Iranian Journal of Health and Environment

Evaluation of the input, process, and output of the educational programs in health educational institutions: a cross-sectional study in Shiraz

Mohammad Mehdi Baneshi

Background and Objective: Increasing the level of health awareness of food preparation and distribution staff can have a direct impact on improving the level of public health in the community. Education can change people's knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Health education courses that provide integrated education as well as to other education systems, include educational inputs, processes, and outputs. The objective of this research is to evaluate these elements of the educational system of health education courses in Shiraz.
Materials and Methods: The current study evaluated the educational input, process, and output of 7 current health education institutions in Shiraz. Factors that influence the input of educational courses were evaluated using an inspection checklist of health education courses, the educational process was measured employing a satisfaction survey, and the educational output was assessed through a checklist of inspection of Article 13 of the Regulations. The health performance of 160 guild health certified units and 160 uncertified education units was analyzed as a criterion for effectiveness. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS21 software. Data related to the assessment of the input and educational process were analyzed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric statistical tests were also used for cross-group comparisons of output evaluation data.
Results: The findings of the educational input evaluation showed a strong correlation and a significant relationship between the overall evaluation score of the educational courses and the "observation" (0.96) "educational course principal" (0.94). Also, in the process evaluation, the "educational environment" and "general educational programs" with correlation coefficients of 0.99 and 0.84 had the most correlation with the overall process evaluation score. In all the health fields studied, there was a significant difference (p = 0.001) between the average score obtained for educational courses with and without certificates. There was a significant difference (p <0.0001) between the mean score obtained by public health with and without health certification. The average score obtained by the certified public and non-public places was 91.81 and 70.71, respectively.
Conclusion: Health education can have a major impact on people's health performance. Some of the elements that make up the educational output have a greater impact on achieving the desired educational output. For example, the revision and updating of the educational content and the development of the educational program according to all groups of learners can improve the performance of the learning process and the satisfaction of learners.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in water consumed by families living in some villages of Mazandaran

Mohsen Heidari

Background and Objective: In some villages of Mazandaran, drinking water may be polluted with various pollutants, especially heavy metals (HMs), due to the shallow depth of drinking water sources and the proximity of these sources to farmlands. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the HM pollution level of drinking water in some villages of Mazandaran province and to assess the attributed health risks.
Materials and Methods: HMs content of drinking water in 30 villages with separate water sources in Mazandaran province was measured. Concerning the HMs concentration and toxicity, and exposure route through water drinking, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were assessed using a Monte-Carlo simulation-based method.
Results: The concentration values of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead in water were <1/0-4.26, < 0.05, <0.15-3.74, <0.3-10.89, and <0.8-4.68 µg/L, respectively. The hazard index (HI) values for non-carcinogenic risk due to the exposure to HMs through drinking of water in various age groups ranged from 3.04E-04 to 9.94E-04. Values of cumulative excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR_T) for As and Cr were 9.72E-08 and 6.13E-08, respectively.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that, fortunately, the concentration of metals in drinking water in the studied area was much lower than the national standards and the attributed health risk. Therefore, the drinking water sources in the studied villages had acceptable quality. However, due to the existence of rice paddies in some villages of Mazandaran province, continuous monitoring of pollution levels in the drinking water sources of these areas is essential.

Environmental impact assessment of Karaj compost plant using rapid impact assessment matrix and sustainability model

Parisa Mohammad Hosseini

Background and Objective: Due to the negative effects of municipal waste, the need for proper management and selection of appropriate solutions to minimize these effects is strongly felt. One of the methods of recycling waste is preparing compost from organic materials. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental impacts of the two options of implementation and non-implementation of the Karaj compost plant project.
Materials and Methods: Based on the obtained results, the project implementation was determined by gaining more points (0.181) in terms of sustainability and having the least destructive environmental effects, and the project was not implemented by gaining more points (-0.155) in terms of sustainability and having more environmentally destructive effects.
Results: Based on the obtained results, the first option (project implementation) was determined as the best option by gaining more points (0.181) in terms of sustainability and having the least destructive environmental Impacts and the second option (non-implementation of the project) was determined with a lower score (-0.155) in terms of sustainability and more environmental damage than the first option.
Conclusion: According to the research findings, the results of the rapid impact assessment matrix and sustainability model are consistent in confirming the superiority of compost plant performance over non-implementation.

Impacts of the seawater desalination plants' discharges on survival and ionic balance of Blue swimmer crab, Portunus segnis (Forskal, 1775), in the northern Persian Gulf

Ehsan Kamrani

Background and Objective: Nowadays, the demand for seawater desalination plants (SDPs) has risen worldwide. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the effects of discharging the SDPs brines into the Persian Gulf marine environment and its aquatics health. Therefore, this research was performed to examine the effects of SDPs brines discharged from this facility in the ecosystem of the Persian Gulf on survival and electrolytes in the Blue swimmer crab, Portunus segnis (Forskal,1775) under laboratory conditions.
Materials and Methods: Brines of two types of active SDPs in Hormozgan were collected; then,75 crabs of (P.segnis), with mean (±SD) carapace width of 9.71±2.18 cm and total weight of 61.22±1.04 g, were collected and transported to the laboratory from the Bandar Abbas coast. As a completely randomized design, the samples were tested in 5 treatments (with three repetitions). Mortality was recorded, and at the end of the experimental period (60 days),the level of some electrolytes of the hemolymph (sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium) was measured.
Results: Crabs' survival percentage in treatments containing SDPs effluent decreased compared to control (86%), which was more evident in RO 100% and MED 100% treatments with 46.7% and 40%, respectively (p <0.01). The examined electrolyte levels in treatments containing SDPs brine increased compared to control, which were more significant for RO 100% and MED 100% treatments (p <0.01).
Conclusion: This study showed that the SDPs brines would have physiological consequences on aquatic organisms. In nature, the synergy of SDPs effluents with other sources of ecological stress will have severe impacts. Therefore, the necessary regulations and actions should be taken to minimize the environmental effects of SDPs.

Bioremediation of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii algae in synthetic crude oil wastewater

Mozhgan Ahmadi Nodushan

Background and Objective: The presence of PAHs in the environment can cause a problem as their presence has a deleterious effect on humans and animals. They also have the ability to cause tumors in humans and animals. Generally, to remove crude oil pollutants from seawater, various physicochemical and biological treatment methods have been applied worldwide. A biological treatment method using bacteria, fungi, and algae has recently gained a lot of attention due to its efficiency and lower cost. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, microalgae have features such as a high proliferation rate, and cultivability in various water ecosystems.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, a total of 12 samples of synthetic oil wastewater were prepared at 2.5 g/L, 7.5 g/L, and 12.5 g/L that were called C1, C2 and C3.The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was used for the determination of PAHs compounds in the samples. Furthermore, water samples were further analyzed for the amounts of biological oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total organic carbon (TOC). Chlorophyll A, biomass, amounts of nitrate, and nitrite were also measured. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9/8 software.
Results: Results indicated that the removal rates from crude oil by C.reinhardtii microalgae were 100% on the 14^th day for the three compounds of phenanthrene, fluorine, and anthracene at all concentrations, and 97.8%, 93%, and 92.7% for naphthalene compound at concentrations of 2.5 g in 1L, 7.5 g in 1L, and 12.5 g in 1 L, respectively (p<0.05). In terms of nutrients (NO^-₂ and NO^-₃), the highest amount of nitrate removal was observed at a concentration of 2.5 g/L from crude oil (C1) (p<0.05). The highest biomass was observed in the C3 treatment (p<0.05). Moreover, the greatest decline in BOD was observed in treatment C3 at 47.4%, while the greatest COD and TOC decline were observed in C1 treatment with the value of 84% and 94%, respectively (p<0.01).
Conclusion: The results showed that the cultivation of C.reinhardtii in crude oil in terms of nutrient removal potential, hydrocarbon composition, improving water quality and production of suitable biomass can be an acceptable option for exploitation in the biological treatment process.

The receptor of heavy metals in total particulate matter with UNMIX determine the contribution model in 21st district of Tehran

Nabiollah Mansouri

Background and Objective: The city of Tehran is always exposed to adverse consequences due to the establishment of various sources of heavy metals. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the types of heavy metals in airborne particles and the origin of heavy metals in the 21st district of Tehran.
Materials and Methods: According to the EPA standard, 5 stations from District 21 of Tehran were selected for sampling. Using the ASTM D4096 method and using a high volume sampling pump, 50 samples of total airborne particles were collected. The samples were transferred to the laboratory and the concentration of heavy metals was measured by ICP-OES. The UNMIX source model was used to identify heavy metal sources.
Results: The average concentration of heavy metals in 1400 is a decreasing trend including Li according to the concentration of heavy metals in the air in the SPECIATE database, the role of light vehicle sources was 47 percent 34 percent on the street and 18 percent at the airport.
Conclusion: The source of light vehicles exhibited the highest share of emissions and the element aluminum showed the highest concentration among heavy metals in Region 21. Therefore, the UNMIX source model can correctly identify index elements and priority sources for contaminant control.

Investigation of the potential of oil-contaminated soil in changing the biodegradability indices of oil sludge

Mehdi Farzadkia

Background and Objective: The high concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons, along with some other parameters such as aromatics, paraffin, naphthene, and heavy metals, has led to the sludge of oil sludge listed as hazardous materials with a specific source by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of oil-contaminated soil in changing the biodegradability indices of oil sludge.
Materials and Methods: Moisture, pH, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, elemental analysis, and amount and type of TPH of oil sludge samples were identified. The microbial consortium was isolated from contaminated oil soil around the oil refinery and poultry manure. Finally, biodegradability indices of oil sludge were examined.
Results: The results showed that the amount of organic carbon and nitrogen in oil sludge samples were 32.65 and 0.21%, respectively. Also, iron, calcium, and potassium with 5862, 2921, and 524 mg/kg, respectively, were the most elemental components in petroleum sludge. According to the SARA analysis, the highest TPH compounds in oil sludge samples included saturated compounds, aromatics, resins, and asphaltene with 70.45%, 15.2%, 10.9%, and 3.45%, respectively.
Conclusion: According to the results of biodegradability indicators of oil sludge, it can be concluded that the isolated consortium can be proposed as a suitable tool for the treatment of petroleum sludge at the bottom of crude oil storage tanks.

Photocatalytic removal of amoxicillin from aqueous solution using magnetic graphene oxide functionalized with cerium dioxide nanocomposite

Soheil Sobhanardakani

Background and Objective: Amoxicillin (AMX) is one of the commonly used commercial antibiotics due to its high resistance to bacteria and its large spectrum against a wide variety of microorganisms, which it´s existence in the wastewater from pharmaceutical industries and hospital effluents causes unpleasant odor, skin disorder, and microbial resistance among pathogen organisms, and it can lead to the death of microorganisms which are effective in wastewater treatment. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate of removal efficacy of AMX from aqueous solutions using GO@Fe₃O₄@CeO₂.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, GO@Fe₃O₄@CeO₂ was synthesized and then used as a photocatalyst for the removal of AMX from aqueous solution. GO@Fe₃O₄@CeO₂ was characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), SEM-EDX elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) methods. Additionally, the influence of variables including pH (3-11), amount of photocatalyst (0.006-0.04 g), contact time (0-150 min), and temperature (25-55 °C) was assessed on the efficacy of AMX removal.
Results: The results indicated that removal efficiency increased up to 90 min contact time, 0.02 g of photocatalyst, and at the temperature of 25 °C. The optimum pH for AMX removal was 10.
Conclusion: GO@Fe₃O₄@CeO₂ could be an effective and available photocatalyst for the removal of AMX from industrial wastewater under UV light.

Power density measurement of BTS antennas in two commercial and residential areas of the Gotvand city

Mojtaba Behdarvand

Background and Objective: The rise in the number of mobile phone subscribers has led to an increase in the number of BTS antennas and raised public concerns about the impact of radiation from these antennas on the health of a community. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to measure the pollution from electromagnetic waves of BTS antennas in Gotvand and to compare the emission of electromagnetic waves in commercial and residential areas.
Materials and Methods: In this study, a systematic sampling method was used to measure the power density of BTS antennas. Using a TES-593 device, 70 samples were taken from Gotvand. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 23 and statistical tests.
Results: The results showed that the most power density of electromagnetic waves is about 0.05% of the standard amount of general exposure and 0.01% of the standard amount of occupational exposure (p<0/001). Also, the power density in the commercial area is 1455.83 mw/m² and in the residential area, it is 432.61 mw/m², which has a significant difference between them (p<0.001), and the power density in the commercial area is higher than the residential area.
Conclusion: The power density of BTS antennas in Gotvand follows ICNIRP guidelines for occupational and general exposure. Also, the power density of the commercial area is higher due to being located in a more open space with fewer obstacles than the residential area.

Simultaneous removal of nitrate and microbial pollution from water by the electro-catalytic activity of iron and magnetic nanoparticles supported on nickel foam

Abbas Rezaee

Background and Objective: This study aimed to provide an effective electro-catalytic system for the simultaneous reduction of nitrate and disinfection of contaminated water by the electro-catalytic performance of Ni-Fe/Fe₃O₄ cathode.
Materials and Methods: At first, the Ni-Fe electrode was synthesized by the electro-deposition process. Then its physical properties were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and photoelectron X-ray spectroscopy (XPS). Simultaneous disinfection and reduction of nitrate were performed under the following conditions: 15 mg Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, pH 6.5, NaCl 10 mM, 50 mg/L nitrate, 10⁵ CFU/mL and current density 4 mA/cm².
Results: According to the results obtained in the absence of nitrate, 100 % of Escherichia coli bacteria were disinfected after 12 minutes. In the presence of nitrate, the time of complete disinfection increased to 120 minutes. In the absence of bacteria, 83% of nitrate was removed in 240 minutes, and in the presence of bacteria, the nitrate reduction efficiency increased slightly to 88%. In the nitrate reduction process, nitrite (0.22 mg/L) and ammonium (3.6 mg/L) were produced. In the presence of bacteria, the amounts of nitrite and ammonium produced increased to 0.42 mg/L and 7.3 mg/L.
Conclusion: The results show the outstanding ability of Ni-Fe/Fe₃O₄ electrode in electro-catalytic reduction of nitrate and disinfection of contaminated water separately and simultaneously with high efficiency and high selectivity to nitrogen.

Effectiveness of Ultraviolet-C light diode radiation using pulsed and continuous radiation in reducing the concentration of Escherichia coli

Elham Asrari

Background and Objective: The application of ultraviolet photolysis in the removal of microbial contamination can develop the use of wastewater sources. In this research, the efficiency of UVC-LED for removing Escherichia coli was evaluated in pulsed radiation mode with continuous radiation.
Materials and Methods: In order to conduct this research, 4 UVC-LEDs with a short wavelength of 12 MW were used to produce ultraviolet rays. LEDs create waves with a wavelength of 260-280 nm. The distance between the LED and the plates was considered to be about 0.5 cm, 1 cm, and 2 cm. In order to investigate the effect of discontinuous radiation on UVC-LED performance, 2 Hz and 1 Hz frequency were used. In this case, the power source is connected 2 times and 1 time respectively in every second. The variables of radiation time (t) in seconds, radiation distance (d) in centimeters, and radiation frequency (f) in Hz were used for valuation.
Results: The results showed that in discontinuous irradiation, although the effectiveness increases with the increase of irradiation time, and practically at times higher than 280 seconds, bacteria do not remain in the samples, but the performance of discontinuous irradiation compared to continuous irradiation in removing bacteria at irradiation intervals of 1 cm, 0.5 cm and time 20 s has only achieved logarithm 4 or in other words 99.99% removal, which is considered the weakest performance of continuous radiation. Also, in the discontinuous radiation mode, after 280 s time and 2 cm distance, the radiation performance towards the complete removal of bacteria is equal to the logarithm of 6 or 99.999%, which is equal to the amount of bacteria removal in continuous radiation.
Conclusion: The efficiency of pulsed radiation was greater as compared to continuous radiation.

The trend of scientific research analysis on climate change in Iran

Elnaz Iravani

Background and Objective: Researchers investigate and identify the gaps and frequency of studies related to specific knowledge by using scientometrics. The purpose of this study was to analyze the trend of scientific research in the field of climate change in Iran.
Materials and Methods: All articles affiliated with Iran in the field of climate change have been cited in Scopus databases from 1991 to December 9, 2019, and were retrieved by using keywords like "climate change", "global warming", "global change", "climate variability", "greenhouse gas". The data were analyzed using R software.
Results: The total number of documents was 2253. The trend of document production in the field of climate change in Iran follows an increasing exponential trend. Iran's collaboration with other countries in the field of climate change studies was significant so around 25% of scientific productions have been produced jointly with other countries. Keywords analysis showed a greater frequency for keywords including “downscaling”, “energy”, “global warming” and “uncertainty”. However, despite the importance of issues such as “adaptation” and “vulnerability” concerning climate change in Iran, the frequency of these keywords in climate change studies in Iran is low.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study and considering the importance of climate change and its effects on the country, also the importance of greenhouse gases including CO_2, and the rank of Iran as the eighth country in the emission of these gases, it is recommended to pay more attention to issues such as “vulnerability”, “adaptability”, analysis of “greenhouse gases production”, “management of energy consumption” and the use of “renewable energies” in future studies.