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Background: Heavy metals, such as lead harms animals' health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of Pb pollution in the cities of Golestan and Mazandaran Provinces by measuring Pb concentrations in the bloods of brown rats, which serve as omnivorous bioindicators living in the same habitat as humans. Methods: Eight highly populated cities were selected, with 10 rats trapped in each city. Blood samples were taken from the rats, and Pb measurements were done by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: All sampled rats were Pb-contaminated. The mean Pb concentrations in different cities of Golestan Province were statistically similar (p > 0.05). In Mazandaran cities, however, significant differences in mean Pb concentrations were observed. The highest contamination was recorded in Neka (10.28 ± 0.97 µg/dL), while the lowest contamination was observed in Babol (7.3 ± 1.36 µg/dL). The mean Pb concentrations in the studied cities of Golestan (9.43 ± 1.81 µg/dL) and Mazandaran (9.02 ± 1.07 µg/dL) Provinces, as well as in male (10.38 µg/dL) and female (9.25 µg/dL) rats were similar. Conclusion: The Pb contaminations observed in the sampled rats are indicative of Pb contaminations of the sampled cities and the presence of Pb sources in these areas. It seems necessary to take precautionary procedures to prevent the entry of polluted effluents into the sampled cities and the consumption of Pb-contaminated gasoline in these areas, to prevent Pb contamination of human populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Cancer is the third leading cause of death in Iran. Mazandaran and Golestan provinces, especially in northern countries, have a high incidence of gastrointestinal cancer. Therefore, we aimed to find the geographic distribution of standardized mortality rates of this disease and to mark differences between the cities on a map. Materials and methods: The data related to the cases of death from gastrointestinal cancer during the years 2001 to 2005 were recorded in the provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran. Generalized Poisson regression model was used for data standardization; then, the mapping was done. Results: 5715 people died from cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, 65.18 percent in Mazandaran and 34.82 percent in Golestan. Standardized mortality rates in the central parts of the provinces showed a little less. From the city of Chaloos to the border of the city of Gorgan, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of most of the regions was between 0.9 and 1. From the border of the city of Gorgan to end of eastern geographical boundaries of Golestan Province, the obtained standardized mortality ratio was more than 1. The regression model could partly eliminate heterogeneity of standardized mortality ratio. Conclusion: Changes in mortality rates from cancers of the gastrointestinal tract in Mazandaran and Golestan provinces on the map represent a high-risk area, which remarks the impact of geographical and social-economic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]