JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ENGINERING
Year:2019 | Volume:6 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background and Objectives: With increasing population, the process of contamination of water resources has intensified and humans need new and inexpensive ways to refine and improve water quality. Heavy metals are the environmental pollutants that originate mainly from industrial and agricultural activities and are found in all parts of the industrial communities. This research was conducted to evaluate cadmium stress resistance for Pharagmites australis in greenhouse conditions in University of Jiroft. Methods: The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement with two factors and three replications. Experiments were included: cadmium as the first factor and levels of metal stress including 0, 50, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 mg. kg-1 soil for greenhouse experiments as the second factor. The resistance of Pharagmites australis to cadmium stress at deposition stage to full growth in greenhouse conditions was investigated and the concentration of cadmium in the underground organs and aboveground organs and soil pots were measured. Results: results of Greenhouse experiments showed that with increasing in metal concentrations, it's absorbing with underground organs and aboveground organs were increased. However, impressive accumulation of cadmium was in underground organs and its translocation and accumulation in aboveground organs has been reported much less. With absorption and accumulation of metal in underground organs, ability of plant growth was decreased with changes in physiological characteristics. Even in respect of cadmium with high solubility in water and significant uptake in underground organs, have seen stop growing in aboveground plant parts. Conclusion: In summary results of this research showed that regarding the growth of underground organs, the Pharagmites australis is relatively resistant to cadmium stress, has low transmission factor and ability to accumulate cadmium in its underground organs.

Background and objective: Soil contamination and accumulation of heavy metals in soil and agricultural products is one of the most important environmental that threatens the life of plants, animals and humans. This research was conducted to investigate the geo-statistical analysis of Pb and Cd distributed in the southwest of Isfahan using environmental indexes in 2017. Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study with 150 samples in the southwest region of Isfahan province. The sampling was initially randomly performed on a regular network at a distance of 3 km to a depth of 0-10 cm. The sampling distance was reduced to about 50 meters by approaching the lead and zinc mine or residential area. The concentration of lead and cadmium was measured by digestion of samples with a mixture of nitric acid and chloride acid with the help of atomic absorption spectroscopy. The distribution of heavy metals was studied using geostatistical analysis. Results: The highest and lowest concentrations of lead and cadmium were observed around the Irankouh complex and Sepahan Shahr of Isfahan with a value of above 300 and below 200 mg / kg, respectively. The concentration of cadmium and lead in the Baharestan town and Sofeh forest park is below the standard level. The highest and lowest factor contamination of lead and cadmium contamination (CF) was observed around the Irankouh complex and Sepahan Shahr of Isfahan with the amount above 6 and below 3, respectively. Conclusion: Heavy metal distribution mapping using environmental indexes can indicate the status of pollution distribution in the region.

Background and Objective: In this research, the performance of coagulation and flocculation process for the removal of pollutants from raw wastewater as well as anaerobic unit effluent of biological treatment of textile dyeing factory wastewater treatment plant was investigated. Methods: For this purpose, the Jar test unit as a batch reactor, FeCl3, PAC, and Alum as coagulants, and two polyelectrolytes, namely, Zetafloc 7563 and Megafloc 3045PWG as cationic and anionic flocculants were used and the effect of coagulant dosage and type as well as flocculant type on removal of COD, turbidity and color were investigated in two stages. Findings: The results of coagulation and flocculation experiments on raw wastewater showed that Alum at concentration of 40 mg/L was the most effective coagulant with COD, turbidity and color removal efficiency of 73. 1± 1. 5%, 93. 7% and 71. 7%, respectively. However, the results of coagulation and flocculation experiments on the effluent from biological anaerobic treatment unit showed that the highest percentage of COD and turbidity removal were 52. 2± 2. 6% and 99. 1%, respectively that corresponds to PAC with concentration of 2000 mg/L. Additionally, the COD removal efficiency of FeCl3 coagulant at concentration of 400 mg/L was 52. 2± 3. 5%. The difference in the results of the two stages was due to the change in the nature of the pollutants after exposure to biological treatment and different pH of the wastewater used in these stages. Discussion and Conclusion: A general review of the results showed that use of physicochemical treatment applying only coagulation and flocculation process could not reduce the pollutants present in the dyeing wastewater for reuse, while this method could be considered as a pretreatment or one of the secondary treatment steps and post treatment.

Background and objectives: Sustainable development refers to the process of development that, while meeting the current needs of society, can provide the needs of future generations without any reduction in their ability to meet their needs. The Sustainable Development Program through its 17 defined goals covers a wide range of human activities in economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The present study set out with the aim of assessing the Iran's sustainable development indicators in two parts of population and health that in turn affect different dimensions of economic, social and human development. Methods: A documentary methodology was adopted in this research. Indicators related to the population and health targets were selected and have been analyzed by comparing the country with the international average and the countries of the region. The required information was compiled from international references and reports, including the World Bank and the Statistics Organization of Iran. Results: The average population growth rate in Iran fairly equals the world average and most countries. Compared to the most of the communities, Iran has a better status than the world average in terms of population and health-related indicators of sustainable development, and is among the high-income and upper middle-income countries. Also, in some indices such as vaccination coverage, diabetes and high mortality rates from accidents Iran has the highest score and also the lowest rate in the world with regard to the infection rate. There is no favorable situation regarding environmental issues. Conclusion: Although Iran shows a better status than the world average in most of the population and health related indicators of sustainable development, the country's environmental issues, the aging population structure and its consequences, death from accidents will be a major challenge for the future, which will require rapid and effective management measures in this area.

Background and objectives: The transmission of infection from the equipment and the environment to patients is widely carried out through contact. The aim of this study was to determine the health status of medical equipment and pseudo-homogeneous environmental levels in hospitals in Ardebil, in observational and microbiological hospitals in year 1396. Methods: in this descriptive cross-sectional study, 17 levels of hospitalization in Imam Khomeini Hospital (RA) were evaluated in a two month observational stage (by completing the checklist) and microbial. Data analysis was done by using SPSS software and by comparing it with British standards. Results: This study showed that the rate of contamination in different parts of the hospital was microbial 75. 75% and 29. 15%, respectively. According to statistical analyzes in the microbial method, the most infected ventilators were among the most polluted medical equipment and among the peripheral levels of the most infectious patient ward. At the observation station, among the medical equipment levels, the cliché was the most contaminated case, and among the pseudo-environmental environmental levels, the most infected fridge was determined. The most contaminated part in terms of cardiothoracic microbial monitoring was determined in terms of male in-patient observation. Conclusion: Therefore, it is suggested that by systematically planning and applying appropriate and preventive methods, implementing disinfection programs, developing guidelines for cleaning and disinfection, training and continuous monitoring of the standard methods of contamination will be minimized.

Background and objectives: The use of copper based fungicides is a crucial part of agricultural operations in vineyards, increasing productivity and crops. However, the long term application of fungicide could increase the copper concentration in the vineyard soils. Methods: In this study, soil and water chemical parameters including copper contamination, pH and EC as well as soil organic matter and texture were determined in 23 stations across Malayer vineyards in a completely randomized layout. Results: The soil texture of vineyards was a type of sandy loam in the study area which is suitable for grape seedlings growth. Copper concentration was significantly higher than the level required for optimum grapevine growth but less than the contamination level. The water and soil pH and soil organic matter content were in optimum condition. While soil EC was in normal range according to the Ministry of Agriculture standard, the EC value of water was above the optimum value, which can be due to the unauthorized deep-water wells and exposure to the saline watertable. Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that the sharp increase in copper concentration in the Malayer vineyard could be a result of fungicides application as well as pollution transmittal of mining, factories and chemical and animal fertilizers application in the study area.

Background and objectives: Zerovalent iron nanoparticles (ZVIN) had high potential for nitrate removal from aqueous solutions due to high surface area and reactivity of them. The aim of this study was nitrate removal from aqueous solutions using environmentally friendly stabilized ZVIN. Methods: ZVIN were synthesized via chemical reduction by sodium borohydride. In order to preventing of ZVIN from being agglomerated these particles were stabilized by natural and green biopolymers of Guar gum and Xantan gum. Results: Xantan gum+ Guar gum stabilized ZVIN had the most efficiency for nitrate reduction from aqueous solutions. Results also revealed optimum contact times for nitrate removal were 100, 50 and 40 minutes for Bare, Guar gum and Xantan gum+ Guar gum stabilized ZVIN respectively. The optimum pH values for nitrate reduction were 2, 5 and 6 for Bare, Guar gum and Xantan gum+ Guar gum stabilized ZVIN respectively. Nitrate removal efficiency increased by increasing of ZVIN dosages (2 to 10 g/L) from 66. 01 to 76. 06, 83. 43 to 91. 36 and 89. 47 to 96. 16 percent for Bare, Guar gum and Xantan gum+ Guar gum stabilized ZVIN respectively. The results showed when nitrate dosages enhanced (from 100 to 400 mg/L) the efficiency of nitrate removal from aqueous solutions decreased from 66. 17 to 47. 97, 84. 26 to 69. 06 and 88. 65 to 75. 49 percent for Bare, Guar gum and Xantan gum+ Guar gum stabilized ZVIN respectively. Conclusion: Results of this study revealed that application of polymeric stabilizers caused increasing zero-valent iron nanoparticle efficiency in nitrate removal from aqueous solution.

Background and objectives: Tehran is one of the most polluted cities in the world in terms of air pollution. Modeling is a useful tool in air pollution management. The objectives of this study are to determine the distribution of the main air pollutants concentration in Tehran and to construct a photochemical model appropriate to the geography and natural characteristics of Tehran. Methods: In this research, by using the WRF / CAMx modeling system, the concentration of all pollutants from moving sources in a 60-day episode (22 November 2015 to 20 January 2016) is calculated in Tehran, and concentration contour has been plotted for NO2, CO, and PM2. 5. In this regard, the emission inventory for moving sources has been calculated with coding in the FORTRAN and the outputs of the WRF meteorological model was prepared for air quality modeling and then, by using the CAMx model, the air quality of Tehran was simulated during this 60 day period. Results: The results of the meteorological simulation have been compared and validated with the measured values at the Mehrabad station. Also, for the purpose of validation, the results of the simulation of pollutant concentrations of the particle matters with the measured concentrations of air pollution monitoring stations have been compared. In this study, the concentration contour and the distribution of pollutants have been drown for NO2, CO, and PM2. 5. According to the concentration contours, the center of Tehran is more polluted. The Normalized Mean Bias for Sharif, Shadabad, Shahrery, and Golbarg stations is 41%, 24%, 37. 8% and 37. 2%, respectively. Which are acceptable in the simulation of air pollution. Conclusion: This study shows that the amount of air pollutions is higher in the areas where moving sources are more in traffic, and it can be said that the majority of Tehran's air pollution is generated by moving sources.