Journal of Research in Environmental Health
Year:2020 | Volume:6 | Issue:2|Papers Count:8

Background and Aim: The main and most important way for heavy metals to enter the human body is via eating food, especially vegetables. Thus, in this study, heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury) were surveyed in vegetables grown in farmlands around the Kashafrud river. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 54 samples of three vegetable types were taken from three farms (one control and two case farms) in two consecutive months. The case farms were selected in the vicinity of the Kashafrud river in Mashhad city. Acidic digestion was performed according to standard methods. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of heavy metals in samples and SPSS and Excel software were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean concentrations of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury) in vegetable samples were different and varied with time and place. According to the results, lead had the highest mean concentration among the heavy metals. Among the selected vegetables, dill had the highest contamination with heavy metals. Conclusion: Heavy metal concentrations in soil and water samples were within the national and international standard ranges. However, the concentrations of these metals in some vegetable samples exceeded the national and international levels, which may be due to factors other than irrigation with wastewater. The use of standard quality effluent for agricultural irrigation requires control measures and good organizational performance.

Background and Aim: Water quality monitoring in rivers is very important for deciding on their water use. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate rivers’ water quality in Khuzestan province. Materials and Methods: The rivers studied included Dez, Karkheh, Marun, Karun, and Zohreh. Data were collected in 2018 from specified stations in each river. The water quality standards of Iran, WHO, and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, as well as Schoeller and Wilcox diagrams, were used. Besides, IRWQIsc and NSFWQI standards were employed to categorize the river water quality. Results: The results showed that Dez river water was corrosive for industrial use, while other rivers had scaling water for industrial use. The quality of Dez river water was better than that of other rivers in Khuzestan province, but this river had high magnesium, hardness, and chloride based on the Schoeller diagram. The water quality of this river was better than others’ water quality for use in agricultural purposes. Karun river was moderately better than other rivers, and the water quality was better in the upstream than in the downstream. According to IRWQIsc, the water quality variations in Dez, Karkheh, Karun, Marun, and Zohreh rivers were 71-83, 41-52, 39-55, 33-41, and 25-32, respectively. The results of the NSFWQI index for Dez, Karkheh, Karun, Marun, and Zohreh rivers showed that the values of these rivers varied in the ranges of 65-77, 55-70, 58-68, 52-60, and 36-48, respectively. Conclusion: Dez river was in a relatively good condition. Karun and Karkheh rivers were in a moderate condition and other rivers were in a relatively poor condition. According to all indices, the water quality of the Zohreh river had poor conditions and Dez river water was in a good condition. Other rivers had moderate water quality.

Background and Aim: Establishing wastewater treatment plants alone will not resolve environmental concerns. For achieving optimal environmental standards, the performance of treatment plants must be constantly monitored and evaluated. This study aimed to determine the reuse feasibility of Ardakan wastewater treatment plant effluent. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for six months from April 2019 to September 2019 with 48 influent and effluent samples. The parameters studied included COD, BOD5, TSS, total coliform, and fecal coliform, which were measured according to the Standard Methods for Water and Wastewater Examination. Finally, the data were analyzed by statistical tests. Results: The results showed that the mean COD, BOD5, TSS, fecal coliform, and total coliform in the effluent were 14. 36 mg/L, 4. 56 mg/L, 2. 6 mg/L, 41 MPN/100 mL, and 11. 2 MPN/100 mL, respectively. Also, the removal efficiencies of COD, BOD5, TSS, total coliform, and fecal coliform were 96. 27%, 96. 81%, 98. 84%, 99. 99%, and 99. 99%, respectively. Conclusions: The results showed that the Ardakan wastewater treatment plant could significantly reduce organic matter and microbial contamination and it complied with the standards of effluent reuse in agriculture, discharge into surface water, and discharge into injection wells.

Background and Aim: Heavy metals are refractory pollutants that do not decompose in nature and can be released into the environment by sewage or wastewater from various industries. Usually, trace amounts of these metals are required for the normal functioning of the body. However, their excessive intake can cause poisoning in the body. The purpose of this research was to review various physical, chemical, and biological methods for the removal of heavy metals. Materials and Methods: In this paper, the relevant articles between 2014 and 2019 were searched in databases such as Springer، Science Direct, Scopus, Freepaper, and John Wiley to obtain the latest findings on heavy metal removal methods. Results: Studies show that heavy metals can affect human health, so their removal is essential. Various physical, chemical, and biological methods for the removal of heavy metals include membrane filtration, chemical precipitation, electrochemical purification, ion exchange, adsorption, and bioremediation. Conclusion: The results of studies showed that heavy metals have destructive effects and they are necessary to be removed from water and soil. The advantages and disadvantages of heavy metal removal methods make it possible to choose the right method in terms of costs and availability of technical knowledge.

Background and Aim: Population growth can lead to the expansion of industries and improper management of industries can lead to land pollution and irreparable damage to the environment and living organisms. Therefore, studying the role of industrial centers in environmental pollution, including soil pollution, is one of the most important measures for pollution control. This study aimed to evaluate the surface soil contamination with heavy metals in oilfields. Materials and Methods: In this study, a total of 15 soil samples were taken in the depth of 0-30 cm from five stations with three replications to measure the concentration of heavy metals. Heavy metals were measured by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Results: Based on the results, the average concentrations of cadmium, lead, and copper in soil samples were 2. 40 ± 1. 00, 8. 89 ± 5. 91, and 55. 83 ± 52. 81 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusion: The average concentrations of cadmium and copper were higher and the average concentration of lead was lower than the global average. Also, due to the high degree of toxicity of cadmium, the highest risk of soil contamination could be attributed to this element. The measurements at five sampling stations showed that the soil in this oil industrial region was more polluted with cadmium than with the other two elements; in other words, the oil industry was more effective in cadmium pollution than in pollution with other elements. The comparison of the levels of soil pollution at sampling stations showed that, as expected, the soil around the processing areas and wellhead zones was more contaminated than the soil from other areas, which necessitates adopting more strict environmental control measures in these areas.

Background and Aim: One of the main resources of methane emission is solid wastes buried in landfill sites. To control the negative effects of methane emission on the ozone layer known as the greenhouse effect, the routine is to capture methane and use it as an energy source. This study aimed to assess the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Saqqez municipal solid wastes and estimate the potential methane gas emission from the city’ s landfill using LandGEM software over 2015-2034. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we measured solid waste generation, population, and landfill characteristics in Saqqez city and used the data to estimate the methane gas emission using LandGEM software. The initial population and population growth of Saqqez city were obtained from the last census of 2012. Results: The annual waste generation equaled 62, 050 tons with methane emission of 32 m3/h in 2016, which is projected to increase to 108, 805 tons with methane emission of 2. 203 m3/h in 2034. Conclusion: In summary, the results of this study can assist the city managers in preparing the appropriate actions to control and manage methane emission and reduce its negative effects, especially on the environment.

Background and Aim: One of the most important role players in the relationship between reducing organizational costs and maintaining the quality of provided services is the use of appropriate models for managing staff performance. These models can increase employees’ productivity. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the volume of environmental health activities in health centers. Materials and Methods: A descriptive and applied study was done both quantitatively and qualitatively. The designed pilot model was implemented in the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Every 10 minutes was considered a unit of work. Results: We identified 51 fields of activity related to environmental health, encompassing a total of 1, 019 units. Out of the identified activities, the most frequent ones were inspection and system recording, followed by daily chlorometry, with 100 and 84 frequencies, respectively. Conclusion: Staff in any organization needs an inequality reducing decisive mechanism and a model of valuing based on work volume to improve productivity, increase efficiency and motivation, and reduce inappropriate psychological stimuli at the workplace. This will be achieved using models such as the model presented in this study.

This study aimed at the examination of the efficiency of a roughing filter in nitrate and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal from fresh leachate from a municipal solid waste landfill. Sampling was done at three rates of 0. 5 m/h, 1 m/h, and 1. 5 m/h from input and output of the filter to determine the concentration of nitrate and COD. The average efficiencies of COD removal at filtration rates of 0. 5 m/h, 1 m/h, and 1. 5 m/h were 84, 88, and 85%, respectively. The average removal efficiencies of nitrate at filtration rates of 0. 5 m/h, 1 m/h, and 1. 5 m/h were 88, 88, and 85%, respectively. The effluent concentrations of COD and nitrate were lower than the environmental protection agency standard values (P<0. 05). Based on the results, nitrate removal with a roughing filter was better than COD removal.