Estimating human health risks associated with heavy metal exposure from bottled water using Monte Carlo simulation.

Water is the most important non-organic compound for living cells, and the life of all living organisms depends on it. Water is not found purely in nature, but it always contains some solutes, suspended matters and soluble gases. In this study, 11 bottled water brands (500 mL) were sampled across the Kashan city market to determine the concentration of selected heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni and As) and evaluated their potential risks following consumption. The concentration range of Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni and As were 5-34 µg/L, 1.5-7 µg/L, 1-7 µg/L, 2-29 µg/L,

Effects of occupational exposures on respiratory health in steel factory workers.

Background: The steel factory work environment contains various chemical exposures that can affect indoor air quality and have impact on respiratory health of the workers. Aims: The objective of this study was to assess potential effects of occupational exposures in steel factory workers in Iran on the respiratory symptoms, occurrence and the lung function levels. Method: This was a cross-sectional study of 133 men working in a steel factory forming the exposed group and 133 male office workers forming the reference group from a steel company in Iran. The participants filled in a questionnaire and underwent spirometry. Work history was used both as dichotomous (exposed/reference) and a quantitative measure of exposure, the latter measured as duration of exposure in the specified work (in years) for the exposed group and zero for the reference group. Results: Multiple linear regression and Poisson regression were used to adjust for confounding. In Poisson regression analyses, an increased prevalence ratio (PR) of all respiratory symptoms was observed in the exposed group. Lung function parameters were significantly reduced in the exposed group (p < 0.001). There was a dose-response relation between duration of occupational exposures and reduction in the predicted value of FEV1/FVC level (0.177, 95% CI -0.198 to -0.156) in all models. Conclusion: The results of these analyses showed that occupational exposures in steel factory work increase the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and reduce lung function. Safety training and workplace conditions were found to need improvement. In addition, use of proper personal protective equipment is recommended.

Health risk assessment of nitrate and fluoride in bottled water: a case study of Iran.

Bottled water use has become widespread in recent years. Many Iranian cities are located in regions with a hot and semi-hot climate, and the quality of drinking water is low in most of these areas. Nitrate and fluoride are chemical constituents of drinking water with significant health concerns since they can be harmful in concentrations higher than drinking water standards. This study aims to determine nitrate and fluoride concentrations in different bottled water brands in the study region; evaluate the non-carcinogenic health risks posed by nitrate and fluoride exposure via the ingestion of bottled water; and compare the measured nitrate and fluoride concentrations with the amounts reported on the bottle labels. Twenty bottled water brands were sampled, and their nitrate and fluoride amounts were determined using the spectrophotometry method. The results revealed that 100% of nitrate and 70% of fluoride in samples had concentrations greater than the levels reported on bottle labels. Minimum, maximum, and mean concentrations for nitrate were, respectively, 1.1, 28, and 8.37 mg/L, and for fluoride were 0.014, 2.36, and 0.63 mg/L. The hazard quotient (HQ) values due to nitrate intake were > 1 in 10% of the samples (n = 2) for both infants and children, indicating potential adverse non-carcinogenic health effects upon consumption. For fluoride intake, the potential adverse health effects (HQ > 1) for infants, children, teenagers, and adults were respectively high in 30, 20, 10, and 10% of the samples. For nitrate, the 95th centile for infants was 1.547, and for fluoride, it was 2.62, 2.19, 1.15, and 1 for infants, children, teenagers, and adults, respectively.