Showing 14 results for Environment
Ms Maryam Ravanipour, Ms Masoomeh Ravanipour, Mr Alireza Soltanian, Mr Hamidreza Rasafiani, Mr Darush Ranjbar,
Volume 8, Issue 2 (2-2006)
Abstract
Background: More than one fourth of diseases around the world are caused by environmental threats. These threats have multifactorial effects on children's health. So, it needs collaboration between teachers, parents, students, and public health authorities to decrease them and improve health. Methods: A total of 18 primary schools were selected using random cluster sampling. After a need assessment analysis about environmental threads, the 3rd and 4th degree students of selected primary schools were invited to draw posters about air pollution, water sanitation, food contamination, natural disaster, solid waste pollution, and sea and beach pollution. Then, a booklet based on the initial need assessment about environmental threads was designed and used for a six weeks educational course. The students drew a second poster after the educational course taught by their teachers. The posters were scored for technical aspects and health concepts by independent examiners. Results: The mean score of students' knowledge about environmental threads increased after intervention (P<0.05). There was no difference between 4th graders and 5th graders, but girls showed a higher score than boys. Conclusion: In primary schools, booklet-based education was effective in promotion of the students' knowledge about environmental threads on health. Therefore, a booklet-based education, designed according to local need assessments, is recommended as a complementary education in primary schools.
Mr Kamran Mirzaie, Mrs Soraya Zahmatkesh,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (2-2008)
Abstract
Background: Hospital waste contains a large quantity of dangerous pathogenic agents, which are hazardous to the health of man, animal, plant and the environment. In Iran, like many other developing countries, not enough attention is paid to this matter and available information regarding the generation and disposal of medical wastes are low. The existing information about production and disposal of wastes in our hospitals is little and incomplete. In this study, a survey on hospital waste management system in Bushehr province hospitals was conducted. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 8 hospitals in Bushehr province were investigated during a period of 6 months using a questionnaire, interviews and direct observations. The questionnaire had 93 questions (open and closed) about general information on the hospitals and about various systems of managing hospital waste according to the World Health Organization suggested survey questionnaire for hospital waste management in developing countries. Results: In hospitals of bushehr province, waste generation rate was 2615 kg/day, including domestic waste (51.7%), infectious waste (20.8%), sharps (15.2%) and chemical and drugs wastes (12.3%). In almost all hospitals, segregation of infectious waste from domestic waste at the place of origin and putting them in special containers had been done but this segregation wasn’t complete and sometimes some hazardous waste were disposed of in domestic waste containers. All hospitals used a color coding system for waste containers, 75 % of hospitals had incinerators. In others, waste was carried out by municipal service daily. In all hospitals, all workers were trained about hospital waste management. In none of the surveyed hospitals, there was an obvious policy and plan for purchasing equipment and necessary facilities in order to dispose hospital waste correctly and also no clear budget was allocated for hospital waste management. In none of these hospitals regular reports on hospital waste management were prepared. Conclusion: Hospital waste in Bushehr province hospitals are depositing in a nonstandard fashion and against the relevant recommendations. Compiling necessary rules and establishing the proper standards should be considered as an urgent policy in Bushehr province health service.
Ali Movahed, Abdol Vahid Dehghan, Reza Haji Hosseini, Samad Akbarzadeh, Abbas Ali Zendehboudi, Mahmood Nafisi Behabadi , Najmeh Hajian, Farhad Pakdel, Ali Hefzulla , Dariush Iranpour,
Volume 16, Issue 2 (6-2013)
Abstract
Background: The occumulation of heavy metals which are as the results of industrial, urban and agricultural sewages are usually resistant to chemical dissociation. They can easily contaminate aquatic animals especially shrimps which are one of the food chains of humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals in the tissues of different types of shrimps (wild and farmed) in the sea waters of province of Bushehr (Persian Gulf). Material and Methods: Wild shrimps from different areas of the province and also three types of farmed shrimps including Ferropenaeus, penaeus semisulcatus and Litopenaeusvannamei were caught and collected. Then cleaned, washed, dried and made into powder and then made into ash in a furnace at 550 °C. Heavy metals including Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu, and Zn were measured by atomic absorption flame photometry. Results: The mean values of the concentration of the heavy metals including Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu present in the wild shrimps were, 2.86, 9.53, 0.45, 1.36 ppm respectively. The amount of Hg found to be 2.8 ppb. Also the mean values of the concentration of the heavy metals in the farmed shrimps were measured as 3, 9.8, 0.42 and 1.37 ppm respectively and the amount of Hg was 2.7 ppb. There was no difference between the amount of heavy metals estimated in the tissues from wild shrimps and the farmed one. Conclusion: The results of this investigation showed that the concentration of heavy metals including Zn,Cu and Hg in both types of the shrimps were less than the amounts reported by WHO and so not risky for health. However the concentration of Pb and Cd in both types were more than the recommended consumption limit for the humans, and they can be considered as risk factors for many diseases. This suggests that attempts should be taken by the responsible authorities to prevent the contamination of sea waters.
Sina Dobaradaran, Fardis Mohamadzadeh,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (4-2014)
Abstract
Oil has vital importance in many industries and is the main source of energy internationally it supplies 32% of energy in Europe and Asia and more than 53% in Middle East. The most volume of oil industry products includes fuel oil and gasoline (diesel). Oil is used as the basic material in producing chemical products such as medicines, solvents, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and etc. Considering the importance of petroleum industry in the world we should not ignore its harms to humans and the environment and should look for solutions to reduce them. Nowaday petroleum refineries emit million pounds of air pollutants that pose a serious risk of harm to human health and the environment as well as impairs the life quality of the people that living nearby these industries. These pollutants consist of volatile organic compounds, SO2, NOx, particulate matter, CO, H2S and HAPs. These pollutants have different adverse impacts on different parts of ecosystem, environment and animals. So this paper deals with some of these problems.
Rahele Kafaei , Sina Dobaradaran ,
Volume 17, Issue 5 (11-2014)
Abstract
Steroid hormones of the Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) are steroid hormones, which cause negative effects on human health, animals and ecosystems balance, have become a major concern in modern societies. In recent years numerous studies have performed on hormone distribution in the environment, especially in aquatic environments and the ways that they have been removed. Hormones entrance into the environment primarily is through wastewater, municipal wastewater treatment sludge, hospital wastewater and livestock activity. Measured values in the wastewater treatment influent, livestock lagoons, surface water and groundwater, showed different concentrations of hormones in the range of ng/L. But it is important to know even in trace concentration of ng/L, hormones can have adverse effects on environment. By biodegradation, biosorption and biotransformation, hormones will be degraded and their activities will be decreased. Wastewater treatment processes includes preliminary, primary, secondary and advanced treatment, that are the most important ways to prevent the entrance of hormonal compounds to the environment. Sludge should be cleaned by available technology before entering the environment. Wastewater processes in both liquid and sludge phase, under various operating conditions, show different range of hormones removal. In this paper authors try to discuss about the problem and different environmental aspects of hormones.
Bahman Ramavandi , Abdolah Hajivandi , Moradali Fouladvand , Maryam Shahverdi ,
Volume 18, Issue 4 (9-2015)
Abstract
Background: School, as a reliable place in student's education, has an important role in training. If health principles do not comply with in schools, students may be suffering from infectious diseases. Health trainer can be effective in improving school health. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of health trainer on environmental health level of schools in Bushehr province. Material and Methods This study was a descriptive - analytic study. A total of 20 samples were selected from each of the elementary schools have and not have health trainer using the method of stratified random sampling in the Bushehr province in the year 91-92. Data collected by researcher direct observation and using an assessment form of school environmental health contains 30 questions in 9 different sections. The statistical method used to analyze and test questions in this study were the chi square and Fisher exact test. Results: Based on findings of this research, between the environment health situation in schools with and without health trainer in 19 cases of health variables the significant difference was observed. The statistical analysis showed significant differences between health status of toilets (p<0.005), drinking water taps and buffet (p<0.001), yard and corridors (p<0.01), and solid waste disposal (p<0.025) in schools with and without health trainer in the year 91-92. Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate that the presence of health trainers in schools can lead to improved health status of the school. The schools without health trainer had very poor health status this issue required further try of concerned authorities to employee health trainers in schools.
Neda Alihoseini , Masoomeh Ravanipour , Nilofar Motamed , Masoud Mohammadi Baghmolaei ,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (5-2016)
Abstract
Background: Clinics, laboratories and radiologies are as a part of the public places and because of their potential health risk emissions, compliance with the environmental hygiene standards has a huge role in maintaining the environmental health of society. This study aimed to determine the environmental health status of private clinics, laboratories and Radiologies of Bushehr city in 2012.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 211 private clinics, laboratories and radiologies were studied by concensus sampling. A research-based valid and reliable questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha=0.87) consisted of 62 questions was developed by trained interviewers. Questions were designed in nine sections: Construction, health services, solid waste management, providing health of clients, safety, sewerage, sanitation, specific criteria of dental clinics and specific criteria of radiology. Finally, Data was analyzed with the SPSS version 13 software.
Results: The results showed that indicators of health status, the health services, solid waste management, providing health of clients, safety, sanitation and health facilities, had a favorable situation with mean 85.3%, 82%, 87.2%, 75.8%, 61.1%, 95.3% and 99.1%. Most problems was associated with improper disposal of syringes and surgical blades in the safety boxes, lack of disposable cups for clients and not installed fire extinguisher.
Conclusion: In general, most of the Bushehr city clinics, laboratories and radiologies were favorable on health conditions in researched indicators.
Mina Soufizomorrod , Masoud Soleimani , Saeaid Abroun , Majid Mossahebi Mohammadi , Gholamreza Khamisipour , Naser Mobarra , Sadegh Babashah ,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (5-2016)
Abstract
Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a therapeutic approach for treatment of hematological malignancies and incompatibility of Bone marrow. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has known as an alternative for hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HPSC) in allogeneic transplantation. The low volume of collected samples is the main hindrance in application of HPSC derived from umbilical cord blood. So, ex vivo expansion of HPSCs is the useful approach to overcome this restriction. The goal of using this system is to produce appropriate amount of hematopoietic stem cells, which have the ability of transplantation and long term haematopoiesis.
Material & Methods: In current study CD133+ cells were isolated from cord blood (CB). Isolated cells were seeded on microwells. Then expanded cells proliferation rate and ability in colony formation were assessed and finally were compared with 2 Dimensional (2D) culture systems.
Results: Our findings demonstrated that CD133+ cells derived from UCB which were cultivated on microwells had significantly higher rate of proliferation in compared with routine cell culture systems.
Conclusion: In Current study, it was shown that CD133+ cells’ proliferations which were seeded on PDMS microwells coated with collagen significantly increased. We hope that 3 dimensional (3D) microenvironment which mimics the 3D structure of bone marrow can solve the problem of using UCB as an alternative source of bone marrow.
Mahsa Moradi , Mahmoud Alimohammadi , Maziar Naderi ,
Volume 19, Issue 5 (11-2016)
Abstract
Background: Nowadays, volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) are considered as one of the most well-known air pollutants, especially in the indoor environments. The aim of this study was to measure the amount of TVOCs in indoor and fresh air around the intended kindergartens and investigation the association between indoor and outdoor concentrations.
Materials and Methods: The measurement was done in four kindergartens in Ahvaz city in five days between 9 to 10 o'clock in the morning. Overall, 40 samples were collected.The PhoCheck PID Detector portal device was used for activity sampling in this study. Also, the results were reported by SPSS16 Software and descriptive statistics.
Results: The mean of measured TVOC in the indoor and outdoor air were 50 µg/m3 (SD= ±74) and 495 µg/m3 (SD= ±310) respectively. The analyses conducted by the paired-samples t-test and it indicated that the amount of fresh air is not effective on the indoor environment values.
Conclusion: The measured values in indoor air of these kindergartens depend on internal factors and appropriate ventilation is slightly had been effective.
Saeed Keshmiri , Safoura Pordel , Alireza Raeesi , Iraj Nabipour , Hossein Darabi , Saeedeh Jamali , Sina Dobaradaran , Gholamreza Heidari , Afshin Ostovar , Bahman Ramavandi , Rahim Tahmasebi , Maryam Marzban , Abdolmohammad Khajeian , Alimohammad Sanati , Shokrollah Farrokhi ,
Volume 21, Issue 2 (5-2018)
Abstract
Gas and petrochemical industries in Assaluyeh produce various types of pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, O3, NOx, SOx, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfide hydrogen (H2S), heavy metals and hazardous air pollutants (HAP) including nickel, chromium, cadmium and selenium, benzene, hexane, toluene, xylene, propylene and naphthalene, which have irreparable effects on ecosystem, environment and human health. Several studies have reported the presence of hazardous pollutants such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coastal sediments in the South Pars region. Studies on marine aquatic organisms such as bivalves showed high and toxic concentrations of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, arsenic, sternium, tin, silver, antimony, and molybdenum). Moreover, several studies have shown extremely high concentrations of heavy metals in the trees of Assaluyeh region compared to non-polluted areas. Some studies have reported that pollen allergenicity has increased dramatically due to changes in protein profiles and the biological structure of tree pollens caused by pollutants in the gas and petrochemical industries in Assaluyeh. In addition, studies conducted in residents of Assaluyeh showed that urinary levels of heavy metals such as arsenic, vanadium, manganese and nickel are significantly higher than those in the controls. The prevalence of asthma, nasal allergy and eczema is also higher in Assaluyeh region than that in other cities of Iran.
Hossein Darabi , Daruish Ranjbar Vakilabadi , Saeed Keshmiri , Bahman Ramavandi , Mansor Ziayei , Mohsen Omidvar ,
Volume 22, Issue 4 (10-2019)
Abstract
Background: Nowadays, with the rapid development of industries and technology, the risk of work- related accidents, occupational diseases and environmental pollution is increasing. Considering the importance of preventing these hazards, some universities in Iran have recently trained students in new interdisciplinary specialties such as health, safety and the environment (HSE). Some organizations are issuing specialized certificates for individuals by holding short-term workshops. Meanwhile, the acquisition of specialized HSE knowledge is almost impossible within a few hours or days. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explain the importance of HSE academic education at postgraduate level, the need to integrate the three categories of health, safety and environment and to explain the skills required by HSE specialists.
Materials and Methods: The present library review study was conducted in 2018 using tools included reviewing library texts and searching reliable online sources. For this purpose, the keywords of HSE, Health, Safety, Environment, etc. were searched in reputable databases such as Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar, and also related sites such as OSHA, ACGIH, and ILO.
Results: The results show that today, the HSE curriculum is taught in many developed and developing countries as an interdisciplinary and post-graduate course. HSE graduates must have specific skills such as human relationships, safety management knowledge and accident prevention, verbal communication skills, and writing HSE guidelines in the workplace.
Conclusion: The integration of health, safety and environmental management systems by HSE specialists has a vital role in the prevention of occupational diseases, industrial accidents and environmental degradation, especially in complex industries such as oil, gas, petrochemicals, nuclear, ports and shipping industries.
Iraj Nabipour,
Volume 23, Issue 2 (6-2020)
Abstract
The quintuple helix innovation model has been introduced by E.G. Carayannis and F.J. Campbell. The natural environments of society and the economy are major drivers of this innovation model. The third generation university (the convergence of government, industry and university), the fourth generation universities (the convergence of government, industry, university and civil society) and the fifth generation university (the convergence of government, industry, university, civil society and bio-environment) perform within Triple Helix, Quadruple Helix and Quintuple Helix models, respectively. According to the viewpoints of Carayannis and Campbell, the cardinal characteristics of the fifth generation university could be conceptualized as a knowledge-based innovation system which is sensitive to natural environment of society, produces knowledge within the mode 3 knowledge production framework, supports co-evolution and co-existence of different knowledge paradigms, shapes co-opetitive ecosystem for knowledge management and promotes knowledge democracy.
Maryam Firouzabadi , Hossein Jalali Jahromi , Hossein Anaraki Ardakani ,
Volume 23, Issue 6 (12-2020)
Abstract
Background: Despite its beneficial effects on human life, the nuclear industry has its own risks. Strontium 90 (90Sr) is one of the most dangerous radionuclides produced by the uranium 235 fission, and replaces the bone calcium in the human body, which causes cancer. Ensuring the safety of nuclear facilities to protect employees, people and the environment is among the main goals of nuclear safety. Given close proximity of the Bushehr nuclear power plant to the Persian Gulf and the likelihood of 90Sr leaking into the marine ecosystem, this study aimed to measure this radionuclide in a sample of the bar-tail flathead fish (Platycephalus indicus) found in the Persian Gulf coastline, as people’s main source of food in the region.
Materials and Methods: Samples were taken from 10 points around the Persian Gulf coastline. The samples were analyzed using chromatographic extraction by Sr-resin and counted by the Liquid Scintillation Counter.
Results: The concentration of strontium 90 measured in the fish samples was 0.252- 0.955 Bq.kg-1. The mean chemical efficiency in this method was 97.34 ± 0.97 percent.
Conclusion: The amount of strontium 90 found in these samples was negligible and within the least detectable range. Despite the 10-year activity of Bushehr nuclear power plant, no evidence of contamination with strontium 90 was found. These results will be very useful in assessing the underlying contamination in environmental monitoring programs.
Seyed Enayat Hashemi , Monireh Nouri , Sepideh Naseri , Hoshiyar Hossini ,
Volume 26, Issue 5 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background: Microplastics are persistent environmental pollutants. Their presence in water resources, air and food chains is a growing concern all over the world. Since air is a strong environmental substrate, the release and effects of airborne microplastics can remain localized or go far beyond the point of release. In this study, the indoor and outdoor air pollution of residential houses in Kermanshah, Iran, was investigated.
Materials and Methods: In order to collect samples, different parts of the houses, including bedroom, living room, kitchen, corridor, yard and roof, were selected as the sampling points. Ten stations were selected as the sampling points. After washing with distilled water, the samples were transferred to the laboratory through a fiberglass filter (diameter 47 mm, 1.1 μm pore size) and filtered using a vacuum pump. After preparing and extracting the above samples, the visual method was used for the quantitative and qualitative detection of the microplastics.
Results: The results of the study confirmed the presence of microplastics in all the samples. The frequency of microplastics was minimum 158 and maximum 4480 per square meter. The indoor samples were significantly more polluted than the outdoor samples. The highest frequency was related to black fiber, which can be attributed to a textile origin. Also, more than 78% of the samples were determined to be less than 500 micrometers in size.
Conclusion: Exposure to microplastic-contaminated air is inevitable, and currently, our knowledge about the release of microplastics in indoor air as well as the factors affecting microplastic transmission is lacking. There is a need for more studies focusing on these issues, because they are of great importance in assessing the potential risk of microplastics on human health.
