Journal of Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention
Year:2016 | Volume:3 | Issue:4|Papers Count:11

Background and Objectives: Rivers are a small fraction of the world's water resources and are as one of the main sources of water supply for a variety of uses including agriculture, industry and drinking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the measure of nitrate concentration in the entering surface water of Zanjan Taham dam and Zoning.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, First 40 stations was found the base of entry contamination of points and feeder of branches in both of the rivers. Number of 160 samples of water were taken from Ghalharod and Taham rivers based on the time of fertilization and rain of season in during the two period of time winter 1393 and spring 1394 and test of samples was performed according to standard method guideline (4-123). Compare the results with national and international standards they were analyzed using SPSS16 and ArcView GIS 9.3 software. the distributions of concentrations were mapped in Geographic Information System and influential factors were investigated.Results: According to the results of this study, the concentration of nitrate was lower than WHO guideline and Iran's drinking water standards. Statistical analysis of results showed that there is not significant differences between nitrate concentration in the winter and spring seasons in the both rivers, but it was a significant difference between concentration of nitrate in the rivers. According to the obtained maps, the maximum nitrate concentration was observed in the 134, 151, and 169 locations.Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, the main reasons for variation of nitrate concentration was related to unsanitary human sewage and animal waste disposal. The results of zoning of nitrate along with the rivers showed that by moving away from the source of contamination, concentration of pollutant reduced again. However, due to the self-purification power of the river, Water quality lower than standard.

Background and Objectives: The open pit miners in tropical region suffer from severe heat stress especially during summer. The aim of this study was to evaluate heat stress based on heat strain score (HSSI) index and its relationship with physiological parameters of an open pit miners.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 120 healthy and acclimatized miners. Tympanic and skin temperatures were measured using a Using a thermometer (model FT-70) manufactured by Beurer Co, Germany. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored by digital instrumentation (Emsig BO26 model) digital instrumentation. All environmental and physiological parameters were simultaneously measured and recorded. HSSI questionnaire was also completed. Finally, linear regression and Pearson's correlations were determined.Results: According to HSSI more than 6.7 percent of workers had any thermal strain, 50 percent of workers may experience thermal strain and 43.3 percent suffered from heat strain. A significant correlation between studied physiological parameters, including the tympanic temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, systolic and diastolic and HSSI were indicated (p<0.01). The highest correlation coefficient was observed for heart rate (r=0.450). Although a significant correlation was found between the HSSI index and physiological parameters, the values were low.Conclusion: The workers in open pit miners were exposed at risk of heat strain hazards and the highest score of heat strain index was in drilling unit. It seems can used of heat Strain Score Index for evaluating of heat strain in such workplaces.

Background and Objectives: Vehicles are the symbol of civilization and driving considered as a necessary activity among different daily life activities such as working, social life and entertainment. The aim of the present study was to determination of cognitive-behavioral features of bus and truck drivers during road accidents.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 800 drivers were investigated. Subjects selected by convenient sampling methods among drivers referred to the Tehran Imam Sajad hospital in order to doing addiction test, in 2013 to 2014. Structured interviews was used to assess the mental health of drivers. Non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney U) and multivariate analysis were used to data analyze.Results: The mean age (standard deviation) of drivers was 46.5(11.44). The results showed that There is statistical significan between mean scores of depression and drivers who have or not history of accidents (p<0.001). Depression and anxiety increased the chance of accidents with OR= 3.6 and OR=2.6, respectively. Among the personality traits, only neuroticism increased the chance of accidents (OR=1.05), and other personality factors were not significant in accidents.Conclusion: Driving behaviors and occurrence of traffic crashes affected by some mental disorders. Given the importance and sensitivity of driving behaviors on the crash, it is essential to do comprehensive psychological assessments among drivers before and after giving driver's license.

Background and Objectives: Nitrate is one of the pollutants of groundwater resources which are mainly associated with agricultural and wastewater disposal areas. The aim of this study was to determine the Zoning of Nitrate in water sources of Eslamshahr city using Geographic Information System during 2010-2015 and investigation of contaminant’s in the region’s aquifer.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 50 sources of Eslamshahr drinking water. The results of 6 years, Archived in Water and sewage company, were analyzed with GIS software version 9.3 and SPSS version 16, using one way ANOVA test. The sampling and measurements also were performed by the researchers based on the Standard method book.Results: The best method of interpolation for nitrate due to the normal distribution of data was ordinary Kriging and the Gaussian model. The highest values of nitrate in most points are related to the western parts based on maps. One way ANOVA test showed there is a significant difference between the average amount of Nitrate in different years (2010-2015) (P.Value<0.001), but statistical significant difference not observed between the average of the results of verification and different years (except for year of 1389 (P.Value<0.001). The average of nitrate in all years was significantly lower than the international standard of 50 milligrams per liter (P<0.001).Conclusion: According to the results, In order to prevent the increase of nitrate in the water sources, doing of some actions such as Privacy wells, the use of river water for agriculture and construction of wastewater treatment plant seems to be necessary.

Background and Objectives: Wood dust is are wide range of bioaerosols and organic and inorganic particles. Timber airborne dust, as one risk factor for respiratory system diseases, is generated during the process of production, processing and transportation in industries. Since, there are not adequete information regarding the exposure of wood manufacturing workers to wood dusts and its bioaerosol contents, the objective of this study was to investigate occupational exposure of chipboard manufacturing workers in a nothern city of the Gonbad, Iran.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in a chipboard factory in the Gonbad city of Golestan province, northern of Iran. Workers' exposure to wood dust inhaled were assessed by means of standardized national organization of Occupational Health and safety with number 0500. Assessment of fungal and microbial aerosol density in workplace carried out using a microbial sampler, with a flow rate of 10 liters per minute. A total of 68 samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory of mycology. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for data analysis.Results: The Average exposure to dust inhalation was 32 mg per cubic meter. The average concentration of bioaerosols in the workplace as well as were 269 colonies per cubic meter. Penicillium species had the highest concentration among all fungus.Conclusion: The results showed that average workers' exposure to dust inhalation in chipboard workers is several times more than standard limit recommended by the work health center for non-carcinogenic dust. According to the high exposure of workers with wood dust and airborne biological agents in this industry, cosidering the control measures to protect workers' health seems to be necessary.

Background and Objectives: One of the methods of color removal is adsorption using natural adsorbents. Aadsorption process because of lower cost, easy operation and hide sensitive to toxic substances than other methods is a priority. So, the aim of persent study was to adsorption isotherm and factor affected on Methylene Blue decolorization using activated carbon powder prepared Grapevine Leaf.Materials and Methods: This experimental study with differnet parameters such as initial concentration of MB, adsorbent dosage and contact time on the MB adsorption in the batch system were investigated. Results: Results showed that the adsorption efficiency was achieved to 100% at 10 and 100 mg/L of MB when the amont of adsorbent was 2 g/L with contact time of 90 and70 min at pH=7. Adsorption process could be follow of both Ferndlich (R2= 0.994) and Langmuier (0.984) isotherm which that by Ferndlich isotherm, maximum dye adsorption was calculated to 25.77 mg/g.Conclusion: Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that activeted carbon prepared of grapevine leaf has high capacity for Methylene Blue dye from aqueous solution.

Background and Objectives: Road traffic injuries are a major cause of death and disability globally. This study is done to investigate the epidemiology of fatal road traffic accidents in the Lorestan province in 2012 according to Legal Medicine findings.Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional. In this epidemiologic study of fatal accidents in Lorestan province، we estimated the mortality rate, standardized mortality rate, mortality rate per month, level of education, gender, age groups , marital status and number of road traffic per month. We also investigated the distribution of deaths according to different variables using data collected by the Legal Medicine Organization from fatal road accidents during April 2012 and March 2012. Data were analyzed using statistical software Stata11.Results: The results showed that In the year 2012, 553 people have died due to traffic accidents in Lorestan province. The age-standardized incidence rate was 33.2 per 100000 people. Most victims were men (87.37%), and married people (65.94 %). The highest frequency was (13.61%) for the age group 20-25 years. Age average of the victims was 20.67±36.74 years. Most victims died in place of the accident and because of brain injury.Conclusion: According to the high incidence rate due to road traffic injury in province to it is recommended appropriate measures should be done by the related authorities.

Background and Objectives: The dust raised in construction activities is one of the most important occupational hazard for health of construction workers. Due to the nature of the raw materials used, dust contains crystalline silica, which is classified as a confirmed human carcinogen. Due to the lack of personal monitoring of construction workers in Iran, this study was designed to evaluate occupational exposure to the general dust and its component crystalline silica.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, occupational exposure of 85 construction workers was evaluated. Workers were monitored for respirable general dust and crystalline silica using methods issued by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (No.0600 and No.7602). Risk assessments in the form of excess mortality rate due to silicosis and lung cancer based on the models presented by Rice and Manettej were calculated.Results: The mean exposure of workers to general respirable dust and respirable crystalline silica dust were 9.8±0.35 and 0.13±0.019 as mg/m3 respectively. Workers’ exposure in various task groups had statically significant differences in exposures to respirable dust (P<0.001) and respirable crystalline silica (P=0.007). Task groups batching and concrete workers had the highest average exposure to general respirable dust (11.38±0.77 mg/m3). Cement workers had highest mean exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust (0.184±0.07 mg/m3). Construction workers’ risk for Mortality rate of silicosis and lung cancer were predicted to be in range of 1-40 and 49-21 per thousand respectively.Conclusion: Due to the high exposure and unacceptable risk assessment of Iranian construction workers to respirable crystalline silica and respirable general dusts, administrative and technical control measures are justified.

Background and Objectives: Drivers due to their working conditions such as job stress, lack of exercises, working time and dietary habits are more at risk for heart diseases, especially metabolic syndrome and its components. This study was aimed to investigate the demographic and life style status of public transportation bus drivers.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in 2014-2015 on 2416 bus drivers selected by random classification method across the Iran. Demographic and other required data were collected using self-made questionnaire. Frequency tables, chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression were used to analysis of data.Results: The mean body mass index of participants was 26.38±2.1, and 422 cases (3.85%) had normal BMI, 1862 cases (78%) were overweight and 92 cases (3.85%) were obese. Also 65.56% and 8.54% of participants had normal and borderline blood pressure, respectively. Of 2416 drivers, 68.5% were cigarette smokers, 41.4% were addicted to opium, 29.4% had high risk sexual behaviors, and 36.8% drunk alcohol which statistically significant relation was found between the number of cigarettes consumed and accident history (p<0.0001). Among those who had accident history, 78.11% and 18.86% had SCANIA and VOLVO buses, respectively. Significant difference was observed between the type of bus and accident history (p<0.0001).Conclusion: Driver’s attention to self-care and doing interventional and regulated programs in preventive on opium use, smoking and alcohol, as well as the compulsory put of condoms in first aid kit can help the drivers and passengers healthy.

Background and Objectives: The economic costs proportion due to Road Traffic crashes of Gross National Product ranged in different countries. This study conducted to estimate the burden of road traffic crashes in Qazvin Province during 2011.Materials and Methods: To determine the costs of healthcare, medications, consumable operating room devices, and to obtain the frequency of injuries and mortality data of treatment deputy data and health deputy data of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences were used, respectively. Iran life expectancy tables were used to calculate the life years lost due to premature death. Finally, the monetary value of the lost production due to road crashes was estimated using national demographic and economic indicators of 2011.Results: The total imposed cost was around 417 billion Rials. The costs related to the lost production following the premature death in men, the costs of lost production following the premature death in women, health care services costs, medications costs and the costs of consumable operating room devices were estimated 72%, 20%, 6%, 1% and 1% of total imposed costs, respectively.Conclusion: The burden of road traffic injuries in Qazvin province despite its limited size, is high. Most years of life lost due to traffic accidents deaths is related to the young men. Therefore, appropriate policies in the areas of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of traumatic injuries are necessary as provincial health priorities.

Background and Objectives: Arsenic is considered as a heavy metal and toxic pollutants because of its potential harm to human health and environment protection. One of the mechanisms for arsenic removal from an aqueous solution is the adsorption process. The aim of this study was to evaluate arsenic adsorption from aqueous solution using activated carbon provided from walnut.Materials and methods: This was an experimental study. At first, the walnut was synthesized and was produced the adsorbent. Stock solution of arsenic was prepared (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 and 140 mg/L). According to the Jar test by rapid mixing (7hr at 120 rpm) for evaluating the reaction kinetic and by slow mixing for evaluating the reaction stability (24 hr at 90 rpm), the effect of influencing parameters on adsorption process such as pH (5.5, 6.2, 6.9, 7.6 and 8.3), adsorbent dosage (10, 20 and 30 mg/l) and initial arsenic concentration (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 and 140 mg/L) were evaluated. Also, to describe the experimental data, the Langmuir, Freundlich, were assessed. All experiments were conducted twice and the mean of percentage removal was obtained.Results: According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of the activated carbon provided from walnut 3.15 (mg/g) were obtained. According to the Freundlich model, the maximum adsorption capacity of the activated carbon provided from walnut 2.05 (mg/g) were obtained. The results showed that increase in adsorbent dosage and decrease in pH increased the adsorption of arsenic. While increase in pH and initial arsenic concentration decreased arsenic adsorption.Conclusion: activated carbon provided from walnut with regards to waste walnuts and found largely in many areas in Iran and low-cost synthesizing could be used to as adsorbent of arsenic adsorption.