Iranian Journal of

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Background and Objectives: According to the WHO estimates, air pollution is accounted for about 800000 premature death of cardiovascular and respiratory disease and lung cancer resulted from air pollution throughout the world approximately 150000 cases of those deaths occur in south Asia. The studies conducting on short-term and long-term effects are reported in terms of admission rate, consulting with a physician, number of a particular disease, death, and years of the lost life (YOLL). We used Air Q2.2.3 (Air Quality Health Impact Assessment) Model to evaluate adverse health effects caused by NO2 exposure in Ahvaz City during 2009. NO₂ reacts with ammonia, moisture, and other compounds to form small particles. These small particles penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease, such as emphysema and bronchitis, and can aggravate existing heart disease, leading to increased hospital admissions and premature death.
Materials and Methods: First the data required was collected from Ahvaz Environment Organization and Meteorological Organization. Then, this data were processed by Excel software through correcting temperature and pressure, coding, averaging and filtering. Finally, the data processed were entered to Air Q model. This model is a valid and reliable WHO-proved tool to estimate the potential short term effects of air pollution. This model includes four screen inputs (Supplier, AQ data, Location, Parameter) and two output screens (Table and Graph).
Results: It was found that the Meteorological and Environment Organization stations have had the maximum and minimum NO2 concentration respectively. Moreover, the annual, summer, and winter average and 98cile of this pollutant was 27, 6, 43, and 115 µg/m³ respectively. The cumulative number of myocardial infarction resulted from NO₂ exposure was estimated to be nine persons per year. This value for the cardiovascular death was found to be 19 cases. Finally, the COPD cases was estimated to be seven per year.
Conclusion: Air Q software calculated relative risks, attributable proportion, and baseline incidence using data processed by Excel and presents the output as the cause specific deaths. It is noteworthy that there is no model that can estimate all of the pollutants health effects simultaneously. Cumulative number of persons for acute MI attributed to NO₂ exposure was 9 in 2009. Moreover, 51% of this number occurred in the days with concentrations lower than 60 µg/m³. It should be noted that 72% of this value are corresponded to the days with concentrations below 90 µg/m³. The total cumulative number of cardiovascular death attributed to exposure with NO2 during one year of monitoring was 19 persons. 60% of these cases have occurred in days with NO2 levels not exceeding 90 µg/m³. Cumulative number of hospital admission of COPD attributed to exposure with NO₂ during one year of monitoring was 7 persons.87 % of these cases have occurred in days with NO2 levels not exceeding 110 µg/m³.

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Background and Objectives: Among the heavy metals cadmium is of considerable environmental and health significance because of its increasing mobilization and human toxicity. The objectives of this research were to synthesize SDS modified magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and to determine its efficiency in cadmium removal from aqueous solutions. Materials and Methods: Modified magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized and the effects of pH and contact time on cadmium removal efficiency were investigated in batch system. Then kinetics and isotherm models coefficients were determined in the optimum pH and equilibrium time conditions. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) were used to characterize the modified magnetite nanoparticles synthesized. Results: The SEM results showed that the diameter of the particles is 40-60 nm. It was found that the optimum pH value for maximum adsorption of 10 mg/L cadmium by 0.1 g adsorbent in 12 hr was 6. Kinetic study showed that the equilibrium time was 30 min. The adsorption kinetics fitted well using the Ho pseudo second-order kinetic model however, the adsorption isotherm could be described by the Freundlich model. The maximum adsorption capacity of modified magnetite nanoparticles for Cd2+ was found to be 9.604 mg/g. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the modified magnetite nanoparticles can be employed as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of cadmium from contaminated water sources

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Background and Objectives: alkylphenol poly ethoxylates (APnEOs) and their metabolites enter environment through discharging wastewater and are of particular concern due to their persistence, toxicity to aquatic organisms, and a potential endocrine disruptor. In this work, we focused on the determination of nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol polyethoxylate (NPnEOs) in sediment samples collected from Karun River, Khoozestan Plain, Iran. Materials and Methods: Sample collection of Karun River sediment was carried out on rainy and dry seasons from 10 hydrometric stations. The sediment samples were prepared and extracted using solid phase extraction procedure and were analyzed using HPLC-FLD. Results: We found that NP and NPnEOs concentrations in sediment samples of Karun River were 0.21-2.43 and 0.18-0.91 µg/g respectively. This study revealed that NP concentration in sediment samples of Karun River was higher than the other alkyphenolic metabolites. Conclusion: The results indicated accumulation of endocrine disrupting contaminants (EDCs) in the Karun river sediments. The results showed significant difference between mean concentrations of these compounds in the upstream and downstream stations of Ahwaz Megacity (p-value<0.05).

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Background and Objectives: According to the estimates of W.H.O., approximately 150000 persons are annually affected by early death of cardiovascular, respiratory disease, and lung cancer resulted from air pollution in south Asia. The short-term and long-term effects are reported as hospital admission, consulting with a physician, number of special disease, death and years of life lost (YOLL). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the effects of PM₁₀ pollution on human health. AirQ 2.2.3 (Air Quality Health Impact Assessment) Model was used to evaluate adverse health effects caused by PM₁₀ exposure in Ahvaz during 2009. Long-term exposure with suspended particulates are expressed as decreasing personal life. The prevalence of bronchitis and reduced lung function in children and adults, even at annual average concentrations of particulate matter below 20 µg/m³ (PM_2.5) and 30 µg/m³ (PM₁₀) have been observed. Major sources of emissions resulting from human intervention in particulate matter are road traffic (25-10%), stationary combustion (55-40%), and industrial processes (30-15%). Materials and Methods: First, PM₁₀ data was collected from Ahvaz Environment Protection Organization and Meteorological Organization. Then, raw data were processed by Excel software.. Finally, data processed were inputted to AirQ model. This model proved to be a valid and reliable tool to estimate the potential short-term effects of air pollution. This software is provided by the World Health Organization and is used to quantify the health effects of air pollution. This model consists of four input screens (Supplier, AQ data, Location, Parameter) and two output screens (Table, Graph). Results: The highest and lowest PM₁₀ concentration was reported for Headquarter and Naderi stations respectively. Moreover, the annual, summer, and winter means and 98 decimal of this pollutant in Ahvaz City was measured as 261, 376, 170, and 1268 µg/m³ respectively. Total death toll contributed to PM₁₀ was estimated as 1165 cases in 2009. Conclusion: Using data processing in Excel, AirQ software calculates relative risks, attributable proportion, and baseline incidence and the final output would be displayed in the form of death toll. It is noteworthy that there is no model that can estimate the effect of all pollutants together and simultaneously. In addition, it was found that the annual PM₁₀ emission mean, the summer mean, winter mean, and 98 percentile were 261, 376, 170, and 1268 µg/m³ in Ahvaz City. Cumulative number of persons for total number of deaths attributed to PM10 exposure was 1165 in 2009 Out of which, 44% has occurred in the days with concentrations lower than 250 µg/m³. It should be noted that 62% of this value is corresponded to the days with concentrations below 350 µg/m³. The total cumulative number of cardiovascular death attributed to the exposure with PM₁₀ during one year of monitoring was 612 persons. On the other hand, 52% of these cases have occurred in days with PM₁₀ levels not exceeding 300 µg/m³. Cumulative number of Hospital Admissions Respiratory Disease attributed to exposure with PM₁₀ during one year of monitoring was 1551 persons Out of which, 36 % occurred in days with PM10 levels not exceeding 200 µg/m³.

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Background and Objectives: The goal of the present study was to develop nanofibrous media filters containing MgO nanoparticles for future application in removing particles from gas stream.

Materials and Methods: Electrospun nanofibers were fabricated using experimental design prepared by Response Surface Methodology. Optimization of electrospinning parameters was conducted for achieving the desired filter properties including fiber diameter, porosity, and bead number. After taking SEM images, the determination of fiber diameter and number of beads were performed through Image Analysis and the calculation of porosity percent was performed by MATLAB. A filter media was produced based on the optimized conditions of electrospinning and it was certified by the HEPA filter performance test.

Results: In terms of morphological quality of fibers including fiber uniformity, absence of branching and lower numbers of beads, experiment standard No. 2 (STD 2: concentration 16 wt%, voltage 10 kV, and distance 15 cm) had the best combination. Maximum fiber diameter was also observed in STD 2. Among the electrospinning, the highest correlation coefficient was observed between solution concentration and response variables and the relationship between concentration and both fiber diameter and porosity percent was statistically significant (p <0.05 and p <0.01, respectively). A weak positive correlation was found between fiber diameter and porosity percent (r=0.29, p>0.05) and a weak negative relationship was seen between fiber diameter and bead number (r=-0.2, p>0.05).

Conclusion: Solution concentration was found as the most affecting factor on the filter properties, so that the higher concentration leaded to the lower bead number and greater fiber diameter. Increase in fiber diameter resulted in larger pore size and higher porosity. Quadratic models were known for understudy variables. Efficiency of the optimized filter was comparable with the HEPA filter and it had the lower pressure drop.

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Background and Objective: Bioremediation and one of its main branches, namely phytoremediation, is one of the most important and basic processes for eliminating pollutants from the environment. Due to the large number of silica factories in Azandarian area of ​​Malayer city and high soil silica pollution in this area, this study was conducted to compare the bioremediation effect of Fusarium oxysporum and Portulace olerace.L phytoremediation on silica uptake.

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