Showing 58 results for Health
Mohadeseh Bodaghi, Tayebeh Rasolevandi, Amir Hossein Mahvi, Hossein Azarpira,
Volume 15, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Due to the presence of infectious diseases and parasitic contamination in kindergartens, it is very important to observe the health points in these centers. This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted to investigate the environmental health status of Saveh kindergartens in 2020.
Materials and Methods: A checklist with 133 questions was designed, including 57 questions specific to the conditions of the coronavirus, taken from the instructions for the second step of the fight against the coronavirus and 76 questions from regulation 150/920318. All active kindergartens (9 cases) in the study were included, and the answers to the questions as yes, no, and not applicable were recorded and using SPSS software, independent T, chi-square, and one-way ANOVA was analyzed.
Results: The results obtained from the analysis of the checklist showed that the compliance of the health status of all kinds of kindergartens with the regulations of 150/920318 has a percentage of total desirability that includes personal hygiene (81/4%), food hygiene (63%), tools and equipment hygiene (66/5%), building hygiene (78%), health education (90%), considerations regarding disinfectants and disinfectants based on alcohol (92%) and considerations regarding bleaches (94%). There was no significant relationship between the per capita of each child and the different items on the checklist (p>0/05).
Conclusion: This study showed that the general environmental health status of kindergartens in Saveh was favorable and only two variables of hygiene of tools and equipment (66/5%) and food hygiene (63%) were the least desirable among the studied factors that should be considered.
Maryam Heidari Yeganeh, Soudabeh Ghodsi, Sajad Mazloomi,
Volume 15, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: One of the basic strategies to reduce the prevalence of diseases among people in society, especially children and adolescents, during the epidemic of COVID-19 disease, is to observe hygiene and personal protection behaviors. The present study was conducted to determine the level of compliance with health protocols in primary schools of Ilam city during the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 in 1400-1401.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted in primary schools of Ilam city with a statistical sample of 49 schools (25 girls' schools and 24 boys' schools). In this study, the 2019 new coronavirus disease care and control checklist was used in schools, which has 15 questions with a total score of 100. Data with Kolmogorov-Smirnov and T-Test statistical tests using SPSS software. V21 was analyzed.
Results: The results of this study showed that the highest and lowest scores are respectively related to the parameters of school health assessment before reopening (100 percent) and screening of people in terms of vaccination by PCR test (zero percent). The average score of compliance with the checklist was 74.3 in girls' schools and 74.38 in boys' schools. Also, the results of the T-Test showed that there is no significant relationship between the mean scores of girls' and boys' schools (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the score obtained for compliance with the checklist parameters of all schools in Ilam city is less than 85 points, and the main reason for this is the non-compliance of the screening parameter of people in terms of vaccination/PCR test in schools.
Mohammad Mosaferi, Farhad Ghayurdoost, Reza Dehghanzadeh, Hassan Aslani, Sepideh Nemati Mansour, Neda Gilani,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (6-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The trend of developments in the health system and medical education and other related sciences, including environmental health, is a global challenge. In this research educational content of environmental health and its revision were studied from the point of view of students and graduates.
Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. In this research, through two checklists, the opinions of environmental health students and graduates regarding the necessity of revising the educational content of the field according to the requirements of the time and considering the future situation were investigated with the participation of 441 people. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-22 software.
Results: According to the results, 73.7 percent of participants believed that the educational content of environmental health in Iran has fundamental differences from developed countries. 81.7 percent believed that the educational content provided to environmental health students is not proportional to their duties. Meantime, 91.4 percent of the graduates of environmental health believe that the expected capabilities included in the educational curricula of different degrees of environmental health should be revised. 88.4 percent believed that it is necessary to revise the educational content of this field considering the "change in executive and practical functions of environmental health during the past years".
Conclusion: The overwhelming majority of graduates of the field emphasized the need to revise the educational content of the environmental health field, taking into account the requirements of the time. It is necessary to redefine the field of environmental health in the country according to the changing situation and the emergence of new indicators.
Atiyeh Sharifi, Moslem Daliri, Mohammad Niroumand, S. Ali Reza Sobhani, Moslem Sharifinia,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (6-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Occurrence of the pharmaceutical active residues (particularly antibiotics) threatens the health of the environment and human society. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the impacts of the Amoxicillin (AMX) residues on resistance to environmental stress and biochemical compositions of the body in Penaeus vannamei.
Materials and Methods: Six-hundred specimens with a mean (±SD) weight and total length of 9.23±1.77 g and 9.28±0.73 cm were randomly experimented in four triplicate treatments, namely T1(control): without AMX residues in a rearing environment, T2: 100 μg/L AMX residues concentration in water, T3: 300 μg/L and T4: 500 μg/L for 60 days. At the end of the experimental trial, five specimens for biochemical body composition analyses were separately sampled. Ten shrimps from each treatment were also randomly selected and exposed to 50 ppt salinity stress for 48 hours, and then survival rates were computed.
Results: Body composition analyses showed that moisture and protein not differed among the treatments (p>0.05), while fat in T2 (28.29±5.50) was significantly more than in others (p<0.05). The lowest values of ash were obtained in T1 and T4, and they differed with T2 and T3 (p<0.05). The highest survival rate of shrimps exposed to salinity stress (50 ppt in 48 h) was observed in T2 and T3, in contrast, the lowest value was recorded for T4 (p<0.01).
Conclusion: Findings of the present research indicate that the occurrence of high doses of AMX residues pollution in the rearing water affects the stress resistance of P. vannamei which can be due to disruption of protein and fat metabolisms in the shrimp body.
Ehsan Aghayani, Sakine Shekoohiyan, Ali Behnami, Ali Abdolahnejad, Mojtaba Pourakbar, Hamed Haghnazar, Vahideh Mahdavi, Amir Mohammadi,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (6-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Heavy metals in water can pose risks to human health. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and measure metals to ensure the health of consumers.
Materials and Methods: This study aimed to measure heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, zinc, and mercury in water resources and urban water distribution networks in spring and summer of 2021 in Maragheh city. Accordingly, 25 samples were taken to investigate the presence of heavy metals. The presence of these metals in water sources was investigated using qualitative maps and finally, by evaluating the health risk caused by the presence of these metals, their effect on the health of consumers has been studied.
Results: Examining the concentration of metals in water resources upstream of the dam shows a relatively high concentration of metals, especially arsenic (13.2 µg/L). Despite this, the amount of arsenic after the water treatment plant and in the distribution network is reduced to an insignificant level. On the other hand, the results show that the amount of zinc metal in the network is higher than in the reservoir of the dam, and its concentration in the dam is equal to zero and in the network, it reaches the highest value of 578 µg/L. Finally, the health risk assessment shows that the calculated THI values for all samples vary between 0.01 and 0.99.
Conclusion: Based on the calculated health risk, there is no threat to the health of consumers regarding heavy metals in Maragheh drinking water. Also, these results double the necessity of additional studies regarding the leakage of zinc metal from the pipes and accessories of the city's drinking water distribution network in the future.
Sara Ghayour, Abbas Rezaee, Mohsen Heidari,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (6-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Agricultural lands around Tehran may become contaminated due to their proximity to pollution sources and such pollution should be investigated. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to determine the pollution levels of some trace elements in the agricultural soils around Tehran and to assess the attributed health risks.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 43 soil samples were collected from agricultural lands around Tehran. The soil samples were prepared and acid-digested and the concentrations of Vanadium (V), Lithium (Li), Lanthanum (La), Molybdenum (Mo), and Antimony (Sb) were measured by ICP-OES. Based on the concentrations of the elements in soil, the pollution indices and non-carcinogenic risk (based on Monte Carlo simulation) were assessed.
Results: Among the studied elements, V had the highest concentration (131 mg/kg) followed by La > Li > Sb > Mo. The values of the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EF) were in the ranges of -1.9 to 0.8 and 0.5 to 3.1, respectively. The Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI) values were in the range of 1.3 to 2.0. The values of non-carcinogenic risk for Li, Mo, Sb, and V were negligible, but it exceeded the threshold limit for La.
Conclusion: This study showed that the agricultural lands around Tehran are contaminated with studied trace elements to a low to moderate extent. However, an unacceptable non-carcinogenic risk attributed to La was estimated. Therefore, it is essential to pay special attention to the La pollution of agricultural soils around Tehran.
Parvane Dowlati, Hatam Godini, Abbas Moghimbeigi, Yahya Khosravi,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (6-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: In this research, considering the importance of the adverse effects of the Covid-19 disease and identifying the environmental factors involved in its outbreak, the effects of environmental factors and compliance with health guidelines on outbreak and mortality of Covid-19 have been evaluated.
Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive-analytical study on confirmed patients with Covid-19 in Alborz province in 2019. In this study, outbreak rate and death due to Covid-19, compliance with health guidelines, air pollutants concentrations, air pollution indicators, and the meteorological conditions of Alborz province were daily collected for 2019. All data were analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics v26 software with Pearson, Spearman, Kruskal-Wallis, one-way variance ANOVA analysis tests, and negative binomial regression statistical models.
Results: The results of the regression model showed that in the mortality rate due to Covid-19, the variables of average temperature(p=0.042), humidity(p=0.048), rate of Covid-19 infection(p=0.001), and compliance with health guidelines(p=0.007) are significant. However, in the model of the rate of infection with Covid-19, only compliance with health guidelines(p=0.001) was significant. Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients for infection rate, compliance with health guidelines, wind speed, and concentrations of carbon monoxide, PM2.5, and SO2 with the death rate due to corona, were 0.575, -0.411, -0.206, 0.211, 0.114 and -0.158.
Conclusion: The results showed that in addition to compliance with health guidelines, some atmospheric factors and air pollutants also impact the rate of infection and mortality caused by Covid-19.
Ehsan Rafeemanesh, Habibollah Esmaily, Farzaneh Rahimpour, Mohammad Javad Fahoul, Habib Herati, Hasan Jahed Taherani,
Volume 16, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Employees of wastewater treatment plants are exposed to various harmful factors in the work environment that can threaten their health. In this research, the health status of the employees of Mashhad sewage treatment plants has been evaluated to help by implementing intervention programs to improve the health of employees.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, (bioaerosols, UV rays, heat stress, and hydrogen disulfide gas) were measured in 5 treatment plants in Mashhad. All study variables, including health status, clinical tests, and job stress, were analyzed analytically in two operational and administrative employee groups. The standard HSE occupational stress questionnaire was used to investigate the state of occupational stress. All data were transferred to the computer and data analysis was done with the help of software SPSS20.
Results: The amount of pollutants except H2S gas was lower than the national occupational exposure limit. The number of smokers, diabetics, knee pain, and hearing loss was higher among operational than administrative employees, and hypertension, increased cholesterol, back pain, and skin disease were also more common in office workers than operational workers, but there were no statistically significant differences. Obesity and overweight (p<0.009) and increased triglycerides (p<0.05) were more common in administrative than operational workers, which had statistically significant differences. The state of job stress in operational employees was statistically significant compared to administrative employees regarding role (p<0.018) and communication (p<0.002).
Conclusion: Appropriate occupational health interventions to reduce pollutants, implement ergonomic programs and improve nutrition and increase physical activity and stress management can play an effective role in improving the health of employees of these units.
Alireza Zarasvandi, Maryam Delphi, Nadia Azizi, Fatima Rastmanesh, Gazelle Zarasvandi,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: During the last few decades, heavy metal pollution in indoor dust has been widely studied; While, the quality of the environment inside the cars has not been considered enough. Therefore, the specific objectives of this study generally include investigating the levels of selected heavy metals in the dust of private cars collected from Ahvaz city, as well as evaluating the health risk of carcinogenesis and exposure to the dust inside these cars through ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption.
Materials and Methods: 10 cars were selected for this study. The condition of choosing the cars was not to wash the car for a week. Then, samples were collected and coded from the dust of the air conditioner filter and the cabin of each car. To determine the composition of heavy metals, spectroscopic analysis (ICP) was performed on the samples.
Results: The study of non-carcinogenic risk index (HI) in the present study indicates that the values of more than 1 and the health risk is high. The sequence of HI index values for heavy metals was obtained as Pb>Cu>Cr> Fe> Zn> Cd> Ni. Evaluated risks from different pathways in children was HQing < HQinhder while in adults follows HQingder< HQinh process. Additionally, the values of enrichment factor of the studied samples showed the maximum and minimum values for Cu (4.3) and Ni (8.3), the maximum and minimum geoaccumulation index for Fe (12.75) and Ni (1.9) and the amount of integrated pollution and pollution index were estimated to be 1.34+E27 and 2.07+E9, respectively, indicating the average range for the studied heavy metals.
Conclusion: According to this study, the risk of non-carcinogenic risk of heavy metals (except Fe and Cu) for children is estimated to be higher than that of adults. Furthermore, the investigation of the CR index for the three carcinogenic heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, and arsenic) has exceeded the safe level, which indicates ingestion and inhale as the target pathways for the worst adverse effects of heavy metals in children andadults, respectively. In the present study, the amount of heavy metals studied is more than the set standards. The results of the current study showedthe more enrichment of heavy metals in the car filter as compared with the cabin.
Zabihollah Yousefi, Adel Naderi, Seyed Noureddin Mousavi Nasab, Samaneh Dehghan,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The high risk of Sars-CoV-2 infection in dental centers is a serious problem for doctors and patients. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the environmental health measures related to corona disease in the dental offices of Sari city during the COVID-19 epidemic in 2021.
Materials and Methods: The present study is descriptive and cross-sectional, and the tool used in it is a researcher-made questionnaire collected with the cooperation of the personnel working in 100 active dental service centers in Sari. to determine content validity, two qualitative and quantitative -qualitative methods were used. The qualitative content validity of this questionnaire was confirmed by 8 environmental health experts. Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS software V. 25.
Results: Based on the results of this study, personal protective equipment was used continuously in 100% of the centers. In 93% of the centers, sodium hypochlorite and formaldehyde were used to disinfect the equipment, and in 94% of the cases, the frequency of disinfection of the equipment was after each patient. Disinfection of toilets was done daily in 62% of the centers and every two days in the rest. In 72% of the examined dental centers, had no local hood installed or turned on above the units, but in 92% of the offices, there was proper ventilation of public spaces. In addition, according to the results, in 99% of clinics, waste management was carried out in accordance with national laws and regulations and based on the rules and methods of the executive management of medical waste and related waste and related instructions, and also in 100% of clinics, water consumption was healthy and desirable.
Conclusion: Overall, environmental health measures in dental offices were at an optimal level in most cases and in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health. Not installing a hood or not turning it on above the units and improper ventilation of the dentist's office were the most critical problems of the centers, which need to be given more attention and corrective measures should be taken according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health.
Ahmad Jonidi Jafari, Davarkhah Rabbani, Samaneh Bagheri Arani, Ehsan Zarei, Mohsen Hosami Arani,
Volume 16, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Compliance with the principles of environmental health is of particular importance in any gathering ceremony. This issue needs more attention in the Muharram and Safar mourning ceremonies due to the position of health in Islam and the presence of different populations in this ceremony. Based on this, the present study was conducted with the aim of environmental health management during Muharram and Safar days using the Analytic Hierarchy Process.
Materials and Methods: According to the main purpose of the study, a literature review was done. Then, a team of experts was formed and criteria, sub-criteria and programs related to the purpose of the study were determined by brainstorming, and the relevant questionnaire was prepared and after completion by 25 experts, the relevant criteria were prioritized using the Analytic Hierarchy Process.
Results: Based on the weighting with the Analytic Hierarchy Process method, the highest score (0.441) was awarded to the health inspection criteria, and then the administrative coordination criteria(0.186), education (0.182), reporting (0.169) and finally the support and services criterion (0.022) were prioritized.
Conclusion: The results of the study indicate the emphasis on environmental health management during the Muharram and Safar mourning ceremonies from the point of view of experts, that compliance with the three principles of health inspection, administrative coordination and continuous training has the particular importance.
Zahra Moavi, Khoshnaz Payandeh, Mehrnosh Tadayoni,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (6-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Heavy metals are dangerous pollutants in the environment that accumulate in food. This research was conducted with the aim of evaluating the health risks and contamination of some heavy metals in lettuce and cabbage in the cities of Hamidieh, Dezful and Ramhormoz in Khuzestan province.
Materials and Methods: The sampling was completely random, with three repetitions, and 15 samples of each of the lettuce and cabbage vegetables grown in each region were prepared. Heavy metals were measured using the Perkin Elmer 4100 atomic absorption device. Heavy metal risk assessment was conducted using soil pollution indicators and health risk assessment method.
Results: The highest amount of metal in cabbage is related to zinc (5.84±0.15 mg/kg), while the lowest amounts of chromium metal in lettuce (0.11±0.005 mg/kg) was achieved. Based on the daily absorption of heavy metals in lettuce and cabbage products, the results showed that the highest hazard index (HQ) values, related to lead metal in cabbage for children and adults, were 3.9376 and 3.4253, respectively, compared to other heavy metals. The highest value of the carcinogenicity index in children was 0.0133 for cabbage consumption. The carcinogenic index of chromium metal in lettuce and cabbage products had the lowest values (0.0003 and 0.0004). Regarding the metal enrichment factor, lead, chromium, copper and cobalt were higher in the agricultural soils of Ramhormoz compared to other regions, while nickel and zinc were higher in the soils of Hamidiyeh than in Dezful and Ramhormoz. The soil index of accumulation of chromium, zinc and copper in the soil of Dezful agricultural fields was higher, whereas lead and cobalt were higher in Hamidiyeh soils than in Dezful and Ramhormoz. Additionally, nickel was higher in Ramhormoz agricultural fields.
Conclusion: According to the soil pollution indicators, cobalt metal played an important role in the soil pollution in Dezful, Hamidiyeh and Ramhormoz, while the metals lead, nickel, chromium, copper and zinc showed minimal pollution levels in the soil of the studied areas. The health risk assessment of soil heavy metals showed that the risk index for lead, nickel, chromium, copper, zinc and cobalt was lower than 1. Additionally, the carcinogenicity index of heavy metals for both adults and children was less than 10-4. The health risk assessment of heavy metals and their risk index showed that the consumption of lettuce and cabbage in these areas can lead to various health problems in people.
Safieh Hassanzad, Hossein Pirkharrati, Masoumeh Ahangari, Farrokh Asadzadeh,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (6-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: One of the significant challenges in mining areas is the pollution of the environment by heavy metals. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the pollution risk associated with mining wastes and take action to mitigate their environmental impact. The current study assessed the risk potential of recently deposited tailings in the Songun copper mining area.
Materials and Methods: Based on the conditions of tailings, 26 samples were randomly selected from the recently deposited mine wastes. Twenty-two thin and thin polished sections were prepared for lithology and mineralogy studies. Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed to analyze all 26 samples, while X-ray diffraction method (XRD) was used to analyze a subset of 10 samples.
Results: Sulfide minerals, as the main source of environmental pollution, remain intact and unaffected in the tailings. However, the majority of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) exhibit higher concentrations in the waste composition than the standard levels, resulting in a total ecological risk index of 49.93. Geochemical indicators highlight significant pollution levels for elements such as lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and copper (Cu). The values of the non-carcinogenic risk index for children (except As and Fe) and adults are lower than 1, indicating a non-significant non-carcinogenic health risk. However, the carcinogenicity index also indicates a significant carcinogenic risk in the case of long exposure to wastes, particularly for children.
Conclusion: Therefore, wastes pose a significant environmental risk potential, and due to this risk, proper management of their storage is necessary to prevent the release of PTEs into the environment.
Mohammad Mosaferi, Jafar Yahyazadeh, Yusef Mohammadian, Farzaneh Moshtaghi,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The use of pesticides poses serious risks to the health of living organisms. Knowing the type and amount of pesticide use can provide a good information base for managing potential risks from pesticide consumption. This study was carried out with the main objective of determining the types and amounts of pesticides used on agricultural land in East Azarbaijan Province in 2021.
Materials and Methods: Information about the pesticides have been gathered and analyzed by referring to the Agricultural Jihad Organization and other relevant authorities. Calculations related to the amount of pesticides used per unit area were made using the total area of agricultural lands in the province.
Results: Considering the frequency, 403 kinds of pesticides are used in the following order: Herbicides > Insecticides > Fungicides > Acaricides > Others > Disinfectants. Consdidering total consumption of 2873730 kg pesticides, the order based on the amount is: Insecticides > Herbicide > Fungicides > Miscellaneous > Acaricides and Disinfectants based on the amount. The total ratio of pesticides used to pesticides distributed through the official (government) channel is 2.51. The minimum, maximum, and mean consumption values in counties are 0.4, 21.4, and 4.21 ± 5.33 kg/ha, respectively, and for province is 2.38 kg/ha. There is a correlation between the amount of pesticide applied and the number of farmers and traders.
Conclusion: The consumption of pesticides in the province is higher than the world average. Appropriate management of pesticides is required from the viewpoints of environment and health protection.
Nasibeh Zanjari, Parisa Mollaei,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Rapid aging and climate change are two major global challenges of the 21st century. This study was conducted to identify the effects of climate change on the health of older adults.
Materials and Methods: This systematic review was conducted by comprehensively searching the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science electronic databases using the keywords elderly, aging, older people, health, and climate change, in English. Articles from 2014 to February 2023 following the PRISMA checklist were examined. Studies were included if they were published in English, had full text available, and focused on a population of people over 60 years old. Simulated studies were excluded.
Results: The quality of these studies was reported to be moderate to good according to the STROBE checklist. The results showed that climate change negatively impacts the physical, mental and social health of the elderly. It causes an increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular, kidney, and respiratory diseases, as well as depression. Additionally, it leads to a reduction in daily activities, an increase in hospitalization rates and higher mortality. Among various climate changes, the increase in temperature poses the greatest to the health of older adults.
Conclusion: Climate changes, particularly the rise in temperature, have the most significant negative impact on the physical health of older adults. Therefore, there is a pressing need for increased focus on environmental sustainability, the development of public health intervention policies, and the implementation of adaptive strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures for older adults.
Ali Hamidi, Maryam Ravanipour, Masoumeh Ravanipour,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Scientometrics is used to identify existing study gaps, discover the future research directions, investigate fundamental trends and implement the necessary policies in a specific field of knowledge. Considering the key role of environmental factors in the health trends and the varyingburden of diseases in the country, this study was conducted with the aim of performing scientometric analysis of the role of environmental health in the prevention and control of diseases related to environmental factors in Iran.
Materials and Methods: Bibliographic information related to scientific documents indexed in the Web of Science database until September 12, 2022, was analyzed and visualized using Citespace and Biblioshiny software.
Results: A total of 1,212 documents were retrieved. These documents were published in 629 sources with the participation of 8,461 authors. The average publication year of the documents was 2010. The top three ranks of organizational affiliations were as follows: Tehran University of Medical Sciences (747 documents), Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (436 documents), and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (393 documents). Iran's cooperation network with other countries indicates substantial joint researchbetween Iran and the main countries in this network. Over time, the co-occurrence network of keywords has evolved from outcomes (such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, etc.) to environmental exposure factors, especially air pollutants, heavy metals, and food-borne pathogens factors. Risk assessment has also been a category of interest in recent years.
Conclusion: Scientometric analysis showed that environmental health studies in prevention and control of diseases related to environmental factors in Iran are young and still progressing. In the early years, studies were mainly focused on diseases as an outcome, while in recent years, they have focused more on exposure factors or environmental pathogens. It is suggested that the future studies based on the retrieved keywords should be more mission-oriented and the priority of solving the problems of environmental pollutants affecting people's health in the country based on the extent and scope of the problems of each province should be considered by policy makers and researchers.
Hassan Malvandi,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The presence of toxic mercury in fish has caused global concern, as one of the main ways of humans are exposed to it is through fish consumption. Therefore, the main goal on this research was to determine the concentration of mercury in fish and evaluate the health risk to consumers.
Materials and Methods: Samples of pike, common perch, European perch, common carp and goldfish were collected from Anzali wetland. Mercury concentration was measured using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. Differences in mercury concentration among the species and the comparison of mercury concentration with the standards were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and one sample t-test, respectively.
Results: The average concentrations of mercury for pike, common perch, European perch, common carp and goldfish were 59.59, 67.55, 30.45, 9.84, and 10.44 µg/kg ww, respectively. The results showed significant differences in mercury concentrations among different species. The concentrations of mercury in all samples were below the permissible limits of international standards (300 and 500 µg/kg dw), and the HQ index values were less than 1. Therefore, the results indicated no potential risk to consumer health. Additionally, the consumption of European perch, common carp and goldfish is considered safe for sensitive people (children and pregnant women).
Conclusion: In general, there was no potential concern regarding mercury exposure from consuming the studied fish species.
Adel Sheykhan, Gholamreza Moussavi, Mohsen Heidari,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The air quality index (AQI) does not account the interaction of multiple pollutants, meaning the high concentration and health risk of one pollutant may amplify the effects of others. The main aim of this study was to characterize the ambient air quality of Arak by assessing the combined effects and health risks associated with criteria air pollutants.
Materials and Methods: This study evaluated the ambient air quality of Arak for the year 1401 on the Persian Calendar, using the concentrations of criteria air pollutants averaged over appropriate timeframes. Additionally, the AQI, aggregate air quality index (AAQI), and health risk-based air quality index (HAQI) were calculated.
Results: Findings showed that the 1-hour concentrations of NO2, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5 exceeded national standards in 0.05%, 0.2%, 12.1%, and 35.5% of hours, respectively. The AQI, AAQI and HAQI values were above 100 in 54.4%, 77.3%, and 56.2% of hours, respectively. PM2.5 was the major pollutant in over 99% of cases.
Conclusion: The results indicated that AAQI and HAQI, in comparison to AQI, characterized the air quality as more polluted. This stricter assessment by AAQI and HAQI may encourage more precautionary measures by authorities and the public. Thus, it is recommended that the decision-makers in Iran’s air quality monitoring in consider adopting these indices.
Hassan Malvandi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Dust particles in urban environments are often contaminated with heavy metals, posing significant health risks, particularly to children. Schools are one of the environments where children are exposed to dust particles. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the dust collected from Mashhad schools and to assess the associated health risks.
Materials and Methods: Dust samples were collected from 27 schools in the fall of 2022 using a brush. The values of various indices were estimated, including the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), enrichment index (EF), potential ecological risk index (PERI), and health risk indices such as hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI).
Results: The average concentrations of cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), aluminum (Al), lead (Pb), and barium (Ba) were 9.63, 18538.58, 84017.79, 11270.42, 32.07 and 111.56 µg/g, respectively. The Igeo values ranged from -3.69 to 1.51, while the CF values ranged from 0.16 to 4.26. The results of the pollution indices indicated that most of the studied elements were at the first level of pollution, suggesting that the degree of pollution was negligible or low. Additionally, the HQ and HI values were both less than 1.
Conclusion: Overall, the concentrations of the studied elements were not a concern, remaining at uncontaminated levels, and there was no potential health risk associated with exposure to these elements.
Jawad Kadhim Noor, Atefeh Chamani, Ahmed Najm Abdallh Al-Mosawy, Narges Kargari,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The pollution of trace elements in urban soil has attracted wide attention due to its detrimental environmental and health effects. Therefore, this research was conducted to evaluate of the content, pollution levels, and health risks associated with trace elements (Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, Mn, and Mo) in the surface soil of Al-Qasim City in Babylon Governate in 2024.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study involved, a total of 50 surface soil samples from a depth of 0-20 cm. The elemental content of the samples was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Additionally,, the enrichment factor (EF), pollution index (PI), pollution load index (PLI), hazard index (HI), and carcinogenic risk (CR) were calculated. Statistical data analyses were done using SPSS software.
Results: The average concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cd, Cu, Mn, and Mo in the soil were 27240, 62.7, 0.302, 33.8, 570 and 0.999 mg/kg, respectively. The highest average concentrations of Fe (30,331 mg/kg), Cu (37.3 mg/kg), Mn (639 mg/kg), and Mo (1.08 mg/kg) were found in downtown areasm whilefor the highest concentrations of Zn (65.3 mg/kg) and Cd (0.332 mg/kg) were observed in rural and midtown areas.
Conclusion: The results of this research demonstrate the impact of urban activities—such astraffic, industry, and agriculture—on the trace element pollution in the soil of Al-Qasim City. Therefore, regular monitoring of trace element concentrations and identification of their pollution sources are recommended to reduce and manage associated environmental and health risks.
