Mono and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in waterpipe wastewater: Level and ecotoxicological risk assessment.

Increasing of tobacco consumption around the world has led to the production of a large volume of waterpipe wastewater that enter the environment (e.g., coastal areas)and threaten aquatic creatures. However, until now, no research has been carried out on the amounts of monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in hookah wastewater. In the current study, the levels of PAHs and BTEX compounds in waterpipe wastewater resulting from the use of different tobacco brands were determined and their eco-toxicological effects were also evaluated. The mean levels of Æ©PAHs in waterpipe wastewater of Al Tawareg, Al-Fakher, Nakhla, Tangiers and traditional tobacco brands samples were 3.48 ± 1.65, 3.33 ± 1.52, 3.08 ± 1.25, 2.41 ± 0.87 and 0.70 ± 0.13 µg/L, respectively. The mean levels of Æ©BTEX in waterpipe wastewater of Al Tawareg, Al-Fakher, Nakhla, Tangiers and traditional tobacco brands samples were also 2.53 ± 0.61, 2.65 ± 0.78, 2.51 ± 0.72, 2.35 ± 0.56, and 0.78 ± 0.12 µg/L, respectively. The maximum level of PAHs and BTEX compounds in all brands/flavors samples were for naphthalene (Naph) and toluene, respectively. The concentrations of some PAHs (fluoranthene (Flrt), anthracene (Ant), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BkF), benzo (g,h,i)perylene (BghiP) and dibenzo (a, h) anthracene (DahA)) and BTEX compounds (benzene) in the waterpipe wastewater samples were more than recommended guidelines and standards by the international reputable organizations such as World Health Organization (WHO) for water quality. Waterpipe wastewater can be introduced as an important origin for the release of these dangerous contaminants into the environmental matrixes. Therefore, more stringent regulations should be considered for the safe disposal of such hazardous wastes including waterpipe wastewater.

Occurrence of microplastics in edible tissues of livestock (cow and sheep).

Plastic contamination is widely recognized as a major environmental concern due to the entry of small plastic particles into the food chain, thereby posing potential hazards to human health. However, the current understanding of microplastic (MP; < 5 mm) particles in livestock, which serve as an important food source, is limited. This study aims to investigate the concentration and characteristics of MPs in edible tissues of cow and sheep, namely liver, meat, and tripe, obtained from butcher shops in five areas of Bushehr port, Iran. The mean concentration of MPs in different tissues of cow and sheep were 0.14 and 0.13 items/g, respectively. Among the examined tissues, cow meat exhibited the highest concentration of MPs, with a concentration of 0.19 items/g. Nylon and fiber were identified as the predominant polymer types and shapes of MPs found in cow and sheep tissues, respectively. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference was observed in MP concentration across different tissues of cow and sheep. Significantly, this study highlights the elevated hazards associated with exposure to MPs through the consumption of edible cow and sheep tissues, particularly for children who consume meat. The results underscore the potential transfer of MPs from the environment to livestock bodies through their food, contamination during meat processing, and subsequent health hazards for consumers.

Accumulation, sources, and health risks of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in road dust from heavily industrialized, urban and rural areas in southern Iran.

In this research, a total of 51 road dust samples were collected from three districts (Asaluyeh, Bushehr, and Goshoui) in the south of Iran from April to June 2022 and analyzed for the concentration of 7 phthalic acid esters (PAEs) compounds. Asaluyeh was considered as an industrial area (near gas and petrochemical industries), Bushehr as an urban area, and Goshoui as a rural area (far from pollution sources). The PAEs concentration of the street dust samples was determined using a mass detection gas chromatography (GC/MS). The mean ± SD levels of Æ©PAEs in samples from industrial, urban, and rural sources were 56.9 ± 11.5, 18.3 ± 9.64, and 5.68 ± 1.85 µg/g, respectively. The mean concentration levels of Æ©PAEs was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in samples from the industrial area than urban and rural areas. The mean levels of di(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in industrial, urban, and rural areas were 20.3 ± 8.76, 4.59 ± 1.71, and 2.35 ± 0.98 µg/g, respectively. The results of the PCA analysis indicate that the likely major sources of PAEs in the road dust in the studied areas are the application of various plasticizers in industry, solvents, chemical fertilizers, waste disposal, wastewater (e.g., agricultural, domestic, and industrial), and the use of plastic films and plastic-based irrigation pipes in greenhouses. As well as, it was found that the non-cancer risk of exposure to dust-bound PAEs was higher for children than for adults. These values were <1 for both age groups (children and adults) and the exposure of inhabitants to PAEs in road dust did not pose a notable non-cancer risk. The cancer risk from exposure to DEHP in road dust was below the standard range of 10-6 in all three areas. Further studies that consider different routes of exposure to these contaminants are needed for an accurate risk assessment. Moreover, since higher PAEs level was found in industrial area, decision-makers should adopt strict strategies to control the discharging of pollution from industries to the environment and human societies.

First report on BTEX leaching from waterpipe tobacco wastes (WTWs) into aquatic environment.

Waterpipe tobacco wastes (WTWs) may contain considerable levels of hazardous contaminants such as BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and m/p-xylene). However, no research has been carried out on BTEX levels in WTWs and the release of these pollutants into the water environment. This research examined the levels of BTEX in WTWs of flavored/local tobacco and also the release rate of these toxins into three kinds of water, including seawater (SW), tap water (TW), and distilled water (DW) with different leaching times (15, 30 min, 1.2, 4, 8 h, and 1, 2, and 4 days). The mean contents of BTEX in WTW samples of Al-Mahmoud, Al-Fakher, Mazaya, Al-Ayan brands, and local tobacco samples were 17.0 ± 4.14, 19.1 ± 4.65, 19.6 ± 4.19, 18.8 ± 4.14, and 3.16 ± 0.63 µg/kg, respectively. The mean BTEX levels in flavored tobacco samples were considerably greater than that of local tobacco (p < 0.05). The WTWs leaching experiments showed that the levels of BTEX ranged from 5.26 to 6.12, 5.02-5.60, and 3.83-5.46 µg/L in DW, TW, and SW, respectively. All target compounds were found for all exposure times in DW, TW, and SW samples. After adding sodium azide as an antibacterial agent to water samples (simulating biodegradation processes), higher levels of BTEX compounds were detected in SW. Further research is needed to address the potential environmental hazards due to WTWs leaching into aquatic environments.

Chalcopyrite as an oxidants activator for organic pollutant remediation: A review of mechanisms, parameters, and future perspectives.

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) based on oxidants have attracted attention for the degradation of organic pollutants. The combination of chalcopyrite with oxidants such as persulfate, peroxide, percarbonate, and others shows promise as a system due to its ability to activate through various pathways, leading to the formation of numerous radical and non-radical species. In this review, the generation of sulfate radical (SR) and hydroxyl radical (HR) in AOPs were summarized. The significance of chalcopyrite in various approaches including Fenton, photo-Fenton, and photo/Fenton-like methods, as well as its involvement in electrochemical Fenton-based processes was discussed. The stability and reusability, toxicity, catalyst mechanism, and effects of operational parameters (pH, catalyst dosage, and oxidant concentration) are evaluated in detail. The review also discusses the role of Fe2+/3+, Cu1+/2+, S2- and Sn2- present in CuFeS2 in the generation of free radicals. Finally, guidelines for future research are presented in terms of future perspectives.

Secondhand and thirdhand smoke: a review on chemical contents, exposure routes, and protective strategies.

Secondhand smoke (SHS: a mixture of sidestream and mainstream smoke) and thirdhand smoke (THS: made up of the pollutants that settle indoors after smoking in closed environments) are a significant public health concern. SHS and THS contain various chemicals which can be released into the air or settle on surfaces. At present, the hazards of SHS and THS are not as well documented. In this review, we describe the chemical contents of THS and SHS, exposure routes, vulnerable groups, health effects, and protective strategies. The literature search was conducted for published papers on September 2022 in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. This review could provide a comprehensive understanding of the chemical contents of THS and SHS, exposure routes, vulnerable groups, health effects, protective strategies, and future researches on environmental tobacco smoke.

Post-consumption waterpipe tobacco waste as an unrecognized source of toxic metal(loid)s leachates into aquatic environments.

Waterpipe is a common form of tobacco smoking, and recently, its use has been increasing globally. Therefore, concern arises regarding the large quantity of post-consumption waterpipe tobacco waste produced and released into the environment and which can contain high levels of dangerous pollutants such as toxic meta(loid)s. This study reports the concentrations of meta(loid)s in waste from fruit-flavoured and traditional tobacco smoking as well as the release rate of these pollutants from waterpipe tobacco waste into three types of water. These include distilled water, tap water, and seawater and contact times ranging from 15 min to 70 days. The mean concentration levels of Æ©metal(loid)s in waste samples of Al-mahmoud, Al-Fakher, Mazaya, Al-Ayan brands and traditional tobacco brands were 212 ± 92.8, 198 ± 94.4, 197 ± 75.7, 214 ± 85.8 and 40.6 ± 16.1 µg/g, respectively. The concentration levels of Æ©metal(loid)s in fruit-flavoured tobacco samples were significantly higher than for traditional tobacco samples (p < 0.05). It was found that waterpipe tobacco wastes leached toxic metal(loid)s into different water samples with similar trends. In addition distribution coefficients showed that most metal(loid)s are highly likely to enter the liquid phase. The concentration levels of these pollutants (except Ni and As) in deionized water and tap water exceeded the surface fresh water standards for sustaining aquatic life during long contact time (up to 70 days). In seawater, concentration levels of Cu and Zn exceeded the recommended standards for maintaining aquatic life in the sea. Therefore, due to the possibility of contamination by soluble metal(loid)s through disposal of waterpipe tobacco waste in wastewater, there is concern that these toxic chemicals might enter the human food chain. Appropriate regulatory measures for disposal of waterpipe tobacco waste are necessary to prevent environmental pollution due to discarded wastes into aquatic ecosystems.

Urinary levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in female beauticians and their association with urinary biomarkers of oxidative stress/inflammation and kidney injury.

The present research was aimed to assess the urinary levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in female beauticians and its correlation with oxidative stress/inflammation and kidney injury. To this end, the urine samples were collected from 50 female beauticians from beauty salons (exposed group) and 35 housewives (control group), and then, the level of PTEs was determined. The mean levels of the sum of urinary PTEs (∑PTEs) biomarkers in before and after exposure and control group were 83.55, 114.27 and 13.61 µg/L, respectively. Results also showed that the urinary level of PTEs biomarkers is significantly higher in women occupationally exposed to cosmetics compared to control group. The urinary levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr) biomarkers have high correlation coefficients with early oxidative stress effects such as 8-Hydroxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 8-isoprostane and Malondialdehyde (MDA). Moreover, As and Cd biomarker levels were positively and significantly associated with kidney damages such as urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1) and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase 1 (uTIMP-1) (P < 0.01). Therefore, women who working in beauty salons can probably be categorized as high - exposure and high-risk workers in terms of DNA oxidative and kidney damages.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) leachates from post-consumption waterpipe tobacco waste (PWTW) into aquatic environment- a primary study.

Post-consumption waterpipe tobacco waste (PWTW) is an unrecognized type of hazardous waste that is produced and released in large quantities into the aquatic environment. It may contain high amounts of various pollutants including PAH, and to date, there has been no research on the potential for contamination by PAH from PWTW leaching into aquatic environments. In this study, the concentrations of PAH via PWTW of fruit-flavored and traditional tobacco leachate into three water types, including distilled water (DW), tap water (TW) and sea water (SW) at different contact times were evaluated. There were significantly higher concentration levels of Æ©PAH in waters with leachates from fruit-flavored PWTW than traditional tobacco (P-value<0.05). The concentration levels of Æ©PAH in DW, TW and SW at a total contact time of two months ranged from 0.13 to 3.51, 0.12 to 3.63 and 0.11-3.64 µg/L, respectively. Lower molecular weight PAH such as naphthalene (Naph), acenaphthylene (Acen) and fluorine (Flu) were detected in leachates immediately after a short contact time of 15 min. Higher molecular weight PAH including benzo [a]anthracene (BaA), benzo [b]fluoranthene (BbF), benzo [k]fluoranthene (BkF), chrysene (Chr), and benzo [a]pyrene (BaP) were detected after one month contact time, while indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene (Indp), benzo [ghi]perylene (BghiP) and dibenz [a,h]anthracene (DahA) were only observed at the contact time measurement of two months. By adding sodium azide as an antimicrobial agent and chemical preservative to SW samples, higher concentrations of PAH including IP, DahA and BghiP were observed. The concentration levels of PAH in water samples after two months contact time were higher than water quality standards provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations.

Simultaneous Analysis of Mycotoxins, Potentially Toxic Elements, and Pesticides in Rice: A Health Risk Assessment Study.

Rice is a widely consumed food worldwide; however, it can be a source of pollutants, such as potentially toxic elements (PTEs), mycotoxins, and pesticides. Sixty rice samples imported from Pakistan (PAK), India (IND), and Thailand (THAI), as well as domestic Iranian (IRN) rice, were collected from Bushehr, Iran, and investigated for the contamination of PTEs, including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni); pesticides, including chlorpyrifos, trichlorfon, diazinon, fenitrothion, and chlorothalonil; mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN), ochratoxin A (OTA), and deoxynivalenol (DON); and molds. Estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) of pollutants and hazard index (HI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of rice types for the Iranian adult population were calculated. The content of PTEs in Iranian rice was not higher than Iran's national standard limits. In contrast, other types of rice (imported) had at least one PTE above the permissible level. OTA content was below the detection limit, and all other mycotoxins were within the allowable range in all rice types. Thai rice was the only group without pesticides. The HI order of rice types was as follows: HIPAK = 2.1 > HIIND = 1.86 > HIIRN = 1.01 > HITHAI = 0.98. As was the biggest contributor to the HI of Iranian and Thai rice, and diazinon in the HI of Pakistani and Indian rice. The calculation of ILCR confirmed that the concentrations of Ni and Pb in Pakistani and Ni and As in Indian, Thai, and Iranian rice were not acceptable in terms of lifetime carcinogenic health risks.

Biomonitoring of unmetabolized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urine of waterpipe/cigarette café workers.

Fresh tobacco or the smoke resulting from waterpipe and cigarette contains large amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which consumption can cause releasing of these contaminants into the indoor air of cigarette and waterpipe cafés. This study was conducted to investigate the urinary concentrations of unmetabolized PAH compounds among the employed workers as well as the customers in waterpipe and cigarette cafés along with its association with oxidative stress factors plus kidney injury biomarkers. For this, 35 staffs and 35 customers in these cafés (as an exposed group (EG)), 20 staffs in non-smoking cafés (as 1st control group (CG-1)), and 20 of the public population (as 2nd control group 2 (CG-2)) were chosen and their urine specimens were collected. The results indicated that there is a significant difference between urinary concentration of Æ©PAHs in the exposed and control groups (P value < 0.05). Also, "type of tobacco" can be considered as an influential and determining factor for the urinary levels of PAHs among the subjects. Considering the contribution of PAHs to the total toxic equivalents, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DahA), and fluoranthene (Flrt) with 32.76%, 27.62%, and 18.65% claimed the largest share in waterpipe/cigarette cafés. The results also indicated a positive and significant relationship between some PAHs and oxidative stress biomarkers as well as uKIM-1 (biomarker for assessing and diagnosing glomerular damage) and TIMP-1 (biomarker of stress in primary steps of injury in tubular cell). Thus, it can be expressed that the workers of these smoking cafés are prone to the detrimental health impacts. Accordingly, proper policies and decisions should be taken to limit the activity of these cafés or proper protective strategies should be adopted to protect the health of exposed individuals.

Photodegradation of ibuprofen laden-wastewater using sea-mud catalyst/H2O2 system: evaluation of sonication modes and energy consumption.

The main goal of the current investigation was to decontaminate ibuprofen (IBP) from hospital wastewater using sea mud as an H2O2 activator. Sea sludge was converted into catalysts at different temperatures and residence times in furnaces, and then tested in the removal of IBP, and the most efficient ones were reported for the production of catalysts. The catalyst was optimized at 400 °C and 3 h. SEM-mapping, FTIR, EDX, BET, and BJH experiments were used to characterize the catalyst. Experiments were done at two pulsed and continuous ultrasonication modes in a photoreactor, and their efficiencies were statistically compared. The designed variables included IBP concentration (10-100 mg/L), the catalyst concentration (0-3 g/L), pH (4-9), and time (10-90 min). The oxidation process had the maximum efficiency at pH 4, treatment time of 60 min, catalyst quantity of 5 g/L, and IBP content of 50 mg/L. The catalyst was recycled, and in the fifth stage, the removal efficiency of IBP was reduced to 50%. The amount of energy consumed for treating IBP laden-wastewater using the evaluated catalyst in two modes of continuous and pulsed ultrasonic was calculated as 102 kW h/m3 and 10 kW h/m3, respectively. IBP oxidation process was fitted with the first-order kinetic model. The system can be proposed for purifying hospital and pharmaceutical wastewaters.

Urinary profile of PAHs and related compounds in women working in beauty salons.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of chemical compounds which interest to human biological monitoring researches because of their potential carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic properties. However, the exposure of female beauticians to these contaminants is not well-reported. For biomonitoring of potential exposure of female cosmeticians to PAHs in beauty salons, urine samples were taken from cosmetologist women (n = 50.00) and housewives (n = 35.00) as the exposure group (EG) and control group (CG), respectively. Next, unmetabolized PAHs levels as well as the concentration of - 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) were analyzed in these specimens. In addition, since benzene has some common source with PAHs, in this study t, t'-Muconic acid (TTMA) level was also determined as the metabolite and indicator of exposure to benzene. The results indicated a high detection frequency of the target compounds (PAHs, 1-OHP and TTMA) in the urine specimens of beauticians. The results also showed that there is a significant difference between the concentration of these pollutants in the urine specimens of the exposure and control groups. The median concentration of ΣPAHs, 1-OHP, and TTMA in the before exposure (BE) specimens collected from the exposure group were 337.42 ng/L, 593.92 ng/L, and 247.90 µg/L, respectively. However, a higher concentration of these contaminants was observed in the after exposure specimens with a median concentration of 423.29 ng/L, 745.03 ng/L, and 310.97 µg/L, respectively. In terms of contribution of PAHs compounds in total toxic equivalents, DahA, BaP, and IndP with 59.03, 28.73, and 2.86 % had the largest share. In this study, it was also observed that some kidney damage biomarkers as well as some oxidative stress injury biomarkers are positively and significantly correlated with the urinary values of ∑PAHs. Thus, it can be concluded that high health risks threaten the female beauticians regarding kidney injury and DNA oxidative stress.

Occurrence and exposure assessment of microplastics in indoor dusts of buildings with different applications in Bushehr and Shiraz cities, Iran.

The increase in annual usage of plastics for different purposes has led to an increase in microplastics (MPs) particles in various environments including inside of buildings. In the present study, levels and characteristics of MPs in the indoor dust of buildings with different uses including residential house, mosque, hospital, kindergarten, and university in two cities, Bushehr port and Shiraz in Iran, were determined. Thirty dust samples from various buildings were collected. The average numbers of MPs in the indoor dust of buildings of Shiraz and Bushehr were 90.8 and 80.8 items/mg, respectively. Fiber and polyethylene (PE) were the most common shape and polymer types of identified MPs, respectively. The highest number of MPs was observed in the indoor dust of kindergartens with a mean number of 121 items/mg in Bushehr and 104 items/mg in Shiraz. Except for mosques, a significant difference (p-value <0.05) were not observed between the MPs levels of buildings with similar applications in Bushehr and Shiraz cities. In addition, the high daily intake to MPs via indoor dust ingestion and inhalation were found for infants in kindergartens and mosques. The results of this study showed that MPs are present in high concentrations in indoor environments and may pose a high exposure risk for different age groups.

Monitoring and eco-toxicity effect of paraben-based pollutants in sediments/seawater, north of the Persian Gulf.

The current work is documented as the first record of the characteristics, removal efficiency, partitioning behavior, fate, and eco-toxicological effects of paraben congeners in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP, stabilization ponds) and hospital WWTPs (septic tank and activated sludge), as well as seawater-sediments collected from runoff estuarine stations (RES) and coastal stations (CS) of the north of the Persian Gulf. The median values of Σparabens at the raw wastewater and effluent of the studied WWTPs were 1884 ng/L and 468 ng/L, respectively. The activated sludge system had a greater removal efficiency (56.10%) in removing ∑parabens than the septic tank (45.05%) and stabilization pond (35.54%). The discharge rates of methyl paraben (MeP) was computed to be 2.23, 21.18, and 9.12 g/d/1000 people for stabilization ponds, septic tank, and activated sludge, respectively. Median concentrations of Σparabens in seawater (103.42 ng/L) and sediments (322.05 ng/g dw) from RES stations were significantly larger than from CS stations (61.2 and 262.0 ng/g dw in seawater and sediments, respectively) (P < 0.05). The median of field-based koc for Σparabens was 130.81 cm3/g in RES stations and 189.51 cm3/g in CS stations. It was observed that the concentration of parabens could have negative impacts on some living aquatic populations (invertebrates and bacteria), but the risk was not significant for fishes and algae.

Bioaccessibility-based monitoring and risk assessment of indoor dust-bound PAHs collected from housing and public buildings: Effect of influencing factors.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bounded in indoor dust have significant effects in residents' health. Although various researches has evaluated exposure to PAHs in some indoor areas around the world, no work has been conducted on bioaccessibility of indoor PAHs in the buildings of Bushehr city. Therefore, dust samples were collected from various indoor microenvironments including residential buildings (RB), office buildings (OB), commercial buildings (CB), industrial buildings (IB), school classroom (SC), laboratory (LR), drugstores (DS), beauty salons (BS), smoking cafés (SC) and restaurants (Res) - 10 from each microenvironment. In order to determine the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), bioaccessible PAHs, and sink sorption PAHS were analyzed in them. The results showed that the highest level of these contaminants was detected in SC and the lowest in Lab. The median concentration of dust-bound ΣPAHs, bioaccessible ΣPAHs, and sink sorption ΣPAHs in the SC samples were 10,890.00, 1157.92, and 297.28 ng/g, and they were 1160.00, 19.69, and 0.75 ng/g in Lab samples. The results also indicated that the ΣPAHs concentration had a negative and significant association with the ventilation rate (pvalue <0.05 in most cases), as well as a positive and significant relationship with smoking inside buildings (pvalue <0.05). The estimated daily intake (EDI) values calculated for residential buildings (RB) were higher compared to most of the other studied microenvironments. These observations can be due to the fact that people spend much more time in residential buildings (50% of the entire day) compared to occupational settings (22%). Thus, they intake more dust within a longer time, and are hence exposed to larger amounts of pollutants bound with these particles.

Urinary level of heavy metals in people working in smoking cafés.

Previous researches have reported significant levels of heavy metals in indoor air of smoking cafés. The current research aimed to evaluate the potential exposure of smoking cafés workers to heavy metals through quantifying amounts of these pollutants in urine samples. To this end, 35 waterpipe/cigarette cafés workers were selected as the exposed population, 35 employees from non-smoking cafe' as the control group 1 (CG1) and 25 cases of the normal citizens as the control group 2 (CG2); and their urine samples were taken. Samples were then prepared by acid digestion approach and measured by the ICP in order to determine amount of heavy metals in them. The findings of the current work show the significant difference among urinary levels of metals in the exposed and both CG1 and CG2 (P value < 0.05). Furthermore, urinary metal levels in samples collected from smoking café workers after the exposure were considerably higher than those were collected before the exposure (P-value <0.05). According to the findings, "tobacco type" could be considered as a leading factor for heavy metal exposure in studied smokers. Additionally, a positive and significant association was found between urinary metals and urinary levels of 8-OHdG (a markers of DNA degradation through oxidative stress). Therefore, workers in waterpipe/cigarette café can be classified as high risk people in terms of DNA oxidative damage.

Occurrence of microplastics and phthalate esters in urban runoff: A focus on the Persian Gulf coastline.

Urban runoff seems an obvious pathway for the transfer of microplastics (MPs) and phthalate acid esters (PAEs) from land-based sources to the marine environment; an issue that still lacks attention. This study presents the first results on MP and PAE levels in the urban runoff into the northern part of the Persian Gulf during the dry season. Average concentrations of MPs and PAEs in the urban runoff of eight selected sampling sites (N = 72) along the Bushehr coast were 1.86 items/L and 53.57 µg/L, respectively. MPs with a size range of 500-1000 µm had the highest abundance, and the mean levels of PAEs in MPs were 99.77 µg/g. The results of this study show that urban runoff is a main source of MP and PAE contaminants that are discharged into the Persian Gulf. Therefore, to decrease these pollutants from entering the aquatic environment, decision-makers in the area should consider this problem and stop the direct discharging of urban runoff into water bodies.

Urinary level of un-metabolized parabens in women working in beauty salons.

Parabens are a group of chemical additive extensively utilized in various health care products and ubiquitously observed in the different environmental matrixes. Nevertheless, the exposure of women working in beauty salons to these pollutants is not well-documented. For this purpose, 50.00 women working in beauty salons were chosen as the exposed group (EG) and 35.00 housewives were chosen as the control group (GC). The concentration of methyl paraben (MeP), ethyl paraben (EtP), butyl paraben (BuP), propyl paraben (PrP), benzyl paraben (BzP), heptyl paraben (HepP), and para-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HB) metabolite were quantified in the collected urine samples. It was seen that paraben sexist with a high detection frequency (DF) in the urine of women working in beauty salons. The results also revealed that the significant difference between the urinary parabens level in the EG and CG (P value < 0.05). The median concentration of Σparaben and HB-4 metabolite in the before exposure (BE) samples was 124.00 and 219.00 µg/L, while in the after exposure (AE) samples, it was 156.00 and 249.00 µg/L, respectively. Moreover, the parabens levels in the AE samples were considerably higher than in BE samples in women working in beauty salons (P value < 0.05). This research also documented that "personal care products (PCPs) usage" can be known as a leading factor for the urinary paraben level in the studied individuals. The median total estimated daily intakes (TEsDI) for MeP, EtP, and PrP for the studied women were obtained as 8.02, 4.57, and 7.88 µg/L respectively. Also, a significant and positive association was observed between EtP, PrP as well as BuP and 8-OhdG (as a DNA oxidative stress biomarker) (P value < 0.01). Further, a significant and positive association was found between EtP as well as BuP and some biomarkers of kidney damage (like uTIMP-1 and uKim-1). Accordingly, it can be stated that women working in beauty salons are at a high risk in terms of DNA oxidative stress and kidney damage.