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Background: SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, spreads through both direct and indirect pathways. Among the latter, surface contamination is a significant concern due to the virus’s prolonged viability on surfaces. There is ongoing discussion over the impact of environmental surface contamination, especially in light of the introduction of novel viral types. The present study aimed to examine the extent of environmental surface contamination across different hospital wards and evaluate the effectiveness of disinfectants in inactivating the virus. Methods: The samples were collected from critical areas in a hospital, both pre-disinfection (n = 40) and post-disinfection (n = 17), using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect SARS-CoV-2. Results: The findings indisputably confirm the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on swab samples from frequently-touched surfaces. Notably, 10 samples were virus-positive before disinfection, highlighting persistent viral contamination in vital hospital zones. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical role of environmental surface contamination in SARSCoV- 2 transmission, particularly in healthcare settings. Detecting the virus on frequently-handled surfaces underscores the urgent need for rigorous and frequent surface disinfection. Effective surface disinfection remains a rapid, straightforward, and practical strategy to mitigate virus transmission to healthcare workers and patients. These findings hold significant implications for infection control, particularly amid emerging virus variants. They emphasize the need to maintain stringent hygiene and disinfection practices within healthcare facilities to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Abstract This study investigated the use of heat-activated persulfate (HAP) as a chemical oxidation technique for removing tinidazole (TNZ) antibiotic from aqueous solutions. The impact of various operating parameters, including TNZ initial concentration (20 μM), persulfate (PS) initial dose (0.2–2 mM), solution pH (3–11), solution temperature (20–60 °C), and reaction time (10–120 min), was examined. The results indicated that sulfate radicals were the primary species responsible for TNZ degradation. Higher temperatures and PS concentrations improved the process, while higher pH values and TNZ initial concentrations slowed it down. Additionally, chloride and bicarbonate ions reduced reaction rates, with chloride ions having a more significant effect. Under optimal conditions (including [TNZ]0 = 20 μM, pH = 7, [PS]0 = 1 mM, temperature = 60 °C, and reaction time = 120 min), the removal efficiency achieved was 91.15%, with a mineralization rate of 85.8%. These results suggest that the process is relatively safe. The degradation of TNZ was best described by the pseudo-first-order model compared to other models. Additionally, the process was found to be exothermic and spontaneous, with a negative Gibbs free energy change indicating that it is thermodynamically feasible. The study found HAP to be an effective and cost-efficient technique for removing TNZ antibiotic due to its ease of operation and the absence of the need for additional chemicals or waste handling. Based on these findings, HAP can be considered an advanced oxidation technique for treating antibiotic-contaminated water.

The high toxicity and bio-stability of organochlorine pesticides have made organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) more preferred today. Diazinon is one of the most widely used insecticides in the group of OPPs, which has high stability in the environment and causes neurobehavioral side effects in case of long-term exposure to humans. The present study aims to fabricate the PbO2 electrocatalyst on a graphite sheet (G/PbO2) and use it as a non-active anode for diazinon degradation. The effect of independent variables such as solution pH, current applied to the electrodes, initial concentration of diazinon and reaction time on the removal efficiency of the pesticide was studied. SEM and XRD results showed that lead dioxide crystals in the β-PbO2 phase were formed as compact pyramidal clusters on the surface of the anode. At solution pH 8, diazinon removal efficiency was significantly improved. However, in mild operating conditions (solution pH = 5 and a current = 0.4 A), diazinon removal efficiency with initial concentrations of 20 and 100 mg/L after 90 min of reaction was 100% and 70%, respectively. After optimizing the independent variables effective in the diazinon removal, the mineralization pathway was proposed considering intermediates identified by LC-MS analysis. The results of the present study confirm that anodic oxidation with PbO2 electrocatalyst can be an effective method for the degradation and mineralization of diazinon pesticide.

Background: The occurrence of COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international alarm was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 30, 2020. The identified transmission path is due to direct close contact or via respirational droplets. There is uncertainty about other ways, such as transmission of surfaces, air, and other sources. This study follows the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines to investigate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus in environmental surfaces, water, wastewater, and air. Materials and Methods: In this study, we performed a systematic literature search in PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Web of Science (ISI) databases in August 2022. The investigation on electronic databases resulted in a total of 2049 articles. A total of 249 potentially relevant were identified for full-text evaluation. Meanwhile, 30 articles were included in the synthesis. Results: According to four included studies, negative detection of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in water is established. A laboratory study has shown that viable SARS-CoV-2 could be found in aerosols for about 3 h. Also, the virus can be found on dry surfaces, depending on the material of the surface, for 8 to 72 h. Our results showed it is possible to exciting SARS-CoVs in air, environmental surface, and wastewater. Conclusion: These results can help healthy policymakers make suitable assessments of main prevention measures.

Background: The exposure to toxic metals is a major global health concern due to their stability, bioaccumulation, and high toxicity. These metals can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta and exposure can last throughout life. This systematic review focused on the potential risks of arsenic (As) in breast milk to newborns and infants. Methods: Multiple keywords, such as “human milk” and “breast milk”, associated with “toxic metal”, “heavy metal” or “arsenic” were used to search related databases. Of the 151 articles found, 45 studies were eligible for qualitative review, and 34 were included in the meta-analysis. Results: The lowest and highest levels of arsenic were found to be 0.04 ± 0.70 and 27.75 ± 28.30 μg/L, respectively. The overall pooled average concentration (95% CI) of arsenic in breast milk was 0.11 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.12). The results indicated that infants who consume breast milk are within a safe limit for cancer risk. Conclusion: The exposure to significant metals is associated with disease development. Therefore, ongoing knowledge creation through mental acts and continuous observation is necessary to better understand the effects of heavy metals in future studies.

Introduction: Heavy metals can enter the environment and food through industrial activities, acid rain, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage. A large amount of these metals is dangerous because they tend to bio accumulate. A concern with these metals is the long-term, low-dose exposure seen in the general population. HMs can cause disorders in the cardiovascular system through various mechanisms such as the production of free radicals, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress. Material and method: Food items measured in the present study included rice, bread, and vegetables. 210 participants (105 controls and 105 patients) were randomly selected for this study. The demographic information of the subjects was obtained from the Hoveyzeh Cohort Center. The relationship between heavy metals in food and cardiovascular diseases is investigated by The Generalized Additive Model (GAM). Result: The results of the present study showed that when urine Cd was smoothed based on rice Cd, there was a significant correlation between urine Cd and Cd consumed in vegetables and rice. The GAM coefficient for urinary Cd excreted in case-control groups and Cd consumed in vegetables were 479.79(SE: 6.49–73.87) and 818.56(SE: 11.96–68.43), respectively, and for rice consumed, it was 0.03(SE: 0.015–2.103) and 0.04(SE: 0.017–2.338), respectively. The GAM coefficient for As consumption in vegetables and As in urine of case and control groups was 1.61 (SE: 9.48–0.16) and 22.36 (SE: 13.60–1.64), respectively. The same coefficient for rice consumption in case and control groups was 4.5 (SE: 0.62–7.22) and 10.48 (SE: 1.46–7.16), respectively. There was a very strong and significant correlation between the Sr in the urine of both groups and the Sr in the food consumed, so that the urinary Sr in the control group is excreted more than in the cardiovascular group. Conclusion: GAM analysis indicates that As in vegetable and rice is more than the standard limitation value. Also, Sr and Cd in vegetables, rice, and bread were more than the standard limitation value. According to the GAM model As had a significant value in rice and vegetables indicating that As is more than the standard limitation value, therefore, it is associated with CVD.

Abstract Diazinon (DZN) has been reported as an important pesticide with wide application in agriculture. The entry of these compounds into water resources has brought serious environmental problems due to their resistance to biodegradation; thus, this study was considered to be done to explore the process of DZN uptake and the influence of effective parameters. The study was performed experimentally and on a laboratory scale. Investigating the structure and morphology of the nanocomposite was done based on different analyses, i.e., FE-SEM, FTIR, and XRD. The experiments based on the Box–Behnken scheme were performed by surveying four important operating parameters (pH, contact time, nanocomposite dose, and DZN concentration). Optimization was performed by experiment design software and using the response surface method and analysis of the proposed model. The DZN removal efficiency was obtained 100% under optimal conditions including pH = 5, nanocomposite dose = 0.83 g/L, reaction time = 55 min, and DZN concentration = 5 mg/L. Considering the high correlation coefficient R 2 = (0.9873) and $$R_{{{\text{Adj}}}}^{{2}}$$ R Adj 2 = (0.9725), the proposed model (quadratic) was approved. The results were indicative of conforming the reaction kinetic to the pseudo-second-order model and the correspondence of reaction isotherm to the Freundlich model (R 2 = 0.997). Based on the obtained results, the adsorption process with AC–ZnO nanocomposite could be introduced as an efficient and eco-friendly technique to remove DZN.

Abstract The environment is threatened by a diversity of pollutants, and synthetic dyes are considered a foremost environmental pollutant among them. The characteristics detected for the dye, e.g., toxicity and carcinogenicity, have brought severe problems for humans and aquatic organisms. The present study was done to clarify the potential of activated carbon made from cherry tree wood (CWAC) in the adsorption of cationic red 14 dye. In our experimental-laboratory study, the changes in removal efficiency were assessed by considering the changes in values of pH, concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time, and temperature. In addition, the nature of our prepared adsorbent was defined based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques. The concentration of dye after the completion of experiments was recorded using a spectrophotometer at 514 nm. Evaluating the attained data by isotherm and kinetic models were also considered. Our results demonstrated the enhancement in the efficiency of the studied process at higher contact times, temperatures, and pH and its decline at higher initial dye concentrations. pH = 11, time of 45 min, dye concentration of 50 mg/L, and AC mass of 0.25 g/l were optimal values in obtaining the highest removal of the studied dye. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order (PSO) with (R 2 = 0.9972) and (R 2 = 0.9947) were the best isotherms and kinetic models in the description of the observed data, respectively. Considering the results, CWAC could be effectively utilized for the adsorption of cationic red 14 dye from solutions.

Abstract Since 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus with acute respiratory symptoms has caused an epidemic worldwide. Transmission of the disease through respiratory droplets was announced as the main mode of transmission in 2020. But in this study, we discussed the method of indirect transmission of the virus through sewage. In this study, effluents related to urban and hospital wastewater treatment plants in 5 regions of Ardabil Province (northwest of Iran) were investigated. In this research, 120 samples were kept in pre-test conditions (temperature -20 degrees Celsius). To identify the viral genome, special primer and chain reaction probe targeting ORF1ab and N (nucleoprotein gene) genes were used. Out of a total of 120 samples, a total of 3 samples were positive. Wastewater epidemiology (WBE) can be considered as a cost-effective method in the diagnosis and prediction of pathogenic agents. And be considered an effective method for decision-making in order to protect the health of citizens.

Furfural is a toxic compound with an LD50 of 65 mg/kg that is produced in many industries, such as paper industries, petrochemical industries, and oil refineries. This compound exists in various concentrations in these industries and is released into the environment. Therefore, removing this contaminant from the wastewater of production units is among the environmental priorities of every company. This study investigated the optimization of photocatalytic removal of furfural using synthesized magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONPs) by the response surface method (RSM). In this study, MgONPs were prepared by the direct precipitation method, and the characteristics of the nanoparticles (NPs) were examined using XRD and SEM analyses. The effect of various operating parameters, including pH (3, 7, and 11), contact time (15, 90, and 165 min), initial concentration of furfural (25, 150, and 275 mg/L), dose of NPs (125, 687.5, and 1250 mg/L), and UV radiation intensity (8, 15, and 30 µW/cm2) on furfural removal was explored. Furfural concentration was measured using a spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 277 nm. The number of samples was determined by the CCD method. Data were analyzed using MINITAB 16 software. The optimal removal conditions based on variance analysis and appropriate model were obtained at a pH of 6, NP dose of 1 g/L, initial concentration of 250 mg/L, reaction time of 160 min, and UV radiation intensity of 30 µW/m2. Under these conditions, the removal efficiencies for both furfural and COD were 99.97%. The results of the analysis of the synthesized MgONPs also showed that the direct precipitation method is a fast and low-cost method for the synthesis of MgONPs. Results showed that the photocatalytic process in the presence of synthesized MgONPs is highly efficient in removing furfural from aqueous media.

Currently, UVC radiation is used in hospitals to eliminate microorganisms and reduce adverse health effects in operating rooms (ORs) and protective environment rooms (PERs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of UVC irradiation on bioaerosols in ORs and PERs. This experimental study was performed in ORs and PERs in a hospital. Bioaerosols were evaluated according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standard (No. 0800). The samples were collected from indoor air of rooms before irradiation and after UVC(254 nm) irradiation for 20 and 480 minutes. The sample size of the study was determined to be 432 (216 fungi and 216 bacteria). The difference between the mean concentration of bioaerosols in the UVC radiation at two intervals (20 and 480 minutes) was significant, which indicates a decrease in the concentration of bioaerosols by increasing the duration of UVC radiation. Some bacteria, such as group B Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Listeria, were entirely killed after 20 minutes of irradiation; however, complete removal of the bacteria such as Staphylococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus saprophyticus was observed after 480 minutes of UVC irradiation. Fungi, such as Alternaria, Stofelim, and Mucor had a 100% reduction after 20 minutes of UVC irradiation, and Rhizopus and Aspergillus fumigatus showed a 100% decrease after 480 minutes of UVC irradiation. Other isolated fungi such as Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus niger, Rhodotorula, and Alternaria showed a decrease of 75%-98.78%. The ultraviolet (UV) sensitivity of bacterial and fungal bioaerosols depends strongly on their type. The results from this study may offer an important understanding of the control of indoor bioaerosols using UVC irradiation and help abate the environmental impacts of airborne microbes.

Summary: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in health surveillance systems, disease prevention, and treatment globally. Among the many factors that might have led to these gaps is the issue of the financing of national health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as a robust global system for pandemic preparedness. We aimed to provide a comparative assessment of global health spending at the onset of the pandemic; characterise the amount of development assistance for pandemic preparedness and response disbursed in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic; and examine expectations for future health spending and put into context the expected need for investment in pandemic preparedness. Methods: In this analysis of global health spending between 1990 and 2021, and prediction from 2021 to 2026, we estimated four sources of health spending: development assistance for health (DAH), government spending, out-of-pocket spending, and prepaid private spending across 204 countries and territories. We used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Creditor Reporting System (CRS) and the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) to estimate spending. We estimated development assistance for general health, COVID-19 response, and pandemic preparedness and response using a keyword search. Health spending estimates were combined with estimates of resources needed for pandemic prevention and preparedness to analyse future health spending patterns, relative to need. Findings: In 2019, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, US$9·2 trillion (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 9·1–9·3) was spent on health worldwide. We found great disparities in the amount of resources devoted to health, with high-income countries spending $7·3 trillion (95% UI 7·2–7·4) in 2019; 293·7 times the $24·8 billion (95% UI 24·3–25·3) spent by low-income countries in 2019. That same year, $43·1 billion in development assistance was provided to maintain or improve health. The pandemic led to an unprecedented increase in development assistance targeted towards health; in 2020 and 2021, $1·8 billion in DAH contributions was provided towards pandemic preparedness in LMICs, and $37·8 billion was provided for the health-related COVID-19 response. Although the support for pandemic preparedness is 12·2% of the recommended target by the High-Level Independent Panel (HLIP), the support provided for the health-related COVID-19 response is 252·2% of the recommended target. Additionally, projected spending estimates suggest that between 2022 and 2026, governments in 17 (95% UI 11–21) of the 137 LMICs will observe an increase in national government health spending equivalent to an addition of 1% of GDP, as recommended by the HLIP. Interpretation: There was an unprecedented scale-up in DAH in 2020 and 2021. We have a unique opportunity at this time to sustain funding for crucial global health functions, including pandemic preparedness. However, historical patterns of underfunding of pandemic preparedness suggest that deliberate effort must be made to ensure funding is maintained. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background: By explaining the reasons for non-compliance with the protocols of the National Anti-coronavirus Headquarters, we can help respond better, make better decisions, and control the risks and outcomes of coronavirus in the future. This study aimed to explain the reasons for the public’s non-compliance with the National Anti-coronavirus Headquarters measures from the perspective of academics. Materials and Methods: The present qualitative study uses a contractual content analysis approach. The study participants were 19 professors and experts of the University of Medical Sciences with the necessary and sufficient information and experience on the subject. A purposive sampling method with maximum diversity in characteristics such as age, gender, education, the field of study, and work experience was used to select the participants. The study data were obtained through semi-structured interviews until data saturation and analyzed simultaneously. Results: From the content analysis of the interviews, 5 main themes and 7 subthemes emerged: 1) normalization and simplification of coronavirus risk with 5 subthemes of learning weakness, inconsistency in received information, misperception of coronavirus, perceived harms due to the observance of protocols, and the impracticality of some policies and approvals of the National Anti-coronavirus Headquarters, 2) weak communication, trust and low acceptance of the people by the procedures of the Anti-coronavirus Headquarters, 3) lack of sufficient motivation in people to comply with, 4) family-cultural conditions with two subthemes of the emotionality of Iranian families and the received cultural sediments, and 5) weakness in supervision and compassion in the use of force. Conclusion: The study results showed that from the point of view of academics, there are reasons for people not observing the recommendations of the National Anti-coronavirus Headquarters, which leads to more ineffective control of coronavirus and consequently human, economic, and social damages to the country. Given the importance of coronavirus control in promoting community health and prevention of this disease and its dangers, further understanding of the reasons for non-compliance with the procedures and recommendations of the National Anti-coronavirus Headquarters to plan and carry out effective interventions seem necessary.

Abstract The presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in water resources and the transmission of diseases caused by it is one of the factors threatening the quality of water resources. This study for the first time concentrates on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in water resources an urban location. In the present study, the samples were collected from known depth (30–50 cm) of rivers, dams and lakes. In each sample of water collected, different parameters such as residual chlorine, pH (phenol red), turbidity, total dissolved solids and temperature were also measured. Out of 267 samples, two samples were detected to be positive which their Ct values were 34.2 and 35.67. The existence of viable form of this virus in water and wastewater may be associated with issues for providing public health and difficulties in implementation of pandemic control strategies, and this situation can be exacerbated in developing countries that do not have adequate access to sanitation and safe water.

Abstract Textile industries use large amounts of water and chemicals for finishing and dying processes. The chemical structures of dyes vary enormously, and some have complicated aromatic structures that resist degradation in conventional wastewater treatment processes because of their stability to sunlight, oxidizing agents, and microorganisms. The objective of this research is to compare the adsorption efficiency of two types of magnetic activated carbons derived from Banana peel and Salvia seed for the removal of basic blue 41 dye. The faculty of the produced activated carbons to remove basic blue 41 dye from aqueous solutions via batch adsorption has been examined under several operating conditions such as pH, adsorbent dose, initial adsorbate concentration and contact time. The cheap, non-toxic produced activated carbons (AC) were characterized by scanning electron microscope and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analyses. The best conditions of dye adsorption with BPAC@ Fe3O4 equal to pH = 9, AC dose 0.5 g/L , dye concentration 50 mg/L and equilibrium contact time 30 min, optimal dye adsorption conditions for SSAC@Fe3O4 equal to pH = 9, adsorbent dose 0.75 mg/L , dye concentration 50 mg/L and equilibrium contact time is 30 min. This study followed the Langmuir isotherm model well with regression coefficient of R 2= 0.9886 for BPAC@Fe3O4 and regression coefficient of R 2= 0.9764 for SSAC@Fe3O4.

Abstract Background Women are among the susceptible groups to Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in Ardabil, north-west of Iran, despite the current global status. The underlying causes of high incidence and fatality rate of women in Ardabil are not fully understood. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the healthy behaviours in women of Ardabil and its relationship with COVID-19 mortality. Methods We conducted a case–control study to compare the adherence to health protocols and behaviours with respect to COVID-19 between the infected (261 patients) and healthy (515 persons) women. Health protocols and behaviours such as using mask, gloves, disinfectants, history of travelling and contacting, and attending various gatherings and places during the COVID-19 pandemic along with demographic variables were defined as independent variables, and COVID-19 death rate was defined as the dependent variable. Multivariable logistic regression methods were used to explore the risk factors associated with COVID-19 mortality. Results Chi-square and Fisher tests showed significant differences between infected and healthy women in terms of history of contact and traveling (p

Background: Corrosion and scaling are major problems in the drinking water facilities causing problems such as water loss, recued life of facilities, pipe punctures, clogging of pipes, and pressure loss in drinking water distribution system. This study aims to determine the corrosion and scaling potential in drinking water distribution system of Meshginshahr, Ardebil, Iran.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted during the two seasons (summer and winter) in 2019. A total of 20 water samples, which were obtained by averaging 100 samples, were analyzed to determine the corrosion and scaling potential using Langelier Saturation Index and Ryznar Stability Index.Results: The results showed that the annual average of LSI and RSI were -1.34 and 10.03, respectively, indicating that the drinking water of Meshginshahr was corrosive and scale-forming.Conclusion: Therefore, it is necessary to constantly evaluate the drinking water supply resources of this city and try to adjust the pH of water and control other factors affecting corrosion, including concentrations of chloride, dissolved oxygen, and sulfate.

The aim of this study was to determine the toxicity of cefixime in the inlet solution and effluent treated with the sono-electro-Fenton process using standard strains of microorganisms. This research was performed as an experimental study, which was conducted on a laboratory scale. The standard strains of Escherichia coli (gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) were used for bioassay. First, the stock solution of 1000 mg/L containing Cefixime was prepared, and for each bacterium (gram-positive and gram-negative), 5 samples from the inlet solution of the reactor and 5 samples from effluent treated with the sono-electro-Fenton process were collected under optimal conditions. Finally, each sample was transferred to 10 mL of sterile lactose broth, and a loop of E. coli or S. aureus was dissolved in each sample. Toxicity changes were investigated by calculating the percentage of growth inhibition. The results showed that after 10 hours, the growth rate of both bacteria in the control and the effluent samples was higher, while the growth of bacteria in the inlet solution was lower and had higher toxicity. Based on the results of the study, the toxicity rate for E. coli was reduced from 70% in the inlet solution to 9.3% in the effluent (86.7% reduction in toxicity), and in the case of S. aureus, it was diminished from 25.3% in the inlet solution to 7% in the effluent (72.3% reduction in toxicity) after 10 hours. Based on the results of the present study, bioassay using microorganisms is an effective and useful method to study changes in the toxicity of cefixime.

Furfural is as one of the major environmental pollutants in different industrial effluents such as refinery and petrochemical, paper, cardboard and oil refining. This toxic chemical is irritant and causes allergy for skin, eyes and mucous membranes. This study was developed to investigate the efficiency of a three-dimensional electrochemical process in the presence of granular activated carbon magnetized with Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@GAC) particle electrodes for removal of furfural from aqueous solution. The particle electrodes structural and morphological featured were determined via BET, VSM, XRD, FE-SEM and FTIR techniques. The experiments were performed based on central composite design (CCD) and the role of influencing factors including reaction time, pH, voltage and initial furfural concentrations at five levels were evaluated. The Quadratic model with high correlation coefficient = 0.9872 (R2 and (R2Adj = 0.9724)) was suggested for experimental data analysis. The performance of electrochemical oxidation towards furfural degradation was enhanced substantially after adding Fe3O4@GAC. The highest furfural removal efficiency (98.2%) was achieved under optimal conditions (furfural: 201 mg/L, electrolysis time: 69 min, voltage: 19 V, and pH: 5.0). Besides, over 78 and 74 % of COD and TOC were removed by Fe3O4@GAC-based three-dimensional process, respectively. Based on the COD/TOC ratio and average oxidation state (AOS) index, a significant increase was observed in the biodegradability of intermediates of furfural after treatment. Results showed that three-dimensional electrochemical process with particle electrodes is a promising technology for efficient removal of furfural, even at high concentrations. Results of Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis and degradation pathway showed that furfural could be oxidized to compounds with smaller molecular masses, which eventually converted to carbon dioxide and water.

2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), which is a nitrophenol compound, is a carcinogenic and non-biodegradable pollutant, which is found at high concentrations in industrial wastewater. Degradation of 2,4-DNP using a three-dimensional sono-electrochemical (3D/SEC) process equipped with G/β-PbO2 anode and Fe/SBA-15 nanocomposite particle electrodes was evaluated in the present study. Investigating the effect of parameters including pH, electrolysis time, current density, and 2,4-DNP concentration on the performance of the 3D/SEC-Fe-SBA-15 process in 2,4-DNP degradation was considered, and optimization of these parameters was done using the Taguchi design technique. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping (EDX-mapping), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)) were the analyses techniques used to support the successful synthesis of Fe-SBA-15 and G/β-PbO2 anode. The optimum values obtained for pH, electrolysis time, current density, and 2,4-DNP concentration were 5.0, 60.0 min, 5.0 mA/cm2, and 50.0 mg/L, respectively. The experimental removal efficiencies of 2,4-DNP, COD, and TOC using 3D/SEC-Fe-SBA-15 process, under the mentioned conditions, were obtained to be 96.3%, 88.28%, and 83.82%, respectively. In addition, the AOS value was developed from −0.29 to + 0.88; this indicates the high mineralization of 2,4-DNP and improvement of the solution biodegradability. Detecting the intermediates produced during the degradation process was done by LC-MS analysis, and pathways for its degradation was proposed. Results were indicative of the high potential of the 3D/SEC-Fe-SBA-15 process for treating wastewater containing phenolic compounds, e.g., 2,4-DNP, and can provide acceptable efficiency.

2,4-Dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) has been found to be an important petrochemical compound, which is primarily employed for the synthesis of tolylene diisocyanate and the production of dyes, rubber, and explosives. Since this compound has high toxicity and carcinogenicity, the cautions should be considered when wastewater contaminated with DNTs and their derivatives is released into the environment. Thus, the object of the present study was the investigation of the 2,4-DNT degradation efficiency using the three-dimensional electrocatalytic reactor (3DER) with two different types of particle electrodes (granular activated carbon (GAC) and magnetized clinoptilolite zeolite (MCZ)@Fe3O4 nanoparticles)). Preparation of the graphite (G)/β-PbO2 anode was done by electrochemically depositing PbO2 layers on graphite sheets. The prepared graphite sheet and a stainless-steel 316 sheet (with the same dimensions) were employed as the anode and the cathode, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping (EDS-mapping) confirmed the successful preparation of G/β-PbO2 anode. The surface morphology, chemical composition of MCZ@Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a particle electrode were determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and XRD pattern. To determine the optimal conditions, we employed the response surface methodology-based central composite design (RSM-CCD) method. According to observed results, higher efficiency of 3DER was obtained by increasing the reaction time and current density and decreasing pH and the pollutant concentration. Studies highlighted the initial 2,4-DNT concentration of 23.5 mg/L, current density 4.8 mA/cm2, pH of 4.1, electrolysis time of 50 min, particle electrodes dose = 6 g/250 cc as optimum values of parameters. The 2,4-DNT degradation efficiencies using GAC and MCZ@Fe3O4 nanoparticles as particle electrodes under mentioned optimal conditions were 98.6% and 96.5%, respectively. Moreover, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiencies were 88.5% and 80.9% at the end of 50 min, respectively. Furthermore, results were indicative of an enhancement in average oxidation state (AOS) (from 1.27 to 2.36) and carbon oxidation state (COS) (from 1.27 to 3.68) in the 3DER process and a reduction in the COD/TOC ratio (from 1.81 to 1.09); these signposts the effectiveness of 3DER system for providing the biodegradability of 2,4-DNT. Considering the results, the 3DER could lead to suitable results for the degradation of wastewater containing DNT and resistant contaminants as pretreatment and has remarkable applicability for enhancing the biodegradability of wastewater.

An anodic oxidation process with graphite anode coated with lead dioxide (G/β-PbO2) was optimized for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and the treatment of real textile wastewater. The G/β-PbO2 anode was prepared by the electrochemical precipitation method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed the successful coating of graphite substrate with the β-PbO2 film. The effect of four independent variables including pH, reaction time, current density, and electrolyte concentration of Na2SO4 on the performance of the electrochemical oxidation system was modeled by using a complete central composite design and was then optimized by genetic algorithm method. The accuracy of the proposed quadratic model by CCD was confirmed with p-value 0.9. The optimum conditions for solution pH, reaction time, current density, and Na2SO4 electrolyte concentration were obtained to be 5.75, 50 min, 10 mA/cm2, and 78.8 mg/L, respectively. In these conditions, the experimental removal efficiencies of MB using G/β-PbO2 and graphite anodes were 96.2% and 68.3%, respectively. The electrochemical removal of MB using both G/β-PbO2 and graphite anodes well followed the pseudo-first-order reaction (R2 > 0.9). Cyclohexane, cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylium, and N-(sec-butyl) aniline were the most abundant intermediates identified by LC-MS analysis. However, the complete mineralization of MB was achieved in 60 min. The optimized anodic oxidation process successfully improved the biodegradability of real textile wastewater (BOD/COD>0.4).

The increasing use of antibiotics by humans and their persistence in the environment leads to the development of drug resistance, which is nowadays considered as an environmental problem. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of sono-electro-Fenton process for removal of Cefixime antibiotic from aqueous solutions by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and to evaluate the toxicity of effluent by microorganisms. In the present study, the degradation of synthetic wastewater containing Cefixime was investigated in a reactor (with a useful volume of 1 L) located in the chamber of the ultrasonic device. The effects of pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration, voltage, initial antibiotic concentration, and electrolysis time were investigated using the Box-Behnken model, and the optimal conditions for elimination were obtained by analyzing the variance. The performance of the electro-Fenton and ultrasonic process was evaluated separately and in combination under optimal conditions. Toxicity of inlet and outlet was tested by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and growth inhibition percentage was calculated. The intermediates were determined by LC-MS with the lowest molecular mass. The results showed that the sono-electro-Fenton process under optimum conditions, including pH of 3.07, hydrogen peroxide concentration of 0.85 mL/L, voltage 15 V, initial antibiotic concentration 10.4 mg/L and electrolysis time of 81.5 min has a percentage of removal of 97.5%. Under optimum conditions, the percentage of removal by electro-Fenton and ultrasonic separately were 81.7% and 9%, respectively, and in the hybrid process of sono-electro-Fenton, the percentage of removal increased to 97.5%. The results also showed that the biological toxicity of the outlet effluent from the sono-electro-Fenton process, compared to the inlet solution, was significantly reduced. So, we conclude that the Sono-electro-Fenton process has a significant effect on the removal of Cefixime from aqueous solutions and can also significantly reduce the biological toxicity of the effluent.

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here. Background and Objective: The relationship between food and the health of the soul and body is one of the issues mentioned in a monotheistic worldview including Islam. The verse "And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers" confirms the influence of religious teachings in this respect. This study examines the Qur'anic guidelines on food safety and hygiene. Methods: This review study investigates into the health system through library reviews of authentic sources, religious teachings, Quranic verses, authentic statements from the infallibles (Imams and the prophet), important Qur'anic commentaries, statements and books on nutrition on national and international databases. After categorization, the results were analyzed and integrated. The authors declared no conflict of interest. Results: About 250 Qur'anic verses and dozens of statements from the infallibles point to the importance of food and nutrition. The Holy Qur'an mentions the word “food” 48 times, the word “eating” 107 times, and the word “drink” 39 times. In the verses related to food, it has been mentioned six times that food should be Halal, and in various interpretations, the importance of nourishing the body is emphasized. Attitude to food as a sign in knowing God, believing in divine generosity, enjoying divine intent, asserting the rights of those in need, clean eating, having a balanced diet, adhering to halal food, and avoiding forbidden foods are the most important attitudinal and habitual strategies related to food safety. In addition, human dignity is one of the most important outcomes of adhering to Islamic food safety strategies. Conclusion: Since in revelatory doctrines, a healthy diet involves physical, mental, spiritual and social aspects of human life, it is essential that health policy makers consider the Islamic nutritional approach to achieve a true universal health. For downloading the full-text of this article please click here. Please cite this article as: Biglari H, Dargahi A, Vaziri Y, Ivanbagh R, Hami M, Poursadeqiyan M. Food Safety and Health from the Perspective of Islam. Journal of Pizhūhish dar dīn va salāmat. 2020;6(1):131-143.https://doi.org/10.22037/jrrh.v6i1.19142

Background: Paying attention to physical, health and safety issues in educational environments is the most effective and fundamental factor for physical, mental and psychological development of students. Therefore, one of the most important and effective health issues of the school is to observe environmental health and safety. This study was conducted with the aim of surveying the environmental health and safety of schools in Khalkhal city with a crisis management approach. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study with cross sectional design. The study population consists of all primary, middle and high schools in Khalkhal city (n=28). For sampling, census method was used. Data collection tool was an 87-item checklist that surveys the health status of schools and its classrooms in terms of health and safety facilities. It was completed by visiting schools and observing, interviews and measurements. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS and Excel software. Results: 10% of schools had newly constructed buildings and 90% had old buildings. The minimum required area per student was observed in all schools. The green space area required for each student is 0.5 square meters, which was not observed in 73.83% of schools. Only 87.5% of schools had one toilet for every 40 students. Sewage disposal in 98% of schools was hygienic, and 100% of schools had sanitary trash cans. In 60% of the schools, the toilets did not meet the hygiene standards. In 84% of the schools, the number of washbasins was proportional to the number of students (1 per 60). All the classrooms had maximum use of natural light. Moreover, in most schools, health policies, safety policies and emergency and personal hygiene standards were met. Conclusion: Most schools in Khalkhal city were at moderate level in terms of environmental health and safety and compliance with national school environmental health regulations as well as being prepared to deal with emergencies and crises which indicates a need for more attention and support from the relevant authorities for improving their status.

The combination process of UV/ S2O82-/Al2O3 leads to the production of radicals and radical hydroxyls, which could decompose and remove various pollutants, such as phenol. The present study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic efficiency of aluminum oxide nanoparticles and persulfate compilative processes in the removal of phenol. This experimental study was conducted in a discontinuous reaction chamber with a useful volume of one liter. In this process, we assessed the effects of the initial pH parameters (3, 5, 7, and 9), initial concentration of phenol (10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 mg/l), concentration of persulfate anions (20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 mg/l), reaction time (5 and 120 minutes), and dose of Al2O3 nanoparticles (10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/l). The applied pilot was composed of a low-pressure mercury lamp (55 Watt), which was inside the steel chamber. The obtained data were fitted to the pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order reaction kinetics. According to the findings, the process had high efficiency in the removal of phenol. In optimal conditions (pH:5, persulfate concentration: 50 mg/l, nanoparticle dose: 40 mg/l, reaction time: 60 minutes), the efficiency of the process was determined to be 95% at the initial phenol concentration of 10 mg/l, which was fitted with first-rate kinetics (R2=0.98). Furthermore, the highest efficiency was observed in the photocatalytic process of aluminum oxide nanoparticles and persulfates in the optimal conditions of exploitation. Therefore, persulfate could be used as an appropriate oxidizer with aluminum oxide nanoparticles for the removal of phenol.

Background and Objective: Urinary tract infection is the second most common cause of infection in the human body. Among the causes of urinary tract infection, Escherichia coli is the most common bacteria causing the urinary tract infection in both genders (male and female). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of bacteria causing urinary tract infection in the urine culture samples of the Shahid Beheshti Hospital Laboratory in Hamadan during 2016-2017. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted based on a purposive sampling for 16 months from April 2016 to July 2017 in Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Hamadan. In this study, urine specimens were collected by Midstream Clean Sugar method and then cultured in two Blood Agar and EMB culture mediums using standard loop. Results: The results showed that, out of 1400 urine samples from outpatients referring to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Hamadan, 235 were positive, of which 105 cases (44.7%) were related to men and 130 cases (55.4%) were women. Escherichia coli isolated with 141 (60%) cases was the most common organisms. Most of Escherichia coli isolates (126 cases) were resistant to ciprofloxacin antibiotic and only 1 case of resistance to Carbenicillin was observed. Conclusion: In general, the results showed that the most common bacterial agent of urinary tract infection was Escherichia coli and the highest cases of this isolate were resistance to ciprofloxacin. In addition, the highest antibiotic susceptibility was related to Nitrofurantoin.

Approximately 10-20% of the total dyes in the world is consumed in the textile industry. The present study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) immobilized on synthetic activated carbon in the removal of the acid blue 113 dye from aqueous solutions. This experimental study was conducted in a photo-reactor with the useful volume of one liter. The effects of pH (3, 7, and 9), zinc oxide nanoparticle concentrations (0.1-0.4 mmol/l), concentration of activated carbon modified by zinc oxide nanoparticles (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg/l), and the initial concentration of the dye (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 200 mg/l) were assessed. In addition, the kinetics of the reaction were investigated. The results indicated that the optimal conditions for the process were the pH of 3, activated carbon modified by zinc oxide nanoparticle concentration of 100 mg/l, ratio of 0.4 millimole of zinc oxide per gram of activated carbon, and acid blue 113 dye concentration of 100 mg/l, which resulted in the maximum efficacy of 96%. Moreover, removal efficiency using zinc oxide was greater in all the stages compared to removal efficiency using activated carbon. The kinetic rate was also determined, demonstrating that the process followed the first-order kinetics. In addition, the findings indicated that the process had outstanding efficiency in the removal of the acid blue 113 dye. The photocatalysis of nanoparticle oxidation on synthetic activated carbon could be used effectively as an advanced oxidation reaction to remove dyes.

BACKGROUND: Infection with COVID-19 has resulted in considerable mortality all around the world. This study aimed to investigate the effect of convalescent plasma on the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Imam Khomeini Hospital at Ardabil, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this quasi-experimental clinical trial, patients over 18 years of age with polymerase chain reaction-positive COVID-19 were admitted based on the clinical criteria of respiratory distress with hypoxia (O2 saturation 24) with moderate-to-severe lung involvement and in the 1st week of respiratory disease who were not intubated were nonrandomly assigned to two groups: convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) group (197 cases) and control group (200 cases). We used the Chi-square, t-test, Fisher's exact test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Analyses revealed that length of stay in hospital was significantly lower in the CPT group as compared to the control group (P = 0.001). Twenty-four cases (22.0%) in the CPT group and 85 cases (78.0%) in the control group needed intubation. Furthermore, mortality was 17 cases (18.3%) in the CPT group and 76 cases (81.7%) in the control group, the difference of which was also found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that CPT can be used as an alternative treatment at the early stages of COVID-19 to prevent the progress of the disease, reduce the need for intubation and consequently the length of stay in hospital, and finally, decrease mortality.

Background: Natural disasters are out of human control, often leading to loss of life and property, and particularly affecting public health. Natural disasters influence human lives in different ways. They may have severe, obvious, or hidden consequences. Therefore, the present study aimed at examining the environmental health condition of the cities affected by 2017 earthquake in Kermanshah Province. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The environmental health experts gathered and analyzed the study data regarding the environment health condition of public places, food safety, solid waste management, types and number of water supplies, number of healthcare facilities and local health centers, etc. Results: According to the results, the lowest and highest number of damaged villages in Kermanshah Province were located in Sarpol-e Zahab (205 villages) and Ghasreshirin (29 villages), respectively. In addition, Eslamabad-e Gharb and Salas-e Babajani had the highest and lowest urban and rural populations, respectively. A total of 138564 people were affected by the earthquake. The improved water sources in the affected areas included 51 low-risk water sources, 171 moderate-risk water sources, 2 high-risk water sources, and 0 very high-risk water sources. In addition, 5059 m3 water was chlorinated by the environmental health experts and 1805 households were under the coverage of methoxymethyl chloride. Moreover, public healthcare centers (1059 intact and 605 damaged), 4564 food safety centers (3204 intact and 1360 damaged), and 20 solid waste management centers (16 intact and 4 damaged) were available in the area after the earthquake. Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate that the environmental health activities in the areas affected by the earthquake were adequate in terms of providing healthy drinking water, garbage and wastewater management, distribution of healthy foods, and so on. Thus it can be used as a good model to response the needs of the survivors from the future natural disasters and crises.

Due to the strict regulations and reuse policies that govern wastewater's use as an irrigation water resource for agricultural purposes, especially in dry climates, optimization of the disinfection process is of the utmost importance. The effects of solar radiation along with Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles applied to optimization of the photolysis and photocatalysis processes for inactivating heterotrophic bacteria were investigated. Temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen fluctuations in the dairy wastewater effluent treated by activated sludge were examined. In addition, different dosages of TiO2 were tested in the solar photocatalysis (ph-C S) and concentrated solar photocatalysis (ph-C CS) processes. The results show that the disinfection efficiencies of the solar photolysis (ph-L S) and concentrated solar photolysis (ph-L CS) processes after 30 min were about 10.5% and 68.9%, respectively, and that the ph-C S and ph-C CS processes inactivated 41% and 97% of the heterotrophic bacteria after 30 min, respectively. The pH variation in these processes was negligible. Using the ph-L CS and ph-C CS processes, the synergistic effect between the optical and thermal inactivation caused complete disinfection after three hours. However, disinfection was faster in the ph-C CS process than in the ph-L CS process. Significant correlations were found between the disinfection efficiency and the variation of the dissolved oxygen concentration in the ph-C S and ph-C CS processes, while the correlations between the disinfection efficiency and temperature variation were not significant in the ph-L S and ph-C S processes. Moreover, the oxygen consumption rate was greatest (3.2 mg·L−1) in the ph-C CS process. Hence, it could be concluded that the ph-C CS process is an efficient photocatalysis process for disinfection of dairy wastewater effluent. Keywords: Dairy wastewater, Disinfection, Photocatalyst, Solar, Photolysis and photocatalysis, TiO2

Students’ academic achievement as the community capital depends on the appropriate educational, physical, and psychological environment. Since students spend 20% of their time at school, and due to their high vulnerability to health problems and their value for the family, attention and promotion of their educational environment health is essential. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the environmental health and safety of 192 urban and rural schools in Abadan using a checklist prepared according to the Ministry of Health Regulations. The collected data were analyzed using Excel. The results showed that 100% of urban and rural schools have access to safe drinking water. In 98.6% of urban schools and 93.75% of rural schools, the standards for water drinking were followed. The minimum required area per student was met in 100% of urban and rural schools. Per capita green space was observed in 100% and 12.5% of urban and rural schools, respectively. In 95.5% of urban schools and 79.2% of rural schools, the standards for the number of hand washing stations was followed. The standard number of toilets was followed for 76.4% of urban schools and 77% of rural schools. In 100% of urban schools and 77% of rural schools, waste disposal was based on the sanitary standard. A total of 73.4% of urban schools and 45% of rural schools adhered to Article 13 of the Food, Cosmetics and Health Act. With regard to the effect of school buildings on education and academic achievement of students, it is necessary to address the environmental health deficiencies of schools.

Erythrosine B is widely used for dyeing in various applications, especially in the food industry, despite its already proved toxicity and carcinogenicity. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of the synthesis process of US/S2O8-2 in removing erythrosine B dye from aqueous solution. In this experimental study, the removal of erythrosine B dye using combined persulfate and 40 kHz ultrasound process was studied. All reactions was conducted in a beaker of 1,000 mL in an ultrasonic bath. The effects of operational parameters such as pH of the solution (3-7), initial concentration of erythrosine B dye (10–100 mg/L), and amount of persulfate concentration (0.001–0.005 mol/L) in different contact time were investigated. The results showed that the removal efficiency increased significantly by increasing the oxidant concentration, then a steady trend was observed in the removal of erythrosine B dye. The process used US/S2O8-2 at pH:3, concentration of persulfate at 0.003 mol/L, and the time of 60 min for achieving the highest removal efficiency (98.91%). Ultrasonic device alone had little effect in the removal of this dye. The effects of ion changes from calcium chloride on the performance of the US/S2O8- process were ineffective for erythrosine B dye. The results of the US/S2O8-2 process application in the removal of erythrosine B dye indicated that this process has a suitably proper ability for erythrosine B dye removal and could be used as an effective method for industrial wastewater treatment.

Background: Consumption of healthy and hygienic foods is imperative to live a healthy life. This issue is of greater importance when obtaining foodstuff is relatively tough. The countries prone to natural disasters should always be prepared for a crisis. The present study aims to investigate awareness among the students in Azad University of Medical Sciences regarding nutrition and storing foodstuff in case of crisis. Materials and Methods: A descriptive-analytical method was used in the present study. The study participants included 1350 students in Azad University of Medical Science which were selected randomly from all students in the academic year 2015-2016. Experts confirmed the validity of the questionnaire and it was distributed among the students. The collected data was analyzed through SPSS version 16. Results: Given the results of the study, only 35% of the participants had a good level of awareness, 38.5% had moderate awareness, and 26.5% had low level of awareness about nutrition and how to store food during crisis. No significant gender and age (α=0.05) difference was observed. Conclusion: Health experts and authorities should be aware of nutrition safety and sampling risky foods. This process can be helpful in case of a crisis, especially during early hours of the crisis and after the settlement of the displaced population are essential. To that end, training the experts and authorities responsible for such situations can be helpful. Therefore, holding training courses and teaching for related authorities on how to prevent waterborne and foodborne disease can prevent from food poisoning outbreaks and high mortality rate.

Background: Health measures in an emergency are one of the cases where damage caused by disasters can be reduced with proper implementation, and the health crisis can be controlled. This requires awareness and knowledge of health and rescue authorities, students, and even people in an emergency situation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate knowledge of students and attitude in Khalkhal Medical School in the field of emergency health measures. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive-cross sectional study, which was conducted in the 2013-2014 school year in Khalkhal Medical School using a researcher-made questionnaire. Designed questionnaire include questions about personal information, level of knowledge (10 questions) and attitude (10 questions) towards health measures in an emergency. This study was conducted among 200 students who were either in semester 5 or higher. The sampling method was of census-type. To determine the reliability of the questionnaire, Alpha Cronbach Coefficient obtained to be 0.8. To compare mean scores in different groups, one-way ANOVA, chi-square test, and independent T-test were used. Results: The results showed that 8% of students were well aware, 65.5% were moderately aware, and 26% were poorly aware. In addition, 29% of them had right attitude, 15% had moderate attitude, and 9% had a poor attitude towards health measures in emergencies. Among different disciplines regarding knowledge and attitude, no significant difference was observed (P

The objective of this study was to determine the performance of modified commercial powdered activated carbon (MCPAC) in removal of ammonia from aqueous solution. The effects of adsorbent dosage (0.5–1.5 g/L), ammonia concentration (100–200 mg/L), pH (3 to 9) and contact time (2 to 120 min) were examined. In this study, experiments were performed based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The adsorption isotherm was evaluated using Freundlich and Langmuir models. Kinetics study was analyzed using pseudo first order, pseudo second order and particle penetration kinetic models. By increasing adsorbent dosage, pH and contact time, the removal efficiency increased. According to CCD results, the MCPAC was fitted to a quadratic equation. Also, ammonia adsorption for MCPAC followed the Langmuir (R2 = 0.9831) isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity for MCPAC was 40.323 mg/g. The analysis of adsorption kinetic for MCPAC indicated that ammonia adsorption was well fitted by the pseudo second order kinetic model. As thus, we concluded that MCPAC could be considered as an appropriate and economical alternative adsorbent for water and wastewater treatment due to its high ammonia adsorption capacity.

Background: Every year, accidents and disasters occur in Iran and result in death and injuries of common people. People’s demand for health care units involves not only the requirement for medical centers but also staffs to work in them. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the performance readiness and non-structural functional safety of different health care centers and units of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in dealing with natural disasters. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study conducted in connection with the non-structural safety status of 837 health care centers and facilities at the headquarters of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2015. Established checklists were distributed among 24 assessment teams and completed by trained experts after assessing the status quo of the health units with relevance to the checklist. Results: The results showed that in terms of natural hazards, the highest and lowest likelihood of occurrences were related to earthquake (75%) and landslide (20%), respectively. In the field of functional readiness of health units and various other departments at the headquarters of health centers, fire extinguishing section had the highest percentage of readiness with 68%. However, the risk reduction measures and health insurance coverage had the lowest percentage of readiness in responding to disasters with 3% and 0%, respectively. The non-structural sanitary homes recorded 48% of readiness, whereas the network headquarters and health centers recorded 35% of readiness, which denoted the highest and lowest rate in the context of vulnerability, respectively. Conclusion: In general, the results showed that the average performance percentage and non-structural vulnerability of health units and various other departments are moderate at the headquarters of health centers. According to the study results, disasters like earthquake, dust, flood, and landslide frequently required preparedness in the whole region.

Mercury is a carcinogenic and teratogenic compound that tends to accumulate in water solutions. In this research, the removal of mercury from an aqueous solution was evaluated by using palm leaves. Experiments were performed to study the adsorption efficiency, the effect of the adsorbent amount, the balance time, the adsorbate concentration, and the pH on mercury removal. The experimental apparatus used was a batch stirred reactor (volume: 1m3). The study was conducted under almost isothermal conditions. The test results showed that the optimum adsorbate concentration was 2 g/l, the balance time was three hours, the optimum adsorbent concentration was 15 mg/l, and the pH was 6. The maximum efficiency obtained was 99.24%. The chemical compounds with the highest presence in the palm leaves were LoI (93.76%), and SiO2 (4.1%), whereas the compound with the lowest presence was Na2O (0.08%). The mercury removal efficiency increased with an increase in the adsorbent dose and the contact time, and reduced with an increase in the initial mercury concentration. The Freundlich model, using the variables provided in the study, predicted the change in the adsorption kinetics.

Introduction: Organic compounds are one of the most important quality characteristics in wastewater treatment. The aim of this study is to make comparison of the efficiency of wetland and extended aeration activated sludge in the removal of organic compounds from sanitary wastewater based on response surface methodology. Methods: In this experimental study 100 mixed samples were taken from wetland and extended aeration reactors. According to type of wastewater treatment and operating time, COD, BOD5 and TSS were measured. Sampling, transportation, storage and measurement performed according to standard methods. Experiment setting, modeling, removal equation of organic compounds and optimal condition was obtained by response surface methodology. Results: Maximum removal of COD, BOD5 and TSS (in summer) in wetland were 95.67, 93.4 and 87.41%; in extended aeration was 97, 65.1 and 80.2%, respectively. Efficiency of extended aeration was better than wetland in all seasons and all parameters. R2: 0.8- 0.89 confirms the effect of operating time on wastewater treatment efficiency. Validity and accuracy in wetland and extended aeration were 12.64-17.65 and 16.01-19.37, respectively. Removal model in both wetland and extended aeration was linear. Conclusion: Efficiency of extended aeration is more than wetland. Response surface methodology properly describes organic compound removal efficacy by extended aeration and wetland.

Background: corrosion is a physic and chemical reaction occurring between a substance and its surrounding environment leading to the change in the substance properties. Corrosion can cause economic damage, loss of life and illness in consumers is watering plants. The aim of this study was to Assessment of scale formation and corrosion of drinking water supplies in Dehloran. Methods: This research was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. the sampling was carried out during one year from 8 wells. Values of Langelier, Ryznar, corrosivity and Puckorius indexes were calculated by using such parameters as total dissolved solids (TDS), calcium hardness, total alkalinity, temperature, pH, pHs on all Sources of drinking water in dehloran. Results: The results of this study showed that the amount of TDS, turbidity and total hardness wells is lower than the national standard. So that the highest and lowest TDS was obtained for Dashte Akbar 1wells (1084 mg/l) and Bare Bijeh 1(132 mg/l), respectively. As well as The highest and lowest turbidity was obtained for Bare Bijeh 2 wells (0.99 NTU) and Dashte Akbar 1(0.25 NTU), respectively. For all the wells studied was obtained Lanzhylh index between -0.43 to +0.19, Ryzner of the 7.52 to 9.07, Puckorius index between 8.69 to 11.21 and corrosion of between 8.01 to 8.68, respectively. Conclusion: The relevant indicators show that drinking water in dehloran corrosive and therefore must be continuously monitored water quality in the distribution network and measures to be applied in the field of corrosion control.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Detection of the factors that influence environmental health students' attitudes could help us to set regulations, providing adequate facilities, training qualified and competent health workers and is effective to create a passionate environment in the College. The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitude of environmental health and occupational health students towards their education and career in Ardabil University of medical sciences. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 100 students were selected among environmental health and occupational health students enrolled in the first semester of the 2014-15. The Data were collected by using the questionnaire of University of Minnesota containing 17 questions with Likert scale. The Data were analyzed by using SPSS-16 software. FINDINGS: The mean score of attitude towards future career in environmental health and occupational hygiene students was 52.5±9.86 and 52.8±8.1, respectively. The mean score of attitude towards future career in studied students was higher than that of the acceptable score. Moreover, minimum and maximum scores of the attitude in environmental heath students were 26 and 71, respectively, and these values for occupational hygiene students were 41 and 70, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to the results, students had a positive attitude towards their education and future career. Adjusted number of students accepted in the field of environmental health and occupational health, proper distribution of human resources, helping students to know more about academic disciplines before the entrance exam of universities and provide consultation and supporting them to clarify their education and job prospects can improve their attitudes.

Phenol is a toxic hydrocarbon that has been found in the wastewater of several industries, including the petroleum and petrochemical industries. The discharge of untreated wastewater from these industries causes environmental pollution, especially in water. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of phenol removal from wastewater using a biofiltration system. In this experimental study, a cylindrical plexiglass biofilter reactor with an effective volume of 12 liters was used. A total of 30 pcs of plastic grid discs were placed inside the reactor by plastic pipes to maintain the biofilm media in the reactor. The microorganisms used in this study were obtained from the biological sludge of a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The reproduction and adaptation of the microorganisms to 500 mg/L of phenol lasted three months. The effects of pH, phenol, nitrogen, phosphorus, glucose concentration, and hydraulic retention time on the biofilter system’s performance was evaluated. The results of this study showed that in optimal conditions, this system can reduce the phenol concentration from 500 mg/L to zero within about 4 hr. Maximum efficiency occurred in pH = 7, and the proper COD/N/P ratio was 100/10/2, respectively. In general, this biofilter system is capable of removing 500 mg/L of phenol concentrations and an organic load of 4 - 4.5 kg COD/m3.d within 4 - 5 hr. with high efficiency.

To determine the economic feasibility of wastewater treatment plants requires methods to determine their cost/effectiveness ratio. The objective of the present descriptive analytical study was to determine and compare the cost/effectiveness ratios of two types of wastewater treatment systems operating in Kermanshah Province. For this purpose, data and information on the wastewater treatment plants under study were collected from both local water and sewage companies and treatment plant operators. The data were then subjected to statistical analysis using the SPSS software program. All the costs assoiated with the erection and operation of the treatment processes were analyzed and plant efficiencies were determined to work out the cost/effectiveness index for each plant as a basis for comparisons. Average values of overall efficiency determined from the mean values of total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand removals in both activated sludge and natural systems were found to be 76.37±18.19% and 61.69±19.0%2, respectively. Also, the two systems were found to be significantly different with respect to their overall efficiency. Moreover, the cost/effectiveness ratios obtained for the two activated sludge and natural systems were 0.23 and 0.58, respectively. Based on the results obtained, it may be claimed that, despite their lower efficiency, natural treatment systems outperform activated sludge ones due to their higher cost/effectiveness ratio, which makes them superior to the activated sludge process. Natural treatment systems owe their superiority to their lower investment, operation, and maintenance costs.

Backgrounds and Aims: Human health depends more than anything else to clean water and sanitation, thus safety of drinking water is one of the most important community health aspects. The objective of this study was determining microbial quality trend of drinking water in rural area of Kermanshah during 2004-2013. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive–analytical study. Ten years references laboratory data from Kermanshah Health Center were obtained. Total coliform, termotolerant coliform and residual chlorine of drinking water samples have been analyzed statistically using SPSS Ver.16.and Excel software. Results: Base on water quality assessment of Kermanshah, the microbial contamination percent of villages covered by ABFAR decreased from 44% in 2004 to 20% in 2013, whereas in noncovered villages decreased from 70% to 47% during the same time. Contamination rate was lower than the summer time during the winter time. Free chlorine residual testing of drinking water among all studied area improved from 33% to 75% during ten years period. Conclusion: During last ten years, microbial contamination has been decreased more rapidly in covered villages than non-covered. However, there is still a long distance from the ideal situation. Based on the WHO recommendations on evaluation of microbial safety of drinking water, the average desirable of the bacteriological quality of drinking water in the villages covered by ABFAR in the ten-year period was determined well in winter and bad in summer. These conditions for non-covered villages, was determined moderate in winter and bad in summer. According to chlorination role in water safety, restrict supervision is necessary to provide public health.

Phenol is a highly toxic aromatic compound discharged into the environment through industrial effluents. The natural biological treatment process has been widely used as one of the most feasible, eco-friendly, and cost-effective options for the treatment of pollutants such as phenol. The objective of the present experimental-analytical study was to evaluate the performance of the facultative stabilization pond in removing phenol and other organic compounds from oil refinery effluents. For the purposes of this study, a pilot-scale anaerobic stabilization pond 1.2×0.6×0.55 m in size was constructed of fiberglass sheets 6 mm in thickness. The experiment was run with a hydraulic retention time of 10 days and a hydraulic loading rate of 43.5 l/d. The organic loading rate for the facultative pond was 150 kg/h.day. Samples were taken after pond operation and seeding when the pond reached its biological stability. Depending on phenol removal levels in the anaerobic stabilization pond, initial phenol concentrations at the inlet to the facultative pond were assumed to be 0-28, 30-80, 90-130, and 150-200 under warm conditions and 100-140, and 200b-260 mg/l in cool conditions. For each sample, the parameters NH3, PO4, and Phenol were measured using the Varian spectrophotometer (model UV-120-02) at the wavelengths of 425, 690, 500 nm, respectively. TCOD, SCOD, TBOD, SBOD, pH, and ORP were also measured according to the standard methods of water and wastewater. The results showed that phenol removal efficiency of the facultative pond was 71.8% for warm temperatures and 14.66% for cool temperatures. It was also found that temperature and phenol concentration significantly affected the performance of the pond. Moreover, its performance was observed to enhance with reducing phenol concentration and increasing temperature (p

With the growing industrial and social development through time, toxic substances such as phenol and its derivatives are increasingly released into the environment from a variety of sources. The present study aims to investigate the effects of molasses on phenol removal. For this purpose, five pilot scale batch reactors (5 Erlenmeyer flasks equipped with the air and gas diffusion control system) were used in the laboratory scale. The volumes of the reactors were kept constant with a final volume content of 550 ml in each reactor. Phenol with a fixed concentration of 100 mg/l was tested under anaerobic conditions in each reactor in contact with beet molasses (organic matter used as the auxiliary substrate) with COD concentrations of 10000, 5000, 2000, 1000, and 500 mg/l over 5 retention times (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days). All the sampling and testing procedures wer e performed according to the standard methods. The results showed that in all the five experimental reactors, increasing retention time was accompanied by a continuous decline in initial phenol and COD concentrations. However, for each retention time, increasing COD concentration led to a decrease in COD removal efficiency such that increasing the initial COD concentration up to a certain level was associated with an increase in chemical oxygen demanding materials, but beyond this range, COD removal decreased slowly. It was also found that phenol removal increased with increasing retention time but it was not proportional to the concentration of the biodegradable COD. After 50 days of contact with 1000 mg/l of the supporting substrate, phenol removal in the reactors reached 98.62%. Another finding of the study was the fact that the highest phenol removal was achieved when 1000-2000 mg/l of biodegradable COD was used over 50 days of retention time

In this study the efficiency of anaerobic stabilization pond for treating oil refinery wastewater at different concentrations of phenol is investigated. The anaerobic stabilization pond (ASP) was built from fiberglass plats (0.2m×1m×1m and 6mm thickness). The experimental apparatus was performed at HRT (2d) with hydraulic loading rate 95L/day. After inoculation of the biomass, reactor was run at different concentrations of phenol (100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/L). Sampling is carried out from effluent after achievement of steady state condition at all experimental tests. The samples for the determination of NH3, PO4 and Phenol, were analyzed using a spectrophotometer (Varian, UV-120-02). In addition, other parameters such as TCOD, SCOD, TBOD, SBOD, and pH were determined using standard methods. The results showed that the efficiency of system reduced at phenol concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 mg/L. The maximum and minimum removal rates of BOD and COD were 71.75±8.14; 76.07± 10.94 and 53.5±6.03, 55.63±3.47 by the system respectively at phenol concentrations of 100 and 400 mg/l. The optimum condition for phenol removal (89.82% and 55.86%) was determined with phenol concentrations of 100 mg/L and 400 mg/L, respectively. This study showed a comprehensive efficiency of anaerobic stabilization pond as a promising system to eliminate different concentrations of Phenol, COD and BOD, however increase of Phenol concentration to 400 mg/L was decreasing of system efficiency due to phenol toxicity for biomass.

This research work was carried out in lab scale using a Jar-test set up. In order to compare the performance of four inorganic coagulants (poly aluminum chloride, ferro sulfate, ferric chloride, aluminum sulfate) in removal of turbidity and color from water, three independent variables (turbidity, color and coagulants dosage) were investigated. The region of exploration for the process was taken as the area enclosed by turbidity (10, 20, 50 NTU), color (5, 10 TCU) and concentration of coagulants (5, 10, 15, 120, 25, 30 mg/l) boundaries. The rapid and slow mixing steps were provided by the rate of 80 rpm for 1 min and 30 rpm for 20 min, respectively. The samples were then remained for 30 min as settling stage. Four parameters including turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), pH and color were measured from the samples supernatant. Settling characteristics of the flocs formed were descriptively reported as poor, fair, good and excellent. From the results, poly aluminum chloride with concentration of 5 mg/l was found to be the best for the removal of turbidity (99-99.8 %) and color (100 %). However, fine flocs with very good settling velocity was observed at the condition with initial turbidity of 10, 20, 50 NTU. Increase in EC along with decrease in alkalinity was obtained as the coagulants concentrations were increased. The maximum and minimum amount of increase in EC and TDS were resulted from ferric chloride and poly aluminum chloride, respectively.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background and Objectives: Phenol is one of the aromatic compounds, which due to its high toxicity and its presence in the industrial effluents, should be removed and prevented it, to the receiving water resources. The natural biological plant has been accepted as one of the most feasible, eco-friendly and cost-effective options for the treatment of pollutants such as Phenol. The aim of this study is efficiency evaluation of the anaerobic stabilization pond performance in removing phenol and other organic compounds from Kermanshah oil refinery wastewater. Materials and Methods: The method of study was experimental and analytical, a laboratory scale anaerobic stabilization pond, with dimensions of 1 × 1 × 0/2 m, using fiberglass sheet with a thickness of 6 mm was designed and built up. In this study The hydraulic retention time and hydraulic loading rate were expected 2 days and 95 liters per day respectively. Organic loading rate for anaerobic pond was 100 g/m3. After starting, seeding and biological stability, samples were taken. Initial phenol concentration was added about of 100 mg/l to pilot input, then the parameters such as NH3, PO4 and Phenol were measured by Varian spectrophotometer model UV-120-02 in the wavelength 425, 690, 500 nm respectively. TCOD, SCOD, TBOD, SBOD, pH and ORP were measured according to the standard methods of water and wastewater. Results: The results showed that the removal efficiency of NH3, PO4, phenol, TCOD, SCOD, TBOD, SBOD in the anaerobic pond were obtained 91.51%, 64.34%, 89.82% 74.99 % 73.34% 71.75%, 68.9% respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that the ability for phenol and other organic compounds removal in anaerobic pond using petroleum refinery wastewater is higher than the other systems which are expensive and complex. st1":*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background and Objectives: 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid is a well-known herbicide which can be dangerous for both human and animal health in different ways such as its presence in drinking water. This study aimed at Performance of granular activated carbon to 2-4-D removal from aqueous solution and assessing the relationship between COD and 2-4-D concentration Materials and Methods: This study is a lab-scale study. Firstly, different 2-4-D concentrations were prepared from Stock solution (1000 mg/L), and then their CODs were measured. Optimum pH for 2-4-D removal was determined and its absorption rate at different concentrations was measured. Results: Results showed a clear relationship between COD and 2-4-D concentration. On the other hand, COD removal increased as time elapsed, so that maximum removal 90% and 84% at initial 2-4-D concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/L were observed at contact time of 50 min respectively. Optimum pH for all concentrations was determined as 6. Conclusion: According to present study it can be concluded that activated carbon have be up to 90% of 2-4-D removal from water environment. In addition, a significant relationship was observed between COD and 2-4-D concentration, so that direct measurement of COD can be used instead of 2-4-D measurement. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}