survey on the relation between satus of the environmental health and health of the carpet workers in rural of Mehriz-Yazd Iran [2007]

Carpet industry is one of the most important traditional handicraft in IRAN. Considering the long history of carpet industry in Iran and the existence of working a lot of men and women in the villages of Iran in this field, carpet industry as can be regarded a complementary industry for farming so paying attention to the health of worekers in the field can play an important role in socio economic development of our villages. This descriptive cross- sectional study was conducted on 2200 carpet handicrafters in Mehryz, Yazd, Iran, selected through census. The relevant questionnaire was filled out by occupational health specialists and intern students of medicine via inspection, clinical examination and interviewing. Results:44.4% of the target group were between 15-24 years of age. 78.5% of the married subjects had 5 children or lower and 85.2% of them had different levels of literacy. 14.7% had a history of psychologic disorders; 4.6% ophthalmologic disorders, 4.5% endocrine disorders and 19.8% had history of infectious diseases. Results: indicated that there was a significant relationship between different disorders of mind, skin, heart, muscle, and skeleton with temperature of the mind, handicrafters working environment [P<0.05]. As we expected pulmonary disease was less prevalent among the subjects who possessed a better and more appropriate ventilating system for their morking place after correlation analysis, of the data it was revealed that with increasing the working years, the subjects' visual capacity also decreased. In addition, the working hours decreased in relation to the subjects' increase in blood pressure. The result of the study showed that some diseases like pulmonary and ocular diseases is high in carpet workers.The diseases in the subjects with inappropriate working place was higher than others. So it is nesseary today more attention to health of the carpet workers and their working places

rate of airborne fungal contamination in Yazd textile factories in 2007

Fungi are among the most important biological agents in air pollution. Textile factories are known as high risk places for contamination with fungal spores and metabolites. Since Yazd is one of the most important textile industry centers, this study was conducted to determine the concentration and types of airborne fungi in Yazd textile factories. A total of 235 indoor air samples from 30 randomly selected Yazd textile factories in 2007 were collected using air sampler pumps with appropriate filters. The concentration and types of isolated fungi were determined according to NIOSH standard technique for isolation of biologic agents. Data were analyzed based on the survey objectives, using statistical tests. Overall, 958 colonies from 16 different genera of fungi were isolated and among them Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium were known as the most prevalent isolated fungi. The fungal contamination rates were higher in the small factories than bigger factories and also in few factories, which usually used natural based fiber compared to those used synthetic fiber [P=0.0001]. The finishing areas had more contamination than the other parts and working areas with the topical air conditioner had lower contamination [P= 0.034]. There was a direct relationship between the amount of moisture and air fungal contamination [P=0.046], but there was no significant correlation between the whole fungal contamination rates and temperature. The results showed a high rate of contamination to fungal viable cultivable spores in Yazd textile factories. The presence of opportunistic fungi in these places, especially in summer is hazardous for immunosuppresed workers or those with malignancies or diabetes

[Determination of radioactive contamination in Saghand area]

Saghand area is located at 190 Km north-east of the Yazd city. The presence of radioactive materials and the possibility of radiation caused concern among people. This study was performed to measure radioactive materials in the soil, plant, and water of the Saghand area. In a cross sectional and analytical study the amounts of Ra226,Tu232, K40 and Cs137 in each 5Km as far as 50Km of Saghand mines were measured. Samples of plants were washed, dried and grinded. Samples of soil were picked up from 30cm deep and the water samples were picked up from the springs of that area. The samples were analyzed by spectrometry by the pure germanium [H.P.Ge] detectors in the lab of Iran Atomic Energy Organization. The results showed that the value of Ra in the soil was 21-45, Tu was 21-43, K was 303-505, Cs was 0.1-12 Bq/Kg, and the amounts in the both axes were similar. The amount of Ra in the plant of that area was 0.6-2.8, Tu was 1.7-3.3, K was 86-157, and Cs was 0.4-3.4 Bq/Kg. The value of Ra226 of water was between 2 to 8 mBq/liter in the water sources of that area. According to the radiation law, by increasing the distance, the value of radiation from radioactive materials do not decrease. The value of radiation in water was much less than the standard level [110 mBq/liter]. Therefore, we can confie to all of the people in the district that the life is not dangerous for water, food and soil pollution with radioactive materials in this region