Journal of Human Environment and Health Promotion
Year:2016 | Volume:2 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Background: The aim of this study is to compare UV, ferrate (VI) and UV/ferrate (VI) methods for removal of hydrogen sulfide and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from municipal wastewater under a continuous condition.Methods: The experiment was divided into three parts: 1) pollutants removal by using ferrate (VI) alone; 2) pollutants removal using UV alone; 3) pollutants removal using a combination of UV/ferrate (VI). The electrolysis process was utilized to generate ferrate (VI).Results: The results showed that UV had the highest pollutants removal, so that 89% and 85% of hydrogen sulfide and COD were removed from the wastewater, respectively. UV/ferrate (VI) ranked as the next most efficient method. This method removed 65% and 73% of hydrogen sulfide and COD, respectively from the wastewater.Conclusion: Using ferrate (VI) alone had the lowest pollutant removal efficiency, with 41% and 48% of hydrogen sulfide and COD removal from wastewater, respectively. UV has a higher ability to remove hydrogen sulfide and COD from wastewater, compared with UV/ferrate (VI) and ferrate (VI) alone.

Background: Recently, there has been a great concern about the consumption of dyes because of their toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and persistence in the aquatic environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of using Lemna minor for Acid Blue 292 (AB292) dye removal from aqueous solution and to determine the optimal conditions.Methods: This experimental study was conducted in the batch systems to investigate the effects of parameters such as contact time, initial concentration of dye, pH and Lemna minor biomass dose. Isotherms and kinetic studies of dye adsorption were performed using equilibrium data.Results: According to the results, a maximum removal efficiency of 98.5% was obtained at pH of 3 and the contact time of 90 min; initial dye concentration 10 mg/L and adsorbent dose 3g/L. The adsorption data was best fitted to the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model.Conclusion: The results showed that Lemna minor could be used as a cost-effective adsorbent for removing AB292 dye from textile wastewater efficiently

Background: Despite advances in technology, people are still exposed to fire hazard. Students can be one of the most important exposed groups. Therefore, fire safety inspection should be established in dormitories. The aim of this study was to develop a fire safety checklist for fire safety inspection in dormitories.Methods: This study was as a tool development followed by a cross-sectional study in dormitories of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. The initial items of the checklist were extracted from formal standards and regulations. According to comments of the expert panel group (n=5) and Law she method, the validation of the tool was confirmed.The reliability was accepted based on Cronbach's alpha coefficient. In field study we used the tool to inspect fire safety status of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences dormitories.Results: The initial checklist contained 68 items. According to the comments of a group of expert panel, some items were added to the checklist and a couple of them were removed. Finally CVI & CVR for 62 items were, over 0.7 and 0.99 respectively. The Cronbach's alpha was equal to 0.74.Conclusion: This study could develop a valid and reliable tool for inspection of dormitories fire safety.

Background: Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) play an important role in medical, health and environmental applications. All kinds of microorganisms were found to be able to synthesize GNPs. The optimization of laboratory conditions for achieving more economical benefits of mass production has been studied widely.Methods: This study assesses the enhancing effect of low-level X-rays on the biosynthesis of GNPs by Actinomycetals. The isolated Actinomycetes were grown aerobically in MGYP broth media. The harvested bacteria were suspended in 50 mL aqueous HAuC14 in 12 Erlenmeyer flask. Each group contained4 flasks.2 groups of samples were irradiated by 30 mGy and 5 mGy X-rays respectively. The third group as control remained without irradiation. The solutions were shake- incubated for 120 h.Results: After 5 days, the color of first group samples changed from milky to purple, while the color changing occurred after 10 days in the 2nd group samples and the control samples. The UV-vis absorption spectrometry of the irradiated aqueous medium by 30 mGy X-rays confirmed the formation of GNPs.Conclusion: The findings showed that 30 mGy X-rays stimulated the microorganism to form GNPs in a half time in comparison to other groups.

Background: Feather waste is generated in large amounts as a by-product of commercial poultry processing. The main component of feather is keratin. The main purpose of this study was to identify Bacillus spp. (the keratinolytic bacteria) that are able to degrade the feather for producing keratin.Methods: Bacillus spp. Were isolated from the waste of poultries located in Miyaneh city. The bacteria were grown on basal medium containing 1% hen feather as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and energy at 27oC for 7 days. Then, the isolates capable of feather degrading were identified. The Bradford method was used to assay the production of keratin in the feather samples. Different pH and temperatures were studied to determine the best conditions for production of keratinase enzyme.Results: Seven Bacillus spp. including: B. pumilis, B. subtilis, B. firmus, B. macerance, B. popilliae, B. lentimorbus and B. larvae were found to be able to degrade the feather with different abilities.Conclusion: B. subtilis was found to be most productive isolate for keratinase enzyme production.

Background: Fluoride is an essential nutrient for the human body. The major routes of fluoride intake include food and drinking water, though the absorption of fluoride from food is much easier. The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount of fluoride in the soil and tomato and onion crops on farms of Zanjan.Methods: Three farms of each crop (tomato and onion) were selected randomly. Each farm was divided into 10 sections, and one sample of soil and crop of each section was taken which means 120 samples in total. Fluoride concentrations in the soil and crops were measured using the Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) and repeated 3 times.Results: The mean concentration of fluoride in soil samples from studied farms in Zanjan was 0.83±0.17 mg/kg. The mean concentrations of fluoride in tomatoes and onions of Zanjan were observed 2.10±0.80 and 2.23±0.64 mg/kg, respectively.Conclusion: There was no significant difference between fluoride concentration in tomatoes and onions, although there was a significant difference between the amount of fluoride in the soils of studied farms (Pv<0.024). No significant correlation was observed between the fluoride levels of soils and the fluoride levels of tomatoes (R2=0.126) and onions (R2=0.008).

Background: The performance of the HSE units has various dimensions Leading to different performances. Thus, any industry should be capable of evaluating these systems. The aim of this study was to design a standard questionnaire in the field of performance evaluation of HSE management system employing Balanced Score Card model.Methods: In this study we, first determined the criteria to be evaluated in the framework of Balanced Score Card model based on the objectives and strategies of HSE Management System and existing standards, and then designed questions on every criterion. We used content validity and Cronbach's Alpha to determine the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.Results: The primary questionnaire was comprised of 126 questions some of which were omitted regarding the results obtained from the CVR and CVI values. We obtained the CVI average of environmental dimension to be 0.75 and its CVI average 0.71.Conclusion: With respect to the results of the reliability and validity of this questionnaire, and its standardized design we can suggest using it for evaluation of HSE management system performance in organizations and industries with the mentioned system.

Background: Providing Safe drinking water is a prime concerninany community. This analytical study was carried out to evaluate the microbial quality of drinking water in rural areas of northeastern Iran.Methods: The water microbial quality was determined in all villages (a population of 53047 people), in 3 rounds and based on 3 measurements, i.e. Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform, and Heterotrophic Plate Count. Census method was used for studying water distribution system too.Results: Results of heterotrophic plate counts of over 500 were positive in 19 (19.8%) of the villages. Total coliforms were also detected in 37 (38.5%) of the villages. Water in villages receiving the services of Water and Wastewater Company had significantly lower levels of total and fecal coliforms contamination (p<0.05) compared to villages deprived of these services. In 4.3% of the villages where the Company delivered services, the HPC³500 results were positive, while this percentage rose to 24.7% in other villages (p=0.03).Conclusion: Comparison of the results of this study with guidelines published by WHO, regarding the microbial quality of water in 2006, indicated that the the microbial quality of the drinking water in rural areas in Maraveh Tappeh is desirable but lower than the Iranian standard.