Iranian Journal of

Background and Objectives: city bus drivers, during driving, are always exposed to the whole body vibration. This can lead to central- neural, musculoskeletal, and blood circulation disorders and develop occupational diseases due to vibration. The objective of this descriptive- analytic study is to investigate Tehran bus drivers&apos exposure to the whole body vibration.
Materials and Methods: We measured parameters related to the whole body vibration, such as acceleration of the frequency weighted root sum of squares, the overall equivalent acceleration, vibration dose value, and crest factor were measured separately at three directions (X, Y, Z) in 80 buses in 5 different types, which were selected randomly. The results obtained were compared with ISO 2631: 1997 Standard, and finally permitted driving time was calculated for different buses.
Results: Acceleration of the frequency weighted root mean of squares at X, Y axes in all of the buses was below the district of health warning and at Z axis, it was in the district of health warning, while the overall equivalent acceleration in Icarus buses was above the district of health warning and in other buses it was in the district of health warning according to standard ISO 2631: 1997. Vibration dose value (VDV) was less than 8.5 and crest factor was less than 9 and in all of the buses, it was less than the suggested permitted limits of ISO 2631: 1997 standard. Moreover, permitted driving time was estimated less than 8 hours per day and Icarus buses had the most and Man buses had the least vibration acceleration, crest factor, and vibration dose value respectively.
Conclusion: According to the results obtained, there is the possibility of developing potential health risks in bus drivers therefore, it is recommended that the health and safe managers consider decrease of working hours and increase of rest time while purchasing new buses.

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.

Background and Objectives: Kidney patients in each dialysis cycle are exposed to extremely large volume of water, which is in direct contact with the patient’s blood. Hence, the occurrence of any type of contamination in the water used can be very toxic to patients. Thus, quality of water plays an important role in patient well-being. The aim of our study was to investigate the quality of water used for hemodialysis in Kashan Akhavan hospital.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on water quality used for hemodialysis in Kashan Akhavan hospital during Oct.-Nov., 2011. During the study a total of 26 water samples were taken from the raw water and inlet of hemodialysis instrument. Collected water samples were analysed for Heterotrophic plate count, residual chlorine, pH , K⁺, SO₄^2- , Na⁺, F- ,Ca²⁺ , mg²⁺ ,No^3- , Hg⁺ , Cd²⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Se²⁺ ,Co²⁺,Ag ⁺and As²⁺ according to the standard methods for water and wastewater examination.
Results: Our results showed that the concentration of copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, chromium, and silver were 0.4, 0.6, 0.07, 0.05, 0.08, and 0.04 µgL^-1 respectively. In addition, concentration of the chemical elements and heavy metals did not exceed the standard level in any cases. Moreover, no microbial contamination was observed in the samples analyzed.
Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, all water quality parameters in hemodialysis ward of Kashan Akhavan Hospital were compatible with AAMI (Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation) water quality Standards and no health risk threatens the kidney patients.

Background and Objective: Water corrosion and scaling are known as destructive phenomenon of drinking water quality and water facilities. In this study, the groundwater tendency to corrosion or scaling in source water, water storage reservoirs and distribution system were studied. Simultaneous use of some qualitative and a quantitative index along with statistical analyses to assess the water scaling or corrosion tendency were investigated.

Materials and Methods: The data analysis of groundwater, water storage reservoirs and water distribution system in rural area of Kurdistan province were analyzed and the amount of Langelier (LI), Ryznar (RY), Pockorius (PSI) and Larson–Skold (LS) and CCPP indices were determined. Corrosion and scaling threshold for qualitative indices were determined based on CCPP index. The mean of indices was compared with the thresholds using independent t-test. ANOVA was used to assess the difference between the indices in different sources of water.

Results: The balance range for LI, RY and PSI found to be -0.1-0.05, 7-9 and 7.1-8.5. The mean CCPP for groundwater, reservoirs and networks were 9.27 ± 1.29, 9.13 ± 1.25, 11.25 ± 1.23, respectively. All three sources of water have some tendencies toward scaling; however, a significant balance status was confirmed statistically. According to Larson–Skold index, sulfate and chloride anions did not play a role in scaling process.

Conclusion: The use of qualitative indices with CCPP index can provide more accurate estimation of water tendency toward scaling or corrosion. The assessment of qualitative indices along with CCPP is recommended in drinking water corrosion monitoring studies.