ARCHIVE OF HYGIENE SCIENCES
Year:2019 | Volume:8 | Issue:2|Papers Count:8

Background & Aims of the Study: Aquatic macrophytes, given their rapid growth and high bio mass production, great potential to accumulate heavy metals in their organs. Phragmites australis as a hyper-cumulative plant plays an important role in the bioremediation. The Badavar River of Noorabad, Lorestan province, is exposed to urban wastewater and agricultural runoffs. In order to heavy metals (Pb, Zn and Cu) monitoring by aquatic macrophyte Phragmites australis, the concentration of these metals were investigated in this plant and river sediments in 2016. Materials & Methods: The concentration of the metals after acid digestion was measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The contamination factor was used to study the sediments pollution. Results: Comparison of metal concentrations with American and Canadian standards does not indicate the critical status of sediment contamination. The accumulation of metals in Phragmites australis plants showed a decreasing trend in root, leaf and stem respectively. On the other hand, the higher the transfer factor from the numerical value of one for zinc and copper metals indicates the high ability of these metals to be transferred to the plant. Conclusions: Finally, it can be noted that the shoots and roots of the plant in relation to the metals studied as an hyper accumulative organs and since there is a positive and significant relationship between the concentration of copper in sediment and root, it is likely that the roots organ of the plant is an appropriate bio indicator for its contamination in the sediments of the area.

Background & Aims of the Study: Occupational stress is one of the most common problems that can occur in any occupational population and can cause problems for the individual mental health. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the relation between occupational stress and psychological distress in Isfahan’ s steel employees. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014 among 3063 of Isfahan’ s Steel employees. GHQ-12 questionnaire was used to assess psychological distress and ERI-23 questionnaire was used to determine occupational stress. Data analysis was performed using quantile regression method in R software (quantreg package). Results: The results of the study showed that 2803 (91. 5%) of the participants were men and the rest were women. Due to the use of quantile regressions in this study, it is not possible to report results in all deciles, however, Effort, reward and overcommitment in all deciles had a significant relationship with psychological distress(p<0. 05). High scores of rewards and effort, and low scores of overcommitment were associated with high scores of psychological distress. Conclusions: The results showed that if high effort is accompanied by high overcommitment in the workplace, in case of low reward, it can be considered as a risk factor for psychological distress.

Background & Aims of the Study: Serum paraoxonase (PON1) is a potent antioxidant that is associated with the pathogenesis of several diseases. Also, it is reported that environmental factors can modulate the PON1 activity. In this study, the association between the Organophosphates (OP) exposure and plasma Paraoxonase/Arylesterase (PON1) activity and also OP-induced oxidative stress was investigated among pesticide manufacturing factory workers. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, Plasma cholinesterase (PChE) and RBC Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) were measured as a biomarker of OP exposure. Also, the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) was evaluated as a biomarker for lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. The PON1activity was measured by two distinct substrates, Paraoxson and Phenylacetate, to measure paraoxonase (PONase) and arylesterase (AREase) activities of PON1 enzyme respectively. Results: A significant decrease was observed inPChE and AChE activities in the blood sample of factory workers which confirmed OP exposure (p<0. 001). Furthermore, the level of MDA increased that shown lipid peroxidation induced by OP (p<0. 05). PONase and AREase activities decreased significantly in factory workers (p<0. 05, p<0. 001_). The reduction in AREase activity shown a correlation with the decrease in PChE and AChE activities (p<0. 01), also a negative correlation was observed with AREase activity and lipid peroxidation (p<0. 01). The Ponase activity only negatively correlated with lipid peroxidation (p<0. 01). Conclusion: Our study indicates that occupational OP pesticide exposure in factory workers causes a decrease in serum PON1 activity which is associated with oxidative stress. Decreased PON1 activity is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases such as cardiovascular disease then it is recommended that PON1 activity of OP-pesticide workers has been periodically monitored.

Background & Aims of the Study: Saveh city-located in the semi-arid area in Iran-has brackish water and it was forced to use reverse osmosis desalting systems. Water is not distributed through the distribution network to homes so, people have to buy water from certain places and transfer water through household storage vessel. They have to buy more water and keep it at home for more than 1 week. Therefore, the probability of microbial contamination or the regrowth of microorganisms rise. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the free residual chlorine (FRC) and the number of bacteria in desalinated water samples that collected from water kiosk system that provide desalinated water for the public. Material & Methods: Samples collected at the beginning and the end of the water network and stay for 9 days at room temperature and similar condition as public stored at home. The samples analyzed for FRC, total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and organic matter for 9 days. Results: The results indicated that FRC concentration at the beginning of water network was 1 mg/L and after 9 days it was reached to 0. 5 mg/L at the end of the water network. The amount of UV254 at the end of water network was 0. 0134 cm-1 and after 9 days it was reached to 0. 0125 cm-1. There aren’ t detected any TC and FC in samples even at beginning of the examination and also, after 9 days storage of water. The number of HPC colony for samples at the end of the network it reached 22 CFU/ml, after 9 days. Conclusion: It was concluded that desalinated water that stored at household storage vessel in Saveh has good quality and meets standard limit value until 9 days. It should be noted that this conclusion depends on various conditions, including various environmental factors. However, Water treatment officials need to pay more attention to the amount of chlorine remaining in drinking water in Saveh because after 9 days, there was still 0. 5 mg/L of residual free chlorine in the water.

Background & Aims of the Study: The implementation of safety principles in work environments can directly benefit both employees and the organization by reducing the mental and physical strain, reducing the risk of work-related injuries, and performance improvement. Thus, with the consideration and implementation of safety principles, and the creation of a positive safety climate, organizations can improve their performance and the welfare and safety of their employees. The purpose of this study was to design and provide a domestic questionnaire of safety climate assessment at universities of Health Ministry in 2018-19. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out with the participation of health and safety specialists, methodologists and personnel of the universities of medical sciences. Universities and people were selected randomly. The validity of the questionnaire was measured by CVI and CVR analysis and then the structural validity was studied by factor analysis using R، MPLUS and SmartPLS softwares. Also, to test the reliability of the questionnaire, test-retest test and Cronbach's alpha coefficient used. The analytic methods T and Mann– Whitney were used in SPSS V20 software to measure predictive value. Results: By forming a group, the Focus Group methodology was used and reached to 37 questions. The test-retest showed a correlation of 0. 96 with a one-week interval. Then, data from 265 people were analyzed for exploratory factor analysis. Two questions were deleted. Therefore, a final questionnaire includes 35 questions with five-point Likert scale responses, was obtained. The output of this analysis identified seven subscales for the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested with Cronbach's alpha and was 0. 909. The analysis of predictive validity of difference in safety climate and its components between two groups of with and without experience of occupational accident indicated that commitment and performance of management in the field of safety, and environment and conditions of work was significant (P<0. 05). Conclusion: The findings indicated that the questionnaire was acceptable. Since human resources are the main and vital part of organizations, recognizing the status of the organization from their viewpoint is important to them. In the area of safety, it is also necessary to have an instrument for assessing its available atmosphere. This instrument can help managers to plan for the future. It is worth noting that other factors and places can also be investigated in future studies.

Background & Aims of the Study: Considering the importance of solid waste disposal and the possibility of conversion them into rich organic fertilizers, the objectives of this study were to evaluation of effect of vermicomposting process (VP) on organic matter of cattle manure compost (CMC) and municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) by record changes of the elemental contents of C, N, H, S, and O, organic matter content and their parameter ratios that the substrates. Also, an empirical equation was developed for each substrate and vermicompost products as a function of their elemental composition and describe the stoichiometry of aerobic bioprocessing. Material and Methods: This study is interventional. The thermal elemental analyzer was used for measurement of elemental contents and organic matter was measured by weight loss between 105° C and 550° C in a muffle furnace. Results: Based on the results of this study, significant reduction in contents of C (69. 1%, 45. 6%), N (45. 6%, 18. 2%), H (90%, 77. 5%), and S (100%, 100%) and also, significant increase in content of O (26. 9%, 26. 2%) was observed during VP in CMC and MSWC vermibeds, respectively. During vermicomsting of CMC and MSWC with P value of less than 0. 05 between treatments, the H/C ratio was decreased from 0. 13 to 0. 04 and 0. 07 to 0. 03, the C/O ratio was increased from 0. 5 to 2. 22 and 0. 5 to 1. 25, the C/N ratio was decreased from 21. 56 to 12. 24 and 13. 55 to 9, the C/OM ratio was decreased from 58. 3 to 29. 9 and 60. 3 to 41. 9 respectively. Also, approximate empirical formula was C83N3O31H133S, C177N11O67H143S, C14NO24H7, and C11NO10H4 for CMC, MSWC, CMC vermicomposted (CMCV), and MSWC vermicomposted (MSWCV), respectively. Developing of stoichiometry equation for each material indicated that oxygen requires for complete aerobic biodegradation of organic fraction in vermicompost products was significantly lower than substrates.

Background & Aims of the Study: Foodborne illnesses, resulting from consumption of contaminated foods, represent a substantial public health threat. Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen bacteria and can cause serious problems in human. Because of this reason, Nowadays various compounds are being used to control these bacteria in foods. The aim of this study was to evaluate antilistarial potential of barberry extract, cinnamaldehyde (CA) and nisin, also to discover synergistic effects of dual combination of these compounds againt Listeria monocytogenes in culture medium. Material and methods: The antilisterial activity of barberry extract, cinnamaldehyde (CA) and nisin was evaluated using agar well diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), also Combined antilisterial activity was examined by fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) and time-kill assays. Results: In agar well diffusion method, nisin (400 IU/ml) and CA (40 μ l/ml) produced the largest inhibition zones (20. 75± 0. 25 and 32. 0± 1, respectively). MIC values of nisin, CA and barberry extract were 25 IU/ml, 0. 312 μ l/ml and 37. 5 mg/ml, respectively. In time kill assay, the combination of nisin with CA in MIC concentration was found the best combination against L. monocytogenes and a 6 log reduction in bacterial count was obtained. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that nisin and CA have convenient antilisterial activity and combination of these two compounds in MIC concentration showed synergistic effects against Listeria monocytogenes.

Background & Aims of the Study: One of the main concerns of policymakers is the establishment of health equity and access to health services. Health system reform plan is one of the most important tools of policy makers in the health system. The health system, as any other plan has had some problems during implementation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the obstacles to the development of the health system from the perspective of the project implementers. Materials & Methods: This study is a Practical study using descriptive-correlational method. In this study, 52 people were selected by Convenience Sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire containing 33 items. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS21 and LISREL8. 8 software. To test the hypotheses, one-sample t-test and Friedman test were used. Results: The results showed that among the three barriers introduced (policymakers, executive organization, and implementers), the implementers and users with the average score of 4. 12, had the highest priority, and the policymakers with an average of 3. 08, had the lowest dedicated priority. In other words, respondents have selected administrators' barriers as the most important barrier to the failure to implement the health system reform plan. Conclusion: The results of the research indicate that the conceptual model of this research is compatible with the collected data and the barriers related to the policy makers, executive organization, and implementers, are related with health system reform plan. In other words, all of the research hypotheses have been approved.