Mohaad-Reza Mohebbi, Koshyar Azam Vaghefi, Ahmad Montazeri, Mehrnoosh Abtahi, Sogol Oktahi, Reza Gholamnia, Fatemeh Aliasgari, Reza Saeedi,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (9-2013)
Abstract
Background and objectives: In this research, an innovative drinking water quality index for assessing water resources as “modified drinking water quality index (MDWQI)” was developed and applied for evaluating all of the groundwater resources utilized for community water supply in urban areas of Iran during 2011. Materials and methods: Twenty-three water quality parameters and relevant Iranian standards for drinking water quality were selected as input parameters and benchmarks respectively. The MDWQI is calculated using three factors including the number of parameters that excurse benchmarks, the number of measurements in a dataset that excurse benchmarks and the magnitude of excursions. The MDWQI scores range from 0 to 100 and classify water quality in five categories as excellent (95-100), good (80-94), fair (65-79), marginal (45-64), and poor (0-44). Results: According to the MDWQI value, about 95% of the groundwater resources were in the good condition and the others were in the fair or marginal condition also the best and the worst water quality of water resources were observed in Ardebil Province and Qom Province respectively. The three parameters of fluoride, magnesium, and nitrate recorded the highest rates of violation to be 74, 32, and 13% respectively. Conclusion: The nationwide average score of the MDWQI was 85 (good description). This study indicated that the MDWQI and its sub-indices could describe the overall water quality of water bodies easily, reliably and correctly and have the potential suitability for extensive application all over the world.
M Montazer, N Soleimani, R Zendehdel, K Etemad, M Abtahi Mohasel, M Malmir,
Volume 11, Issue 2 (9-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Bacterial exposure in hospitals due to the presence of pathogens in hospitals is one of important health problems for medical staff. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a global outbreak of hospital infections from 5.7% to 19.1% in the 2011 report. The aim of this study was to identify bacterial bioaerosols in nursing stations in a public hospital in Tehran to determine the occupational hazards of them.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted three times at fifteen nursing station in 15 different departments of a public hospital in Tehran. 45 samples were prepared on three culture media including Mackangi Agar, nutrient agar and Manitol Salt Agar. Air samples were prepared according to NIOSH 0800 method by a bacterial sampler with a flow rate of 28.3 L/min for 5 min. Samples were analyzed by microbial screening test.
Results: Mean of the bacterial infection was 180.03±125.27 CFU/m3. The results showed that there were gram positive staphylococcus aureus in the all air samples of nursing stations. Moreover, in 26.7% of occupational exposure nursing stations with Acinetobacter Iwoffii was observed as the most common gram negative bacteria.. Maximum bacterial number was found in orthopedic nursing station (399.99 CFU/m3) and heart transplant nursing station had the minimum bacterial infection (43.73 CFU/m3).
Conclusion: Eighty percent of occupational exposure in the samples had higher exposure to bacterial pathogens than the standards set by ACGIH (75 CFU/m3). Due to the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Acinetobacter Iwoffii in nursing stations, there was a risk of hospital infections in health care workers. It seems unsuitable surface sterilization and lake of useful engineered controlling methods has led to bio aerosol scattering in the air of studied stations.
