Iranian Journal of health, Safety and environment
Volume:5 Issue: 2, Spring 2018

The aim of this study was the investigation of electrochemical process for sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) removal from aqueous solutions using different electrode materials. The influence of operating parameters such as current density, solution initial pH, surfactant concentrations, retention time, supporting electrolyte concentrations, electrode materials (aluminum, titanium, galvanized steel, stainless steel) and electrical energy consumption were evaluated. The obtained results indicated that the stainless steel electrode was more efficient than other electrodes. Maximum SDS removal was obtained 94.98% at the optimum condition of initial pH 7.0, 60 min retention time, 3.125 mA/cm2 current density, 100 mg/L initial SDS concentration and 0.2 g/L NaCl concentration. The electrical energy consumption of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium and galvanized steel was achieved 4, 3.68, 12 and 4.48 KWh/m3, respectively. It was found that the electrochemical reaction using stainless steel plate electrodes was efficient in SDS removal from aquatic environments.

The concentrations of thirteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and six trace elements adsorbed to a fine fraction of particulate matter (PM ≤ 2.5 µm) were determined at an urban site in Tehran (Iran) during the spring period in 2013. The average concentration of PM2.5 was 41.19 µg/m3, which was 1.64 and 1.2 times higher than the annual average of WHO guidelines and EPA ambient air quality standards, respectively. The trace elements measured in the PM2.5 samples were Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, As and Zn with the mean concentrations of 38.05, 18.2, 4.24, 4.19, 1.34, and 69:92 ng/m3 respectively. Hg wasnot found in any sample in this study. Results from correlation tests between PM2.5 concentrations and different toxic metals; which were studied in various days of the week, including holidays, 1 day after the holidays, and the other days showed that the variability between groups were significant at the 0.05 level. Exception is Hg and Zn. The mean concentrations of PM2.5 and trace elements in 1 day after the holidays were higher compared other 2 groups. Total PAHs concentrations in PM2.5 were found to be 7.92 ng/m3.The most abundant PAHs found were high molecular weight homologues (4-6 ring PAHs) such as Inp, Bgp, Dba, Bkf and Bbf, which are contributing to constituents of vehicular emissions. In general, high molecular weight PAHs are more correlated than low molecular weight PAHs. Moreover a moderate correlation was observed between total PAH concentration and PM2.5 mass.

Sanandaj in the west of Iran is one of the main city that suffered from Arabic Dust Storm (ADS). As Sanandaj isn’t industrial city and located in the mountainous region, one of the main sources of air pollution which has adverse effects on citizens and environment is PM10 which comes from Arabic Dust Storm. In this way, the goal of this study was to the assessment of these adverse health effects. So the hourly data of concentration of PM10 (measured by Beta attenuation method) were taken from Kurdistan Environmental Protection Agency in 2015.
the 24-hour average concentration of particulate matter has exceeded about 182 times (days) more than the National Standards and WHO guideline values and the average annual concentration of PM10 were about 1.5 times more than the National Standard and WHO guideline values during the period of the exam.
By means of Air Q2,2,3 software the data analyzed and baseline incidence(BI), relative risk(RR) and attributable proportion(AP) were calculated. The results of this study showed that short-term health effect of PM10 could increase of total mortality except accidents and poisoning(4.13%), hospital admission cardiovascular(4.98%), cardiovascular mortality(4.45%), hospital admission respiratory(4.45%) and respiratory mortality(0.2%).
This study demonstrated that a high percentage of cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality rate increased due to the raising of the concentration of PM10. To reduce the emission of PM10 from main sources and relationship between the hospital and Kurdistan Environmental Protection Agency and whether organization and people to be alert are necessary.

Environmental contamination with heavy metals is one of the main concerns on a global scale and the risk related to exposure to heavy metals present in indoor dust is considered as a serious threat to human health. Therefore, the purpose of the current research was to evaluate the heavy metals concentrations in indoor dust and their potential risks in urban areas in Bushehr city, Iran. Fifty-four indoor dust samples were collected from different buildings including lab rooms, offices, school rooms and households within the Bushehr City, during May – July 2016 and analyzed using ICP-AES (Arcousmodel, Germany). The sum of hazard quotient (hazard quotient (HQs) for heavy metals for adults declined in the order of Cr > Cd > Cu >Ni > Zn > Pb for the household while the order of ΣHQ for trace metals for adults in offices is Cr > Cd > Ni >Cu > Zn > Pb. Moreover, the values ΣHQ for trace metals for children declined in the order of Cr > Cd > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb for the schools while the order of ΣHQ for trace metals for children in households is Cd > Zn >Cu > Cd > Ni > Cr > Pb. For all heavy metals, the HQs was about an order of magnitude higher for children than for adults. These findings can be attributed to the more vulnerability of children to the toxic substances.

Shoulder is among the most common sites of musculoskeletal pain. Shoulder and neck pain has been widely investigated but its etiology still remains unknown. However, it appears to be multifactorial. Despite extensive studies on shoulder pain and its etiology, studies on the effect of general health status on non-specific shoulder pain are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate relationship between non-specific shoulder pain and general health status in Tire production industry workers.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in a large tire factory during 2013-2015 and 497 male production line workers were evaluated. Characteristics of workers at baseline were evaluated using a questionnaire covering three main domains: Demographic and occupational characteristics, general health questionnaire (GHQ) and the job content questionnaire (JCQ). subjects were followed up for developing shoulder pain for one year.
At one year following the first visit, 159 (32%) subjects complained of unilateral or bilateral shoulder pain. T-test applied for quantitative variables revealed that the mean work experience, the general health questionnaire (GHQ) score and the quick exposure check (QEC) score were significantly higher in patients suffering from shoulder pain than healthy subjects (P Based on the results of this study general health status is important in non-specific shoulder pain and should be considered in evaluation of workers with shoulder pain.

Exposing to the high-level of BTXs concentration can occur in the oil-dependent industries and may cause considerable adverse impacts on the health of employees. The main objective of the present study firstly is determining the exposure of petrochemical and oil depot workers to benzene, toluene, ortho and methyl xylenes, and p-xylene (BTXs), and secondly is estimating the lifetime cancer risk (LCR) and non-carcinogenic risk using the hazard quotient (HQ). This cross-sectional study is conducted on 85 workers at petrochemical (34 subjects) and oil depot (51 subjects) industries of Iran in 2016. In order to determine the exposure concentrations of BTXs, through inhaling way, individual sampling was carried out according to the NIOSH 1501 method. Then, estimating LCR of benzene, and non-carcinogenic risk of benzene, toluene, ortho and methyl xylenes, and p-xylene, using the HQ, has been conducted regards to criteria recommended by USEPA. The mean exposure concentration of benzene among the oil depot workers was higher than the petrochemical workers, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.162). The mean exposure concentration of benzene in the oil depot workers (2.1 ± 2.53 mg/m3) was higher than the occupational exposure limits provided by the American conference of governmental industrial hygienists (ACGIH_TLV = 1.67 mg/m3). The mean concentration of toluene in the exposed workers of the oil depot (46.81 ± 22.43 mg/m3) was higher than the exposed workers of petrochemical (41.83 ± 30.06 mg/m3), but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.412). The results of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment revealed high-risk exposure level in the both investigated groups. The mean LCR of benzene in the oil depot workers was higher than the petrochemical workers (1.681E-3 and 1.163E-3, for the oil depot and petrochemical, respectively). The LCR of benzene and HQ of BTXs in the both investigated groups were higher than the reference values. In order to reduce occupational exposure to BTXs in the investigated oil depot and petrochemical, control measures should be taken in the future, as soon as possible.

The general attitude of the wastewater treatment process in our country is focus on the effluent quality and unfortunately waste sludge quality is rarely considered. Since multiple natural hazards and routes the contact with sludge requires a comprehensive approach to protect public health and the environment. The aim of this study is an assessment of sludge management and finding out the potential use of sludge for land application. The study was conducted in January to December 2014. samples were gathered in four seasons, winter, spring, summer and autumn from wastewater treatment plant in industrial park of Shokohieh of Qom province according to the instructions in standard method. Sampling was moments and composite. Numbers of Samples were 24 that 2 samples were captured in every month. Samples measured base on standard method for water wastewater examination references and then data was analyzed by SPSS and t-test. The results show that the Physical Parameters qualities and nutrients qualities in sludge are good. The Phosphate quality is not suitable. Based on t-test, the results show that levels of fecal coliform and total coliform in cold and warm seasons are different (P

Individuals involved in development, repair and maintenance activities of power transmission and distribution are at high risk of electrocution. The purpose of this research is to calculate the human injuries risk of medium voltage electrocution accidents using Bow Tie model in fuzzy environment. Therefore, existing evidences and documents was investigated, and accident causes was determined using the FTA technique. Then, their outcomes were identified by using ETA and William Fine method, and Bow Tie diagrams were drawn based on the results. After that, because of inadequate data, the fuzzy logic was used to calculate the probability of the root causes and outcomes of the accident. The probability of the middle causes and top event was also calculated by probabilistic equations. The results showed that in terms of frequency, medium voltage electrocution accident with probability of 2.2E-4 is one of the significant accidents in the electricity distribution activities, as well as the outcome of "permanent total disability or death of one person" and "with no injury", are the maximum and minimum outcome of the mentioned accident with the probability of 2.1E-6 and 1.29E-10, respectively. These outcomes with the risk of 1.05E-8 and 1.29E-10 are also considered as highest and lowest risk, respectively. "Permanent total disability or death of one person" is the most important outcome of medium voltage electrocution accident, in terms of both frequency and risk. "Lack of installing earth system" and "absence of double insulation" are the most important root causes of accidents. Finally, the results of this research can facilitate financial and human resources planning, and also, the use of Bow Tie in the fuzzy environment can resolve risk assessment problem greatly in the uncertainty and lack of inadequate data.

Bioaerosols are air pollutants that affect human health in various routes. They are characteristically diverse; such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, that everyone has different characteristics and effects, various solutions and technologies are studied or applied for their removal and inactivation. Regarding to lack of specific and integrated publications about the different air quality guidelines for bioaerosols and the methods and technologies, attending to approach the standards, purpose of this study was set on the development of the issue.
The importance of presence of bioaerosols in breathing air and related standards and guidelines, also controlling technologies such as filtration, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, photo catalyst, temperature and electrostatic precipitators were surveyed in this study by using the scientific literature.Given the results, UV irradiation and photocatalytic methods are ineffective for allergens. In this way, filtration is unable for inactivation of the bioaerosols, then there is the threat that they can aerosolize again. Hence, these technologies individually cannot provide the air quality standards which have established for sensitive conditions such as operation rooms.
Regarding the discussions, application of the methods that include collection and inactivation of the bioaerosols simultaneously, such as electrostatic precipitators, could be more effective in the likewise environments.