and subsequently providing efficient services. The aim of this research was to determine relationships between welfare facilities and staff's sense of responsibility in Health Centers of Noor City.Methods: Present correlational study is performed cross-sectionally on 112 individuals. Data were collected through a questionnaire from the subjects assigned into two groups, clinical staff (i.e. physicians, dentists, nurses, and midwives) and nonclinical staffs (i.e. associate and BSc holders in health science, laboratory technicians, service staff, and receptionists). For data analysis nonparametric tests including Spearman Rank Order Correlation Coefficient were used.Results: Based on the findings, all the welfare indices were lower than the average value of 3 and responsibility indices were higher than the average score of 18. There was a significant relationship between offering credit facilities and staff sense of responsibility (p=0.042, r=0.223). However, no significant relationship was observed between offering clinical and insurance facilities, commuting facilities, housing facilities, cultural, sport and tourist facilities, allowances, and other welfare services with staff sense of responsibility.Conclusion: Since among all types of welfare facilities, only credit facility had a significant relationship with staff's sense of responsibility, it can be concluded that sense of responsibility among staff would be increased by increasing facility level, improving fair distribution system and providing response to essential requirements.

Background & Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders and premature tiredness caused by work are arisen from incompatible individual work capacity and job demands. According to the statistics provided by World Health Organization (WHO), prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is the most important cause of the loss of working timein work environments.Methods: For this cross sectional study samples were selected from workers employed in workshops of metallic products in Isfahan city. Data were collected using TMW standard questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software.Results: Relationships between physical work demands and disorders of the upper limbs such as shoulders, wrist, elbow, and hand, were examined using X2 statistical test and the results showed that there are significant relationships between these disorders and the physical work demands.Conclusion: If exceed the work ability of a person, work demands, as important factors in job doing, have a direct relationship with musculoskeletal disorders.

Background & Objectives: Adolescence is an important and crucial period associated with physical, emotional and evolutional changes making a teenage ready for adulthood. Impact of these changes determines teenager health behaviors in adulthood. Therefore, investigating health improving behaviors and planing to take appropriate actions to maintain and improve health level of this group are necessary. This study aimed to determine health improving behaviors in students of Qazvin secondary schools.Methods: For present descriptive- analytical study, 513 secondary students were selected using claster sampling metho. Data were gathered through demographic data questionaier and standard questionnaire of health improving behaviors (HPLHP). Data were analyzed by SPSS win/16 using descriptiveanalytical statistics, chi-square and logestics grading analysis.Results: Research results showed that obtained total score for health improving behaviors in teenagers was fair and boys had higher score than the girls. Boys had significantly better levels in the areas of nutrition ((p=0.040) and physical activity (p=0.001) than the girls. No significant differences were found for other areas.Conclusion: Present study showed that heath promoting behaviors of teenagers was in fair level. Therefore, providing proper health and educational services and in some cases consultant services to teenagers and their families should be considered.

Background & Objectives: Pollution of groundwater and surface waters to nitrate is an environmental problem in many parts of the world including Iran. It might cause diseases such as methemoglobinemia, lymphatic system, and blood cancer. Therefore, nitrate removal from water resources is necessary. Since application of nanomaterials in treatment of the environment pollutants has become an interesting method, the objective of this study was application of ZnO nanoparticles under UV radiation to remove nitrate from aqueous solution.Methods: Three nitrate concentrations of 50, 100 and 150 mg/l were considered for present study. In order to determine the optimum level of ZnO nanoparticles on nitrate removal, concentrations of 0.1, 0.4, and 0.8 g/l were used. PH ranges of 5-9 were studied. Also, the effect of UV irradiation was investigated.Results: In this study, the effects of exposure time, nitrate concentration, ZnO nanoparticle dose, and pH were investigated. The results showed that nitrate removal decreases with increasing initial nitrate concentration. Also, nitrate removal efficiency increased from 75.7% at 0.1 g/l to 91.2% at 0.8 g/l 0f photo-catalyst. Maximum reduction efficiency was observed in neutral pH. For UV application, maximum performance of 27% was observed at pH=9.Conclusion: Application of UV irradiation solely did not effectively removed nitrate from aqueous solution, however, efficiency of combination of ZnO/UV process was appropriate for nitrate removal.

Background and Objectives: Designing, implementation, and evaluation of nutritional education programs in schools are appropriate solution for promoting students' health and public awareness. The aim of this study was systematic review of health education interventions on nutrition habits of students from 2000 to 2009.Methods: SID and Iranmedex databases were systematically searched for the articles containing the term "educational interventions related to nutrition among students "in title and abstract and 23 full text papers having entry criteria were reviewed.Results: Out of 23 studies, 17 caused knowledge promotion, 7 had positive effects on attitude of subjects, and 14 studies improved nutrition behavior of students. Participatory methods such as group discussion and role playing as well as the visual methods such as videos and images have been more efficient in providing educational materials related to students' nutrition.Conclusion: Reviews of interventions shows that role playing is more effective in promoting nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practice than lecture method. Lecture and group discussion methods were more efficient than the leaflet, tutorial, and manual. In order to improve effectiveness of interventions, application of health education and health promotion theories and models such as Transtheoretical, health belief, planned behavior, BASNEF, PRECEDE – PROCEED, and other healthy lifestyle promoting models are recommended in interventions made on students nutrition.

Background and Objectives: Wastewater reuse for irrigation is a common practice to overcome water shortage especially in countries with limited water resources. Wastewater reuse in the area studied is an important issue to overcome growing needs for water. At the time of this study the effluent of waste water treatment plant (WWTP) was discharged to river and reused by downstream farmers in an unplanned manner. There is need for formulating a particular management agenda to prevent public health concerns and pollution of soil, water, and agricultural products. In this study quality of Ardabil WWTP effluent has been reviewed for reuse in agriculture.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study effluent sampling of the Ardabil WWTP was performed to determine quality parameters of effluent and comparing them with the standard values.Results: Respective average values for COD, BOD5, cadmium, copper, and lead were 97.87, 57.25, 0.013, 0.08, and 0.67 mg/L that were in compliance with the standards set by Iran Environmental Protection Agency for wastewater reuse in agriculture. Total and fecal coliforms of the effluent were 7.3×106 and 2.3×104 per 100 mL that is not recommended for agricultural irrigation according to the relevant standard.Conclusion: Result obtained showed that apart from total and focal coliforms, there is no limitation for reuse of the effluent in agricultural irrigation. Disinfection and continuously monitoring of effluent and improvement of Ardebil WWTP is strongly recommended.