JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND HYGIENE
Year:2011 | Volume:2 | Issue:2 (5)|Papers Count:8

Background and Objectives: Along with industrial development, various pollutants release into the environment. The most toxic pollutants are Dioxins and Furans that enter to the environment from natural and anthropogenic sources. This study conducted to estimate Dioxin and Furan emission from various sources and determine source strength of pollutants in different provinces of Iran and their zoning in GIS.Methods: In order to achieve study targets, emission sources of Dioxin and Furan were identified and necessary data was then gathered using UNEP prepared questionnaire from relevant organizations. Emission rates were estimated applying UNEP suggested emission factors. Collected data then processed using Excel and Arc GIS softwares.Results: Total Dioxin and Furan emission was 1957 g for Iran in 2009. From this, 705.8, 0.5, 463.5, and 144.1 g were emitted to air, water, ground, and products, respectively and 643.2 g remain in residual ashes.Conclusion: This study shows that the emission rate of Dioxin and Furan is very high in Iran and that appropriate management strategies are required to control these dangerous pollutants.

Background and objective: Because of the health hazards associated with swimming pools, it is essential to monitor their water quality to insure safety of water and compliance with standards. This study aimed to survey water microbial quality of swimming pools in Gorgan during 2009 in terms of free chlorine residual and microbial indicators including Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Fecal Streptococcus.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a total number of 209 samples were collected from all swimming pools in 2009. The samples were shipped to a laboratory (maintaining cold chain) to determine microbial quality. In addition, on-site measurements of free chlorine levels were made using special Kits based on the DPD colorimetric method.Results: The Results showed that in 2009, chlorine levels in swimming pool waters in 25.84%, 74.16%, 67.94%, and 41.15% of samples, respectively, were 0, >0, >0.6 mg/l, and in an optimum range of.1-3 mg/l. 14.35%, 11.96%, 10.05%, and 8.13% of samples were contaminated to Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Fecal Streptococcus, respectively. A significant relationship was found between microbial quality and free chlorine levels.Conclusion: Some levels of microbial contamination were observed in swimming pools. Almost all the contaminations were occurred in those samples with no free chlorine residual. The residual chlorine yielded significant improvement in water quality of swimming pools in Gorgan. Since free chlorine was equal to zero in ~ 25% of samples, attention should be paid to keep free chlorine levels in allowable ranges.

Background & Objectives: Studies on relationships between maternal hemoglobin (Hb) level and adverse pregnancy outcomes have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to examine the birth outcomes in pregnant women with normal hemoglobin level in the first trimester.Methods: In this study, 108 healthy pregnant women with GA=10-14 weeks and Hb³11g/dl were selected by cluster random sampling and followed till delivery. In addition to medical history and clinical examination, Hb test were performed at the end of first, second, and third trimesters and their association with birth outcomes were investigated. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software.Results: The prevalence of anemia at second and third trimester were 27.9%, 12.7%, respectively. Hb concentration of 29.1% in second trimester and 5.8% in third trimester were higher than 13.2 g/dl.There were positive correlations between birth weight and the second (p=0.02) and third trimesters’ Hb concentrations (p=0.03). Moreover, the Apgar score of less than 8 significantly increased in women with Hb<11g/dl and Hb>13.2g/dl in the second trimester (p<0.001).Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that abnormal concentrations of Hb in second and third trimesters increased the risk of adverse birth outcomes in terms of LBW and low Apgar scores, so the control of Hb at these times is recommended.

Background & Objectives: groundwater is considered as one of the most important sources for drinking water supply. Groundwater pollution is an important problem in many parts of the world and nitrate being the most common chemical contaminants in groundwater. High levels of nitrate in groundwater lead the ground water sources to be unusable. The objective of this study was to investigate the nitrate removal from groundwater using aluminum powder.Methods: In this research, the possibility of nitrate removal from groundwater was studied using aluminum powder with 200-100 mesh size. Study was done in 250 ml bottles at temperature range of 20-25oc. Nitrate concentrations determined using a spectrophotometer at 220 and 275 nm. All experiments were triplicate and the average of results was reported.Results: The results of this study indicated that nitrate removal efficiency increases with increasing pH and adsorbent dose in a batch system. Maximum nitrate removal efficiency of 52% was achieved at 50 min contact time, pH of 10, and initial nitrate concentration of 100 mg/l as N. Nitrate removal efficiency increased by 20% when the concentration of aluminum powder increased from 0.5 to 1 g/L.Conclusion: This method is recommended for removal of nitrate contamination from groundwater to be used for drinking and industrial purposes due to relatively low cost, ease of technique, safety and effectiveness of the method applied.

Background & Objectives: Trihalomethanes in the form of chloroform, bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), and bromoform. Are a group of compounds that can form when the chlorine used to disinfect drinking water reacts with naturally occurring organic matter. Potential hazards and carcinogenic characteristics of THMs have already been recognized. Therefore, current study attempted to measure concentration of these compounds in output (drinking water) of Jlalieh water treatment plant.Methods: In this study concentrations of trihalomethanes with chloroform index have been measured in the output of Jalalieh water treatment plant in 2009. Monthly water sampling carried out in morning. Samples were taken to the lab and sodium thiosulfate was used for dechlorination of the water samples. Samples were analyzed in a time span of less than 6 hours using a GC set.Results: The average concentration of chloroform in input crude water of Jalalieh water treatment plant was equal to 7.42 mg/l. The average pH value in input and output of water treatment plant was equal to 7.92, and 7.87, respectively.Conclusions: The average concentration of chlorine in input and output of water treatment plant was equal to 0.73 mg/l, and 0.94 mg/l, respectively. Although concentration of free chlorine was 0.94 mg/l in output treated water, however, the chloroform concentration in output treated water was lower than the permissible value (200 mg/l) recommended by WHO for drinking water. The highest concentration of THMs was found in April.

Background & Objectives: Clinical laboratory solid wastes contain important portion of municipal solid waste. These wastes include pathogenic agents, hazardous chemical compounds, and sharps that affect health of staffs and patients. This survey was performed to determine quality and quantity of solid wastes in Babol clinical laboratories.Methods: In a descriptive and cross-sectional study 12 clinical laboratories were selected based on stratified sampling method. Total solid wastes of each laboratory was collected for 3 successive days and classified into 4 categories i.e. infectious wastes, chemical wastes, sharps, and general wastes according to their quality and hazard potential. Physical analysis of general wastes was carried out through weighing for different wastes using a digital scale.Results: Average solid waste of each laboratory was 193.75 Kg per month for which general wastes, infectious wastes, chemical wastes and sharps comprised 38.67%, 51.92%, 4.64%, and 4.77%, respectively. Respective values of food wastes, paper and cardboard, plastic, glass, metal, and others in physical analysis of general wastes were 37.5%, 33.06%, 25.4%, 2.42%, 1.21%, and .41 %. Maximum and minimum of solid waste produced were 1.03 and 16.50 Kg per day and average of solid waste per patient was determined as .07 Kg per day.Conclusion: Considering extensive amounts of infectious wastes produced in clinical laboratories and their hazards, continuous supervision of hazardous waste management is necessary in order to protect and promote health of staffs, patients, and customers of these places.

Background & Objectives: Hospital wastes, when discharged into the wells and city sewerage system, leads to pollution of water resources due to their pathogen, drug, and toxic substances contents. So it has to be treated before discharge. The purpose of this study was determining the best coagulants before and after ozonation to pretreatment of the hospital wastewater.Methods: We used a laboratory system including ozone generator with the capacity of 15.5 go3/h, one liter reaction reactor and Jar-test system by using Alum, PAC, FeCl3 coagulants. Turbidity was tested based on standard methods.Results: PAC was determined as the best coagulant for before ozonation of hospital wastewater. Using 200 mg/Lit of PAC along with l mg/Lit of cationic poly electrolyte resulted in 99.2 percent of turbidity removal. Alum was the best coagulant for after ozonation with a dose of 200 mg/Lit along with 0.3 mg/Lit of cationic poly electrolyte that resulted in 97.98% removal of turbidity.Conclusion: PAC and Alum were determined as the best coagulants for before and after ozonation of the hospital wastewater, respectively. Ozonation reduced the dose of coagulants applied.

Background & Objectives: Nitrate is an important ion for evaluation of drinking water quality. Nitrate concentrations higher than the permitted limit is an indication of water pollution to urban, agricultural, and industrial wastewater. Consumption of water, containing nitrate levels of higher than the standard values, adversely affects human health. This research performed to determine nitrate concentration in drinking water supply sources and distribution network of Ardabil city during four seasons of 2008-2009.Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, nitrate levels were monitored in 34 samples from 17 wells supplying drinking water of Ardabil city, 44 from distribution network, 4 from water treatment plant effluent, and 4 samples from water reservoirs during the four seasons in 2008-2009. Analysis of nitrate ion was done according to standard methods.Results: The average concentration of nitrate in wells and distribution network were in a range of 7.095-47.08 and 3.05-57.62 mg/l, respectively. Respective values for nitrate concentration in reservoirs and treatment plant output were on average 9.95 and 12.31mg/l.Conclusion: Nitrate concentrations in all samples (except one sampling location in distribution network) were below the national standard levels set by Iranian Institute of Standards and Industrial Research. However in a well the nitrate concentrations were very close to the Maximum Contaminant Level.