Journal of Health
Year:2011 | Volume:2 | Issue:1 (4)|Papers Count:8

Background and Objectives: The use of ascorbic acid together with copper ions as disinfectant is based on the findings that during oxidation of ascorbic acid in the presence of copper ions, some compounds with antibacterial properties are produced which are able to inactivate some bacterial spores. Further investigation showed that the presence of dissolved oxygen is essential in this process. The aim of this study is to evaluate performance of copper - ascorbic acid and dissolved oxygen combination in disinfection of secondary treated wastewater.Methods: this study performed with injection of different doses of disinfectants in presence and absence of pressurized oxygen. Iranian environment protection agency and world health organization (WHO) standards and guidelines for concentration of Thermo tolerant Coliforms in discharged effluents are used as disinfection target level.Results: the results of this study showed that using copper ions in combination with ascorbic acid in conventional doses meets the determined disinfection target level. Applying pressurized dissolved oxygen fundamentally increased the system. 3Cu+50AA mg/L in both presence and absence of pressurized dissolved oxygen met the WHO guideline; however, Iranian EPA standard was met only in last dose (5Cu +100AA) in presence of O2.Conclusion: This study was done in pilot scale. Application of copper-ascorbic acid in presence of pressurized dissolved oxygen can inactive Termotelorant Coliforms of natural samples of secondary wastewater to acceptable level.

Background & Objectives: Textile wastewater is known as environmental pollutant. The main characteristic of textile wastewater is presence of non-used color and various organic or inorganic pollutants. Therefore it is necessary to be treated before discharging to the environment using effective methods.Methods: Pumice was obtained from Tikmeh Dash Region of East Azerbaijan and was treated by HCL for improvement of its adsorption capacity before using as an adsorbent. The morphology of the medium used was investigated by XRF and SEM technology. Removal of Acid Red 14 and Acid Red 18 was investigated as a function of initial dye solution and contact time. In addition, equilibrium data was fitted onto Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model. Furthermore, experimental data was fitted onto three kinetic models.Results: Removal of both dyes was increased by increasing of contact time and initial dye solution. The results of linear regression analysis show that removal of Acid Red 14 and Acid Red 18 follow the Freundlich (r2>0.99) and Langmuir (r2>0.99) model, respectively. Adsorption capacity was 29.7 and 3.125 mg/g for Acid Red 18 and Acid Red 14, respectively. The fitting of experimental data onto kinetic models shows the best fitting of obtained data onto pseudo-second order for Acid Red 14 and Acid Red 18.Conclusion: The result of present work shows that the effective removal of two azo dyes occurs in pumice stone modified by HCL.

Background & Objectives: One the most undeniable ways in improving education quality is lesson planning and having a lesson plan. Lesson planning is a process for determining appropriate educational objectives, identifying problems, needs, facilities, and limitations which may present in achieving educational objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of the instructors in Ardabil University of Medical Sciences about lesson planning.Methods: Samples included all the instructors working in Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. The instrument for data collection was a researcher made questionnaire whose dependability was confirmed by some instructors at the University and its reliability was 0.75 (Alpha cronbach test). The data were gathered through completing the questionnaire by instructors. The data were analyzed using SPSS 15 by Pearson correlation, one-factor variance analysis, Tukey and T-test.Results: The majority of 81 instructors participated in the study (76.5%) were male. Most of them were specialists or sub specialists. The mean score for knowledge was evaluated as below average (17.18±4.18) and for attitude as good (39.37±9.7). The results showed a significant difference in the mean of knowledge score and the mean of attitude score. Moreover, mean knowledge on course objectives writing showed significant difference between genders.Conclusion: Considering the importance of lesson planning in improving the educational objectives, it is necessary to pay more attention, do more studies in order to find out the factors affecting instructors lesson planning.

Background and objectives: Nowadays, demand for bottled water consumption is growing in most countries especially in Iran. Over 100 different brands of bottled water are produced and distributed in Iran. In order to protect consumer health, the microbial and chemical quality monitoring of such water has great importance. This study aimed to survey the quality of 15 high consumed brands of bottled water in Iran.Methods: This research is a descriptive-analytical and cross- sectional study which carried out on 15 brands of bottled water during 2009-2010. As a whole 60 samples (1.5 liter) were purchased randomly from supermarkets during four seasons. Samples were analyzed to determine residual chlorine, microbial quality and heavy metal concentrations according to standard methods.Results: No total and fecal Coliform were found in all samples. Concentration of chromium, cadmium, lead, nickel, copper, zinc, and silver in all examined samples ranged from 0.24 to 2.77, 0.15 to 6.00, 0.37 to 10.4, 0.13 to 2.01, 0.24 to 3.21, 0.55 to 2.03, and 0.12 to 1.55 mgl-1, respectively.Conclusion: Microbial quality and heavy metal concentration in all studied brands were in compliance with Iranian and US EPA standards, and WHO guidelines, so there is no public health concerns regarding consumption of bottled water.

Background & Objectives: Medical waste, a special subcategory of waste, is highly hazardous due to its infectious or toxic characteristics. Planning of medical waste management is necessary to prevent waste from adversely affecting human and environmental health. The objectives of this study were to determine quantity of different types of waste and clarifying existing situation of waste management in Gorgan Hospitals.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in 8 hospitals of Gorgan in 2010. Data were collected using a checklist and a questionnaire and their validity and reliability were verified. The data were analyzed using SPSS software.Results: Average waste production in Gorgan Hospitals was 2143 kg/day and infectious, medical sharps, and general waste accounts for 47.42, 1.2, and 51.38%, respectively. Respective values for waste production rates for total waste, infectious, medical sharps, and general wastes were 2.53, 1.21, 0.015, and 1.3 percent.Conclusion: The high percentage of infectious waste indicate that despite the plentiful efforts for managing of medical wastes, the current waste management system in the hospitals of Gorgan city is well below the standard criteria particularly in segregation procedures. Training seminars for hospital personnel is recommended in order to promote personnel awareness on medical waste segregation. t is important to emphasize that the medical waste management cannot succeed without cooperation and participation of all relevant parties.

Background & Objectives: Cigarette smoking is one the causes of disease burden accounting for annual death of 4 million around the world. The aim of current study was categorizing of students smoking based on transtheoretical model and analyzing relationships of variables studied among male Students in Isfahan Medical Sciences and Isfahan University in 2009-2010 Academic year.Methods: In this Cross-Sectional study convenience sampling method was used. Data gathering instrument was the short form questionnaire based on transtheoretical model. Data was analyzed by ANOVA test.Results: 131 people (66.2%) were in precontemplation, 30 (15.2%) in contemplation, 26 (13.1%) in preparation, 8 people (4%) in action, and 3 (1.5%) in maintenance stages. Advancing across the stages from precontemplation to maintenance, self-efficacy was increased and temptation decreased (p<0.05). Although, the pros of smoking increased through the stages, however, it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The cons of smoking behavior significantly decreased through the stages from contemplation to maintenance (p<0.05). Meanwhile, during the moving through the stages, students used more behavioral and less cognitive process.Conclusion: Majority of the subjects was in precontemplation stage and it is necessary to apply interventions based on transtheoretical model constructs in order to encourage them to cease smoking. Increasing of self-efficacy and emphasizing on the cons of smoking causes to move in later stages and smoking cessation.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Providing safe drinking water is one of the main purposes in the community and achieving development and improvement of community is related to the public health. It is clear that people health depends on desirable drinking water supply. The objectives of this study are determining microbial quality of drinking water in Ardabil’s villages and determination of safe water usage of rural population in terms of microbial quality in the months of October and November 1389.Methods: In this cross-sectional study microbial water quality in 30 villages of Ardabil was measured in 2 times based on 3 criteria, i.e. Total Coliform (TC), Fecal Coliform (FC), and residual free chlorine.Results: Results show that residual free chlorine concentrations in 26.66and 33.33% of rural population drinking water were in a range of 0.2-0.8 mg/l in the months October and November, respectively. Total Coliform levels in 99.66% of the sample tested in October and 100% of them in November were negative. Average indicator in Desirability level for lack of heat-resistant E. coli test in surveyed areas in October was 96.66% and in November was 100%. Also pH levels in these months ranged from 7 to 7.8.Conclusion: According to 2006 guidelines of WHO on evaluation of microbial safety of drinking water, the average desirability indicator for lack of E. coli in studied areas were 96.66% in October and 100% in November, both being in excellent range.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Oral disease may lead to pain and teeth loss, a condition that affects appearance, quality of life, nutritional intake, and consequently the growth and development of children. More than 50 million school hours are lost annually because of oral health problems that may affect children education and success in later life. This study was performed to determine the effect of health education on oral health care based on health belief model in primary boys' school of Tehran in 1385.Methods: In a cross sectional study, 125 students were selected using stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using questionnaires and observation of teeth brushing performance before and after oral health training program.Results: the results indicate that increasing in individual perception through self-education and public training may be effective in improving the oral health preventive behaviors. The oral health education program based on health belief model improved correct tooth brushing practices (p<0.001).Conclusion: Health belief model may be useful in improving oral health care with emphasize on individual perceptions. Application of appropriate training aid in teaching process and provision of multi-sensory experiences based on personal abilities are recommended.