Soil pollution indices and health risk assessment of metal(loid)s in the agricultural soil of pistachio orchards

Elevated levels of metal(loid)s in soil may pose potential threats to the ecosystem and can be harmful for human health. The concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Cr and Ni were determined in agricultural soil collected from 45 pistachio orchards around Feizabad city, Khorasan Razavi province, Iran using ICP-OES. Also, soil pollution indices including contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI) and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) were evaluated. In addition, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk indices were estimated. The mean concentrations of metal(loid)s were in the order of Ni = 466.256 > Cr = 120.848 > Pb = 12.009 > As = 5.486 > Cd = 0.394 mg/kg. Concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in the soil samples were within their respective permissible limits set by World Health Organization (WHO). But concentrations of Cr and Ni in 84.4 and 100% of the samples, respectively exceeded the WHO allowable limits. The CF, PLI and Igeo showed that soil of some of the pistachio orchards was contaminated with some metals. The possible sources of the metals in the soil are application of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, manures as well as irrigation water. Hazard quotient (HQ) ad Hazard index (HI) values from soil of all the orchards were found to be well below the respective threshold limit (1), suggesting that there is no immediate non-cancer threat arising from the contamination at all the orchards with metal(loid)s for children and adults. The highest cancer risk values (1.13E-02 for children and 1.25E-03 for adults) were estimated for Ni in the soil. Collectively, this study provides valuable information to improve the soil in the pistachio orchards to reduce metal(loid)s contamination and minimize the associated health risks to the population in the area.

Analysis of trace elements in processed products of grapes and potential health risk assessment

Raisins and grape pekmez are consumed commonly by human all over the globe. Consumption of contaminated foods may be the likely pathway of heavy metal exposure. Therefore, the objectives of the present research were to quantify trace elements concentration in raisins and grape pekmez produced from locally grown grapes in Gonabad and to assess non-carcinogenic (HQ and HI) and carcinogenic (total cancer risk, CRt) health risks caused by trace elements exposure via oral intake of these products for children, teenagers, and adults. For this purpose, a totally 30 (15 raisins and 15 grape pekmez) samples were purchased from the vineyard gardeners and examined for ten trace elements including As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The HI values signaled that the studied population consuming these products is at risk. The HQ, HI, and CRt values of the elements were in order of children > teenagers > adults. The highest cancer risk contribution was attributed to As and Ni for all the studied age groups in both raisins and grape pekmez samples. However, it is recommended that the concentration of trace elements in the soil and crops of the study area and its related health risks be regularly monitored to avoid significant health risks in the future.

Trace elements in commercially available infant formulas in Iran: Determination and estimation of health risks

Infants are significantly more vulnerable to trace elements from their foods. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the concentrations of some trace elements namely; arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel and lead in infant formulas sold in Iran and to estimate the potential health risks to the infants through consumption of these products. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb in infant formula samples were 0.006, 0.040, 0.3980, 2.014, 0.166 and 0.285 mg/kg, respectively. The mean levels of the trace elements were in the following order: Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd > As. For arsenic, cadmium and copper, calculated EWIs (estimated weekly intakes) were within the PTWIs (provisional tolerated weekly intakes) recommended by FAO/WHO. For chromium, nickel and lead, the calculated EWIs were higher than the PTWIs in 88.8 %, 75 %, and 61.1 % of the formulas. HQs of Pb, Cu, Cd and As were above the safe limits, indicating health concerns from the consumption of some infant formulas. Based on the CR classification, CR values of some elements including Cd, Cr and Ni were above 1 × 10-4 in some brands, indicating that exposure to these elements from infant formulas may cause health risks. Therefore, regular monitoring of all the raw materials, stages of production and storage of infant formulas is essential to limit the exposure of this vulnerable age group to toxic trace elements.

Ecological risk assessment of trace elements (TEs) pollution and human health risk exposure in agricultural soils used for saffron cultivation

Contamination of farmland soils by trace elements (TEs) has become an international issue concerning food safety and human health risks. In the present research, the concentrations of TEs including cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) in soils of 16 farmlands were determined in Gonabad, Iran. In addition, the human health risks due to exposure to the TEs from the soils were assessed. Moreover, the soil contamination likelihood was evaluated based on various contamination indices including contamination factor [Formula: see text]), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), and pollution load index (PLI) calculations. The soil mean concentrations for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Fe ranges as 0.102, 6.968, 22.550, 29.263, 475.281, 34.234, 13.617, 54.482 and 19,683.6 mg/kg in farmland soils. The mean concentrations of the TEs decreased in the order of Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > As > Cd. Levels of all metals in this study were within the FAO/WHO and Iranian soil standards. The HQ values from investigated elements for adults and children in the studied farms were less than the limit of 1, indicating no health risks for the studied subpopulations. The results of the present research indicated no significant carcinogenic health hazards for both adults and children through ingestion, skin contact and inhalation exposure routes. [Formula: see text] values of Ni and Zn in 100% and 6.25% of farmlands were above 1, showing moderate contamination conditions. EF values of metals in farmlands were recorded as "no enrichment", "minimal enrichment" and "moderate enrichment" classes. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the all farms were uncontaminated except Ni (moderately contaminated) based on Igeo. This is an indication that the selected TEs in the agricultural soils have no appreciable threat to human health.

Determination of Concentration of Metals in Grapes Grown in Gonabad Vineyards and Assessment of Associated Health Risks

Metals are considered major public health hazards, and they are known to accumulate in fruits, which are consumed by humans because of their unique sweet taste and potential health benefits. Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the concentration of ten metals, namely arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in red grape samples grown in Gonabad vineyards and to estimate the associated health risks of metals in terms of chronic daily intake (CDI), carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks by hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and cancer risk (CR) for children, teenagers, and adults. The overall concentrations of the metals in red grapes were in the range 0.07-0.5 (mean 0.14), 0.08-0.13 (mean 0.10), 0.07-0.13 (mean 0.09), 0.06-1.49 (mean 0.29), 0.52-4.12 (mean 1.65), 6.43-42.17 (mean 19.01), 0.89-4.04 (mean 1.89), 0.07-9.23 (mean 0.71), 0.07-0.37 (mean 0.18), and 0.40-4.13 (mean 1.05) mg/kg dry weight for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively. Based on the results, As in 11.76% and Zn in 5.88% of the samples exceeded the FAO/WHO permissible limits. The estimated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk indices for children, teenagers, and adults showed that the results were lower than the critical value (1) and were in acceptable range. Therefore, red grape is safe for consumption with no impact on the human health. However, red grape consumption was just one part of fruit consumption, and the potential health hazards for inhabitants might actually be higher than in this research when other routes of heavy metal intake and also other fruits are considered.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Patients Visiting a Referral Hospital in Tehran Province, Iran

BACKGROUND

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are still considered a public health problem of mankind, particularly in immunocompromised patients. We aimed to determine the prevalence of IPIs with an emphasis on immunocompromised patients in a referral hospital in Tehran Province, Iran.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 442 fecal specimens were collected randomly from patients, referred to Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran Province, Iran from May to September 2020. The collected specimens were examined using wet-mount, trichrome and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining, formalin-ether concentration, and agar plate culture.

RESULTS

The prevalence of IPIs was found 17.0% (95% CI: 13.6-20.8%). The prevalence of protozoan parasites (16.3%; 95% CI: 13.0-20.1%) was significantly higher than helminthic parasites (0.7%; 95% CI: 0.1-2.0%). Blastocystis spp., Giardia lamblia, and Entamoeba coli were the most common intestinal protozoan with a prevalence of 12.2%, 1.6%, and 1.4%, respectively. E. histolytica/E. dispar/E. moshkovskii, Iodamoeba bütschlii, Cryptosporidium spp., Chilomastix mesnili as protozoan species and Hymenolepis nana, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, and Ascaris lumbricoides as helminthic species were the other detected parasites. Multiple logistic regression revealed a significant association of IPIs infections with stool consistency and the status of immune system.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of IPIs among the patients who are immunocompromised was significantly higher than immunocompetent patients (P< 0.05). Periodic stool examinations for screening of IPIs should be included as a part of routine medical check-up in these patients.

Assessing contribution of bottled water in nutrient absorption using the bottled water nutritional quality index (BWNQI) in Iran

In this study, the contribution of bottled water in the absorption of nutritional minerals in Iran has been investigated. To calculate the nutritional quality index of bottled water (BWNQI) and evaluate the contribution of bottled water in nutrient absorption; the concentration of nutrient minerals, the standard level of these elements in bottled water, the recommended amount of nutrient mineral and the total consumption of drinking water in different age-sex groups were analyzed. The results showed that the average contribution of bottled water in absorbing the recommended amount of the nutrients of fluoride (F), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) was 12.16, 4.98, 4.85, 2.12, 0.49, 0.33 and 0.02%, respectively. According to the BWNQI index, the bottled water quality was as follows: 53.5% poor, 36.6% marginal, 7% fair, 2.81% good. Although most of the bottled water studied in this research were mineral water, a significant portion of them had poor nutritional quality, so the addition of minerals needed by the body through bottled water should be given more attention by the bottled water manufacturers and suppliers.

Global, regional, and national mortality among young people aged 10-24 years, 1950-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND

Documentation of patterns and long-term trends in mortality in young people, which reflect huge changes in demographic and social determinants of adolescent health, enables identification of global investment priorities for this age group. We aimed to analyse data on the number of deaths, years of life lost, and mortality rates by sex and age group in people aged 10-24 years in 204 countries and territories from 1950 to 2019 by use of estimates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019.

METHODS

We report trends in estimated total numbers of deaths and mortality rate per 100 000 population in young people aged 10-24 years by age group (10-14 years, 15-19 years, and 20-24 years) and sex in 204 countries and territories between 1950 and 2019 for all causes, and between 1980 and 2019 by cause of death. We analyse variation in outcomes by region, age group, and sex, and compare annual rate of change in mortality in young people aged 10-24 years with that in children aged 0-9 years from 1990 to 2019. We then analyse the association between mortality in people aged 10-24 years and socioeconomic development using the GBD Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite measure based on average national educational attainment in people older than 15 years, total fertility rate in people younger than 25 years, and income per capita. We assess the association between SDI and all-cause mortality in 2019, and analyse the ratio of observed to expected mortality by SDI using the most recent available data release (2017).

FINDINGS

In 2019 there were 1·49 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval 1·39-1·59) worldwide in people aged 10-24 years, of which 61% occurred in males. 32·7% of all adolescent deaths were due to transport injuries, unintentional injuries, or interpersonal violence and conflict; 32·1% were due to communicable, nutritional, or maternal causes; 27·0% were due to non-communicable diseases; and 8·2% were due to self-harm. Since 1950, deaths in this age group decreased by 30·0% in females and 15·3% in males, and sex-based differences in mortality rate have widened in most regions of the world. Geographical variation has also increased, particularly in people aged 10-14 years. Since 1980, communicable and maternal causes of death have decreased sharply as a proportion of total deaths in most GBD super-regions, but remain some of the most common causes in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, where more than half of all adolescent deaths occur. Annual percentage decrease in all-cause mortality rate since 1990 in adolescents aged 15-19 years was 1·3% in males and 1·6% in females, almost half that of males aged 1-4 years (2·4%), and around a third less than in females aged 1-4 years (2·5%). The proportion of global deaths in people aged 0-24 years that occurred in people aged 10-24 years more than doubled between 1950 and 2019, from 9·5% to 21·6%.

INTERPRETATION

Variation in adolescent mortality between countries and by sex is widening, driven by poor progress in reducing deaths in males and older adolescents. Improving global adolescent mortality will require action to address the specific vulnerabilities of this age group, which are being overlooked. Furthermore, indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to jeopardise efforts to improve health outcomes including mortality in young people aged 10-24 years. There is an urgent need to respond to the changing global burden of adolescent mortality, address inequities where they occur, and improve the availability and quality of primary mortality data in this age group.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Optimization of energy consumption per kg of pure meat by electrical and thermal systems in broiler chicken farms

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of electrical and thermal systems optimization on energy consumption in broiler farms. Experiments were conducted in 4 different climates (cold, hot, dry, and temperate) with four treatments (4 broiler farms in each region) and 5 iterations (5 rearing periods per farm) on the Ross 308 strain of broiler chicken in a completely randomized basic design. The results showed that the solutions applied in cold and dry climates had a significant effect on reducing energy consumption (P<0.05). In the hot climate, although the reduction in energy consumption was observed after the application of the solutions, the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Also, the application of solutions in temperate climates created a significant difference in the specific amount of thermal energy consumption per kilo of meat and total energy (P<0.05). Overall, the results of the present experiment showed that optimizing the electrical and thermal systems of broiler houses could reduce energy consumption in all climates.

Process optimization and enhancement of pesticide adsorption by porous adsorbents by regression analysis and parametric modelling

In the present study, the adsorptive removal of organophosphate diazinon pesticide using porous pumice adsorbent was experimentally investigated in a batch system, modelled and optimized upon response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network-genetic algorithm (ANN-GA), fitted to isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic models. The quantification of adsorbent elements was determined using EDX. XRD analysis was utilized to study the crystalline properties of adsorbent. The FT-IR spectra were taken from adsorbent before and after adsorption to study the presence and changes in functional groups. The constituted composition of the adsorbent was determined by XRF. Also, the ionic strength and adsorbent reusability were explored. The influences of operational parameters like pH, initial pesticide concentration, adsorbent dosage and contact time were investigated systematically. ANN-GA and RSM techniques were used to identify the optimal process variables that result in the highest removal. Based on the RSM approach, the optimization conditions for maximum removal efficiency is obtained at pH = 3, adsorbent dosage = 4 g/L, contact time = 30 min, and initial pesticide concentration = 6.2 mg/L. To accurately identify the parameters of nonlinear isotherm and kinetic models, a hybrid evolutionary differential evolution optimization (DEO) is applied. Results indicated that the equilibrium adsorption data were best fitted with Langmuir and Temkin isotherms and kinetic data were well described by pseudo-first and second-order kinetic models. The thermodynamic parameters such as entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs energy were evaluated to study the effect of temperature on pesticide adsorption.

The Relationship between Coronavirus Anxiety, Mindfulness and Spiritual Health in Patients with Cancer: A Survey in Southeast Iran

OBJECTIVE

The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has caused major health problems, including anxiety in cancer patients worldwide. Spiritual health and mindfulness are considered as factors affecting anxiety. This study addressed the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety, spiritual health and mindfulness in patients with cancer.

METHODS

One hundred and eighty-four cancer patients participated in this cross-sectional study. The data were collected with convenience sampling method from two oncology centers from 15 June to 15 July 2020 in the southeast Iran. Patients completed the Demographic and Clinical Characteristics Form, Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), The Freiburg Mindfulness inventory-Short Form (FMI-SF) and Spiritual Health Scale.

RESULTS

According to the psychological symptom subscale (CDAS), 61.4% of the participants had moderate to severe anxiety. According to the physical symptom subscale, 38% of the participants had moderate to severe anxiety. No significant association was found between corona disease anxiety and mindfulness/spiritual health (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed high levels of mental and physical anxiety and worries about COVID-19 disease in cancer patients, which led to challenges in their lives. It is necessary to review and implement effective interventions in future studies to prevent anxiety and its consequences in cancer patients.

Evaluation of thermal energy consumption in broiler farms and saving strategies

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate thermal energy consumption in broiler farms and provide solutions to reduce it. This study was performed with a completely randomized design under 4 climatic conditions, including Ardabil (cold climate representative), Khuzestan (warm climate representative), Isfahan (dry climate representative) and Guilan (temperate climate representative) in 4 replicates (4 broiler farms in each climate) and with 5 repetitions (5 periods of breeding per unit) and a capacity of 492,700, Ross 308 broiler in each breeding period. According to the results, in all climates, the proposed solutions to save thermal energy were able to create a significant difference (P<0.05). The experimental results also showed that the difference in thermal energy consumption in cold and dry climates wasmuch higher than in temperate and warm climates (P<0.05). Overall, the results of the present study show that, by optimizing andmodernizing construction equipment in broiler farms, thermal energy losses can be reduced in all climatic conditions.

Global injury morbidity and mortality from 1990 to 2017: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

BACKGROUND

Past research in population health trends has shown that injuries form a substantial burden of population health loss. Regular updates to injury burden assessments are critical. We report Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study estimates on morbidity and mortality for all injuries.

METHODS

We reviewed results for injuries from the GBD 2017 study. GBD 2017 measured injury-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) using the Cause of Death Ensemble model. To measure non-fatal injuries, GBD 2017 modelled injury-specific incidence and converted this to prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). YLLs and YLDs were summed to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

FINDINGS

In 1990, there were 4 260 493 (4 085 700 to 4 396 138) injury deaths, which increased to 4 484 722 (4 332 010 to 4 585 554) deaths in 2017, while age-standardised mortality decreased from 1079 (1073 to 1086) to 738 (730 to 745) per 100 000. In 1990, there were 354 064 302 (95% uncertainty interval: 338 174 876 to 371 610 802) new cases of injury globally, which increased to 520 710 288 (493 430 247 to 547 988 635) new cases in 2017. During this time, age-standardised incidence decreased non-significantly from 6824 (6534 to 7147) to 6763 (6412 to 7118) per 100 000. Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardised DALYs decreased from 4947 (4655 to 5233) per 100 000 to 3267 (3058 to 3505).

INTERPRETATION

Injuries are an important cause of health loss globally, though mortality has declined between 1990 and 2017. Future research in injury burden should focus on prevention in high-burden populations, improving data collection and ensuring access to medical care.

Effect of respiratory exposure to benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene on the spirometric indices in two consecutive years among the petroleum products loading workers

Introduction: Benzene, toluene, xylene and ethylbenzene (BTEX) are the most important aromatic compounds in petroleum products. Due to high vapor pressure, BTEX compounds easily change to gas form and mixed with ambient air. Petroleum products loading workers are exposed to these compounds by the inhalation of BTEX compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of respiratory BTEX exposure on lung function indicators . Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on petroleum products loading workers in 2015 until 2016. there were process of inclusion and exclusion in working tasks. 32 people participated in this study consciously. Eighteen samples of air was gotten in the breathing zone of workers. Sampling was performed by  indivial sampling pump 222-4 model by use of activated charcoal were taken to determine the workers' exposure to benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene. Method of sampling was 1501 NIOSH.To determine and evaluate the lung function, spirometry tests were performed according to OSHA protocols. Results: The results of analysis of samples showed that the average exposure to benzene was above the occupational exposure limit and the average exposure to ethyl benzene, toluene and xylene were below the occupational exposure limit. Lung functions indices, including FVC, FEV1, FEV1 / FVC  were reduced. Conclusion: The results showed that exposure to BTEX compounds could affect lung function indices, and reduced Lung functions indices.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and Human Health Risks Assessment in Soils Around an Industrial Zone in Neyshabur, Iran

Heavy metal pollution of soils in industrial zones continues to attract attention because of its potential human health risks. The present research is an attempt to assess the pollution status of heavy metals including As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb using various indices like contamination factor (CF), pollution index (I_POLL), and geo-accumulation index (I_geo). In total, 60 surface soil samples were collected from four area (north, south, east, and west) in Khayyam industrial zone from depths of 10-20 cm. The results indicated that average metal concentration ranges (in mg/kg) observed in study soils were 8.84, 1.9, 37.66, 15.77, and 57.33 for As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb, respectively. The concentrations of heavy metals As, Cr, Ni, and Pb with the exception of Cd in soils of southern areas of the industrial zone were higher. Cd concentration vary negligibly in sampling sites of north, south, east, and west. Based on the CF, I_POLL, and I_geo indices, the pollution of soil in regard to concentration of heavy metals was in the following order: Cd > As > Pb > Ni > Zn. Industrial activities have therefore resulted in elevated concentrations of so in the soil environments in the Khayyam industrial zone. Based on the results of human health risk assessments, the soil metals pose negligible carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to the adults and children living in this area. The need for the monitoring of the soil around the industrial zone, especially for Cd and As, is needed to reduce potential environmental issues.

Assessment of human health risks and pollution index for heavy metals in farmlands irrigated by effluents of stabilization ponds

Areas contaminated with heavy metals can pose major risks to human health and ecological environments. The aims of this study are to assess human health risk and pollution index for heavy metals in agricultural soils irrigated by effluents of stabilization ponds in Birjand, Iran. The results revealed that the levels of Cr, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd, and Pb were in range of 70.3-149.65, 355-570, 31.15-98.45, 23,925-29,140, 22.75-25.95, 0.17-6.51, and 8.5-23.5 mg/kg in topsoils, respectively. Total hazard index values from heavy metals through three exposure routes for adults and children were 9.13E-01 and 1.10, respectively, indicating that there was non-carcinogenic risk for children. The total risk of carcinogenic metals (Cr, Cd, and Pb) through the three exposure routes for adults and children was 1.06E-04 and 9.76E-04, respectively, which indicates that the metals in the soil will not induce carcinogenic risks to these age groups. Pollution levels of heavy metals in soil samples including enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and geo-accumulation index (I_geo) showed heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils. The results of the present study provide basic information about heavy metal contamination control and human health risk assessment management in the study area.

Cadmium in Groundwater Consumed in the Rural Areas of Gonabad and Bajestan, Iran: Occurrence and Health Risk Assessment

Evidences show that high levels of cadmium intake may be contributing to a wide range of deleterious health effects. This study was performed to estimate the concentration of cadmium and the health risk to human by cadmium through the ingestion of groundwater in 39 rural areas of Gonabad and Bajestan, eastern Iran. The mean cadmium concentrations in groundwater in the studied rural areas of Gonabad and Bajestan ranged from 0.087 to 14.32 μg/L and from 0.417 to 18.36 μg/L, respectively. Health risk quotient for cadmium contamination for 16 and 38% of children and infants in rural areas of Gonabad and Bajestan, respectively, was more than 1 which causes non-carcinogenic risk to the local population. The carcinogenic risk of cadmium in drinking water for adults, children, and infants in 16, 33, and 33% of studied rural areas of Gonabad and Bajestan, respectively, was higher than the safe limit of 1.0 × 10^-4. For rural areas of Bajestan, the cancer risk in 42, 52, and 52% of adults, children, and infants was above the safe limit. It was strongly suggested that the accessible procedures of treatment should be taken for a portion of contaminated rural areas before the distribution of the groundwater for the local population.

Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk assessment of heavy metals in drinking water of Khorramabad, Iran

The continuous urbanization and industrialization in many parts of the world and Iran has led to high levels of heavy metal contamination in the soil and then on the surface and groundwater. In this study, the concentrations of 8 heavy metals were determined in forty water samples along distribution drinking water of Khorramabad, Iran. The ranges of heavy metals in this study were lower than EPA and WHO drinking water recommendations and guidelines and so were acceptable. The mean values of CDI_total of heavy metals concentrations in adults were found in the order of Zn > Ba > Pb > Ni > Cr > Cu > Cd > Mo. The health-risk estimation indicated that total hazard quotient (HQ_ing + HQ_derm) and hazard index values were below the acceptable limit, representing no non-carcinogenic risk to the residents via oral intake and dermal adsorption of water. Moreover, the results of total risk via ingestion and dermal contact showed that the ingestion was the predominant pathway. This study also presents that the carcinogenic risk for Pb, Cr, Cd and Ni were observed higher than the acceptable limit (1 × 10^-6). The present study will be quite helpful for both inhabitants in taking protective measures and government officials in reducing heavy metals contamination of urban drinking water. •The data analyzed in this study show a clear situation regarding the quality of drinking water in Khorramabad.•The results of this study can be used to improve and develop the quality of drinking water that directly affects the health of consumers.•The present study will be quite helpful for both inhabitants in taking protective measures and government officials in reducing heavy metals contamination of urban drinking water.

Optimization of saline wastewater treatment using electrochemical oxidation process: Prediction by RSM method

Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to find the optimum parameters for COD and TOC removal from saline wastewaters using electrochemical oxidation process. The independent variables considered were reaction time, pH, salt concentration, and voltage. Optimization of parameters was performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Quadratic regression equation was suggested as a model for prediction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency. The results indicated that the COD and TOC removal efficiencies at the optimal conditions of pH 7.69, reaction time of 30.71 min, salt content of 30. 94 g/L and voltage of 7.41 V were 91.78% and 68.49%, respectively. In terms of COD and TOC removal efficiency, the coefficients of determination were found to be 0.95 and 0.94, respectively. This study suggests that electro-oxidation is an effective process in decreasing COD and TOC from saline wastewaters. Further, RSM was a suitable technique for optimization of the variables involved in COD and TOC removal through electro-oxidation process.

•

The findings demonstrate that response surface methodology is a good tool for the optimization of parameters of the experimental data.

•

A quadratic model was suggested as a good model for COD and TOC removal prediction.

•

The findings proved good agreement between the experimental data and the predicted equation.

Protocol for the estimation of drinking water quality index (DWQI) in water resources: Artificial neural network (ANFIS) and Arc-Gis

Drinking water sources may be polluted by various pollutants depending on geological conditions and agricultural, industrial, and other human activities. Ensuring the safety of drinking water is, therefore, of a great importance. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of drinking groundwater in Bardaskan villages and to determine the water quality index. Water samples were taken from 30 villages and eighteen parameters including calcium hardness (CaH), total hardness (TH), turbidity, pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), alkalinity (ALK), magnesium (Mg²⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), potassium (K⁺), sodium (Na⁺), sulphate (SO₄ ^2-), bicarbonate (HCO₃ ^-), fluoride (F^-), nitrate (NO₃ ^-), nitrite (NO₂ ^-) and chloride (Cl^-) were analyzed for the purpose for this study. The water quality index of groundwater has been estimated by using the ANFIS. The spatial locations are shown using GPS. The results of this study showed that water hardness, electrical conductivity, sodium and sulfate in 66, 13, 45 and 12.5% of the studied villages were higher than the Iranian drinking water standards, respectively. Based on the Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI), water quality in 3.3, 60, 23.3 and 13.3% of villages was excellent, good, poor and very poor, respectively. •Groundwater is one of the sources of drinking water in arid and semi-arid regions such as Bardaskan villages, which monitor the quality of these resources in planning for improving the quality of water resources.•The DWQI can clearly provide information associated with the status of water quality resources in Bardaskan villages.•The results of this study clearly indicated that with appropriate selection of input variables, ANFIS as a soft computing approach can estimate water quality indices properly and reliably.•Some parameters were in the undesirable level is some villages. Therefore, the government should try to improve the chemical and physical quality of drinking water in these areas with the necessary strategies.

Medical waste generation and management in medical clinics in South of Iran

Medical wastes account for around 1–2% of urban wastes, which are very important in terms of health. In this regard, they are very important and can jeopardize human health. The aim of this study was to determine the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the wastes in medical clinics in the south of Iran and in order to present suitable management solutions. First, 14 medical clinics were chosen and 24 samples were taken from each clinic (two samples per month) with a total 336 samples. Considering the special properties and the risk potential, the wastes generated in medical clinics were categorized as infections and special waste groups. In terms of properties, they were classified as pseudo-household, infectious, sharp, pharmaceutical, and paper wastes. Once the samples were collected, they were weighed and the results were analyzed by SPSS. The results indicated that in terms of quantity, the waste generated in the first and second groups was 8550.377 and 8053.71 kg/year, respectively. Furthermore, most of the wastes generated in the first and second groups accounted for pseudo-household (80.7%) and infectious (72.77%) wastes, respectively. Due to presence of the specialty of pathology laboratory in the second group, the quantity of infectious waste has increased. Therefore, for proper management of medical wastes in the studied clinics, the clinics of the studied study should implement and apply the rules of waste management properly. Furthermore, training physicians and employees in clinics about reducing, recycling, and collecting wastes in a separate form in clinics should be done in priority.

•

In this study, the classification of Basel convention and World Health Organization was considered as the basis of waste classification.

•

The results indicated that in the first group of the studied clinics, the order of the waste quantity was as follows: pseudo-household > infectious > sharp > paper.

•

Due to large amounts of hazardous infectious wastes in the second group of the studied medical clinics, it necessitates proper management of collection and disposal of these wastes.

•

Results can be used to improve the management of waste generation practices in medical clinics with high risk and special wastes potential.

The investigation of type and concentration of bio-aerosols in the air of surgical rooms: A case study in Shariati hospital, Karaj

The presence of bio-aerosols is one of the main causes of hospital infections that can be dangerous especially for immunocompromised patients. This research aimed to determine the relationship between hospital infections and surgical incision size in addition to determining the concentration and bacterial and fungal bioaerosols found in the operating rooms. This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study was carried out in the operating rooms of Shariati Hospital in Karaj, Iran during the years 2016 and 2017. A total of 198 bacterial samples and 198 fungal samples were collected and analyzed using a passive sampling standard method (1/1/1) for 180 days. Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) medium were used for bacterial and fungal samples, respectively. Relevant differential tests were used to determine the genus and species of bacteria and fungi such as DNase test, Bile-esculin, motility test urease test. In general, this work presents:

•

The present evaluated the relationship between bioaerosols concentration and surgical incision size.

•

The intraoperative concentration of bacterial and fungal bioaerosols in indoor air of the orthopedic, internal and cesarean operating rooms was significantly higher than their preoperative concentration (p-value<0.05).

•

Also, there was not significant difference between the bacterial and fungal concentrations in various operating rooms) p-value<0.05).

Analysis of quality and quantity of health-care wastes in clinical laboratories: a case study of Ilam city

Generation of health-care wastes is one of the major concerns in health-care institutions worldwide due to direct and indirect impact on human health and environment. The purpose of the present work was to estimate the quantity and quality of clinical laboratory wastes in the city of Ilam, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, randomly eight clinical laboratories including five in private sector and three governmental clinical laboratories were selected for sampling according to the purpose of the study. The results showed that the total amount of waste generation was 27,700.90 kg/year. The average amount of health-care wastes generation in Ilam city was 0.2 kg/person/year. The portions of general, pathologic, sharp, infectious, and pharmaceutical and chemical wastes were 37, 5, 2, and 56% (by weight), respectively. As a considerable amount of waste is generated in clinical laboratories of Ilam city, therefore, it is necessary to implement integrated plans for the proper management of these wastes. Thus, sufficient training and education programs must be developed for all clinical staffs and that the existing training and education procedures should also be promoted.

Tetracycline removal from aqueous solutions using zeolitic imidazolate frameworks with different morphologies: A mathematical modeling

Concerns about environment pollution by antibiotics raised notable attention. In this context, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can produce an excellent platform for toxicant removal from water environments. In the current investigation, eight MOFs (ZIF-67-NO₃, ZIF-67-Cl, ZIF-67-SO₄, ZIF-67-OAC, ZIF-8-Octahedron, ZIF-8-Leaf, ZIF-8-Cuboid, and ZIF-8-Cube) with different chemical and textural compositions were synthesized, and furthermore, the adsorption of Tetracycline (TC) by them was evaluated. Also, the key experimental conditions were modeled using response surface methodology (RSM). Among the prepared MOFs, the highest tendency for TC removal was nominated to ZIF-67- Acetate (ZIF-67-OAC). By model optimization approach, the optimum system conditions as contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH and adsorbed antibiotic concentration were reported as 26.8 min, 0.63 g/L, 5.9, and 74.6 mg/L, respectively. The proposed equilibrium model showed that the TC accumulated on ZIF-67-OAC surface is reversible in multilayer with the highest monolayer capacity of 446.9 mg/g. Furthermore, based on separation factor (K_L), TC adsorption is more favorable at a higher amount of MOFs added. Moreover, according to the fitted kinetic model, the process was controlled by chemisorption. ZIF-67-OAC shows excellent structural stability during mechanical agitation in an aqueous environment, and the TC removal capacities of regenerated adsorbent did not change considerably at the end of cycle 4 compared to the first cycle. Considering the findings among the examined MOFs, the ZIF-67-OAC can be approached as a promising adsorbent for the removal of antibiotics from aqueous environments.

Levels of particulate matters in air of the Gonabad city, Iran

The pollution of air and its effect on the ecosystem and particularly on human wellbeing is an issue of important public and governmental concern. To understand the levels of particulate matters and compositional data for total particulate matters fractions, samples were collected from October to February 2018. The samples were collected using gravitational dust sampling method. Weekly and monthly variations of particulate matters in studied stations were in range of 0.0262-0.0802 and 0.0243-0.2109 mg/cm².day. The XRD analysis showed that most of particles were inorganic in nature, representing that these particles originates mainly from deserts. However, local and regional and international sources of these particles should be determined. Thus, comprehensive control efforts will be required in addition to local initiatives to improve the air quality in cities like Gonabad.

Data on cadmium removal from synthetic aqueous solution using garbage ash

This data article investigates cadmium removal efficiency using garbage ash as a cheap and effective adsorbent. Influence of different parameters, such as initial cadmium (II) concentration (mg/L), contact time (min), adsorbent dose (gr/L), pH and temperature (°C) were investigated. The characterization data of the garbage ash was determined using SEM analysis. The experimental data indicated that the adsorption of cadmium on garbage ash follows pseudo second order model and Langmuir isotherm model with R² = 0.99. Also, the maximum adsorption capacity of adsorbent was 100.25 mg/g. Thermodynamic data showed that cadmium adsorption on garbage ash was a spontaneous and endothermic process. Based on acquired data, garbage ash could be proposed as an efficient and low-cost adsorbent for the removal of cadmium from aqueous solution.

Data on the level of haloacetic acids in indoor swimming pools of Iran: A case study of Tehran

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are the second most prevalent class of DBPs after trihalomethanes (THMs) in water disinfected by chlorine compounds. Within this study, we present new data on occurrence and speciation of HAA levels in 15 indoor swimming pools in Tehran in 2017. Five HAAs (HAA5), including monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid, and dibromoacetic acid were analyzed. Levels of pH, total chlorine, and total organic carbon concentration were analyzed as well. Results indicated that the levels of HAA5 in swimming pools in the Tehran ranged from 148 to 3488 µg/L, with an average of 1045.26 µg/L. HAAs in the swimming pools in Tehran might be due to the extensive use of chlorine compounds for disinfection. Therefore, due to the high levels of HAAs, frequent monitoring of HAA levels as well as minimization strategies is needed in these swimming pools.

Phenol removal from aqueous solution using Citrullus colocynthis waste ash

Phenol is a hazardous organic chemical that introduced into the environment by industrial and pharmaceutical discharges. As a versatile option for phenol removal, adsorption would be viable if it accompanying with low cost adsorbents. This article described a natural, very cheap and local available adsorbent for phenol removal. Phenol showed a high affinity to Citrullus colocynthis waste ash which mainly composed of SiO₂ (41.6%), Al₂O₃ (17.3%) and MgO (15.9%). Up to 70% of phenol adsorbed in the first 30 min of agitation. The phenol removal was increased by increasing adsorbent dose (0.5-10 g/L) and decreasing pH (2-12) and pollutant concentration (10-100 mg/L). The positive value of ∆H° in thermodynamic data (0.06) revealed that the process is endothermic. The high and positive value of ∆S° (13.01) and negative values of ∆G° (- 5.36 to - 7.28), showed a high affinity of phenol to the adsorbent and the spontaneous nature of the adsorption. Isotherm modelling revealed that the phenol molecules adsorbed in multilayer with the maximum adsorption capacity of 173.2 mg/g. The rate limiting step in the sorption process was chemisorption, based on the kinetic data.

Data on phosphorous concentration of rivers feeding into Taham dam in Zanjan, Iran

Due to the great possibility of water contamination of many rivers by human activities in Iran, the study of water quality is crucial for water resource protection and human health. High level of phosphorous is the main reason for eutrophication of freshwater systems. The main aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of phosphorus in the rivers feeding into Taham dam in Zanjan, using GIS software. 40 sampling stations were selected along Taham and Ghalharod Rivers with respect to sewage discharge points and feeding characteristics of water entering to Taham dam. In total, 160 water samples were taken from rivers with regard to precipitation season in two different periods from winter 2014 to spring 2015. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS and ArcView GIS. The findings showed that 15% of the studied stations had phosphorous levels higher than acceptable levels set by EPA. The highest levels of phosphorous contamination were observed in stations No. 145, 154, 155, 161, 166 and 168. The elevated concentrations of phosphorous in the rivers can be responsible for the eutrophication of Taham dam reservoir.

Ileal MUC2 gene expression and microbial population, but not growth performance and immune response, are influenced by in ovo injection of probiotics in broiler chickens

1. The objective of present study was to evaluate the effects of intra-amniotic injection of different probiotic strains (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium and Pediococcus acidilactici) on the intestinal MUC2 gene expression, microbial population, growth performance and immune response in broiler chicken. 2. In a completely randomised design, different probiotic strains were injected into the amniotic fluid of the 480 live embryos (d 18 of incubation), with 4 treatments and 5 replicates. Ileal MUC2 gene expression, microbial profile, growth performance and immune response were determined. 3. Injection of probiotic strains, especially B. subtilis, had significant effect on expression of the MUC2 on d 21 of incubation and d 3 post-hatch, but not on d 19 of incubation. 4. Injection of the probiotic strains decreased significantly the Escherichia coli population and increased the lactic acid bacteria population during the first week post-hatch. 5. Inoculation of probiotics had no significant effect on antibody titres against Newcastle disease virus, antibody titres against sheep red blood cell and cell-mediated immune response of chickens compared to control. 6. In ovo injection of the probiotic strains had no significant effect on growth performance of broiler chickens. 7. It was concluded that injection of probiotic bacteria especially B. subtilis into the amniotic fluid has a beneficial effect on ileal MUC2 gene expression and bacteria population during the first week post-hatch, but has no effect on growth performance and immune response in broiler chickens.

Synthesis of walnut shell modified with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles for efficient removal of humic acid from aqueous solutions

The main aim of this research was to study the efficiency of modified walnut shell with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and zinc oxide (ZnO) in the adsorption of humic acid from aqueous solutions. This experimental study was carried out in a batch condition to determine the effects of factors such as contact time, pH, humic acid concentration, dose of adsorbents (raw walnut shell, modified walnut shell with TiO₂ and ZnO) on the removal efficiency of humic acid. pH_zpc of raw walnut shell, walnut shell modified with TiO₂ and walnut shell modified with ZnO were 7.6, 7.5, and 8, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of humic acid at concentration of 30 mg/L, contact time of 30 min at pH = 3 in an adsorbent dose of 0.02 g of walnut shell and ZnO and TiO₂ modified walnut shell were found to be 35.2, 37.9, and 40.2 mg/g, respectively. The results showed that the studied adsorbents tended to fit with the Langmuir model. Walnut shell, due to its availability, cost-effectiveness, and also its high adsorption efficiency, can be proposed as a promising natural adsorbent in the removal of humic acid from aqueous solutions.

Effects of piroxicam administration on pregnancy outcome in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Uterus contractibility is considered a powerful prognostic factor in predicting the embryo transfer outcome. Moreover, uterine contractions are known to be stimulated by prostaglandins which are produced by cyclooxygenase from arachidonic acid. As such, suppressing the inflammatory response and contractions using anti-inflammatory and relaxant agents is expected to result in increased success rate of embryo transfer and artificial insemination.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of piroxicam administration on the success rate in intrauterine insemination (IU) cycles in patients presenting with unexplained infertility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 260 women with unexplained infertility undergoing IUI cycles. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either piroxicam ten mg/day on days 4-6 after IUI or placebo (control group). The main outcome measures were number of IUI cycles, pregnancy, abortion, and multiple pregnancy rates.

RESULTS

The pregnancy rate was found to be 25 (19.2%) and 16 (12.3%) in piroxicam and control groups, respectively (p = 0.039). Five patients (3.8%) in piroxicam group experienced twin pregnancy whereas only three patients (2.3%) in control group had twin pregnancy (p = 0.361). The pregnancy rate per cycle was also significantly higher in those who received piroxicam as compared to controls (11.16 vs. 6.66; p = 0.021).

CONCLUSION

Administration of piroxicam after IUI is associated with decreased number of cycles, as well as increased pregnancy rate and pregnancy rate per cycle in IUI cycles. However, piroxicam did not have any effect on abortion, multiple pregnancy, and ongoing pregnancy rates.