Iranian Journal of

Background and Objective: Today, workshop industries play an important role in urban development by creating effective employment in urban areas. It has been stated that these small industries can cause environmental pollution. The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the contaminations caused by the workshops in Qom in 2016.
Materials and Methods: The present study was descriptive-analytic-cross sectional. First, all of the city's businesses were listed in 67 relevant :::::::union:::::::s. After identifying the polluting businesses, a total of 223 classes of all :::::::union:::::::s were randomly screened. Sewage, solid waste, air, sound, soil and landscape pollution were investigated. According to 15 specialists and using Expert Selection software, each pollution type and rating of each class were weighed and determined.
Results: The results showed that the wastewater, solid waste, air, noise, and landscape pollution with a score of 0.399, 0.259, 0.169, 0.097, and 0.027, respectively, are important.  Accordingly, in terms of the total contamination of the studied occupational units, authorized dealers of car sales, carwash, guest house, carpet cleaning, bath, brick plants, chalk plants, gemstones, chelokbaby, mosaic making, lathes and blacksmans, iron doors and window making, general blinds and shuttering, ceramic making, wood processing industry, mechanical, polishing with a total score of 1, 0.889, 0.881, 0.872, 0.709, 0.644, 0.644, 0.641, 0.62, 0.609, 0.582, 0.569, 0.552, 0.546, 0.518, 0.499, and 0.499 had unfavorable status, respectively.
Conclusion: In order to reduce the environmental pollution caused by these businesses, continuous monitoring and inspections should be carried out in the short term. Moreover, the polluting industries should be relocated out of the city in the long term.
 

Background and Objective: Conversion of houses into residential towers in worn-out urban textures increases population. Schools of the vicinity would face with multiplicity and limited space for students, leading to noise pollution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the noise levels during morning and afternoon shifts among two primary schools in Zanjan.
Materials and Methods: Measurements had been done using sound level meter, KIMO DB100. The equivalent noise level (L_eq) measured during school year (2018-2019) in 10 stations. The measurements were done in three seasons (autumn, winter and spring) and in each season for two weeks. The data of the two schools were used for drawing charts and zoning by ArcGIS using IDW method. In addition, questionnaires were distributed among the teachers and school’ neighbors. The data were analyzed by SPSS software.
Results: The results showed that all the stations were tackled with noise pollution. The highest levels were related to school’s shift change and break times. The morning shift schools experienced higher levels of noise in comparison to the afternoon ones (1.87 and 2.1 dB, respectively for boys and girls). L_eq values for boys’ school was 2 dB higher than that of the girls’. The noise level in the schools were 72 dB, which is 17 dB higher than the standard level 55 dB.
Conclusion: The residents living close to the schools were exposed to noise pollution for almost 10 hours a day. This could be regarded as harmful. The zoning maps showed that southwest side of the yard, adjacent to the neighboring residential buildings, had the highest levels of noise. This study demonstrated the site selection for the schools were not properly done.  Having a control strategy is needed.

Background and Objective: Visual pollution is one of the important components of the man-made environment in urban spaces. The purpose of this research was to investigate the visual pollution of workshops in Qom city using Expert Choice software and then the occupational ranking was done in terms of visual pollution.
Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study conducted in 670 trade units associated with 67 urban trade unions. The data collection tools were local visits, database preparation and completion of a questionnaire based on urban-environmental aesthetic criteria. The purpose of this study was to investigate the visual pollution caused by the occupations and workshops of Qom.
Results: The results showed that, in terms of total visual pollution, the units of oil changes with a total score of 1, materials and construction materials with 0.988, Smoothies with 0.980, Mechanics with 0.973, ceramic makers with 0.944, Chips and grills with 0.933, mosaics with 0.914, carwash with 0.885, stones cutting with 0.872, carpet with 0.870, trowel and blacksmiths with 0.857, burners with 0.830, battery makers with 0.825, iron manufacturers with 0.872 and manufacturers of general blinds and blinds with 0.753 were inadequate.
Conclusions: In order to reduce the number of visually impaired businesses in the short term, continuous inspections of businesses must be undertaken and, in the long run, by organizing the program, the polluting industries must be transferred out of the city.
 

Background and Objective: Waste management as an inevitable byproduct is one of the most critical environmental issues in any society. Its management is essential for preventing environmental pollution. The aim of this research is to examine the management of production waste in the Azadi Sports Complex.
Materials and Methods: This research is a descriptive, cross-sectional, and empirical study that utilizies questionnaires, field visits, weight analysis, sampling, and determination of the physicochemical characteristics of waste. The questionnaire includes questions about the production rate, source reduction, separation, recycling, collection, storage location, transportation outside the complex, and final disposal of waste.
Results: The amount of waste generated from the Azadi Sports Complex was 449.87±4.83kg/day, with the highest waste production observed from the Wrestling Federation (95.37 kg/day) and the lowest from the Kung Fu Federation (12.75 kg/day) and the clinic (12 kg/day). The results of the physicochemical characteristics indicated that the average moisture content was 47%. Combustible materials accounted for 67% with a high calorific value of 12807 kcal/kg, and the ash content was 42%. The dry and wet wastes were collected daily, mixed together, and stored together in an enclosed area.
Conclusion: The results showed that the waste separation, recycling, and storage practices in the Azadi Sports Complex are unsatisfactory. Additionally, there is no existing program for waste reduction at the source or recycling. Therefore, the establishment of a proper waste management system to mitigate the waste volumes in this complex is necessary.
 

Background and Objective: Microplastics are emerging and persistent environmental pollutants. The most common types include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyformaldehyde, polystyrene, and polyamide. Due to their chemical and toxic properties, ability to absorb and release persistent organic pollutants, and association with heavy metals, microplastics pose a serious threat to both the environment and human health. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of microplastics on human health and the environment.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive review was conducted in 2024 to document the process of searching, screening, and reporting based on the PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews. Articles published between 2019 and April 2024 were searched using keywords such as "Microplastics," "Health Risk," "Emerging Contaminants," and their Persian equivalents in electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Magiran, and SID.
Results: The effects of microplastics on human health include the absorption of aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, and other pollutants, leading to neurological and respiratory disorders such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, dizziness, gastrointestinal disorders, and genotoxic and cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, microplastics have detrimental effects on plants, microbial populations, soil structure, and the health of animals and humans.
Conclusion: Microplastics represent a significant environmental challenge, threatening human health and biodiversity. These particles enter the food chain and can cause hormonal imbalances and chronic diseases. Raising public awareness and reforming policies on plastic production and consumption are essential steps to mitigate this pollution.
 

Background and Objective: Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi that contaminate food products such as wheat and pose significant health risks when consumed by humans.
Materials and Methods: This study aimed to analyze eight mycotoxins—deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A (OTA), total aflatoxins, and the individual aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2—in flour samples collected from factories in Ardabil city. To this end, eight samples were analyzed, including six lavash bread flour samples and two barbari bread flour samples. Solid-phase extraction using immunoaffinity columns, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with spectrofluorimetric detection, was employed to measure the concentrations of the targeted mycotoxins.
Results: The results showed that deoxynivalenol was detected in three lavash flour samples at concentrations of 178.7, 136.4, and 188 ng/g. In contrast, the remaining lavash samples and all barbari flour samples had deoxynivalenol levels below the instrument’s detection limit of 100 ng/g. Additionally, all other analyzed mycotoxins were below the detection limits in all flour samples.
Conclusion: This study found that the levels of all eight fungal mycotoxins in wheat flour were below the permissible limits defined by Standard No. 5925 of the National Standards Organization of Iran, indicating no significant threat to human health. Despite these reassuring results, it is recommended to regularly monitor various types of flour and other wheat-based products across different seasons, due to potential variations in wheat supply from different regions of the country or from international sources.