ABSTRACT
Groundwater resources, including the most important sources of drinking water are based on studies of underground aquifers provide the main source of drinking water to more than 1.5 billion people around the world.Groundwater contamination by pollutants affecting the quality of these resources will be useless and even likely in some areas. Therefore, the present study aims at the evaluation of heavy metal concentrations in drinking water wells in the rural areas of Bandar Abbas. This cross-sectional study has been conducted in various parameters and the chemical quality of water. We measured the concentration of heavy metals [Zn, Cd, Pb] from 25 sources [wells] based on standard methods. The findings of this study showed that concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd in drinking water wells in rural areas of Bandar Abbas were: 0.07, 0.02, 0.0054 mg liter, respectively. The values were less than the standard values of Word Health Organization. But, Cd concentration in 13 cases and Pb concentration in 9 cases were higher than WHO standards. The results suggest that measurement of the average metal concentrations in all drinking water wells in rural areas of Bandar Abbas were not higher than World Health Organization standards. However, more studies are recommended in areas with water wells contaminated with heavy metals
ABSTRACT
Rodents are one of the main health problems in the cities, especially in coastal area. These animals make economic damages and are potential health dangers in Bandar Abbas, the main economic southern port of Iran. In this study, rodents were captured from different parts of the city, before and after a control program during 2003-2004, transferred to the laboratory, identified and examine for ecto-parasites. Totally 105 rodents demonstrating four species: Rattus rattus [3%], R. norvegicus [78%], Mus musculus [3%] and Tatera indica [16%], were captured before the control program. The most frequency was observed in Ayatollah Ghafari quarter, 10 rodents per 24 traps. After 12 months, the duration of control program, rodents were re-captured to assessment the success of control activity. In this stage 35 small mammals demonstrated four species were obtained: R. norvegicus [51.4%], R. rattus [37.1%], T.indica [8.6%] and one weasel [2.9%]. We found the most frequency in Khoon-sorkh quarter with 6 rodents per 24 traps. The identified ectoparasites were Xenopsylla buxtoni, Rhipicephalus sp,. Polyplax gerbilli, Haplopleura captiosa, Ornithonyssus bacoti, Laelaps nuttalli, Dermanyssus americanus, Dermanyssus sanguineus, Haemolaelaps glasgowi and Echinolaelaps echidninus. The number of rodents reduced to one third after control program, shows the relative success of this program [p<0.05]