Iranian Journal of

Background and Objective: The failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is one of risk assessment techniques. The aim of this study was to identify, assess and prioritize the risk associated with the process of medical waste management using the FMEA method and provide appropriate strategies and measures for controlling the risk of this process in the Children's Medical Center Hospital.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in this hospital during the first 6 months of 2016. For data collection, the standard worksheet of FMEA and object-oriented sampling were used. In this method, each error based on the severity, the occurrence rate and probability of finding an error is scored between 1 and 10, which the priority number of the risk is obtained from the product of these 3 indicators.
Results: In this study, a total of 33 potential risks associated with the management of medical wastes were identified using FMEA risk assessments. The highest priority number for non-washed waste containers is 360 and the lowest priority number is the risk of not having the Safety box for disposal of sharp waste in the wards, which is 30.
Conclusion: One of the most important sources of environmental pollution is medical wastes that have high costs in different stages of waste management in the hospital, thus, the use of the FMEA technique can reduce costs and increase the safety and health of the personnel. It also helps to preserve the environment.
 

Background and Objective: Attention to on-farm food safety is the first step in achieving food safety and production of healthy crops. However, practices related to on-farm food safety are not sufficiently considered by farmers due to the lack of proper understanding. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitude of farmers about sources of contamination and explaining factors of on-farm food safety practices.
Materials and Methods: This study is a non-experimental and descriptive research in terms of extent of variables control; a filed research according to data collection method; and a survey research in terms of generalizability of findings. The statistical population of the study was 732 lettuce producers in Alborz province of which a sample size of 230 was selected using a stratified sampling method with proportional allocation (counties as strata). Data was collected through research-made questionnaire. Appearance and content validity of the questionnaire was assessed by the experts in the field and its reliability was confirmed based on calculated Cronbach Alpha coefficient for three constructs including on-farm food safety practices (0.728), sources of contamination in the pre-harvest stage (0.821) and sources of contamination in the post-harvest stage (0.801). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 20.
Results: The results revealed that the most important sources of contamination were the usage of pesticides and toxins on the farm and in the irrigation water (in the pre-harvest stage), locations of crop storage and warehouse and high humidity during crop transfer (in the post-harvest stage). Furthermore, the results of the factor analysis using Varimax rotation indicated that underlying the variables of on-farm food safety practices may be summarized and categorized in five factors: practices related to workers’ education and health; public health; irrigation; monitoring and control; and control of livestock and wildlife. These covered about 64.314% of total variances. Among the five factors mentioned, practices related to workers’ education and health explaining 18.1% of the total variances was the most important factor in comparison with other one.
Conclusion: According to the contamination sources in the pre and post-harvest stages and the probability of different contamination in lettuce crop, it is essential to provide necessary conditions for encouraging and directing producers to perform on-farm food safety practices, particularly by educating them on the identification of contamination sources and informing them about essential health and safety practices.
 

Background and Objective: Marine pollution is growing due to human activities. Continuous increase in plastic production and poor management of plastic waste resulted in a significant increase of this contaminant in aquatic environments. This in turn led to the widespread presence of Microplastics (MPs) with a size of less than 5mm.
Materials and Methods: In this study, frequency, distribution, color and type of MPs in the gastrointestinal tract of fish in Oman Sea were investigated using random sampling, tissue digestion and flotation of MPs.
Results: The total number of the MPs found in the studied species was variable. The highest number of MPs were found in the species belonged to Rastrelliger kanagurta and Nemipterus japonicus (29%) and Saurida tumbil, Trichiurus lepturus and Paragaleus randalli (14%).
Conclusion: The forms mostly observed were belonged to microfibres (86%), fragment (11%) and pellet (3%). The most frequent colors that were detected were in a decreasing order blue, pink and black. The results demonstrated that the highest concentrations of MPs were observed in Ratrelliger kanagurta and Nemipterus japonicus species. The present study provides useful information for further research, and a background analysis to monitore the pollutants in the Oman Sea.
 

Background and Objective: Heavy metals enter to water resources through various ways, causing dangers such as illness, cancer, and, in general, a disorder in the body of living organisms. Mullet (Liza aurata) is highly consumed by the people living in Guilan province, Iran. Therefore, the amount of heavy metals included copper, zinc, and nickel was investigated in the muscle tissue of mullet.
Materials and Methods: A total number of 11 mullet were obtained from Bandar Anzali.  After a preparation step, the fish samples were digested using chemical digestion, and the amounts of heavy metals were determined by atomic absorption.
Results: The average concentration of copper, zinc, and nickel in muscle tissue was 10.07±0.93, 28.39 ±3.99, and 4.01 ± 0.55 μg/g dry weight, respectively. The concentrations of the studied metals were lower than the FAO, WHO, FDA, NHMRC and UKMAFF international standards, except for the nickel. The daily absorption rates of the studied metals (EDI) for children and adults were lower than the reference dose set by the EPA and the TI provided by the FAO / WHO Organization. The risk potential (THQ) of seven days, three days and one day consumption per week of Golden grey mullet for both adults and children were found less than 1. The hazard index (HI) of 7 days a week consumption of mullet for children was greater than 1.
Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, the consumption of this fish has a harmful effect on consumer health in children age group.
 

Background and Objective: Microplastics (MPs) are well-known emerging contaminants in the marine environment. A key route by which MPs can directly affect marine life is through ingestion.
Materials and Methods: In order to investigate and measure MPs in the Persian Gulf, random sampling and digestion of tissues and flotation of MPs were used. This method has been used to study the frequency, distribution, shape and color of MPs in in the digestive system of fish in the Persian Gulf.
Results: According to the results, the highest concentration of extracted MPs were found in Sillago sihama (62%), Diagramma pictum (26%), Lutjanus johnii (6%), Otolithes ruber (5%), Epinephelus coioides (1%). However, MPs were not observed in Scomberomorus commerson.
Conclusion: The relative contribution of different forms of MPs in any fish showed that microfibers with the most abundant forms of MPs and fragments and films were observed to have the lowest concentration of 11% and 2%, respectively. Based on our results, it is suggested that Sillago sihama is suitable indicator of MPs contamination among  studied fish in the Persian Gulf. Ingestion of MPs provides a potential pathway for the transfer of plastic additives, metals, PAHs and other POPs to wildlife and human consumers of fish. Therefore, more comprehensive investigations on MPs and nano-plstics should be conducted in food chain of seafood.
 

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.
 

Background and Objective: Microplastics enter the food chain of aquatic animals; they cause damage to the digestive system, disruption of the reproductive cycle, and finally their death. The present study was conducted to investigate the microplastic pollution in the digestive system of Vanami shrimps cultivated in some shrimp farms in Bushehr, Khuzestan, and Hormozgan provinces.
Materials and Methods: Sampling was done from two shrimp farms in each port including Bandar Rig in Bushehr province, Bandar Choebdeh in Khuzestan province, and South Tiab located in Hormozgan province. 90 shrimp samples were randomly collected from each breeding farm from June to October 2019. The identification method of microplastics was done by FT-IR spectrophotometer.
Results: The highest frequency of microplastics related to farmed shrimps was 41.11% in the fields of Khuzestan province, and a lower amount of microplastic pollution was observed in Hormozgan and Bushehr provinces with 28.88% and 17.70%, respectively. According to one-way ANOVA, the mean of microplastics in the digestive tract of shrimp had a significant difference in the studied stations (p<0.05). The most type and colors of microplastics in the digestive system of shrimps in the farms of all provinces belonged to fiber and black color. Polypropylene and polystyrene were detected in microplastics found in the digestive system of shrimps.
Conclusion: Microplastics were observed in some of digestive tracts of the shrimps of the breeding farms examined in this research in all three provinces of Bushehr, Khuzestan, and Hormozgan. The highest frequency of microplastics in the digestive tract of shrimps is related to the breeding farms of Khuzestan province, and Hormozgan and Bushehr respectively have a lower amount.