Search

Background: We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis on the concentration of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in carrots and potatoes irrigated by wastewater and estimate non-carcinogenic health risks among adult and children consumers. Methods: The health risk of PHEs concentration, including Pb, Cd, total Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Fe, in the edible parts of carrot and potato irrigated by wastewater was investigated by a meta-analysis using a random-effects model (REM). Accordingly, the related articles were screened from international databases such as Scopus, Medline, and Embase. Results: The meta-analysis of 32 papers (38 studies) revealed that the rank order of the most accumulated PHEs in potato was Fe (86.54 mg/kg wet weight) > Zn (30.9 mg/kg wet weight) > Cu (13.7 mg/kg wet weight) > Ni (8.42 mg/kg wet weight) > Pb (5.56 mg/kg wet weight) > Cr (3.45 mg/kg wet weight) > Cd (0.58 mg/kg wet weight). This ranking for carrot was Fe (43.36 mg/kg wet weight) > Zn (36.29 mg/kg wet weight) > Ni (13.49 mg/kg wet weight) > Cu (9.79 mg/kg wet weight) > Pb (1.84 mg/kg wet weight) > Cr (1.05 mg/kg wet weight) > Cd (0.28 mg/kg wet weight). Total hazard quotient (THQ) of PHEs was higher than 1 for potato and carrot; its rank order for potato and carrot was Cu > Pb > Cd > Ni > Fe > Zn > Cr and Cd > Pb > Cu > Ni > Fe > Zn > Cr, respectively. The Cd, Pb, and Cu had also a considerable role for consumer health risk. Conclusion: According to the results, continuous monitor and control of wastewater treatment plants are necessary.

Background & aim: The discharge of pharmaceutical effluent containing antibiotics into water resources is a great of concern associated with environmental pollution. In addition, conventional treatment systems are not capable of eliminating these antibiotics which commonly used in dealing with treatment of humans. Furthermore, over-consuming of antibiotics over the past few decades has forced researchers to find new techniques in order to deal with this environmental issues of great concern. In the present work, TiO2 was employed as a catalyst in the non-homogenous catalytic ozonation process for removal of Ceftazide antibiotics from synthetic sewage. Materials and Methods: This fundamental-practical study was conducted in a pilot scale. The magnetic TiO2 nano-sized particles were synthesized through a sol-gel method. The properties of magnetized titanium dioxide nanoparticles as catalyst were characterized using SEM, XRD and EDX. The effects of variables: pH, catalyst dose, reaction time, pollutant concentration on the performance of catalytic process were investigated. The residual concentration of Ceftazide was analyzed by a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The findings of present study indicated that the high removal efficiency of Ceftazide occurs in alkaline conditions and a direct relation was observed between removal efficiency and pH. The catalyst dose of 2 g/l was determined as optimum dosage and the Ceftazide removal efficiency was improved by decreasing the initial concentration as time proceeded. The results showed that the removal of Ceftazide by this catalytic process are fitted with the first-order model. Conclusion: The results show that the catalytic ozonation process with magnetized titanium dioxide nanoparticles has high efficiency for removal of Ceftazide from aqueous media. The catalytic ozonation process can be considered as an effective way to remove Ceftazide antibiotics from aqueous environment.

Population exposure to environmental contaminants can be precisely observed through human biomonitoring studies. The present study aimed to systematically review all the biomonitoring studies conducted in Iran on some selected carcinogen environmental pollutants. In this systematic review study, 11 carcinogen agents were selected including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, lindane, benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), pentachlorophenol (PCP), radon-222, radium-224, − 226, − 228, and tobacco smoke. The Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English. After several screening steps, data were extracted from the studies. Meta-analyses (a random-effect model using the DerSimonian-Laired method) were performed only for the biomarkers with more than three eligible articles, including cadmium in blood and breast milk, and arsenic in breast milk. Methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale adapted for cross-sectional studies. Of the 610 articles found in the database search, 30 studies were eligible for qualitative review, and 13 were included in the meta-analysis (cadmium in blood (n = 3), cadmium in breast milk (n = 6), and arsenic in breast milk (n = 4)). The overall pooled average concentrations (95% CI) of cadmium in blood, cadmium in breast milk, and arsenic in breast milk were 0.11 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.14), 5.38 (95% CI: 3.60, 6.96), and 1.42 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.81) µg/L, respectively. These values were compared with the biomarker concentrations in other countries and health-based guideline values. This study showed that there is a need for comprehensive action plans to reduce the exposure of general population to these environmental contaminants.

Amongst the various pollutants in the air, particulate matters (PM) have significant adverse effects on human health. The current research is based on existing epidemiological literature for quantitative estimation of the current health impacts related to particulate matters in some selected principal Iranian megacities. In order to find the influence of air pollution on human health, we used the AirQ software tool presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) European Centre for Environment and Health (ECEH), Bilthoven Division. The adverse health outcomes used in the study consist of mortality (all causes excluding accidental causes), due to cardiovascular (CVD) and respiratory (RES) diseases, and morbidity (hospital admissions for CVD and RES causes). For this purpose, hourly PM10 data were taken from the monitoring stations in eight study cities during 2011 and 2012. Results showed annual average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 in all megacities exceeded national and international air quality standards and even reached levels nearly ten times higher than WHO guidelines in some cities. Considering the short-term effects, PM2.5 had the maximum effects on the health of the 19,048,000 residents of the eight Iranian cities, causing total mortality of 5,670 out of 87,907 during a one-year time-period. Hence, reducing concentrations and controlling air pollution, particularly the presence of particles, is urgent in these metropolises.

Background: One of the most important environmental pollutants is color Compounds that are generally used in the textile, paper, cosmetics, food and leather industries, and their discharge into wastewater has harmful effects on the environment. The aim of this study is determination of efficiency of ash and powder Rosa Damascena Wastes in removal of Reactive Blue from aqueous solutions. Methods:In this experimental study, after the preparing of powder and ash Rosa Damascena Wastes absorbent, the effect of various parameters of operation such as pH (3-10), the initial concentration of dye (25, 50, 100 and 300 mg/L), contact time (5-180 minutes) and absorbent dose (0.5- 6 g/L) were studied. Finally the results were analyzed by kinetics and isotherm modeling. Results: In this study, equilibrium time of powder and ash Rosa Damascena Wastes Obtained 60 and 45 minutes respectively. The Maximum efficiency of absorbent powder and ash was obtained 74 and 91 percent, respectively, at pH 3, contact time of equilibrium and absorbent dosage 4 g/L. isotherm studies matched with Freundlich isotherm models for both absorbents. Kinetic equations followed the pseudo-second of the model better. Conclusion: The results showed that Powder and ash of Rosa Damascena Wastes can be used as an effective, available and affordable absorbent for removal of color pollutants from aqueous solutions.

Background: Air pollutants have multiple adverse effects on human health. In this study, the health effects of exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and SO2 in the air of 6 Iranian metropolises in 2011-2012 were examined. Methods: Raw data was collected from the Iranian Department of Environment and the Iran Meteorological Organization. After validation, the required statistical indices were calculated through programming and modifying temperature and pressure in Excel software. The output of Excel was given to the AirQ model, and the results were presented as the cases of death. Results: The annual mean concentrations of SO2 were 2.45, 1.55, 0.6, 0.55, 1.05, and 3.8 times higher than the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) (20 μg/m3) in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Urmia, respectively. The concentrations of CO did not exceed the standard limit in any of the studied cities. The cumulative numbers of total deaths attributed to SO2 were 744, 122, 132, 44, 37, and 107 in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Urmia, respectively. The highest mortality rate was found in Urmia at 2.9% followed by Tehran at 1.52%; the lowest rate of 0.46% was found in Tabriz. Conclusion: The results show that of the 6 metropolises, the highest CO mortality rate of about 2.15% belonged to Isfahan followed by Arak with about 1.38%, and the lowest rate of 0.68% belonged to Mashhad. Because of the growing trend of air pollution and its mortality rate and adverse effects, practical solutions for the control and reduction of air pollution in Iranian metropolises are necessary.

Abstract Background: Poor air quality has a lot of damage on the environment and humans. Awareness of the air quality situation reduces health effects of air pollution. This study was performed with the aim of the comparative investigation of Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and its application in seven major cities of Iran in 2011. Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive–analytic one. First, the required data of four criteria pollutants were taken from Department of Environment in seven major cities of Iran. The data were validated by the World Health Organization criteria. The air quality health index was measured based on the instructions and classified into low, medium, high and very high degrees according to the air quality standard tables. Results: The results demonstrate that according to air quality health index, the level of air pollution in seven major cities of Iran has been undesirable and air quality has exceeded the standard level in Ahvaz 85%, Arak73%, Tehran70%, Esfahan60%, Shiraz 47%, Tabriz 43% and, Mashhad 29% of days. Conclusion: Due to poor air quality and health consequences resulting from it, importance of Air Quality Health Index is explored in planning to control and reduce air pollution and awareness of peoples from daily status of air quality and its health effects.

Background and Purpose: Parabens are a group of Para-hydroxy Benzoic acid alkyl esters which extensively used as preservative in personal care products. Parabens have been recently found in wastewater, rivers, soil and dust. Therefore, the purpose of this study aimed to Monitor the occurrence of parabens from selected wastewater treatment plants (Shahrak Ghods and south of Tehran) and evaluate the performance of different treatment methods for removing these compounds. Methods: In this study, the samples from influent and effluent were collected from Shahrak Ghods and South of Tehran wastewater treatment plant as Seasonal and Three samples per season. Concentration of Para-hydroxy Benzoic acid esters was determined by HPLC, CECIL, 4100 at 242 nm. Result: After sampling in the different seasons from the west and south treatment plants, two selective paraben concentrations (Methyl paraben and Ethyl paraben) were measured. The results showed that average concentration of Methyl paraben (MeP) and Ethyl paraben) EtP( respectively were 740.7 and 277.7 ng/L in the Influent and 179.3 and 45.8 ng/L in the effluent of Shahrak Ghods treatment plant. Also, the average concentration of MeP and EtP respectively were 835.3 and 295.3 ng/L in Influent and 132.8 and 29.7 ng/L in the effluent of South of Tehran treatment plant. In the next step, Risk assessment of effluent treatment plants discharging to environment with comparing the studies was done. According to the paraben concentration in the effluent of both treatment plants, discharge of effluent treatment plants whit selective contaminants, have little biological effects on ecosystems. Conclusions: The removal efficiency of Shahrak Ghods treatment plant in removing parabens, was lower than the South of Tehran. But the effluent quality of both treatment plant was less than the Effluent discharge standard. So both of treatment plant have appropriate performance to removal contaminants.

Introduction and Purpose: Nowadays, the air quality in many major cities is one of the most important environmental problems that seriously compromises the health of residents and causes a range of acute and chronic health effects. herefore, this study was aimed to quantify and estimate the health effects related to the pollutants NO2 and O3 in metropolis of Tehran in 2014 was done by AirQ model. Methods: Data acquired were collected from the environmental organization and the center of air quality control in Tehran. This data were analyzed by Microsoft Excel software, and the processed data was entered AirQ model. The relative risk, baseline incidence and the attributed proportion was estimated and the overall results in case of mortality and morbidity were presented in tables and graphs Results: The results showed that the average annual concentration of NO2 and O3 in Tehran, was respectively 130 and 64 μg/m3. According to the results with baseline incidence of 543.5 per 100,000, the total cumulative number of mortalities attributed to nitrogen dioxide and ozone, were estimated respectively to be 1593 and 946, that included about 2.66% and 1.58% of total mortalities except traffic accidents in Tehran. Conclusion: Our results showed that the level of air pollution has increased in Tehran, which requires more attention of authorities and policy makers to control the air pollution.

Background: According to report of the World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), between 33 to 60 percent increase in agricultural production in the world due to the use of chemical fertilizers. Negative effects of fertilizers on the environment and health of living organisms, especially humans, has encountered the country whit challenges such as increasing the number of cancer. Therefore, it is necessary to replace chemical fertilizers whit biofertilizers such as compost. Compost Causes increases in productivity and controls soil erosion. Methods: In order to achieve the objectives of the research, literature review was conducted and to investigate the status of chemical fertilizers and compost in Iran and developed countries through internal and external databases, documents were collected. Results: Use of fertilizers in Europe forecasted to decline 16 million tons in 2030, while in the Iran, rate of fertilizer forecast increases to 6700 thousand tons in 2020. Total supply of compost in the country is 164 thousand tons in 2009 and will be to 590 thousand tons in 2016. The total demand is 472 thousand tons in 2009 and will be to 661 thousand tons in 2016. This indicates that there is 71 thousand tons deficiency in the supply until 2016. Conclusion: Use more of compost in the country, need to a multi-faceted management issue that Ministries, municipalities and recycle of organizations must be working together. Therefore necessary awareness aboute the adverse effects of indiscriminate use of fertilizers and also promote the use compost, in addition to reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, will be cause more demand for consumption of compost.

Introduction: Air pollution in metropolitans is an important problem and health concern. Air pollution increases respiratory diseases, significantly. We evaluated the relation between COPD and criteria air pollutants in six major cities of Iran including Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Shiraz and Arak by AirQ model, developed by World Health Organization. Materials and methods: At first, hourly data of pollutants collected from the Department of Environment of cities and validated according to WHO guidelines. Quantification of the number of cases COPD were performed by using statistical analysis and the World Health Organization model. Results: Results showed total cumulative numbers of hospital admission cases due to COPD (HA-COPD) estimated in the present study were 372, 102, 130, 96, 55 and 29 cases in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz and Arak, respectively. According to obtained results, among seven metropolises, the highest and lowest COPD rate dedicated to Tehran and Arak, respectively. Conclusions: Air pollution is considered as a major threat to public health in major cities of Iran. This study proved association between short-term exposure to O3 and NO2 and hospital admission for respiratory diseases. Therefore, policy makers and authorities should use appropriate actions and attempts based on scientific evidence in order to reduce pollutants, control air pollution and diminish their harmful effects on health of residents.