Archives of Hygiene Sciences
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Spring 2017

Background & Aims of the Study: Nitrogenous compounds could directly create many problems for human's health and the environment. Thus, removal of nitrogenous compounds is necessary. Among the most important problems, decreasing dissolved oxygen, toxicity for aquatics, eutrophication, converting aerobic medium into anaerobic one and corrosion could be noted. The aim of this study was determination of powdered activated carbon absorption efficiency in ammonia-nitrogen removal from aqueous environments.
This study was conducted as an experimental laboratory scale. In discontinuous system, the effect of parameters including absorbent dose (0.5-1.5 gr), initial N- ammonia concentration (100-200 mg/l), pH (3-9) and contact time (2-120 min) on system efficiency evaluated through Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results were fitted into Freundlich and Langmuir absorption isotherm and then absorption by the activated carbon absorbent compared by these models and absorption were analyzed. Also, first order, semi-second order and particulate infiltration reaction kinetics were evaluated.
N- ammonia removal efficiency had a direct relationship with absorbent dose, pH, contact time and reverse relation with initial N-ammonia concentration. Study the isotherms and kinetics process showed that activated carbon followed Freundlich isotherm as well as semi-second order kinetics. Results from central composition design (CCD) model showed that the studied system efficiency fitted to linear equation and results from model predictions had a great agreement with experimental data (R2=0. 98).
according to appropriate removal efficiency, powdered activated carbon could be utilized as an efficient and inexpensive absorbent for ammonium absorbance. Decreasing the system efficiency by increasing pollutant concentration must be considered.

Background & Aims of the Study: Toluene-2, 4-diamine (TDA) is a famous carcinogenic aromatic amine that is mostly employed as an intermediate in the production of dyes and toluene diisocyanate. In this study, degradation and mineralization of TDA were investigated by UV/H2O2 process.
This study is an experimental investigation on a laboratory scale. The study performed on synthetic wastewater that holds TDA. The influence of different operating variables such as the initial dosage of H2O2 and TDA, additive salts and pH was investigated. The optimization of variables was done by one factor at a time method.
The results specify that the degradation efficiency relies on the H2O2 and TDA concentrations, so that reduces as the initial concentrations of TDA are improved, but, it enhances with increasing the extent of H2O2 until an optimum value and then decreases to some extent. The reaction rate significantly reduced with an increase in initial pH value in alkaline solution, which means hydroxide ions could inhibit the degradation of TDA. The removal time was increased with an increase in the initial concentration of TDA. The optimal conditions were obtained at pH of 7, initial concentration of pollutant and hydrogen peroxide at M and M, respectively. At optimum condition, the removal of TDA and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) was 97.6 and 43.5%, respectively.
The results of this work show that separate UV radiation and H2O2 oxidation process can hardly degrade TDA from contaminated water and the UV/H2O2 process can be employed for complete degradation of TDA. The removal of TDA in UV/H2O2 process follows the pseudo-first order kinetics and the first order rate constants ( 35.7 ) and half-life of reaction ( were determined.

Background & Aims of the Study: Tea is one of the most important beverages that consumes in several parts of the world including Iran. Tea plant can be contaminated during manufacturing processes and growth period by pollutants such as heavy metals. In this study, the concentration of some heavy metals in different brands of both Iranian and imported black tea to Iran was investigated to survey the human exposure to such pollutants.
The study was carried out on different brands of black tea that most widely consume in Iran. The samples were collected from available supermarkets in Tehran city and concentrations of Mn, Cd and Cu were determined in black tea, using ICP-OES. Finally obtained results, by one way ANOVA analysis, compared to maximum contaminant concentration which is determined by WHO.
Results showed that concentrations of measured heavy metals in sampled black tea were different according to the brand of tea. The mean of Mn, Cu and Cd elements in all tea samples were 664.78, 26.15 and 0.194 µg/g, respectively. Generally, Cu content in studied samples was not significantly above WHO but Cd content, in some cases, was significantly higher than WHO. The guideline value is not given by WHO for Mn content of tea.
According to the obtained results, Cd content is exceeding than WHO standards, therefore, control of Cd, as a toxic element that can accumulate in living systems, is necessary.

Background & Aims of the Study: Dyes are one of the widespread chemicals which may have many adverse effects on life cycle. Thus, this study was conducted to survey the RB19 dye removal efficacy from aqueous solution, using the SiO2 nanoparticles.
This study was an experimental-lab study. The batch adsorption system were utilized to evaluated the RB19 dye removal efficiency under different amount of effective parameters including contact time, pH, adsorbent dosages, initial RB19 dye concentration and temperature.
the results of this study showed that the increasing of contact time, adsorbent dosage and temperature (up to 30) can positive effect on dye removal efficiency and can develop the dye removal efficiency, while the increasing of pH and RB19 dye concentration decrease the dye removal efficiency. The maximum dye removal efficiency was observed to be 95.72% at pH=5 and temperature of 30. Furthermore, the equilibrium studies of the RB19 dye adsorption depicted that the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-kinetic models was successfully able to describe the equilibrium data.
It can be concluded that SiO2 nanoparticles are excellent adsorbent to remove the dyes from aqueous solution.

Background & Aims of the Study: In the tropical regions of Iran, scorpionism is one of the important medical and public concerns. Poisoning with scorpion sting is one of the life threatening medical emergencies especially in individuals who are less than 6 years; knowing about its epidemiologic aspects might lead to exploit appropriate preventive methods. Therefore, for this purpose, the epidemiologic status of scorpion sting in Qom province of Iran was studied during 2004–2013.
This research is a descriptive-cross sectional study which has been done in all urban and rural areas of Qom province during 2004-2013 and all cases that referred to the one hospital, were assessed, examined, treated, followed and finally a questionnaire which is including demographic, epidemiologic and clinical data was completed for the patients. Data were analyzed by SPSS 17. Chi square and Fisher’s exact test were used for the evaluation of the hypothesis.
Totally, 395 cases of scorpion sting who were referred during the studied period. Most of them had 10–24 years. Most of them were male (60.25%). The most cases occurred during spring and summer. The stings mainly occurred at night between 22 p.m. and 4 a.m. Hands and foots were the most common organs of scorpion sting. 18.7 % of envenomed cases were due to black scorpion. 74.4 % of cases were from rural and 25.6 % from urban regions. 77.2% of the sufferers, sleep outdoor and on the floor. In 20.5% of cases, were surrounded by timber, dust and building materials. All cases have been received treatment and healed.
Based on findings, scorpion sting is considered a public health concerns in Qom province. So, it seems the programs of health education on personal protection to prevent possible damages with scorpions, especially students to be necessary. Also, the villager's should use the proper bed to sleep outdoor before wearing clothes or shoes and before entering the bed to ensure there are no scorpions. People should refuse to keep away timber, dust from residential environments for a long time.

Background & Aims of the Study: Antibiotics utilize with the aim of improving human, animal and plant health; also, for treating infections caused by pathogenic bacteria. When these compounds introduce into ecosystems, could affect the microbial community and jeopardize human health. Therefore, the aim of present study is to determination of the presence of six common utilized antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Erythromycin, Sulfamethoxazole, Imipenem and Cefixime) in wastewater effluent of Sina and Besat hospitals in Hamadan, Iran.
This study was descriptive-applied type. Sampling was conducted as compound samples from nearest manhole to hospitals containing toilets wastewater. Samples were transferred into the laboratory in dark conditions at 4°C and after centrifugation, passed through 0.45µ filters. Then, samples were extracted up to 24h and kept at -18°C until analysis. Prepared samples measured via HPLC (High Pressured Liquid Chromatography) system.
Data analysis indicated the presence of large and unfavorable amounts of three antibiotics including Amoxicillin, Cefixime and Imipenem in hospital wastewaters of Sina hospital, so that; mean concentration of identified antibiotics for Sina hospital was 5.86, 10.85 and 25.53 µg/L, respectively. Also, none of the most common antibiotics were observed in wastewater from Besat hospital.
Results showed that great difference between measured antibiotics from hospitals’ wastewater is due to intensive fluctuations in quantity and quality of effluent wastewater from hospitals. Generally, identified amounts of three antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Cefixime and Imipenem) represent improper status of presence of residuals in Sina hospital’s effluent wastewater which mixing this flow in urban wastewater; this flow could result in increasing concerns about entering antibiotic compounds into environment.

Background & Aims of the Study: Vegetables and Cereals are considered vital for properly-balanced diet given that they deliver vitamins, minerals, nutritional fiber, and phytochemicals. This study aimed to assess the concentration of As, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr and Hg in common vegetables and cereals in urban open markets in Varanasi district, India
Total 260 edible portions of vegetable samples of 13 species were collected in March to October, 2016 from predefined market sites. These samples classified into roots, stems, leafy vegetables, fruits, and legumes. These samples (unwashed, acetic acid washed and boiled) were assessed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The statistical evaluations were carried out using the IBM SPSS 21.
The results obtained reveal that unwashed vegetables and cereals as compared to washed and boiled samples contain higher trace metal concentration. The order of heavy metal concentration was observed in Cu>Pb>Cd>As in vegetable and cereals samples. Hg and Cr were not detected in any samples. The mean value of Cu, Cd and Pb in unwashed and washed vegetables and cereals were lower than PFA standard except As, whereas in boiled vegetables and cereals are lower than PFA standard but the mean value of Cd and Pb were many folds higher than the EU standard at all the market site samples. Leafy vegetables were found to contain the highest metals values especially Spinacia oleracea followed by roots vegetable like Brassica rapa, at all the studied sites. The market sites MS3 located in the vicinity of industrial zone and in proximity to national highway showed elevated levels of trace metals concentration in the vegetables and cereals as compared to other market sites.
The results showed that, the As, Cu, Cd and Pb concentration were reduced to about 12.5%, 5.87%, 11.36% and 10.42% of the initial concentrations by 2% acetic acid washing and to 25%, 21.87%, 20.45% and 16.67% of the initial concentrations by washing followed by boiling. The boiled vegetables and cereals may reduce the risk of trace metal intake from the vegetables and cereals significantly.

Background & Aims of the Study: Today, the environment pollution with heavy metals has increased. It is important to study various types of pollutions specially those regarding fruits. The effect of pollutions on food safety for human consumption is a global concern. This study was conducted for health assessment of heavy metals pollution (cadmium, lead, and arsenic) in citrus marketed in Tehran, Iran in 2015.
After collecting and preparing 2 samples from each citrus species (tangerine, grapefruit, sweet lime, sour orange, orange) with acid digestion method, the citrus pulp and peel were surveyed. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to determine the concentrations of heavy metals with three replications. Moreover, SPSS version 19 was employed to perform statistical analysis.
The results showed that the concentration average of Cadmium, Lead and Arsenic in citrus samples of the pulp parts were 19.73, 42.95 and 2.30 mg/kg and in peel parts were 20.09, 42.71 and 2.12 mg/kg, respectively. The average concentrations of heavy metals were higher than WHO maximum permissible limits.
Based on these results, consumption of citrus species has no adverse effect on the consumers’ health (except Sweet lime, Orange, Tangerine and Grapefruit in lead is risky for adults and Sweet lime and Orange that Health Index in Lead and Arsenic and Sour Orange, Tangerine and Grapefruit that Health Index in Lead is more than 1 and is risky for children). Thus, individuals living in Tehran should be cautious about using these citrus fruits and researchers should try to obtain national standards in the field of entering these metals to food in environmental conditions that are in Iran.

Background & Aims of the Study: Sarcocystiosis is a zoonosis appeared in domestic animals caused by various species of Sarcocystis. This protozoan disease has worldwide distribution among human and many species of animals. Humans acquire infection by eating of raw and under cooked beef, pork or mincemeat containing schizonts of Sarcocystis hominis and S. suihominis. The aim of present study is to detect prevalence of the Sarcocystis spp. infection in mincemeat samples at Ghazvin province of Iran.
Three hundred mincemeat samples of 150 sheep and 150 cattle were collected from butchers (in spring 2013) in different areas of Ghazvin province, Iran. The statistical analysis was done by independence sample t test, using SPSS ver. 22.0.0 (Chicago, IL, USA).
the finding of this study showed that the highest prevalence of Sarcocystis infection rate was observed in cattle (92.8%) and the lowest of that was evident in sheep (85.6%).
The highest infection rates in both types of minced meat samples were in May (45 and 49 minced meat of sheep and cattle, respectively).
The results revealed that Ghazvin province has the highest Sarcocystis infection rate. Regarding to the high prevalence of Sarcocystis contamination in this study, prevention of eating raw or under-cooked meat is strongly recommended.

Background & Aims of the Study: Heavy metals contaminate drinking water, air and soils. It is very harmful for humans and other live organisms. Phytoremediation is one of the direct bio-remediation methods for heavy metal removal from polluted water and soils. This method is accepted environmentally, economically and aesthetically. The purpose of this study was to assess Tamarix hispida capacity for heavy metals (lead and Cadmium) removal from Temby (Karon) river of Ahvaz, Iran.
This study was performed in summer season. Water samples took from upstream (before municipal wastewater discharge point) and downstream (after municipal wastewater discharge point). Samples of Tamarix hispida tree leaf took from those grown in downstream (after municipal sewage discharge place). In this study, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) was used for analysis.
Results of this study showed that lead and cadmium mean in summer were 0.5 and 0.077 mg/l in upstream; and they were 0.66 and 0.12 in downstream, respectively. According to the result, absorption rate of lead and cadmium by Tamarix hispida was 0.03 and 0.013 mg/l, respectively.
Results showed that Temby river water was polluted with Lead and Cadmium. Also,Tamarix hispida tree was effective for lead and cadmium removal. Lead was more uptake than Cadmium.

Background & Aims of the Study: p-Chloronitrobenzene is a benzoic compound that widely used in many chemical industrials. p-Chloronitrobenzene may be absorbed through the skin and is suspected to causing cancer. So, developing an easy method to remove of it from the environment is necessary. Equilibrium isotherms and adsorption kinetics of p-Chloronitrobenzene onto modified silk waste were studied experimentally.
Silk waste was modified by HCl and used as an adsorbent to remove of p-Chloronitrobenzene from aqueous solutions. After preparing of adsorbent, the adsorption experiments were down in a batch system in an erlen mayer at different concentrations of p-Chloronitrobenzene (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 mg/L), pH (2, 4, 6), dosage of modified silk waste (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 g/250 mL), temperature (20, 30, 40 oC) and contact time.
Data revealed that the adsorption of p-Chloronitrobenzene on to modified silk waste was reached equilibrium after 20 min. The adsorption of p-Chloronitrobenzene decreased with the increasing of pH and the concentration of p-Chloronitrobenzene which is increased by increasing of modified silk waste dosage. Also, data confirmed that changing of temperature did not have significant p-Chloronitrobenzene removal efficiency. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order equations were used to determine the kinetics of removal process. It was found that the adsorption of p-Chloronitrobenzene onto modified silk waste was obeyed from pseudo-second-order kinetic model.
The results indicated the adsorption of p-Chloronitrobenzene onto modified silk waste could be well fitted with the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models.

Background & Aims of the Study: In this research, Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment model is selected for simulation of runoff and NPS pollution. The aim of this study is modeling of non-point source pollution by L-THIA model in Zayandehrood watershed in 2015.
In this study, analytical survey and investigation of references in the context of library studies has been used. Zayandehrood watershed is located in Esfahan, Iran. Required data in this study are land use, soil and precipitation data from studied period. The first L-THIA model run and then the spatial distribution of non-point source pollution analysed within the study area. The annual average runoff volume, depth and the non-point source nitrogen and phosphorus load and the spatial distribution were estimated.
According to the study, we concluded that amount of nitrogen and phosphorus load in agricultural and residential areas are more serious and the nitrogen load due to nonpoint source pollution was larger than phosphorus load in Zayandehrood basin. The maximum runoff depth in the region was calculated 501.371 cm and the maximum nonpoint source pollution obtained 24244.27 kg. The results indicated the watershed likely is affected to impacts from urbanization and agriculture.
The results of this study can be used for urban planning and decision making in an effort to protect water and habitat quality of Zayandehrood river. Integration of introduced model and other hydrologic models can be increased accuracy and precision of results. Also, sub-watersheds can prioritize for watershed management in in the vulnerable sections.

Background & Aims of the Study: Wheat flour makes the basic component of bread. Thus, evaluating its quality plays an important role in public health. This paper focused on the physicochemical and microbial analysis of all bread flour types, used in the bakeries of Hamedan, Iran during 2015-2016.
All bread flour types such as Barbari, Lavash, Sangak and Tafton bread flours were collected from 100 bakeries which baked various types of wheat bread in Hamedan, western Iran from May 2015 to February 2016 in this cross-sectional study. Moisture, dry matter, ash, fat and protein percent values of samples were analyzed. Total viable counts of bacteria as well as yeasts and molds of all samples were determined. Identification and characterization of enumerated fungi was also identified.
The highest moisture content percent belonged to Sangak flour (12.75±0.06), significantly (P It was found that the fungal growth control is essential by improving storage conditions, hygienic operations and nutrients enrichment in wheat flours of all bread types of Hamedan, Iran.

Background & Aims of the Study: water pollution by synthetic organic dyes is mainly regarded as environmental and ecological critical issues worldwide. In this research, magnetite iron oxide/silica gel nanocomposite (termed as Fe3O4/SG) was synthesized chemically and then used as an effective adsorbent for removal of sulfur dyes from aqueous solution.
The various parameters such as pH, sorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, contact time and dye solution temperature were investigated in a batch system. The equilibrium data were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models.
The experimental data fit well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2≥0.998) and conformed better to Langmuir isotherm model (R2≥0.997). The maximum adsorption capacity for Fe3O4/SG obtained from the Langmuir model was 11.1mg/g. Evaluation of thermodynamic parameters proved that the adsorption process was normally feasible, spontaneous and exothermic.
It can be concluded that the Fe3O4/SG can be considered as a cost-effective and an environmental friendly adsorbent for efficient removal of sulfur dyes from aqueous solutions.

Background & Aims of the Study: In this study, we evaluate the respiratory deaths which were caused by exposure to PM10 in Ahwaz, Bushehr and Kermanshah cities of Iran during 2015 by Air model Q2.2.3.
The required data gathered from the department of environment and meteorological organization in three study areas. Data were analyzed, using Excel software at the next stage with implementation of pressure and temperature correction, programming, processing (average) and filtering.
The results showed that approximately 17% of respiratory deaths in Kermanshah are attributed to over 30 µg/m3 concentration of PM10, 19% of respiratory deaths in Bushehr city are attributed to concentrations over 20 µg/m3 and 25% of respiratory deaths in Ahwaz are attributed to concentrations over 120 µg/m3. The higher percentage of death due to this implication might be because of higher average of PM10 or duration of days with high concentration in Ahwaz city which were caused by recent dosage of dust in this city compared to two other cities. In accordance with the comparison of total respiratory death which is attributed to PM10 at three study areas in 2015 indicated that Ahwaz had the most respiratory mortalities while Kermanshah had the lowest one and the risk of respiratory deaths would increase by 1/2% with 10 µg/m3 increase in PM10 concentration. The total lost years of life attributed to PM10 during last 10 years have been 348874 years, 43839 and 11660 in Ahwaz, Kermanshah and Bushehr, respectively.
Results shown Ahwaz has the largest number of lost years of life and Kermanshah had the fewest number of lost years of life.