Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research
Volume:3 Issue: 1, Winter 2015

Creating awareness and recognizing behavioral factors associated with recycling is essential for waste management. To identify factors influencing recycling behavior, a theory of planned behavior (TPB)-based questionnaire was designed. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. This psychometric study was conducted through a multistage random sampling on 283 homemakers of Mahabad Town, Iran, in 2014. The method recommended by Ajzen and Francis was used for designing the questionnaire. Its validity was evaluated using quantitative and qualitative face validity, ration and content validity index, and qualitative judgment of an expert panel of 8 members and its structural validity using exploratory factor analysis. In addition, its reliability was assessed using internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) and retest (intraclass correlation) methods. Of the 53 initial questions, after calculating the content validity ratio (CVR) with values higher than 0.80 and content validity index (CVI) with values higher than 0.79, we modified 3 questions and deleted 8 questions; therefore, 45 questions were approved. Using exploratory factor analysis with a varimax rotation, 9 factors with a value of higher than 1 were selected, which were able to predict 91.81% of the total variation. The reliability of the tool was confirmed through calculating Cronbach's alpha (0.87). Results of retest indicated the consistency of the questionnaire. This research found that the Persian version of the Theory of Planned Behavior Questionnaire (TPB questionnaire) has suitable validity and reliability and can be used in research and administrative activities on increasing the participation of homemakers in municipal solid waste source separation.

In the present study, calcination conditions during the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). After that, the effect of the type of UV irradiation on the photocatalysis of methylene blue (MB) dye was studied based on the kinetic model obtained at optimum conditions. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) exhibited a reasonable high correlation coefficient between the predicted and experimental values (R2 = 0.95). For a decolorization efficiency of 90%, the optimum calcination temperature and calcination time were identified to be 459 °C and 3.65 h, respectively.
According to the reaction rate constant (k), the time required for the removal of MB using UVC lamps (0.027 1/min) was shorter than that of UVA lamps (0.0098 1/min), indicating higher exciting potential of the UVC irradiation for the generation of hydroxyl radicals through photocatalysis.

Pesticides are chemical substances used to control pests in an effort to increase crop production and quality, and food storage. The levels of pesticides in different environmental compartments, such as water, soil, agricultural foods, and products of animal origin, have become a relevant issue. In this study, the levels of pesticide residues in Sabarmati River of Gujarat, India, have been investigated using surface water and sediment samples as a case study to find the extent of contamination and accumulation in the River. Thus, 3 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), namely dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), and endosulfan, and their isomers were analyzed in the River through gas chromatography (GC) (Shimadzu, 2010) using an electron capture detector (ECD). The present research is very vital and holds a great significance for a developing nation like India. There is a lack of such studies in India and a similar study has not been carried out on the Sabarmati River since 1998. In some cases detected concentrations were higher than the standard set by the Indian Bureau of Standards as well as theEuropean Union. ∑OCP residues detected in surface water and sediments samples of the Sabarmati River ranged between below detection limit (BDL) and 392.71 μg/l and BDL-1393.81 ng/g.

The aim of this study was the increasing of leachate quality using integrated membrane bioreactor (MBR). The reactor was fed with treated leachate with overall 70-1360 mg/l chemical oxygen demand (COD). The analysis of COD, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total suspended solids (TSS), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were performed in feed and filtrate, whenever the system reached steady state twice a week for 6 months. In all loading rate, BOD5 concentration was less than the standard limit. The removal efficiency of COD in all experiments was up to 80%. Up to 99% of solids, which may mainly include colloidal solids, were removed with micropore membrane. There was no significant difference between TDS concentration in feed and filtrate. It was concluded that MBR is a versatile technology with high throughput and can treat compost leachate below standard limit if used after appropriate processes.

Industrial activities and high traffic density are the most important heavy metal pollution sources in urban areas. Roadside dust created by atmospheric deposition can be one of the best indicators for heavy metal contamination levels. The present study reports the spatial distribution patterns and degree of heavy metal pollution (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, and As) in 50 roadside dust samples from urban areas of Sanandaj, Iran. For this purpose, sampling points were selected on different roads including primary roads, high roads, and main roads. The geographic coordinates of sampling points were recorded by the Global Positioning System (GPS). The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and integrated pollution index (IPI) were used to present the heavy metal contamination levels. The results obtained by the geoaccumulation index suggest that the roadside dust samples were moderately contaminated with Ni and Cr, moderately to heavily contaminated with Pb and Cd, and heavily to extremely contaminated with As and Zn. The assessment of the data shows that 92% of all roadside dust samples had moderate pollution levels with an IPI of higher than 2, indicating that roadside dust in Sanandaj County has moderately been polluted by anthropogenic emissions. In order to compare the heavy metal concentrations in different parts of Sanandaj County, each heavy metal contamination was interpolated in a geographical information system (GIS). Heavy metal distribution maps showed the different hotspots of each pollutant that indicated high traffic density and industrial centers as the important factors affecting their concentrations in Sanandaj County.

Textile dyeing is considered to be one of the major industrial sources of high rates of organic and aromatic compounds. Conversely, these compounds have become a significant environmental problem. Many methods have been investigated for color removal from dye-containing wastewater. In this research, the efficiency of the electrocoagulation (EC) process with aluminum electrodes in the removal of Reactive Green 19 (RG-19) dye from synthetic solutions was studied. The experiments were conducted in a batch reactor equipped with 4 aluminum electrodes with a volume of 2 l. Dye concentrations were measured (λmax = 630 nm). The effects of operating parameters, such as voltage, reaction time, initial dye concentration, energy consumption, pH, KCl concentration, and inter-electrode distance, on removal efficiency were investigated. The highest removal efficiency of RG-19 was found to be 33.49, 60.32, 72.43, 93.63, and 94.91 percent for initial voltage of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 v, respectively, in optimum conditions (pH = 11, KCL concentration = 0.005 M, and distance = 1 cm). The removal was effectively reduced to less than 99.88% when the initial dye concentration increased from 25 to 150 mg/l. In addition, by increasing KCl concentration and decreasing electrode distance, removal efficiency increased considerably. Based on the results, EC process by aluminum electrodes is an efficient and suitable method for reactive dye removal from wastewater.

Air pollution is one of the emerging environmental issues of the western cities of Iran. Daily data (2009-2012) on air pollutants in Sanandaj, Iran, were collected from the Department of Environmental Protection, Kurdistan Province, Iran. Climatic parameters were collected from the Kurdistan Meteorological Bureau. The quality of air was assessed based on the air quality index (AQI). The relationship between climatic parameters was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. AQI indicated that the air quality in Sanandaj is under normal conditions. However, Particulate Matter (PM10) was at medium and critical level, requiring precautionary measures for the health of the elderly and children. The concentration of PM10 has increased in recent years during the months of April to June (reached an unhealthy level in the warm days of the year). The highest pollutant concentration (CO and SO2) was observed during cold days of the year (December to February). The highest concentration of NO2, NO, O3, and PM10 were observed in summer and spring, whereas the lowest concentrations were observed in cold seasons. The Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between air pollutants and climatic parameters. The multiple regression analysis and R2 analysis showed the influence of climatic factors on pollutant concentration. ANOVA indicated Factors which cause the most significant variability in pollutant concentration are air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed.

High concentrations of ammonium in drinking water can cause many diseases and environmental problems such as eutrophication. Therefore, high-performance and eco-friendly methods for purification are of great importance and must be considered. Recently, bioelectrochemical systems have been successfully applied for the removal of many pollutants from water and wastewater. In the present work, ammonium was treated using the bioelectrochemical process. The 2 effective factors of temperature and supporting electrolyte dose were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal conditions were electrolyte dosage of 250 mg/l and temperature of 26.5 °C. Under optimized conditions, the maximum ammonia removal percentage was 99.6%. Analysis of variance indicated a reasonable correlation coefficient (R2) between the predicted and actual values. R2 (0.8913), adjusted R2 (0.8137), and coefficient of variation (8.32 %) were calculated based on statistical analysis. The results indicate that the bioelectrochemical process is the most useful and effective method for the removal of ammonium from wastewater.