IRANIAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
Year:2020 | Volume:13 | Issue:3|Papers Count:12

Background and Objective: Given the nature of many development projects, it is necessary to evaluate their effects on human health. Due to the lack of a specific model, the purpose of this study was to provide a tool to prioritize the effects of construction and operation (C&O) of a combined cycle power plants (CCPPs) on physical health. Materials and Methods: By reviewing the documents and interviewing 15 experts, the variables affecting physical health in the C&O of the CCPPs were identified. Then, the content validity of the variables was assessed and the enumerated questionnaire was provided to the experts to determine the range, duration, probability, magnitude and extent of health effects using a multiplechoice Likert scale. Finally, with an innovative method, high priority variables were determined to evaluate the physical health effects on individuals. Results: According to expert’ s comments, 480 variables affecting physical health in the C&O of the CCPPs were selected and 41 variables were rejected based on the content validity index. The obtained results showed that diseases attributed to particulate matter (PM2. 5 and PM10), SO2 and nitrogen oxide, under normal and emergency conditions, highly contributed to the physical health problems during the construction of CCPPs. Conclusion: The method presented in this study is applicable to (1) identifies the factors affecting physical health, (2) determines the range of each physical health-associated factor and (3) prioritizes influencing criteria that might affect human health status during the construction and operation of a combined cycle power plant.

Background and Objective: Contamination of roadside soils with heavy metals is a serious threat to soil ecosystems and organisms and human health. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the roadside soils of the Rasht-Qazvin old road. Materials and Methods: 10 out-of-town sampling sites were selected via the field observation of the entire area. surface soil sampling with three replicates was performed around the Rasht-Qazvin old road. Heavy metals concentrations were measured using ICP-OES following samples preparation and acid digestion. The pollution level of heavy metals was assessed using geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and potential ecological risk index (PERI). Results: The results showed that the average concentrations of Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb in the roadside soils were 58. 07, 19. 96, 20. 26 and 23. 21 mg/kg, respectively. The findings showed that concentration of Zn and Ni were higher than background values and the amount of Zn exceeded WHO standard limit. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) with an average value of 86. 24, indicated low level of pollution for all of the studied metals. The results of geoaccumulation index (Igeo) revealed moderately contamination level of Ni. Conclusion: Old roads are generally known as one of the sources of pollution for the surrounding lands. Although the concentration of pollutants around the road is expected to be very high, we did not detect elevated levels of heavy metals. This fact can be explained by the current road repairs and widening, agricultural activities on marginal lands and wind blows in mountainous regions which leads to the dispersion of the soil pollutants.

Background and Objective: Noise pollution is one of the serious environmental issue. Sound control technologies based on sound absorption and sound insulation are considered as the two widely used methods. Therefore, the aim of this study was to modify silica aerogel nanocomposites to improve its acoustic properties. Materials and Methods: This applied experimental research involved in examining eight various types of nanocomposites to evaluate their performance of acoustic properties. In this study, nanocomposites were synthesized by sol-gel method. For this purpose, TEOS and ethanol were added to SiO2 which subsequently stirred and diluted with ethanol as a precursor of silica sol. A solution of 5. 5 M ammonium hydroxide is added drop-wise to the silica sol and then was stirred. The activated silica sol was quickly poured into the mold in which the samples were placed and finally placed in an oven at 150 ° C for 3 hours. The acoustic properties of the samples were measured by the impedance tube and the reduction sound pressure level using a sound level meter. Each sample morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Results: The sound absorption properties of as prepared nanocomposite relatively increased at high frequencies. The results indicated > 0. 6 sound absorption coefficient by the modified nanocopmosites at higher frequencies. The sound absorption coefficient and transmission loss of D1 nanocomposite were higher at medium and low frequencies as compared to other nanocomposites. 4. 6 and 9. 73 dB average reduction of sound pressure level were achieved by either with or without nanocomposite enclosure, respectively, at a distance of 1 meter. Conclusion: The results of the current study showed that the simultaneous addition of organic and mineral materials to silica aerogels (especially with the highest amounts of nanoclay) improves its acoustic properties, especially at medium and low frequencies. Among the samples, D1 nanocomposite shows better acoustic properties at medium and low frequencies. The sound absorption coefficient of D1 nanocomposite at frequencies of 315, 400, 500, 1000, 1250, 2000 Hz were obtained as 0. 27, 0. 38, 0. 51, 0. 78, 0. 83 and 0. 84, respectively. The findings also indicated 9. 37 dB reduction of sound pressure level using D1 nanocomposite.

Background and Objective: pesticides are essential to protect plants from pests and diseases. Extensive and unsafe use of pesticides by farmers pose various risks to human health and the environment. Therefore, the present study evaluates farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding pesticides use and the health problems associated with their use. Materials and Methods: In this human-research survey the target population consisted of 6170 farmers and fruit growers in Galogah County, Mazandaran province, were included. Multi-stage cluster sampling was used to select samples within 2 sub-districts and 13 villages, and the information was collected through 379 questionnaires. Statistical tests such as Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H, Spearman Correlation and Linear Regression were used to analyze the obtained data. Results: The respondents have no sufficient knowledge regarding the safe use of pesticides. Respondents’ attitudes toward the impacts of pesticide use were positive. The safety measures were less considered by majority of respondents. Moreover, the results revealed that personal protective equipment (mask, gloves and, goggles) and safe disposal of pesticide residues are not fully taken into consideration. The dizziness, skin problems, headache and vomiting were the most common symptoms of pesticide-related illnesses. The findings of regression analysis showed that wide range of knowledge and proper attitudes about the safe use of pesticides are beneficial and can act as the promoting factor in farmers’ safety behavior regarding pesticides use. Conclusion: In conclusion, providing pesticide users with sufficient knowledge, safety information and effective personal equipment such as wearing masks, goggles and gloves should be given highest priorities.

Background and Objective: Cadmium is a potential environmental contaminant that causes adverse effects on the environment and the health of living organisms. Therefore, designing a simple and economic technique for its determination is very important. In this respect, a potentiometric sensor based on nefazodone as the ionophore and [BMIM]PF6 as the ionic additive were developed for the determination of ultra-trace amounts of cadmium (II), . Materials and Methods: In this study, a new membrane ion selective electrode was constructed with a composition entailed of 10% nefazodone, 2% [BMIM] PF6, 30% PVC and 58% dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The created potential discrepancy between the membrane and reference electrodes was used as a signal which demonstrates a direct relationship with the logarithmic concentration of cadmium (II) for its determination. Results: The constructed sensor showed an appropriate Nernstian slope (30. 5 mV. Decade-1) in a wide concentration range (1×10-9-8×10-2 M) with the detection limit of 6×10-9 M. The electrode potential was pH-independent in the range of 3. 5-8. 0. The response time and lifetime of the electrode obtained 5 s and 15 weeks, respectively. Conclusion: The constructed sensor independent of sample preparation was employed successively for the measurement of low concentrations of cadmium (II) in the environmental samples. Moreover, the obtained findings were in a good agreement with the results of flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Therefore, the designed electrode established pinpoint accuracy and it can be used for the determination of cadmium (II) in aqueous samples.

Background and Objective: One of the most important goals for urban environmental management system is the monitoring of air quality. Allocating optimum air quality monitoring stations (AQMS), is a key factor in establishing effective and accurate air quality monitoring program. The objective of this study was to determine optimal allocation for AQMS in Karaj. Materials and Methods: Based on two stages approach, at first, the suitability map was obtained by WLC method. For AQMS implementation, municipal districts were ranked. The extracted alternatives were graded using TOPSIS. In the next stage, the position of preferred sites were investigated by site visiting and detailed criteria. Finally, the AQMS locations were introduced. Results: Ten suitable stations were suggested based on population and number of municipal districts. During the first stage important criteria such as distance from roads and street cross-section were weighted and standardized. The distance from roads and green space were the lowest and highest important criteria, respectively. The lowest and highest ranks for AQMS implementation were Nos. 9 and 3 districts, respectively. During the first phase 30 alternatives were obtained. At the second stage, 10 best alternatives were selected following field observation and considering implementation criteria (eg. distance from trees, cross section and pollutants emission sources). Conclusion: In this study, at the first stage the preferred alternatives were determined. In the next stage the best alternatives for AQMS implementation were selected considering reasonable time and effort. The suggested approach could be used to implement AQMS for other areas.

Background and Objective: Considering the importance of alkalinity in pH regulation and its buffering role, in this study, the effect of inlet wastewater alkalinity on the efficiency of the anaerobic unit of the wastewater treatment plant. Moreover, a superior chemical compound in providing alkalinity to wastewater was investigated. Materials and Methods: This study was performed in the treatment plant to determine the relationship between input alkalinity and removal efficiencies of COD, BOD5 and TSS. In order to determine the optimal alkali material for superb anaerobic wastewater performance, four common chemical substances including, NaOH, Na2CO3, Ca(OH)2 and MgO were selected and examined using One Factor At Time (OFAT) test method. Results: According to the results maximum removal efficiencies were obtained 62, 66. 6 and 71. 2% for COD, BOD5 and TSS, respectively under alkaline condition of 1260 mg/L CaCO3. Furthemore, the optimal dose to supply one unit of alkalinity by Na2CO3, Ca(OH)2 and MgO were 0. 53, 0. 54 and 0. 3 mg/L, respectively. These values were obtained 5 min contact time and mixing rate of 150 rpm. However, for NaOH the optimal dose supply was obtained 0. 35 mg/L for 3 min contact time and mixing rate of 100 rpm. Conclusion: In conclusion, the performance of anaerobic baffled reactor is highly related to the supply of influent alkalinity to the reactor. In addition, the use of MgO can be considered as a suitable alkaline substance to neutralize acidic wastewater and provide alkalinity for ABR system.

Background and Objective: Vegetables are an essential part of our diet and a major dietary exposure route to heavy metals. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the concentration and potential health hazards of heavy metals in the vegetables sold in Kashan markets. Materials and Methods: 4 types of widelyraw-consumed vegetables, including parsley, coriander, basil, and fresh chives, were investigated in this study. Questionnaires were randomly given to individuals to determine vegetable consumption rate. Heavy metal were quantified using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Monte-Carlo Simulation was utilized to identify the associated health risks. Results: Among tested heavy metals, Pb showed the highest concentration in parsley (4. 8 ± 0. 98 μ g/g), coriander (3. 8 ± 1. 3 μ g/g) and basil (3 ± 0. 94 μ g/g). Cr levels in fresh chives (2. 8 ± 1. 6 μ g/g) was higher than other heavy metals. Also, the highest total hazard quotient values among examined heavy metals (Taking into account 95% confidence interval) were found for Pb (0. 7), Cr (0. 39), and Pb (1. 034) in coriander, basil, and fresh chives, respectively. Conclusion: Cr and Pb concentrations were generally beyond WHO/FAO guidelines in the samples. The THQ value for Pb in parsley was greater than 1, suggesting elevated adverse health effects due to parsley consumption.

Background and Objective: Since industrial waste management requires accurate knowledge of quantity and quality of solid wastes, this study was conducted to assess quantitative and qualitative characterization of industrial solid waste in Qazvin province, Iran and investigate its related pattern management. Materials and Methods: Based on the guideline of Iranian Environment Protection Organization, industries were classified into 10 groups. Then according to the abundance of industries in each group, 276 industries and 4 wastewater treatment plants were selected. The Basel Convention criterion was used to identify special solid wastes. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics and management pattern of industrial wastes were determined by referring to the industries and completing a researcher-made questionnaire. Results: The total types of identified industrial solid wastes were 1726. According to the guideline of Basel Convention, 33. 7% of identified wastes were classified as special wastes. The total amount of solid wastes was 38826 ton/month. The maximum solid wastes production was in the chemical industries with 14, 380 ton/month. The recovery and recycling rates were 8. 96 and 6. 44%, respectively, and 36. 44 % of industrial waste was sold directly. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the management of industrial solid wastes in Qazvin province does not follow a specific pattern. In addition, the quantity and the composition of solid wastes in the study area is a serious potential for environmental pollution and threatening human health. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a center responsible for industrial wastes management and design a centralized industrial waste disposal system.

Background and Objective: Pesticides are the major components of production in modern agriculture, however, as their widely usage, the hazards associated with their wastes have become of increasing concern. The aim of this study is to investigate orchard farmers’ attitudes toward proper disposal of pesticide wastes. Materials and Methods: The statistical population of the study includes all orchard farmers in Meshkinshahr County (N=32, 300). A total sample size of 300 farmers was selected and the data were collected. The research instrument was a questionnaire which was validated by a panel of university staff. A pilot study was conducted with 30 farmers outside the sample villages and Cronbach’ s alpha showed high reliability of the instrument. Results: Due to the pesticides use, significant amounts of wastes are produced annually. Farmers do not properly dispose pesticide wastes. They leave the wastes on the farm, dump it in canals or river flow, or burn it. Farmers were not well informed about triple rinsing of containers before disposal. Most farmers used masks, hats, and gloves, 53% used boots and 7. 7% used goggles, though none of them used coverall during pesticides’ handling. Respondents took negative to moderate attitudes towards proper wastes disposal. Age, education, and participation in extension programs were the most important determinants of the attitudes. Conclusion: Considering the relatively negative attitude and improper waste disposal, it is necessary to establish centers for waste collection, to inform and encourage farmers to dispose of waste properly. Relevant organizations, such as health and the environment should plan for pesticide waste management.

Background and Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between climatic parameters and air pollution with cardiovascular disease and its associated death during 2014 in Mashhad by time series model. Materials and Methods: Patient data (including outpatient and hospitalization) and cardiovascular mortality were obtained from the emergency medical center and Ferdowsi organization of Mashhad. Climatic parameters such as temperature, pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, and rainfall were gathered from meteorological organization. Air pollutants data were collected from Mashhad environmental pollutants monitoring center for the statistical period of 2014-2015. In this study, Jenkins Box time series model (combined model of autoregression and moving average known as ARIMA) with significance level of 5% was used to investigate the effect of climatic parameters and air pollution values on cardiovascular disease and daily, weekly and monthly excess mortality rate. Then, the effect of various seasons on the total number of patients with cardiac issues and the resulting death was investigated by Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test. Results: The final model for determination of monthly correlation between climatic elements and air pollutants with the number of cardiovascular patients and its corresponding death was found to be best fitted by ARIMA (0, 0, 0). The monthly survey revealed that humidity (positive correlation), temperature (positive correlation), wind speed (negative correlation), and PM2. 5 (negative correlation) with average values of 16. 2471, 48. 1628, 122. 38, and 7. 3905, respectively, had significant effects on the number of people experiencing cardiovascular disease. However, the monthly survey of mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease exhibited significant correlation (p < 0. 05) with pressure (positive correlation), temperature (negative correlation), and rainfall (negative correlation) with average values of 6. 5904, 1. 5728, and 1. 1704, respectively. The results showed a significant difference between the numbers of patients experiencing cardiovascular diseases in different seasons of the year with the highest recorded number of 3778 in autumn. Conclusion: The results suggest moderate correlation between atmospheric elements and air pollutants with the numbers of people experiencing cardiovascular diseases in short periods; however, in the case of long-term mortality, the correlation was strong. This study showed that climatic elements and air pollutants effectively affect cardiovascular diseases, while only climatic elements played a significant role in mortality. The main challenge of the present study is that cardiovascular disease and its resulting death may be influenced by parameters other than those considered in this study, such as multiple individual and environmental confounding variables.

Background and Objective: Nowadays, the development of green entrepreneurship plays an important role in sustainable employment, reducing environmental issues, economic development, and moving towards sustainable development. Thus, the present study has been carried out aiming to identify and analyze the factors facilitating the green entrepreneurship process in the field of urban waste using a mixed (quantitative-qualitative) method. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out with a mixed approach (exploration projects). For this purpose, using theoretical sampling logic, 14 experts were selected by snowball technique and the required data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews to achieve theoretical saturation. In the quantitative section, data were collected through interaction questionnaires handed out to 26 experts who were selected through purposive sampling, and the integrated DEMATEL-ISM technique was employed to build a regular hierarchical structure. Results: Layer-by-layer model was displayed in 4 levels using DEMATELISM technique. The first layer consists of improving laws and regulations and designing a suitable landscape as the most infrastructural, the second layer includes improving infrastructure issues, expanding supportive issues, culturalization and increasing public awareness, the third layer includes exploiting the potentials of the region and attracting private sector participation, and the fourth layer comprises of entrepreneurial management. Conclusion: The results show that the first step in creating a facilitator environment for green entrepreneurship process in the field of urban waste is to improve the macro structures that should be facilitated mainly by the central government, the second step is related to the proper infrastructure and preparation of public space governing the society. In the third step, it was found that the development and utilization of the region’ s potential increases its operational effectiveness. Finally, with entrepreneurial management, all activities that occurred at previous levels can be used effectively.