Iranian Journal of Health and Environment

The relationship between particulate matter and neonate liver enzymes concentration (case study: Isfahan city)

Atefeh Chamani

Background and Objective: Particulate matter is an important air pollutant in urban areas with unknown effects on the fetus. The present study investigated the effect of PM_2.5 concentration on the level of liver enzymes in the neonate born in Isfahan city, one of the most polluted cities in Iran was investigated.
Materials and Methods: This case study was conducted between March 2019 to September 2020 in Isfahan. Blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord of 200 newborns to measure the level of liver enzymes from their blood serum using quantitative diagnostic kits and the spectrophotometry method. Seasonal distribution of PM_2.5 concentrations was estimated using the data of monitoring stations; thus, modeled and used to measure their correlations with liver enzyme levels at trimester in buffers of 500, 1000, and 2000 meters.
Results: The mean levels of liver enzymes were 38.42 (AST), 10.09 (ALT), 407 (ALP), and 152 (GGT) IU/L. Spring and fall with PM_2.5 concentrations of 24.35 and 35.35 and μg/m³ had the lowest and highest levels, respectively. Enzyme levels within the third trimester and the whole period of pregnancy in the 2000-m buffers had the highest correlation coefficient, which indicates the effect of high PM_2.5 concentrations on neonatal liver function, especially in late pregnancy.
Conclusion: Proximity to particulate matter sources in cities will increase the likelihood of elevated neonatal liver enzymes during the fetal period which is higher and more effective in late pregnancy.

Evaluating the impacts of environmental factors and compliance with health guidelines on the rate and trend in Covid-19 infection in Alborz province, 2019

Hatam Godini

Background and Objective: In this research, considering the importance of the adverse effects of the Covid-19 disease and identifying the environmental factors involved in its outbreak, the effects of environmental factors and compliance with health guidelines on outbreak and mortality of Covid-19 have been evaluated.
Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive-analytical study on confirmed patients with Covid-19 in Alborz province in 2019. In this study, outbreak rate and death due to Covid-19, compliance with health guidelines, air pollutants concentrations, air pollution indicators, and the meteorological conditions of Alborz province were daily collected for 2019. All data were analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics v26 software with Pearson, Spearman, Kruskal-Wallis, one-way variance ANOVA analysis tests, and negative binomial regression statistical models.
Results: The results of the regression model showed that in the mortality rate due to Covid-19, the variables of average temperature(p=0.042), humidity(p=0.048), rate of Covid-19 infection(p=0.001), and compliance with health guidelines(p=0.007) are significant. However, in the model of the rate of infection with Covid-19, only compliance with health guidelines(p=0.001) was significant. Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients for infection rate, compliance with health guidelines, wind speed, and concentrations of carbon monoxide, PM_2.5,and SO₂ with the death rate due to corona, were 0.575, -0.411, -0.206, 0.211, 0.114 and -0.158.
Conclusion: The results showed that in addition to compliance with health guidelines, some atmospheric factors and air pollutants also impact the rate of infection and mortality caused by Covid-19.

Health risk assessment due to the presence of heavy metals in drinking water resources of Maragheh city

Mojtaba Pourakbar

Background and Objective: Heavy metals in water can pose risks to human health. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and measure metals to ensure the health of consumers.
Materials and Methods: This study aimed to measure heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, zinc, and mercury in water resources and urban water distribution networks in spring and summer of 2021 in Maragheh city. Accordingly, 25 samples were taken to investigate the presence of heavy metals. The presence of these metals in water sources was investigated using qualitative maps and finally, by evaluating the health risk caused by the presence of these metals, their effect on the health of consumers has been studied.
Results: Examining the concentration of metals in water resources upstream of the dam shows a relatively high concentration of metals, especially arsenic (13.2 µg/L). Despite this, the amount of arsenic after the water treatment plant and in the distribution network is reduced to an insignificant level. On the other hand, the results show that the amount of zinc metal in the network is higher than in the reservoir of the dam, and its concentration in the dam is equal to zero and in the network, it reaches the highest value of 578 µg/L. Finally, the health risk assessment shows that the calculated THI values for all samples vary between 0.01 and 0.99.
Conclusion: Based on the calculated health risk, there is no threat to the health of consumers regarding heavy metals in Maragheh drinking water. Also, these results double the necessity of additional studies regarding the leakage of zinc metal from the pipes and accessories of the city's drinking water distribution network in the future.

Measurement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in canned fish using multi-walled magnetized carbon nanotube and solid phase extraction method

Mohammad Ahmadi

Background and Objective: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds with high carcinogenic and mutagenic potential. This study aims to investigate the amount of 16 of these compounds in different types of canned fish.
Materials and Methods: In this research, first, multi-walled carbon nanotubes were magnetized by the MSPE method, and then the synthesized composite was used to extract PAHs from the matrix of canned fish samples. Finally, the concentration of each of these compounds was measured by GC-MS.
Results: The results of this research showed that the highest average amount of total PAHs and PAH4 were 20.22±5.29 and 6.07±1.41 μg/kg, respectively. Also, the highest average amount of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) found in all samples was 1.34±0.41 μg/kg, which was lower than the existing standards (EU standard for BaP in fish is 2 μg/kg). The amount of these compounds in different types of canned fish were as follows: canned in olive oil > canned with dill > simple canned fish > canned in salt water. And finally, the amount of these compounds in brand A was higher than in other brands.
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this research and since the total average of each of these compounds is lower than the existing standards in different types of canned fish, it can be said that there is no danger to the consumers.

Assessment of pollution level and health risk of some trace elements in agricultural lands around Tehran

Mohsen Heidari

Background and Objective: Agricultural lands around Tehran may become contaminated due to their proximity to pollution sources and such pollution should be investigated. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to determine the pollution levels of some trace elements in the agricultural soils around Tehran and to assess the attributed health risks.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 43 soil samples were collected from agricultural lands around Tehran. The soil samples were prepared and acid-digested and the concentrations of Vanadium (V), Lithium (Li), Lanthanum (La), Molybdenum (Mo), and Antimony (Sb) were measured by ICP-OES. Based on the concentrations of the elements in soil, the pollution indices and non-carcinogenic risk (based on Monte Carlo simulation) were assessed.
Results: Among the studied elements, V had the highest concentration (131 mg/kg) followed by La > Li > Sb > Mo. The values of the geoaccumulation index (I_geo) and enrichment factor (EF) were in the ranges of -1.9 to 0.8 and 0.5 to 3.1, respectively. The Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI) values were in the range of 1.3 to 2.0. The values of non-carcinogenic risk for Li, Mo, Sb, and V were negligible, but it exceeded the threshold limit for La.
Conclusion: This study showed that the agricultural lands around Tehran are contaminated with studied trace elements to a low to moderate extent. However, an unacceptable non-carcinogenic risk attributed to La was estimated. Therefore, it is essential to pay special attention to the La pollution of agricultural soils around Tehran.

Effects of long-term exposure to amoxicillin residues on stress resistance and body compositions of Penaeus vannamei

Moslem Daliri

Background and Objective: Occurrence of the pharmaceutical active residues (particularly antibiotics) threatens the health of the environment and human society. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the impacts of the Amoxicillin (AMX) residues on resistance to environmental stress and biochemical compositions of the body in Penaeus vannamei.
Materials and Methods: Six-hundred specimens with a mean (±SD) weight and total length of 9.23±1.77 g and 9.28±0.73 cm were randomly experimented in four triplicate treatments, namely T₁(control): without AMX residues in a rearing environment, T₂: 100 μg/L AMX residues concentration in water, T₃: 300 μg/L and T₄: 500 μg/L for 60 days. At the end of the experimental trial, five specimens for biochemical body composition analyses were separately sampled. Ten shrimps from each treatment were also randomly selected and exposed to 50 ppt salinity stress for 48 hours, and then survival rates were computed.
Results: Body composition analyses showed that moisture and protein not differed among the treatments (p>0.05), while fat in T₂ (28.29±5.50) was significantly more than in others (p<0.05). The lowest values of ash were obtained in T₁ and T₄, and they differed with T₂ and T₃ (p<0.05). The highest survival rate of shrimps exposed to salinity stress (50 ppt in 48 h) was observed in T₂ and T₃, in contrast, the lowest value was recorded for T₄ (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Findings of the present research indicate that the occurrence of high doses of AMX residues pollution in the rearing water affects the stress resistance of P. vannamei which can be due to disruption of protein and fat metabolisms in the shrimp body.

The comparison of knowledge, attitude, and performance regarding food hygiene and safety between people with and without a history of Covid-19 infection

Tayebeh Zeinali

Background and Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the difference in knowledge, attitude, and performance in terms of food hygiene and safety between people with and without a history of Covid-19.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 712 people from August to September 2021 using a standard online questionnaire. The questionnaire had four sections, the first section includes demographic information, the second section includes seven questions related to participants' knowledge about food hygiene and safety, the third section includes ten questions about participants' attitudes, and the fourth section contains 10 questions related to participants' health performance. Multiple regression models were used to investigate the main predictors of knowledge, attitude, and performance. The significance level was considered as p < 0.05.
Results: There were 271 (43%) people with a history of infection and 361 (57%) without infection. Demographic factors were not significantly different between people with and without a history of infection. The results of the present study showed that knowledge (p=0.05) and people's performance (p=0.002) about food hygiene and safety have a significant relationship with the history of corona infection. However, people's attitude was not affected by the corona infection (p=0.17). Attitude was the major predictor of performance (p <0.001).
Conclusion: It can be claimed that contracting Corona has increased people's knowledge and improved performance regarding food hygiene and safety during the Covid-19 pandemic and has improved health conditions.

Evaluation of the implementation of the nosocomial infection control program in the emergency department of teaching hospitals of Gorgan, Iran

Ali Shahryari

Background and Objective: In hospitals, the emergency department is a complex healthcare environment, and it is necessary to attention to nosocomial infections. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of nosocomial infection program in the emergency department.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in hospitals of Gorgan, Iran, in 2022, using the WHO checklist with 96 questions in 9 section staff; patients, environment, equipment, drug, prevention of infections wound, urinary, respiratory, and blood. Data were collected via observation and interviews. A checklist containing 45 questions was used to determine the impact of staff awareness on the infection control program, in 4 sections oftheoretical knowledge, performing procedures, immunization, and environmental hygiene.
Results: The results show that 82.46% of the infection control program was satisfactory. The percentage of scores for different sections of nosocomial infection program including staff, patients, environment, equipment, drug, infection prevention of wound, urinary, respiratory and blood was 79.31, 77.78, 81.25, 83.34, 100, 44.34, 75.00, 87.88 and 100, respectively. Moreover, the percentage awareness score for emergency medicine specialists, general practitioners, medical interns, and nurses was 100, 95.83, 87.5, and 79.92, respectively.
Conclusion: The implementation quality of the infection control program was acceptable and satisfactory. However, some factors were lower than the desired level, which could be dangerous for medical staff, patients, and visitors. The medical staff believed that the support of the senior managers of the University was essential for the implementation of an infection control program, and also holding training courses, and accelerating data sharing.

Comparing the efficiency of vacuum ultraviolet and ultraviolet-C for the degradation of Remdesivir in the contaminated water

Gholamreza Moussavi

Background and Objective: Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV)-based advanced oxidation is a new category of advanced purification processes, so this study aimed to compare the efficiency of VUV and Ultraviolet-C (UVC) processes in combination with H₂O₂ and PMS in degrading Remdesivir.
Materials and Methods: The photoreactor was investigated with VUV and UVC lamps in combination with H₂O₂ and PMS for Remdesivir degradation. Also, the effect of variables such as solution pH, H₂O₂ dose, Remdesivir concentration, the presence of radical scavengers and anions, as well as hydraulic retention time was considered in the continuous process of Remdesivir removal.
Results: The findings showed that the optimal pH in the processes of VUV, UVC, and their derivatives was equal to 7. By adding 1 mM of PMS and H₂O₂ to the VUV process, the degradation efficiency of Remdesivir was increased from 92.2 ± 0.4% to 98.3 ±2.1% and 100 ± 0.3%, respectively, after 30 min. Also, in the UVC process combined with H₂O₂ and PMS, the degradation efficiency reached 77.8 ± 1.5 and 85.2 ± 1.3% after 40 min, respectively. The degradation kinetics in the examined processes were as follows: VUV/H₂O₂ > VUV/PMS > VUV > UVC/H₂O₂ > UVC/PMS > UVC. The hydroxyl radical was the main reactive oxygen species that led to the decomposition of Remdesivir. The continuous operation of VUV/H₂O₂ showed that the removal efficiency of Remdesivir reached 94.7 ±0.8% after 40 min.
Conclusion: Considering the high rate of Remdesivir degradation by adding H₂O₂, the VUV/H₂O₂ process can be introduced as an efficient technology for the removal of antiviral drugs.

The necessity of community-oriented and future-oriented revision in the educational content of the field of environmental health from the point of view of the beneficiaries (graduates and students)

Mohammad Mosaferi

Background and Objective: The trend of developments in the health system and medical education and other related sciences, including environmental health, is a global challenge. In this research educational content of environmental health and its revision were studied from the point of view of students and graduates.
Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. In this research, through two checklists, the opinions of environmental health students and graduates regarding the necessity of revising the educational content of the field according to the requirements of the time and considering the future situation were investigated with the participation of 441 people. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-22 software.
Results: According to the results, 73.7 percent of participants believed that the educational content of environmental health in Iran has fundamental differences from developed countries. 81.7 percent believed that the educational content provided to environmental health students is not proportional to their duties. Meantime, 91.4 percent of the graduates of environmental health believe that the expected capabilities included in the educational curricula of different degrees of environmental health should be revised. 88.4 percent believed that it is necessary to revise the educational content of this field considering the "change in executive and practical functions of environmental health during the past years".
Conclusion: The overwhelming majority of graduates of the field emphasized the need to revise the educational content of the environmental health field, taking into account the requirements of the time. It is necessary to redefine the field of environmental health in the country according to the changing situation and the emergence of new indicators.

A review on the application of hairy roots in removing phenolic compounds from aqueous solutions

Khosro Piri

Background and Objective: The presence of toxic compounds, including phenol, due to industrial development, poses a threat to the environment. Utilizing hairy roots has emerged as a potential method to remove these toxins. This review aims to explore the efficacy of hairy roots in absorbing phenol pollutants and the influencing parameters.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using a descriptive-review method based on existing literature gathered from databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The focus of the study was on the purification of phenol using hairy roots. Keywords such as Phytoremediation, Hairy root, Phenol, and Transgenic roots were used for data collection.
Results: Results show successful phenol removal by hairy roots, potentially attributed to abundant production of peroxidase enzymes. Various factors, such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), incubation time, pH, plant species, and pollutant concentration, impact phenol removal efficiency. Notably, plants like Brassica napus, rich in peroxidase enzymes, exhibit high efficiency in removing phenol pollution up to 500 mg/L, with H₂O₂ and within a pH range of 4-9.
Conclusion: In conclusion, hair roots possess significant adsorption capacity for phenol. However, phenol concentration, contact time, pH, and temperature influence their performance. Therefore, further research is required to explore optimal conditions for phenol removal.

Bioaugmentation and biostimulation methods for the decontamination of soils contaminated with petroleum compounds: a systematic review

Mahdi Farzadkia

Background and Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify and comprehensively evaluate international studies related to bioaugmentation and biostimulation methods for the remediation of soils contaminated with petroleum compounds.
Materials and Methods: This systematic review study was conducted in April 2022. The present systematic review study was conducted to address two main questions: 1) Is biostimulation an effective process in the bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons; and 2) Is bioaugmentation an effective process for bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons? Global electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) were used to identify relevant studies. After a comprehensive review of studies, 123 studies consistent with the purpose were selected.
Results: The results showed that biostimulation methods can have profound changes in bacterial, Archaebacteria, and soil fungal communities in terms of activity, frequency, and composition. In general, the nutrients and electron receptors added in the biostimulation process improve soil microbial activity, increasing the overall abundance of bacteria, and fungi and promoting selective replication of bacterial, archival, and fungal polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PHC) destroyers. The use of bioaugmentation technology in an environment contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons has a positive effect on the refining process. However, it is necessary to precisely select the appropriate microbial strains. The most important factor in the removal of hydrocarbons in the soil is the selection of oil-decomposing microorganisms that can survive in high concentrations of pollutants.
Conclusion: Therefore, the result indicated that biostimulation and bioaugmentation can efficiently improve the THP removal efficiency in contaminated soil by considering the environmental conditions.