Iranian Journal of

Background and Objective: Surface water is usually highly variable in chemical composition due to contact with different geological formationsand other surface and groundwater resources.  Knowledge on water quality and the impact of human activities are particularly important for sustainable management and planning of water resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical and hydrochemical quality of Chehelchai river water in Golestan province.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 6 sampling stations were selected based on standard criteria including land use type, accessibility and standard distributions along the river in 2018. 10 river water quality parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, total soluble solids, sulfate, chloride, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium - were measured according to standard methods for one year period. Piper, Schuler, Durov, Wilcox and Gibbs diagrams were applied for hydrochemical analysis using RockWorks.17 software.  Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA.
Results:  Results indicated the abundance of major ions was found in the order of HCO₃^- > SO₄^2- > Cl^- and Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺. The river water type was predominantly determined as calcic bicarbonate. The findings revealed that the water of the study area is acceptable for drinking purpose based on Schuler diagram and also appropriate for agricultural uses considering Wilcox diagram (80% of the samples in class S1-C3 (saline - usable for agriculture)) and the average sodium uptake ratio (0.79).
Conclusion: The presence of dolomite ores, the absence of factories and domestic sewage and adhering to hygiene regulations by the residents, are the main reasons which have increased the quality of Chehelchai river water.

Background and Objective: Given the nature of many development projects, it is necessary to evaluate their effects on human health. Due to the lack of a specific model, the purpose of this study was to provide a tool to prioritize the effects of construction and operation (C&O) of a combined cycle power plants (CCPPs) on physical health.
Materials and Methods: By reviewing the documents and interviewing 15 experts, the variables affecting physical health in the C&O of the CCPPs were identified. Then, the content validity of the variables was assessed and the enumerated questionnaire was provided to the experts to determine the range, duration, probability, magnitude and extent of health effects using a multiple-choice Likert scale. Finally, with an innovative method, high priority variables were determined to evaluate the physical health effects on individuals.
Results: According to expert’s comments, 480 variables affecting physical health in the C&O of the CCPPs were selected and 41 variables were rejected based on the content validity index. The obtained results showed that diseases attributed to particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), SO₂ and nitrogen oxide, under normal and emergency conditions, highly contributed to the physical health problems during the construction of CCPPs.
Conclusion:  The method presented in this study is applicable to (1) identifies the factors affecting physical health, (2) determines the range of each physical health- associated factor and (3) prioritizes influencing criteria that might affect human health status during the construction and operation of a combined cycle power plant.

Background and Objective: Vegetables are an essential part of our diet and a major dietary exposure route to heavy metals. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the concentration and potential health hazards of heavy metals in the vegetables sold in Kashan markets.
Materials and Methods: 4 types of widelyraw-consumed vegetables, including parsley, coriander, basil, and fresh chives, were investigated in this study. Questionnaires were randomly given to individuals to determine vegetable consumption rate. Heavy metal were quantified using inductively coupled plasma- optical emission spectroscopy. Monte-Carlo Simulation was utilized to identify the associated health risks.
Results: Among tested heavy metals, Pb showed the highest concentration in parsley (4.8 ± 0.98 µg/g), coriander (3.8 ± 1.3 µg/g) and basil (3 ± 0.94 µg/g). Cr levels in fresh chives (2.8 ± 1.6 µg/g) was higher than other heavy metals. Also, the highest total hazard quotient values among examined heavy metals (Taking into account 95% confidence interval) were found for Pb (0.7), Cr (0.39), and Pb (1.034) in coriander, basil, and fresh chives, respectively.
Conclusion: Cr and Pb concentrations were generally beyond WHO/FAO guidelines in the samples. The THQ value for Pb in parsley was greater than 1, suggesting elevated adverse health effects due to parsley consumption.

Background and Objective: Due to the increasing trend of municipal solid waste (MSW) production, if a suitable management system is not applied, it will lead to environmental pollution and endanger human health. The aim of this study was to compare different scenarios of waste management in Chalous city with life cycle assessment (LCA) approach and to select the most efficient method in terms of environmental adaptation.
Materials and Methods: After investigation of the quantitative and qualitative characterization of the produced wastes and the current waste disposal method in Chalous city, the obtained results were used to evaluate the life cycle of six different waste management scenarios; including the combination of four methods of composting, recycling, incineration along with energy extraction and sanitary landfilling. Emissions from various scenarios were assessed using IWM-2 model.
Results: The current system of municipal waste management in Chalus (scenario 1) with ecological index of 1.73+06 poses the highest pollution load into the environment. The inclusion of compost disposal methods in the organic waste sector and recycling of biodegradable materials significantly reduces the emissions of environmental pollutants by increasing the amount of materials for recycling and reuse, as well as preventing emissions from raw material production. The fifth scenario (60% compost, 30% recycling and 10% sanitary landfill) with ecological index of -2.00+05 was known as the lowest contamination scenario.
Conclusion: Considering that a high percentage of Chalous municipal solid waste composition is perishable materials (organic waste), simultaneous application of composting and recycling methods can be a suitable option for optimal management of wastes in Chalous city and play an important role in reducing the environmental pollution load.

Background and Objective: Various aspects including the environmental burdens, social and economic consequences of the waste management(WM) scenarios must be considered to come up with a comprehensive WM plan. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach is a systematic method to quantify the environmental burdens of each WM scenario.
Materials and Methods: This study used an LCA approach to develop a decision support system to analyze different scenarios of WM. Local and global databases were used to develop a comprehensive life cycle inventory database. The model comes with a graphical user interface in Persian to make it easier to use by a wide range of customers. Finally, to evaluate the model, three scenarios were assessed in Karaj city, Iran.
Results: To the best of our knowledge, this model is the first attempt to automate the process of waste management scenarios evaluation in Iran. The model enables users to easily and quickly simulate a wide range of scenarios. All calculations will be carried out by the software in the background and the user only needs to determine his/her scenario of concern which is very easy owing to the user-friend GUI of the software. The model was evaluated by analyzing the current WM in Karaj. The results showed that the waste collection system is the main source of environmental pollution of the WM in Karaj city due to the inefficient system of the waste collection and poor fleet fuel efficiency.
Conclusion: This tool allows users to gather detailed information about the waste management systems. In this way, the user can make informed decisions about the most suitable waste management scenario in a city.

Background and Objective: By accurately identifying environmental issues, individuals can acquire skills to better solve environmental problems. To this end, the most appropriate method is to assess the educational needs of individuals to pave the way for the promotion of environmental knowledge. The present study aims to assess the need for training courses to empower professionals to increase their knowledge of environmental issues and educate others to take an important step in improving environmental health in society.
Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive needs assessment study using Delphi technique. In the first stage, the designed questionnaire was given to 150 people (faculty members, experts and students) to express their opinions in the proposed areas. In the second stage, a supplementary questionnaire entitled General needs for faculty members, specialized needs for experts and general and specialized needs for students were provided to individuals and the importance of the issues from their point of view was examined. Finally, the most important issues were prioritized by experts. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-26 software.
Results: The total number of educational needs extracted from the first stage of Delphi was 120 items, of which 31 items related to general needs (11 teaching and evaluation areas, 10 research areas and 10 communication and personal development items) and 89 items related to specialized needs. (27 cases of air pollution, 23 cases of waste management, 17 cases of wastewater treatment and reuse of wastewater, 10 cases of water treatment and pollution and 12 cases of soil pollution and its removal methods). In the second and third rounds, the importance of these items was determined by the target groups by scoring, and at the end, the first five priorities of each item were identified.
Conclusion: The results of this study, considering the comprehensive review of three target groups and determining and prioritizing the needs for each group, can increase the level of environmental awareness and empowerment of experts, which ultimately enhance the efficiency of the system and is an important step for environmental educational planning.

Background and Objective: Soils and sediments contamination with trace and toxic elements lead to potential ecological risk and adverse effects on human health and so have been the cause of increasing concern worldwide. Therefore, this study was carried out to potential ecological risk assessment of As, Cd, Ni and V in surface sediments of Khazar Abad, southern parts of Caspian Sea in 2019.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 36 surface sediment samples were collected from 12 sampling sites. After samples preparation, the elemental contents were determined using ICP-OES. Also, potential ecological risk factor (Eⁱ_r) and cumulative potential ecological risk index (RI) were calculated. All statistical analyses were performed by SPSS software.
Results: Based on the results obtained, the mean contents of As, Cd, Ni and V in analyzed samples were found to be 12.7, 0.191, 35.0, and 31.9 mg/kg, respectively. The computed values of Eⁱ_r  showed that factor values were decreased in the order Cd > As > Ni > V. Additionally, the mean values of RI with 53.7 indicated that all the examined elements have the "low potential ecological risk".
Conclusion: Accordingly, although the examined elements have shown a low potential ecological risk, cadmium with 46.4% and arsenic with 45.4% mean values of RI can cause for concern. Therefore, source identification and management of organic and inorganic pollutants and also periodic monitoring of water and sediments as the sink of environmental pollution are recommended.

Background and Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of potentially toxic elements (arsenic, lead, copper, cadmium and mercury) in black tea imported to southern Iran and to assess the risk of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic exposure to consumers.
Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 94 samples of black tea from 15 brands imported from India in 2021 were selected. Heavy metals concentrations were measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer (GBC model SAVANTAA). After determining the concentration of heavy metals in black tea samples, health risk assessment was determined using Montocarlo simulation technique.
Results: According to the results, the average concentrations of heavy metals namely arsenic, lead, copper, cadmium and mercury were 0.03±0.02, 0.02±0.16, 15.67±7.69, 0.02±0.01 and 0.006±0.005 mg/kg, respectively. The hazard quotient (HQ) of the heavy metals arsenic, lead, copper, cadmium and mercury were 1.07×10^-2, 6.37×10^-3, 3.45×10^-5, 2.05×10^-2 and 7.19×10^-4, respectively.
Conclusion: Therefore, according to the findings, it can be concluded that the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (arsenic, lead, copper, mercury and cadmium) in black tea were consistent with the standard level of Iran and World Health Organization. Additionally, the average carcinogenic risk index for arsenic metal was 4.49×10^-6, which is much lower than the acceptable level of carcinogenic risk (10^-6). Therefore, the concentrations of five potentially toxic elements in the studied black tea did not show any significant risk for consumers.
 

Background and Objective: Due to the negative effects of municipal waste, the need for proper management and selection of appropriate solutions to minimize these effects is strongly felt. One of the methods of recycling waste is preparing compost from organic materials. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental impacts of the two options of implementation and non-implementation of the Karaj compost plant project.
Materials and Methods: Based on the obtained results, the project implementation was determined by gaining more points (0.181) in terms of sustainability and having the least destructive environmental effects, and the project was not implemented by gaining more points (-0.155) in terms of sustainability and having more environmentally destructive effects.
Results: Based on the obtained results, the first option (project implementation) was determined as the best option by gaining more points (0.181) in terms of sustainability and having the least destructive environmental Impacts and the second option (non-implementation of the project) was determined with a lower score (-0.155) in terms of sustainability and more environmental damage than the first option.
Conclusion: According to the research findings, the results of the rapid impact assessment matrix and sustainability model are consistent in confirming the superiority of compost plant performance over non-implementation.
 

Background and Objective: This study aims to develop a quantitative model for the performance evaluation of urban green buildings using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.
Materials and Methods: Criteria and sub-criteria related to green building were collected, then to content validity and reliability of the primary questionnaire were confirmed by a panel of 11 experts. The final questionnaire with 8 main criteria and 26 sub-criteria was provided to 295 green building users to model the performance of the green buildings. Content validity and Cronbach's alpha were used for validity and reliability of the initial questionnaire, Expletory Factor Analysis was employed to identify factor structure and Confirmatory Factor Analysis was utilized to examine factor loadings and goodness of fit.
Results: The final questionnaire included 8 main criteria and 26 secondary criteria. The internal consistency of the test was adequate (alpha>0.6); the chi-square test for EFI analysis was equal to 0.09 and RMSEA<0.05 and the CFI index was equal to =0.98.
Conclusion: The results showed the designed 8-factor model could predict the impact of green building performance by 81.64%. EFI and CFI analysis confirmed the fitting of the model too.
 

Background and Objective: Due to the presence of heavy metals (HMs), sludge produced in industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWPT) is classified as special waste and can cause adverse health effects. The present study aimed to identify special wastes and assess the risk associated with the presence of HMs in the sludge of WWTP from an Industrial City.
Materials and Methods: Identifying the special wastes was conducted using a checklist, and classification was performed in accordance with the Basel Convention. Ecological risk assessment was done by determining the geo-accumulation and ecological indexes. The estimation of health risk was done by determining HQ and ELCR indexes.
Results: The highest amount of special waste was allocated to sludge with a value of 3900.0 kg/month. Chromium was detected in the highest concentration (95.89 ± 52.15 mg/kg). The level of chromium and nickel pollution was evaluated in the low range, and cadmium was very severe. The ecological risk of lead was estimated in a significant range and was very high for cadmium. The HQ was less than 1, and the ELCR for inhalation and dermal exposure was estimated to be lower than the acceptable risk level of WHO.
Conclusion: The present study showed that the largest amount of special waste is dedicated to sludge. Although the concentration of  HMs was lower than the acceptable limits, the sludge had a high ecological risk level. Therefore, the accumulation and transfer of sludge must be carried out under the provisions of the Basel Convention and environmental considerations.

Background and Objective: One of the main ways of transmitting diseases is drinking water, so the safety of drinking water is an important issue for consumers, water suppliers, operators, and health officials. This study was conducted to identify and semi-quantitative evaluation and prioritization of risks in the drinking water supply system of Bostan Abad city.
Materials and Methods: In order to evaluate and document the key elements of WSP and identify the steps that need improvement, the quality assurance tool of the water safety plan (WSP-QA TOOL software) was used, and then based on the guide of the water safety plan from the WHO and the International Association Water safety, WSP team formed. Then the water supply system of Bostan Abad city from the farthest point of the basin to the last consumption point was inspected and described.
Results: The results showed that the highest number of risks are in the water supply sources, distribution network, and point of consumption, respectively. Also, the most vulnerable part of the system was identified as the disinfection unit and storage tanks due to biological and chemical contamination caused by equipment failure and improper preparation of chlorine solution.
Conclusion: In summary, it can be said that carrying out the necessary reforms can play an effective role in reducing the risk potential in times of crisis, which should be given serious attention by water industry officials.
 

Background and Objective: The economic evaluation is a tool for decision-making based on data that helps to select and prioritize waste management components and their implementation based on economic criteria. The purpose of this study was a comprehensive economic evaluation of the waste management components by life cycle costing assessment (LCC) , Net Present Value index (NPV), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR).
Materials and Methods: The cost of each waste management component, was calculated by LCC for one tonne of waste in. The efficiency of each waste management component was obtained using the NPV and IRR indicators.
Results: The results showed that recycling with 260%, and then composting with 40%, have the highest economic returns and the ability to return capital. The sensitivity analysis showed the profitability of these two processes despite the changes of ±30% in the influential calculation parameters.
Conclusion: In this study, comprehensive economic evaluation showed that using LCC, NPV, and IRR with their sensitivity analysis, simultaneity can have an important role in waste management decision-making. 
 

Background and Objective: The health and safety of the employees of any industry is one of the most important issues to prevent the occurrence of accidents. This study aimed to identify and assess related risks in a battery-manufacturing industry using FMEA method and estimate the ratio of the cost of accidents to prevention.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and analytical study, the production activities of the industry were first identified. Then the work process, employee duties, and Potential risks were determined by the HAZID method. Evaluation and prioritization of risks were done using FMEA method. Risks whose RPN was higher than 145 were determined as important risks and the ratio of incident cost to accident prevention was calculated.
Results: In 62 active units of this industry, 716 risks were identified and prioritized, 16 of which (2.23%) had RPN above 145 with the highest priority. The financial pulp unit with falling and fire hazards and the assembly unit with the risk of fumes and lead dust leakage with RPN 245 were among the most dangerous units and hazards identified in the industry. In all units except one unit, the ratio of the cost of accidents to prevention varied from 1.2 to 25.
Conclusion: The results showed that it is necessary to consider the correction of the important risks by the industry officials, according to the set priorities so that potential accidents caused by these risks are minimized. This prioritization can play an effective role in optimal risk management and reduce related costs.
 

Background and Objective: Given the crucial role of milk and its products in human diets, it is imperative to implement effective measures to ensure the safety of milk by minimizing the presence of hazardous pollutants. This study aims to assess the concentration and potential risks associated with lead in raw milk produced in Tehran province.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study involved the collection of raw milk samples from 24 diverse livestock farms in Tehran province during the winter season of 1401. The samples were analyzed for lead contamination using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical tests were applied to compare the results with international standards, and subsequent risk assessment was conducted based on the average amounts.
Results: The study revealed that none of the samples exceeded the permissible limit for lead. The mean and standard deviation of lead concentration in the samples was 7 ± 5.8 (ppb), well below the international standard. There was no significant variation in lead levels among the tested livestock farms. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for both children and adults were calculated to be less than 1.
Conclusion: The concentration of lead in all samples remained below the permissible limits set by Codex and the Iran Standards Organization, indicating no non-carcinogenic risks associated with milk consumption in terms of lead contamination, as suggested by the calculated HQ values.
 

Background and Objective: The Goharzamin iron mine in Sirjan has the largest iron ore reserves in the Gol Gohar area. This study aimed to assess the life cycle of iron ore extraction from this mine using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method due to the extensive activities in the area and the lack of comprehensive studies.
Materials and Methods:  The LCA evaluated the impacts of iron ore extraction from the Goharzamin mine on human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. The boundary system included the drilling and blasting processes. Following the cradle-to-gate model and an attributional approach, the production of 1 ton of iron ore was considered a functional unit. Impact and damage assessment were conducted using SimaPro software and the ReCiPE method at mid and end-point levels.
Results: The findings revealed that transportation by trucks with a capacity exceeding 20 tons accounted for the highest environmental burden in all categories (51.1%), particularly in overburden removal. The detrimental impacts of transportation on ionizing radiation (human health), land use, and freshwater eutrophication potentials (ecosystem quality) exceeded 95%. Carbon-14 emissions, agricultural land occupation, and BOD5 and COD releases resulting from iron ore extraction were identified as the key pollutants in these impact categories. The average damage to human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion was found to be 89.8%, 5.5%, and 4.6%, respectively.
Conclusion: To mitigate the negative impacts of transportation, it is advisable to enhance environmental sustainability by utilizing trucks that adhere to Euro 5 standards or higher, as well as exploring the use of renewable energies.
 

Background and Objective: The adverse health effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have received significant attention in recent years. This study aimed to measure the concentration of PAHs associated with fine particles and assess the health risks posed by these compounds.
Materials and Methods: A total of 38 air samples were collected from the central part of Isfahan city using a particle sampler equipped with an inlet to capture particles smaller than 2.5 µm (PM_2.5). The samples were analyzed using GC-MS, and molecular ratios were used to identify potential sources of PAHs. Additionally, a Monte Carlo simulation was employed to perform a probabilistic risk assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of PAHs for two groups:  children and adults.
Results: Out of the 16 priority PAH compounds, seven compounds were identified, with average concentrations ranging from 0.003 to 17.8 ng/m³. Molecular ratios indicated that pyrogenic sources were the main contributors to PAHs in the air. The median carcinogenic risk for children and adults was estimated to be 3.1×10^-8 and 5.99×10^-8, respectively. The median non-carcinogenic risk for PAH compounds was estimated at 3.08×10^-1.
Conclusion: The probabilistic risk assessment revealed that the PAHs concentrations associated with fine particles do not pose a significant risk to exposed individuals. However, it is important to note that this study focused solely on the risk assessment of PAHs associated with fine particles. A comprehensive risk assessment of all PAHs present in the atmosphere is, therefore, recommended.
 

Background and Objective: Identiying the most optimal solution has long been an significant challenge for waste management decision-makers. This study aims to develop a decision support system to identify optimal environmental and economic scenarios for waste management.
Materials and Methods: This study presents the development and application of a decision support system that estimates the environmental burden and cost of waste using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) tools. The system then identifies optimal environmental and economic scenarios for waste management through a linear programming model. Data from the Karaj waste management system were utilized to apply and validate the decision support system.
Results: The outputs of the linear programming model in this system included one scenario based on minimizing environmental impacts and two scenarios based on minimizing costs imposed on the Karaj waste management system (MSWS). In both the environmental and second economic scenarios, incineration contributed the most to waste management, whereas composting was the dominant method in the first economic scenario. Additionally, recycling the maximum possible amount of recyclable materials was a common feature in all three scenarios, due to its environmental and economic benefits.
Conclusion: The result of this study demonstrate that the current Decision Support System can provide optimal environmental and economic scenarios for waste management to the decision-makers in the field. This is achieved by considering the inherent differences in the types of waste produced, the technologies employed, and the processing costs associated with each waste management system.