Journal of Research in Environmental Health
Year:2019 | Volume:4 | Issue:4 |Papers Count:8

Background and Aim: Groundwater vulnerability assessment is regarded as a main part of water resources management. In this study, the vulnerability of Lordegan Plain Aquifer is is evaluated using DRASTIC, GODS, AVI and ArcGIS 10. 5 softwares. Materials and Methods: The Modified DRASTIC model containing eight parameters, is a model to study the hydrogeological properties affecting groundwater pollution. By weighting and combining these parameters in the ArcGIS 10. 5, vulnerable areas of the aquifer to pollution were identified. AVI method measured groundwater vulnerability using two physical parameters including the thickness of each sedimentary rock above the uppermost saturated aquifer surface and estimated hydraulic conductivity. GODS model assessed aquifer vulnerability based on four layers of aquifer type, unsaturated area, surface depth and soil type. At first, information related to the three models was collected and the corresponding layers were logged into the ArcGIS software. Using the overlapping Methods: and applying the weights on each layer, the final vulnerability maps of the area were prepared in three ways. Sensitivity analysis was used to show the effectiveness of the parameters used to evaluate the vulnerability index. Results: The results of this study showed that based on modified DRASTIC model, 14, 76 and 10% of the study area had a moderate, high and very high potential vulnerability to pollution, respectively. The results of AVI model showed that more than 95% of the aquifers had high sensitivity to pollution. The results of the GODS model indicated that 45. 3 % of the region was in low vulnerability class and the rest in the middle vulnerability class. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the modified model is more reliable than other used models. Results indicated that vulnerability assessment models provides valuable tools for authorities and decision makers to manage the Lordegan aquifer.

Background and Aim: Corrosion and Scaling in distribution network pipes is one of the most important indices in water quality assessment and one of the most common environmental phenomena that deteriorate water quality، color، odor، taste and also increases the concentrations of heavy metals in water. Corrosion causes entry of bye-products to water and decreases pipe life and sedimentation، reduces the flow rate and the efficiency of valves and fittings. The purpose of this study was to determine the corrosion or scaling state of drinking water in Mashhad in 2017. Materials and Methods: In this study، 72 samples were taken during 2017 to evaluate water quality characteristics، and analyzed based on the standard Methods: . Then، three indices including Langlier، Ryznar and Aggressiveness Indices were programmed in Excel software and based on this، Corrosion and scaling potential of drinking water were determined. Results: Results showed that the averages of Langlier، Ryznar and Aggressiveness Indices for water were 0. 14± 0. 48، 6. 67± 0. 38 and 12. 23± 0. 23، respectively. According to the Langlier and Ryznar indices، 86. 1% of total samples had low scaling potential and according to Aggressive index 97. 2% of total samples had scaling. Also، the results showed that 58. 33% of the samples were low scaling in spring and other samples were high scaling. In addition، in the summer، 33. 3% of the total samples were high scaling and other samples were low scaling. Conclusion: The results showed that drinking water of Mashhad city was Scaling. Therefore، it is necessary to take measures to control scaling in distribution network pipes، especially in areas located in high scaling zones.

Background and Aim: Salinity is one of the most important factors affecting growth, photosynthesis and valuable metabolites in large scale cultivations of algae. The aim of this research was to study the effect of salinity on growth and pigment composition of Chlorella sp. collected from paddy-fields of the Golestan Province for potential evaluation of this alga in large scale cultivations. Materials and Methods: To study the effect of salinity on growth and pigment composition of Chlorella, purification was done using N8 culture media at 2 uE. m-2. S-1 irradiance, 28 0C and continuous illumination at pH 7. 2. Saline treatments were prepared from sodium chloride with concentrations of 0, 0. 25, 0. 5 and 1% (17 to 170 mM). Results: According to the obtained results, an upward trend was observed in growth of this alga at both control and saline treatments on the 5th day after inoculation. The optimum growth and the highest degree of special growth rate were seen in 0. 5% salinity. There were significant differences between the growth of this alga in control and saline treatments at 0. 5 and 1% salinity. The ability of this alga in carotenoide production in treatment with 1% salinity at the 9th day after inoculation were significantly more than the other treatments; however, this difference was not significant for chlorophyll production. Conclusion: Chlorella sp., has acclimation potential against these degrees of salinity tensions. Thus, it can be considered bio-fertilizer and soil conditioner in agricultural fields in Golestan province.

Background and Aim: Rodents have an important role in the maintenance and transmission of various pathogens and their ectoparasites are vectors of many dangerous diseases. This study was done to determine funa of ectoparasites of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis reservoirs from October 2016 to October 2017 in the hyperendemic area (Segzi area), in Esfahan Province. Materials and Methods: Rodents were collected by Sherman’ s Living Traps during different seasons and were identified by the standard morphological keys and comparison of morphometric characteristics with standard specimens. The collected rodents were anesthetized and ectoparasites were removed and conserved in 96% Alcohol. Then the ectoparasites were identified by the standard keys. Results: Ninety-two Rhombomys opimus and 1 Nesokia indica were captured. 50 out of 93 rodents (53. 88%) were infested by the ectoparasites and a total of 527 ectoparasites (100%) were collected from them. The 9 species of identified ectoparasites were included 1 tick (0. 19% Rhipicephalus sanguineus), 1 sucking lice (0. 19% Polyplax spp. ), 5 fleas (75. 71% Xenopsylla nuttalli, 8. 73% Echidnophaga oschanini, 0. 95% Nosopsyllus ziarus, 0. 95% Coptopsylla mesghalii and 0. 19% Nosopsyllus turkmenicus turkmenicus) and 2 mites (7. 78% Dermanyssus sanguineus and 5. 31% Hirstionyssus sp. ). Conclusion: The current study showed that R. opimus rats are found in large numbers in Segzi area and the X. nuttalli fleas were the most frequency. It is suggested to prevent the prevalence of vector-and rodent-borne diseases, the population of rodents and their ectoparasites should be controlled using the Methods: of Environmental Health Engineering at the same time.

Background and Aim: Expanded industries and incorrect management led to land pollution, which caused irreparable damage to nature and organisms. Therefore, investigating the role of industrial centers in soil pollution is among the most important measures in field of pollution control. This study aimed to evaluate the heavy metals contamination in surface soil caused by steel industry. Materials and Methods: In this study, to determine the concentrations of cadmium and lead in soil, 6 soil samples were collected from surrounding areas of steel industry from a depth of 0-5 cm. . lead and cadmium levels were measured in soil samples by flame atomic absorption. The statistical indices for concentrations of elements in soil dust were calculated, then the concentrations of the elements in soil before and after the factory establishment were compared, and in order to evaluate the contaminations of heavy metals and to assess the environmental impact of the modified degree of contamination, the degree of contamination and the potential environmental risk were calculated. Results: The minimum and maximum amounts for cadmium and lead in soil were 24. 60, 99. 30 and 35. 60, 156. 30 mg/kg respectively. The results indicated there was a significant difference between the amounts of cadmium before and after the stablishment of the industry. According to the obtained results, the pollutant index for cadmium was critical and dangerous in contrast to lead, . . Conclusion: Concentrations of two measured elements showed that only level of cadmium was higher than global standards and this indicates polluting role of this factory. Therefore, planning for control of such pollutants release into the environment should be considered.

Background and Aim: The effluents of textile industries are one of the most important groups of pollutants in aquatic environment. Methylene blue, which is an aromatic compound, toxic, carcinogenic, mutated and resistant to biological degradation and has harmful effects on living organisms, is regarded as one of the most widely used dyes in textile industries. . The purpose of this study was to investigate the bismuth oxyiodide nanoparticles capability to adsorb methylene blue from synthetic wastewater. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out in a laboratory scale and in batch mode. The effects of variables affecting removal process including pH (3-11), adsorbent dose (1-3 g/l), contact time (5-90 min) and initial concentration of dye (10-40 mg/l), kinetic and adsorption isotherm were investigated. Bismuth oxide (BiOI) as the applied adsorbent was prepared using solvent-thermal method. Results: The maximum removal efficiency of methylene blue from solutions was 96. 27% in obtained optimal condition of pH: 9, contact time: 30 minutes, absorbance dose: 3 g/l and initial concentration: 10 mg/l. Methylene blue adsorption by BiOI obeyed the pseudo-second order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model which is indicative of the fact that the adsorption stage is regarded as process controller. Conclusion: The results of the experiments showed that bismuth oxide has a high potential for removal of methylene blue molecules from contaminated wastewater.

Background and Aim: The safe and healthy drinking water is one of the vital factors of human life. The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Sstates Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidelines in the world and 1053 standard in Iran show the importance of safe water supplying. This study was implemented to evaluate the effect of seasonal variations (spring and autumn) on the physicochemical properties of drinking water in Sefid-allah village of Qom province. Materials and Methods: The Measurements of pH، turbidity، Electrical Conductivity (EC)، hardness، Cl-، NO3 − ، NO2 − ، PO3 4− ، NH3، SO4 2− ، F− ، CO3 2− ، HCO3 − ، Ca2+، Mg2+، Na+، K+ and Mn2+ were carried out according to 1053 standard Methods: of the rural water & wastewater company of Qom in two seasons (spring and autumn) of 2011 and 2012. Results: Based on the gained results, the mean of residual chlorine، turbidity، pH، Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)، total hardness، and alkalinity were 0 mg/l، 0. 995 (NTU)، 7. 41، 1037. 5 mg/l، 478 mg/l and 288 mg/l، respectively. The results showed that the following order for the measured concentrations of the cations: Na+> Ca2+> Mg2+> K+، and SO4 2− > HCO3− > Cl− > NO3 − > F− > PO3 4− > NO2 − > NH3-, HCO3 − for anions، respectively. The pH، and concentration of HCO3 − ، Mn2+، and PO3 4− were higher than the limited value of the standard. Also، the average concentration of turbidity، Ca2+، Na+ and K+ in spring were more than autumn. Conclusion: In conclusion، changes in seasons caused changes in some of the investigated parameters. Finally، it can be concluded that it is need to improve some drinking water quality parameters of Sefid-allah.