[Indoor air quality in restaurant kitchens in the south Tehran [2006]]

Generally nitrogen dioxide [NO2] and carbon monoxide [CU] are emitted Toxic gases like carbon monoxide [CO.], carbon dioxide [CO2], nitrogen oxides [NOx] will remain in the kitchen when cooking with a gas stove. The purpose of the present study was to measure carbon monoxide [CU] and nitrogen dioxide [NO2] levels during the operation of cooking in restaurant kitchens that use gas or natural gas, which are widely used in Tehran. One hundred thirty one restaurants were chosen randomly from a list of 276 restaurants in five region different geographic categories, of the metropolitan Tehran, area, in summer 2006. Simultaneous indoor and outdoor air sampling occurred at each sampling site. Carbon monoxide [CU] and nitrogen dioxide [NO2] concentrations were measured by a real-time analyzer portable computer monitors. The results of this study showed that%83 and%68 kitchens had local exhaust ventilation and fan system, respectively. The results of this study showed that the mean concentrations of CU and NO2 with gas stoves for food cooking in restaurant kitchens were below the standard which was established as TLV-TWA25 and 3 ppm, respectively by ACG IH. The 1/0 ratios of CO and NO2, were larger than 1 when there were indoor sources. In this study, the mean levels of CO and NO2 indoor were upper than the CU and NO2 outdoor the restaurants. Generally, improved methods of cooking besides appropriate ventilation of all indoor combustion appliances, including gas stoves, should be adopted in industrial kitchens

Comparison of indoor air quality in restaurant kitchens in Tehran with ambient air quality

The indoor air quality of 131 restaurant kitchens in Tehran was investigated from May to September 2006. Gas stoves use in restaurant kitchens is a major source of indoor combustion, product carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. The study focused on one of the busy zones located in the southwest and central part of the city. Measurements were done for indoor and outdoor air pollutants, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide; ambient temperature and relative humidity were also measured. Result indicated that the mean levels of CO and NO[2] in restaurant kitchens were below the recommended limit of 25 and 3ppm, respectively. Correlations between indoor and outdoor air quality were performed consequently. Results of the mean ambient temperature and relative humidity were above the guideline. In this study the mean levels of CO and NO[2] gas cooking in restaurant kitchens were found to be lower compared with the similar studies

Cotton dust exposure, respiratory symptoms and PEFR in textile workers

The purposes of this study was to measurement cotton dust levels in air workplace, Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and determine of changes in Peak Expiratory Flow Rate [PEFR] before and after during workday among textile workers. This study was done among 31 workers carding and blowing rooms. Using a short questionnaire for demographic characteristics, medical record were collected in a modified questionnaire of Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] and 12 air samples were collected of work area. The PEFR was measured with a peak flow meter. The mean cotton dust levels in carding and blowing rooms were 0.39 +/- 0.03 and 0.20 +/- 0.01 mg m 3, respectively. The mean age and year's employment were 45 +/- 7.97 and 12.5 +/- 6.28, respectively. Thirty three percent of the workers were smoking. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms increased with age and employment years and there were found significantly between age and employment years with cough, phlegm, dyspnea [p<0.05, 0.05, 0.05, respectively]. The mean PEFR before and after during workday were 362.9 +/- 147.8 and 305.8 +/- 147.5, respectively and subjects had found significantly [p<0.0001]. The decline in PEFR was significantly associated with years employment [p<0.05], whereas with age and cotton dust levels were found to be non significant. One explanation for thelack of age and cotton dust levels effects in workers may be due to the low number of subjects and samples, respectively. Technological improvement has resulted in reduction of cotton dust exposure levels and respiratory symptoms

Road traffic noise in downtown area of Tehran

Noise pollution is a major problem for the quality of life in urban areas. The present study was conducted to determine the noise levels of road traffic at central area of Tehran. It focused on one of the busy and crowded square along with its 7 connecting streets, which had a heavy traffic and located in the downtown of the city. Total of 115 measuring points were selected along the roads, pavements and in the shopping areas to adequately represent the different acoustically commercial situations. The measuring points were divided in to 4 site-groups namely; Street, Pavement, Shop and Barrier each with 60, 40, 10, and 5 measuring points respectively. The measurements were carried out during a full week days started on Saturday morning and end on Friday evening. The A-weighted continuous equivalent sound level values, L[Aeq]; L[A max]; L[A min]; and the statistical levels: L[1], L[10], L[50], L[90] and L[99] as well as the octave band center frequencies sound pressure levels were manually measured at each point separately. The mean values of L[Aeq] for Street, Pavement, Shop and Barrier site groups were 78.5, 73.3, 68.7 and 70.8 dBA respectively and the overall mean of L[Aeq] was 74.7 dBA. The statistical test [p<0.01] showed that the mean values for L[Aeq] in all site groups as well as the overall mean value were higher than 65 dBA, which is the daytime governmentally prescribed noise limit for commercial areas. Comparing the individual measurements has also shown the 86.6% exceeded values from 65 dBA. The highest mean noise level in center frequencies upper than 1000 Hz was 71.5 dBA which was observed in the Street site group and the lowest one was 43.2 dBA in the Shop site group at 8000Hz center frequency. The corresponding values for the center frequencies lower than 1000 Hz were 78.2 and 66.1dBA at 63 and 500 Hz which were also observed in the Street and Shop site groups respectively. It can be concluded that the downtown of the city is environmentally noise polluted and the road traffic is the major source of it. Noting the noise emission standards, police control, and promoting the citizens awareness about the high level noise risk may help to relieve the noise problems in the city

Evaluation of risk factors causing musculoskeletal disorders using QEC method in a furniture producing unite

The musculoskeletal disorders cover a large percent of occupational diseases; therefore, in order to protect workers from such disorders, there is a need to evaluate workers positions at work in different industries. In a major furniture manufacture located in Tehran, 500 workers were examined. These workers were divided into fourteen working groups, including production lines of water-heater, air condition, electromotor production line, dunnage making hall, plastic hall, smithery, restaurant, store, engineers and supervisors, facilities, transportation, assembly of absorptive refrigerator and drivers. The results from Nordic Questionnaire and performing the evaluation method showed that, there was a significant relevance between outbreak of back pain and workgroups [P=0.005] and between the outbreak of pain in neck and workgroup as well. A significant relevance of P=0.005 indicating that, the working in the above mentioned work-place causes pain in both back and neck. Between other parts of the body and workgroup no significant relevance observed. Among workgroups, there was a significant relevance between the water-heater production line [P<0.005] and pain in the back, and there was also a significant relevance among the work in air-conditioning production line and the plastic injection [P=0.002], causing pain in the neck. The results from Quick Exposure Check [QEC] in one hundred working posture have shown that 10% of them fall into first and second level and 90% of them were categorized in third and forth levels

Study of formaldehyde concentration levels in the air of work places [hospitals and laboratories of tehran university of medical seiences]

In this research, air sampling of workplaces was carried out by two methods [long - time and short - time]. The mean formaldehyde concentration with long - time method in pathology labs, surgery and endoscopy sections were 0.96 0.25 and 0.13 ppm and with short - time method, 8 hours, was 3, 0.3 and 0.2 ppm. The mean formaldehyde concentration in pathology labs was above the standard values [TLV - Ceiling = 0.3 ppm].In the long - time and short - time air sampling, the time of sampling was significantly effective on the concentration levels [P<0.05]. Work practices and administrative procedures are important parts of a control system. If one is asked to perform a task in a certain manner to limit exposure to formaldehyde, it is extremely important that these procedures should be followed