[Survey of heavy metals [Cd, Pb, Hg, Zn and Cu] contamination in sediment of three sites AZnzali wetland]

Anzali Wetland is one of the most important aquatic ecosystems of Iran which is located in south-west of the Caspian sea. This Wetland provides a suitable and non-market price habitat for valuable fish and aquatic animals which have an important role in the life cycle of this ecosystem. This study reports the results of some heavy metals contamination monitoring in superficial water of the Anzali Wetland, Iran. The samples were collected from three sites [east, center and west] of Anzali Wetland, in each site three stations existed and each sample replicated three times. The results showed high heavy metal levels in eastern site of wetland, where there were high levels of contamination. The mean of heavy metals concentration in sediment from Anzali Wetland were in order as Cd 157.023, Pb 3.646 and Hg 300.692 ng /g dried weight, Zn 186.953 and Cu 44.452 mg /g dried weight in eastern site. The concentration levels of heavy metals in three sites were in order as follows: Zn > Cu > Hg > Cd > Pb. Concentrations of heavy metals in eastern zone reflected metal loadings from anthropogenic sources located at and in the vicinity of the sampling sites

[Examination of mercury concentration in the hair of breast-feeding mothers and relation to fish diet, number of dental amalgam filling, age and place of live]

Mercury is a heavy metal that is widespread in the environment and has many toxic effects. At present, MeHg exposure on women remain an important issues for researching, especially those of continuous uptake in high-fish consumption. MeHg can be transferred to infant through breast milk. The objective of this study was to characterize the risk of Hg exposure in mothers in south of the Caspian Sea. In this study mercury in hair of 70 breast-feeding women [17-36 years old] and influencing factor on it, were assessed. Mothers lives in Nur, Nowshahr and Chamestan cities and villages of Nur and Nowshahr. In order to researching on influencing factors, mothers fill questionnaires. Hair samples [about 1 gr] were obtained from mothers. The mercury was measured by LECOAMA254 Advanced Mercury Analyzer [USA] according to ASTM, standard NO.D-6722. Total mean mercury concentration in mothers hair obtained 0.19 +/- 0.09 [micro g gr[-1]]. Tukey test show that the influence of the variables place of live [p=0.02], fish and sea food consumption of mother [P=0.00] were significantly affected on hair mercury concentration of mothers. The other factors [age and number of dental amalgam filling] had no significant effect on mercury levels in hair of mothers. Total mean mercury concentration in mothers hair were lesser than normal dose recommended by WHO [2 micro g g[-1]] and EPA reference [5 micro g g[-1]]. Analysis of questionnaires showed that three kinds of fish including carp, golden mulle and kutum. Although were often used in this study, mercury concentration in fish was not determined, but in according to significant relation between fish consumption and mercury concentration in mother's hair, pollution with mercury in the fish can be the main factor of mercury exposure in this study

[Effect of age, gender, years of practice, specialty and number of amalgam restorations on mercury concentration in nails of dentists practicing in Tehran]

Dental professionals are at risk of being exposed to inorganic mercury, through handling amalgam. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of age, sex, years of practice, specialty and number of amalgam fillings on the concentration of mercury in nails of dentists practicing in Tehran. This analytic-descriptive study, conducted between May 2005 and May 2006, involved a randomly selected sample of 100 dentists and 35 controls in Tehran. All participants were asked to provide a nail sample and complete a questionnaire. Mercury was measured by the LECO AMA 254 Advanced Mercury Analyzer [USA] according to ASTM, standard No. D-6722. The LECO AMA254 is a unique Atomic Absorption Spectrometer [AAS] that is specifically designed to determine total mercury contents in various solids and certain liquids without sample pre-treatment or sample pre-concentration. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests. Mercury content in nails differed significantly among operative dentists: 0.14-27.27 mg/kg; orthodontists: 0.15-14.53 mg/kg; and controls: 0-1.7 mg/kg [p=0.000]. Age had a significant effect on mercury concentrations [p=0.01]. However, gender [p=0.93], years of practice [p=0.49], number of amalgam fillings [p=0.58] and the studied specialties [p=0.07] did not significantly affect mercury levels. Mercury levels were significantly higher in dentists and correlated with age. High mercury concentrations in some dentists appeared to be related to background exposure from the preparation of amalgam, amalgam residues and spillage of mercury