Showing 12 results for Contamination
Gr Jahed Khaniki, M Mahdavi, A Ghasri, S Saeednia,
Volume 1, Issue 1 (10-2008)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Bottled water is a main beverage at many developed and developing countries. It can be polluted with chemical agents. One of these agents is nitrate which affects the safety of bottled and mineral water and cause healthy effects on consumer health. Today&aposs consumption of bottled water get a grate develop, thus infer of the quality of this matter is compulsive for each consumer.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive-analytical and cross- sectional study was done with the aim of determination of nitrate in bottled water available in market of Tehran City in 2007. In this study, 18 samples of six various manufacturers of product were examined.
Results: Results showed that the mean of nitrate is 9.02 mg/L and all samples have nitrate bellow 50 mg/L and they are at the standard level. Also, the results of the examinations have good correspondence with the concentration of nitrate on bottled water labels and according to statistic meaningful relation, was considered.
Conclusion: The nitrate content of these bottled water available in market of Tehran city is located at the level of national and global standards and it can not be a serious problem for health of consumer.
M Farzadkia, R Rezaee Kalantari, S Jorfi, A.r Talaee, G.r Moussavi,
Volume 2, Issue 1 (7-2009)
Abstract
Background and Objectives : Propylene glycol is the main compound of anti-freezing chemicals. A significant amount of propylene glycol is released to the environment after application and contaminates the soil. The main objective of this study was to determine the biological removal of propylene glycol from wastewater and its degradation in soil by the isolated bacteria from activated sludge process.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, the sludge taken from the return flow in a local activated sludge treatment system was used as the initial seed. The performance of the bioreactor in treating the wastewater was evaluated at four different retention times of 18, 12, 6 and 4 h all with the inlet COD concentration of 1000 mg/L. This phase lasted around 4 months. Then, a part of the adapted microorganisms were transported from the bioreactor to the soil which was synthetically contaminated to the propylene glycol.
Results: The average of propylene glycol removal efficiency from the wastewater in detention times of 18, 12, 8 and 4 h in steady state conditions was 98.6%, 97.1%, 86.4% and 62.2% respectively. Also, the maximum degradation in soil was found to be 97.8%.
Conclusion: According to the results obtained from this study, it appears that propylene glycol is inherently well biodegradable and can be biodegraded in liquid phase and soil after a short period of adaptation.
Ramin Nabizadeh, Masoud Binesh Brahmand, Kazem Naddefi, Ali Reza Mesdaghiniya,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (4-2012)
Abstract
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Background and Objectives: Guilan province, with unique
environmental values of the Caspian Sea is located in
the southwest of Caspian Sea. Disposal of
untreated domestic sewage, industrial and agricultural surface water cause
pollution of the Caspian Sea region and
endanger the health of swimmers. This study performed to determine the
microbial contamination of coastal water in Guilan.
Materials and Methods: In this work, 21 sampling point
in the Caspian Sea littoral provinces of
Guilan were selected and microbial contaminations were assessed using microbial indicators of fecal and total
coliform. Parameters such as pH, temperature, and turbidity also monitored
during the year. In this study, 122 samples were taken and then analyzed by
statistical software.
Results: The results showed that the average values of total
coliform and fecal coliform were 234.8 and
60 MPN per 100 ml, respectively. The fecal pollution appeared to be high
in some stations. Also significant relationship between temperature, turbidity
and microbial contamination was observed (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: The results revealed high total coliform in the two
stations. The average fecal coliform of six stations were higher than the local
standards.
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A.a Babaei, Z Nazari, E Ahmadpour, M Hosseinzadeh,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (1-2015)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: alkylphenol poly ethoxylates (APnEOs) and their metabolites enter environment through discharging wastewater and are of particular concern due to their persistence, toxicity to aquatic organisms, and a potential endocrine disruptor. In this work, we focused on the determination of nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol polyethoxylate (NPnEOs) in sediment samples collected from Karun River, Khoozestan Plain, Iran. Materials and Methods: Sample collection of Karun River sediment was carried out on rainy and dry seasons from 10 hydrometric stations. The sediment samples were prepared and extracted using solid phase extraction procedure and were analyzed using HPLC-FLD. Results: We found that NP and NPnEOs concentrations in sediment samples of Karun River were 0.21-2.43 and 0.18-0.91 µg/g respectively. This study revealed that NP concentration in sediment samples of Karun River was higher than the other alkyphenolic metabolites. Conclusion: The results indicated accumulation of endocrine disrupting contaminants (EDCs) in the Karun river sediments. The results showed significant difference between mean concentrations of these compounds in the upstream and downstream stations of Ahwaz Megacity (p-value<0.05).
N Ravankhah, R Mirzaei, S Masoum,
Volume 8, Issue 3 (12-2015)
Abstract
Background and purpose: Soil contamination resulted from either natural or anthropogenic factors reduces environmental quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the geoaccumulation, contamination factor, and principal component analysis indices to estimate topsoil contamination in Aran-Bidgol town.
Materials and methods: 135 topsoil samples were collected from Aran-Bidgol town and the metal concentrations of Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn in each sample were determined. The index of geoaccumulation (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), and principal component analysis (PCA) techniques were applied to determine the status and trends of soil contamination in this region. The inverse distance weighting (IDW) was then used to map these soil contamination indices.
Results: The research found that the means concentrations of Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Cu were 0.72, 11.41, 29.87, 48.59, and 14.82 mg/kg respectively all exceeded the background values. Mean Igeo and CF of elements followed the order: Cu> Cd> Ni> Zn≈ Pb. The Igeo and CF maps showed higher values of Cd, Pb, and Zn in areas near industrial estates, brick kilns, and urban areas whereas higher levels of Cu and Ni occurred in urban and agricultural areas. According to the PCA index, two principal components were identified that Cu, Ni and Zn were highly loaded in PC1 and Cd and Pb occurred in PC2.
Conclusion: Results indicated that the concentration of Pb and Cd are mostly affected by human activities, whereas Ni, Zn, and Cu contents are controlled by both anthropogenic and natural sources.
H Meskini, E Sadeghi, A Nosrati, P Nosrati, M Bashiry,
Volume 9, Issue 2 (9-2016)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Money as a common tool is exchanged between people all over the world. Thus, it can be a source of chemical and biological contaminations causing serious diseases. The purpose of this research was to determine bacterial contamination of the currency notes and coins collected in Kermanshah.
Materials and Methods: 160 currency notes and 96 coins were randomly chosen from different jobs and parts of the city. Total count experiment was done and bacteria were identified and isolated through standard methods.
Results: Average total count in 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, and 20000 Rials currency notes were 147.6, 147.8, 148.5, 96.3, and 87.9 and in 500, 1000, and 2000 Rials coins were 104.66, 77.66, and 96.56 CFU/cm2, respectively. The research showed that currency notes carries more bacterial load than coins (P<0.05). Additionally, contamination to E. coli on money (13.7 %) and on coins (3.9%) were at maximum levels while Pseudomonas on currency notes was at the minimum level (1.6%) and coins contained 0.2% Enterobacter that was at the lowest amount.
Conclusion: In summary, the most important microorganisms isolated from currency notes and coins (E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus) were pathogenic, causing serious food poisoning and gastroenteritis infectious. Therefore, preventing food from cross contamination with money is necessary.
S Mianaji, R Rezaei , A Ganjloo,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2017)
Abstract
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.
P Nourozifard, S Mortazavi, S Asad, N Hassanzadeh,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Marine sediments are the most important component of monitoring the health of aquatic ecosystems. The present study uses sediment quality indices to determine the contamination status in Qeshm ecosystems and to evaluate the toxicity of the elements studied for its organisms.
Materials and Methods: Sampling of surface sediments of seven stations was carried out on Qeshm coastal areas. The samples were digested by a combination of nitric acid and perchloric acid, and the concentration of metals was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry.
Results: The results of modified Hazard Quotient indicated a high pollution rate for copper and nickel metals in most stations, which was consistent with the results of the Potential Contamination Index in relation to nickel metal. Additionally, the results of the Potential Contamination Index and Contamination Factor agreed with the amount of lead element. According to the results, the pollution index of Hamoon Lake and Zakeri pier was highly contaminated and Modified Pollution Index demonstrated a contamination in Romacha, Hamoon Lake, Zakeri pier and Nazes areas. The enrichment factor associated with contamination regarding most of the heavy metals confirmed the indices used to evaluate the comtamination in the study area.
Conclusion: Due to the higher concentrations of the heavy metals in the sediments than that of the quality guidelines, the high toxicity of sediments for the aquatic ecosystems was confirmed. The Romachah, Hamoon, Zakeri stations showed higher pollution levels and sever toxicity for aquatic life. Copper, nickel and in some cases lead, were the main heavy metals that contaminated the sediments in the region.
Alireza Rahimi, Nabi Shariatifar, Ali Heshmati,
Volume 14, Issue 3 (12-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The Pesticides used in agriculture have caused great concern due to their adverse effects on human health. In this study, the effect of rinsing, crushing, filtering, clarifying with bentonite and pasteurization on the reduction of diazinon, ethion and phosalone during Asari grape juice was investigated.
Materials and Methods: Vineyard was sprayed during three growth stages before flowering, sour grape (ghooreh) and during grape ripening with phosalone, diazinon, ethion and in doses of 525, 600, 750 g of active substance per hectare, respectively. Twenty-four hours after the last spraying step, the grape sample was harvested and exposed to the process of rinsing (20-30 s), crushing, filtering, clarifying and pasteurizing. Then, the pesticides residue concentration was determined after each step by GC-MS/MS.
Results: The initial concentrations of diazinon, ethion and phosalone in unprocessed grape samples were 0.640, 0.716 and 0.550 mg/kg, respectively. The reduction values of diazinon during the juicing processes of rinsing, crushing, filtering, clarifying with bentonite and pasteurization, in comparison with the concentration of unprocessed grapes, were 25.72, 41.96, 74.54, 90.21 and 100% (not found), respectively; while these values were 9.78, 28.50, 69.45, 89.38 and 96.74% for ethion and 17.32, 28.47, 46.40, 80.25, 93.28% for phosalone, respectively. All processes significantly reduced insecticides residue.
Conclusion: Findings showed that the processes of grape juice production could significantly decrease the diazinon, ethion and phosalone residues.
Azim Rabieimesbah, Soheil Sobhanardakani, Mehrdad Cheraghi, Bahareh Lorestani,
Volume 15, Issue 1 (4-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants produced by anthropogenic activities that contaminate all environmental matrices, including soils, and can enter the food chains. Therefore, this study was conducted for the analysis of PAHs compounds content in agricultural soils of Hamedan city, west of Iran, in 2021.
Materials and Methods: a total of 36 surface soil specimens were collected from 12 sampling sites in agricultural soils and after extraction of analytes based on the soxhlet method, the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was used for the determination of PAHs compounds in the samples. Furthermore, soil samples were further analuzed for the amounts of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total organic carbon (TOC). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.
Results: Results showed that 16 PAHs (∑16PAHs) total concentrations ranged from 435 to 3292 µg/kg with an average value of 1806 µg/kg. PAHs with higher molecular weight (≥ 4 rings) were dominant in PAHs profiles accounting for 78%. Based on the results, the mean concentrations of all 16 PAHs were lower than MPC established by MHWaS. Furthermore, the mean concentrations of Pyr, B(a)A, Chy, B(b)F, B(k)F, B(a)P, and B(ghi)P were higher than the MPC established by the Iranian Department of Environment.
Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, as the mean contents of some PAHs were higher than the MPC, therefore, periodic monitoring of soil contamination with PAHs is recommended for the environmental and human health aspects.
Zahra Lotfi,
Volume 15, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants with teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic potential, which can pose potential risks to the environment and human health. Therefore, this study was conducted for the analysis of PAHs compounds content in surface soil samples of the disposal site of the wastes resulting from the activity of oil refining units (Nuruddin Abad, Garmsar) in 2022.
Materials and Methods: In this research, surface soil samples were collected from 8 sampling sites in the study area. After the extraction of analytes based on the soxhlet method, the gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC-FID) method was used for the determination of PAHs compounds in the samples. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.
Results: The results showed that the concentrations of Naphthalene (Nap), Acenaphthene (Ace), Benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), Dibenz[a,h]anthracen (DBA), Benzo[g,h,i]perylene (BP) and Indeno[1,2,3‐c,d]pyren (Ind) were less than the quantification limit of the measurement method <0.01 mg/kg. total concentrations of 16 PAHs compounds ranged from 56.55 to 92.06 mg/kg.
Conclusion: The results showed that the concentrations of Acenaphthylene (Acy), Fluorene (Flu), Phenanthrene (Phen), Anthracene (Ant), Fluoranthene (Flt), Pyrene (Pyr), Chrysene (Chr), Benz[a]anthracene (BaA), Benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF), Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) were higher than MPC established by the Iranian Department of Environment. Also, the concentrations of Acy, Flu, Phen, Ant, Pyr, Chr, BaA, BkF, and BaP were higher than MPC established by MHWS. As the mean contents of some PAHs were higher than the MPC, therefore, periodic monitoring of soil contamination with PAHs is recommended for the environmental and human health aspects.
Nahid Jalilian, Abdullah Sheykhi, Leila Mirzaei, Zeinab Gholami, Moayed Adiban,
Volume 16, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Butter is a known dairy product in the world and has an important role in human nutrition. Ignoring sanitary tips in this product leads to low quality of the product and outbreak. Therefore, this study aims to investigate bacterial pollution of local butter produced from cow and sheep milk in Ilam city.
Materials and Methods: In this analytical study, 150 samples of traditional cow and sheep butter were collected and studied for microbial contamination for 1 month from different production centers. SPSS version 23 software was used to analyze the collected data.
Results: From 75 samples of cow butter, 25.3% of the samples are polluted to S. aureus, 44% to S. epidermidis, 38.7% to Salmonella, 12% to Total coliform 10.7% to E. coli, and 12% do not have any pollution. From 75 samples of sheep local butter, 12% of the samples are polluted to S. aureus, 72% to S. epidermidis, 48% to Salmonella, 24% to Total coliform, and 17.3% to E. coli. A significant difference (P< 0.05) between pollution to S. aureus and S. epidermis in cow and sheep samples exists.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that contamination of consumed local butter in Ilam city is considerably high; Therefore, it is important to pay attention to food hygiene in different stages from production to consumption.
