Quantitative and Semiquantitative Health Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Styrene in a Petrochemical Industry

Background@#Styrene is one of the aromatic compounds used in acetonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) producing petrochemicals, which has an impact on health of workers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the health risks of styrene emitted from the petrochemical industry in Iran. @*Methods@#Air samples were collected based on NIOSH 1501 method. The samples were analyzed by the Varian-cp3800 gas chromatograph. Finally, risk levels of styrene's health effects on employees were assessed by the quantitative method of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the semiquantitative way by the Singapore Occupational Safety and Health Association. @*Results@#Based on the results, the employees had the highest average exposure to styrene vapors (4.06x10-1 mg.(kg - day)-1) in the polybutadiene latex (PBL) unit. Therefore, the most top predictors of cancer and non-cancer risk were 2.3x10-4 and 7.26x10-1, respectively. Given that the lowest average exposure (1.5x10-2mg.(kg - day)-1) was in the dryer unit, the prediction showed a moderate risk of cancer (0.8x10-6) and non-cancer (2.3x10-3) for the employees. The EPA method also predicted that there would be a definite cancer risk in 16% and a probable risk in 76% of exposures. However, according to the semiquantitative approach, the rate of risk was at the “low” level for all staff. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the units in exposure and health risk of styrene (p < 0.05). @*Conclusion@#Given the high risk of styrene's health effects, appropriate control measures are required to reduce the exposure level.

Quantitative and Semiquantitative Health Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Styrene in a Petrochemical Industry

Background@#Styrene is one of the aromatic compounds used in acetonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) producing petrochemicals, which has an impact on health of workers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the health risks of styrene emitted from the petrochemical industry in Iran. @*Methods@#Air samples were collected based on NIOSH 1501 method. The samples were analyzed by the Varian-cp3800 gas chromatograph. Finally, risk levels of styrene's health effects on employees were assessed by the quantitative method of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the semiquantitative way by the Singapore Occupational Safety and Health Association. @*Results@#Based on the results, the employees had the highest average exposure to styrene vapors (4.06x10-1 mg.(kg - day)-1) in the polybutadiene latex (PBL) unit. Therefore, the most top predictors of cancer and non-cancer risk were 2.3x10-4 and 7.26x10-1, respectively. Given that the lowest average exposure (1.5x10-2mg.(kg - day)-1) was in the dryer unit, the prediction showed a moderate risk of cancer (0.8x10-6) and non-cancer (2.3x10-3) for the employees. The EPA method also predicted that there would be a definite cancer risk in 16% and a probable risk in 76% of exposures. However, according to the semiquantitative approach, the rate of risk was at the “low” level for all staff. The results showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the units in exposure and health risk of styrene (p < 0.05). @*Conclusion@#Given the high risk of styrene's health effects, appropriate control measures are required to reduce the exposure level.

[Effective factors on oral health-promoting behaviors among elementary school students based on BASNEF model]

Introduction: Oral diseases are the most common diseases in the world, and among them, tooth decay is the most common problem. The aim of this study was to determine the effective factors on oral health-promoting behaviors among elementary school students of Baft based on BASNEF Model in 2015

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 200 elementary school students who were selected using multistage random sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire including 62 questions consisted of two parts: demographic information and constructs of BASNEF model [attitude, subjective norms, behavioral intention, enabling factors, and behaviors]. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16

Results: Score of oral health-promoting behaviors in 74% of the students was moderate and in 20% of the students was good. Statistically significant relationship was observed between oral health-promoting behaviors of the students and class grades [P=0.004], mother's education [P=0.004], father's education [P=0.034], and father's occupation [P=0.007]. Among the constructs of BASNEF model, enabling factors [beta =0.511] and then behavioral intentions [beta =0.426] were the strongest predicting factors of oral health behavior

Conclusion: According to the obtained results, enabling factors were the most effective constructs of oral health-promoting behaviors; therefore, oral health promoters are recommended to focus on this issue

Examining the simple and multiple relationship of parenting styles and early life trauma with narcissistic personality in university students

According to the high prevalence of narcissistic personality among normal populations, this study was conducted to found out the simple and multiple relationships of parenting styles and early traumas with narcissism personality in university students. The statistical society of current research included all students of Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz. To perform this research, 314 students [159 female, 155 male] were selected by multistage randomly sampling method and complete narcissism personality inventory 16 items [Ames et al, 2006], parenting styles [ bum rind, 1990] and early trauma inventory. The data of questionnaire were analyzed by multiple regressions in stepwise and entry methods .The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that 66 percent narcissism personality variance in students was explained by parenting styles and traumas in early life. Also, early life trauma, avoidant and secure attachment emerged as the strongest predictors of narcissism personality in students. Given the role of parenting styles and early life trauma on the making of narcissistic personality in students, recommended that a set of training program will be used by specialist to prevent the narcissistic personality tendency

[Predicting factors influencing physical activity in women for the prevention of osteoporosis according to the precede model]

Introduction: Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease which is nowadays known as a public health problem. Physical activity to maintain healthy bones is an important factor in preventing osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to determine a model for predicting factors influencing physical activity among women for the prevention of osteoporosis according to the Precede Model in Kerman, Iran

Method: This cross-sectional analytical descriptive study was performed on 120 women referred to health centers of Kerman city during 2014. They were selected randomly through multi- stages sampling method. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ] and a self-administrated questionnaire according to constructs of the PRECEDE Model [Predisposing Reinforcing, and Enabling Factors] and analyzed by descriptive statistics [measures of central tendency, dispersion, frequency and percent] and analysis statistics [logistic regression, Pearson correlation] using SPSS software version 18

Results: The results showed that the mean age of the participants were 32.44 +/- 6.97 years. 29.2% of women had intense, 5.35% moderate, and 7.66% mild physical activity. The results also indicated that enabling factors was the most predictive factors of physical activity both in raw [P=0.023, OR=1/122] and adjusted models [P=0.041, OR=1/137]

Conclusion: As enabling factors were the most important predictive factor for physical activity, it is recommended that health promotion interventions be planned according to these factors to improve physical activity and prevent osteoporosis among women

relationships between parenting styles and addiction potentiality among students

Family is considered as the most fundamental and basic shaping, and underlies drug abusing. This research aimed to investigate the relationships between parenting styles [authoritative, permissive and despotic] as one of the most effective family factors on child growth and addiction potentiality among the students. The statistical population of research consisted of all student of Medical Ilam University of Medical Sciences in the second semester 2012-2013 academic years. Therefore 220 students selected with multistage random sampling, and completed the Baumrind parenting styles questionnaire [1972] and addiction potentiality [Zargar, 1996]. Data has been analyzed by Pearson correlation tests and regression using SPSS 16. The outcomes of pearson correlation analysis showed that there have been negative relationships between authoritative parenting style and addiction potentiality and between permissive, despotic parenting styles and addiction potentiality positive and meaningful relationships reported. The results of regression analysis showed that parenting styles [authoritative, permissive and despotic] described about 38 percentages of addiction potentiality variances, too. According to present research results, parenting styles is one of the most effective reasons on students' tendency to the drug abusing. With this mind, the hygienic officials and activists should make suitable policies to increase parent's information in parenting styles education field

[ effect of education in physical activities on knowledge, attitude and behavior of Kerman health center's staff]

According to WHO estimation, physical inactivity causes around 1.9 million deaths in the world annually. Also, regarding the importance of physical activity in chronic disease prevention, we decided to assess the effect of education on the physical activities knowledge, attitude and behavior of Kerman Health Canter's staff. This is a semi experimental study in Kerman Health Canter's staff province. 78 staff was chosen randomly. The educational intervention lasted 6 weeks employing a researcher-made questionnaire, the data were analyzed before and 6 weeks after the intervention by SPSS-16. The findings revealed that after educational intervention there was a significant increase in the mean knowledge [P<0.001] and attitude scales [P=0.02], but there was not found any significant effect on behavior [P=0.13]. Although our findings revealed the effect of educational intervention on knowledge and attitudes physical activity, the education of physical activity had no effect on the behavior of the participants.