Assessing the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of metals in the drinking water of Isfahan, Iran.

Metals are significant contributors to water pollution, posing serious threats to human health. This study aims to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks associated with metals in Isfahan drinking water. Eighty water samples were randomly collected from the city's distribution network between January and March 2020-2021. Inductively coupled plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry was used to measure toxic metals, namely Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, and As concentrations. Results revealed that the mean concentration of Ni (70.03 µg/L) exceeded the WHO reference value (70 µg/L), while the other metals were below the standard values. The average chronic daily intake order of toxic metals was Ni > Cr > Pb > As > Cd. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment through hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) demonstrated that both THI for adults (HQingestion + HQdermal = 4.02E-03) and THI for children (HIingestion + HIdermal = 3.83E-03) were below the acceptable limit (less than 1). This indicated no non-carcinogenic risk to residents through water ingestion or dermal exposure. However, findings indicated that the ingestion route was the primary exposure pathway, with HQ values for ingestion exceeding HQ values for dermal adsorption. Carcinogenic risk assessment showed that the risk associated with As metal exceeded the acceptable limit (1 × 10-6). Therefore, implementing treatment improvement programs and appropriate control measures is essential to safeguard the health of Isfahan City residents.

Monitoring of urinary arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) among a sample of pregnant Iranian women.

PURPOSE: Heavy metals, as significant toxic environmental contaminants, can cause serious adverse health outcomes on the human body even in trace concentrations. There is limited evidence on heavy metal concentrations existing in the body fluids of pregnant women. This study aims to evaluate the urinary levels of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb), as two main toxic heavy metals, among pregnant women and their lifestyle determinants. METHODS: The study was performed in 2019-2020 in Isfahan, Iran. A number of 140 urine samples of pregnant women who were in their first pregnancy trimester were examined. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was applied to analyze the urinary concentrations of As and Pb. Socio-demographic data including age, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), education status, and family income, as well as the use of cleaning products (cosmetic and household cleaning products), and lifestyle habits (food intake, smoking, and physical activity) were collected using a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean concentration of As and Pb were 8.14 ± 10.8 and 9.6 ± 7.1 µg/g creatinine, respectively. The mean urinary concentration of Pb indicated significant differences in the levels of cosmetic usage, second-hand smoking exposure, and the use of Copper, Aluminum, Teflon, Steel, and Enameled utensils for cooking (p-value < 0.05). Furthermore, the mean of urinary Pb concentrations at high levels of physical activity and scratched utensils using was significantly different from the other categories (p-value = 0.02). No significant differences were found between As and Pb concentration with other socio-demographic factors. CONCLUSION: The lifestyle determinants and cosmetic products use are important predictors of urinary heavy metals in pregnant women, rather than sociodemographic characteristics. Additional research is necessary to determine long-term adverse birth outcomes of exposure to these heavy metals.

Prenatal exposure to chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) in a sample of Iranian pregnant women: urinary levels and associated socio-demographic and lifestyle factors.

Heavy metals have been well documented to pose detrimental health effects. The current study aimed to measure the concentration of chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) in urinary samples of Iranian pregnant females and determine their potential correlations with different lifestyle variables. The study was conducted in 2019-2020 in Isfahan, Iran, and the urine samples were collected from 140 pregnant women. The concentrations of Cr and Ni in the urinary samples were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Data on socio-demographic characteristics, use of cleaning products, and lifestyle profiles was collected by validated questionnaires. Cr and Ni were detected in 100% of urinary samples with the mean concentration of 4.1±3.4 and 7.5±4.8 µg/g creatinine, respectively. Significant associations were found between the mean concentration of Cr and Ni with using cooking utensils made of copper, aluminum, Teflon, steel, and enameled, as well as with cosmetic use, and second-hand smoking exposure during pregnancy. The results also showed that the mean urinary Ni and Cr concentrations were significantly different among individuals who consumed seafood and canned food (p-value <0.05). Furthermore, the mean of urinary Cr and Ni concentrations at high levels of physical activity and scratched utensils used was significantly different from the other categories (p-value <0.05). According to our findings, the lifestyle determinants and cosmetic products had superiority to socio-demographic characteristics in predicting urinary heavy metals in Iranian pregnant women.

Association between prenatal phthalate exposure and anthropometric measures of newborns in a sample of Iranian population.

Phthalates or phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are a group of compounds which they can be entered into the human body through the various pathways. The aim of this study was to examine associations between prenatal phthalates exposure with anthropometric measures of neonates. Urine samples were obtained from 121 Iranian pregnant women at their first trimester of pregnancy, and the levels of monobutyl phthalate (MBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), and mono (2-ethyl-5hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) metabolites were determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The correlations between the maternal urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites with anthropometric measures of neonates as well as with the socio-demographic factors of participants (maternal education, age, family income, pre-pregnancy body mass index), their lifestyle variables (smoking habit, food pattern, and physical activity), and use of cleaning products (cosmetic and household cleaning products) were investigated. MBzP, MBP, MEHP, and MEHHP were detected in 100% of the participants with the concentration ranged 120 to 860 µg/g creatinine. Significant correlations were observed between the urinary levels of maternal MBzP (adjusted ß = 0.3 (0.001), p = 0.03) and MEHHP (adjusted ß = 0.3 (0.001), p = 0.04) with the birth weight of female neonates. MBP (adjusted ß = -0.3 (0.02), p = 0.04) and MBzP (adjusted ß = -0.3 (0.001), p = 0.02) had negative associations with the head circumference in male and female newborns, respectively. Furthermore, plastic packaging for pickle and passive smoking during pregnancy were identified to be significantly associated with low birth weight (p value < 0.05). Iranian pregnant women had higher concentrations of urinary phthalates compared to the other countries. Based on the findings, the higher prenatal exposure to phthalates could adversely impact the health status of newborns.

The sex-specific association between maternal urinary paraben levels and offspring size at birth.

Parabens are a group of antimicrobial preservatives applied in an extensive range of products and are suspected to impair fetal growth because of their disrupting effect on the endocrine system. We aimed to examine maternal urinary paraben concentrations and their neonates' outcome indexes. Methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP), and butylparaben (BP) concentrations were measured in 105 maternal urine samples collected before delivery. Length, weight, and head circumference at birth were extracted from the mothers' delivery files. A multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between paraben levels and neonatal anthropometric indices. The median levels of urinary parabens, especially BP, were higher than those in other countries. Prenatal urinary concentration of MP and BP showed a significantly positive association with birth weight in all neonates (ß = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.16, 1.41, and ß = 8.56, 95% CI: 3.95, 13.17, respectively), while these chemicals showed a significant negative association with head circumference (ß = - 0.002, 95% CI: - 0.004, - 0.000, and ß = - 0.016, 95% CI: - 0.030, - 0.002, respectively). A significant positive association between MP and birth length was also found (ß = 0.004, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.00) in all the neonates. In sex-stratified adjusted models, MP and BP were found to be associated, respectively, with higher birth length and weight in male neonates (ß = 0.008, 95% CI: - 0.001, 0.017, and ß = 7.948, 95% CI: 1.045, 14.851). In girls, maternal urinary MP, PP, and BP were associated with increased birth weight (ß = 0.831, 95% CI: 0.043, 1.620; ß = 4.178, 95% CI: 0.877, 7.480; and ß = 10.821, 95% CI: 3.545, 18.097, respectively), and MP and BP were associated with reduced head circumference at birth (ß = - 0.003, 95% CI: - 0.005, - 0.001, and ß = - 0.035, 95% CI: - 0.055, - 0.016). These results revealed potential impacts between neonatal growth and maternal exposure to parabens. However, these findings should be interpreted while considering the limitations of the present study.

Evaluation of carcinogenic risks related to nitrate exposure in drinking water in Iran.

Nitrate is one of the most important contaminants that can release into the environment predominantly as a result of anthropogenic processes. Excessive intake of nitrates may increase the risk of certain types of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of nitrate in drinking water and its health to people in Iran. This cross-sectional study has performed in 2019. Nitrate concentrations in drinking water supplies were obtained from peer-reviewed publications. Monte Carlo stimulations and mathematical models were used to determine the excess cancer risk. Risk level for assessing the carcinogen risk was 10-5 (1 per 100,000 persons). Nitrate concentrations and cancer risk related to nitrate were classified by GIS software. According to the obtained results, the drinking water supplies of Tehran, Mashhad (Khorasan Razavi), Zahedan (Sistan and Baluchestan), Shiraz (Fars), Qom, Ardabil and Ahwaz (Khuzestan) have higher nitrate concentrations than the limit recommended by WHO and Institute of Standards and industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI). The estimated cancer risks for the provinces of Tehran, Mashhad (Khorasan Razavi), Zahedan (Sistan and Baluchestan), Shiraz (Fars), Qom, Ardabil and Ahwaz (Khuzestan) were in the no negligible range set by the Health Canada and WHO. The majority of Iran provinces that have impermissible level of nitrate in drinking water supplies had a significant association between cancer prevalence and nitrate exposure. •The findings demonstrated that carcinogen risk values of nitrate exposure through drinking water was 0.001%.•Results showed that Tehran, Mashhad (Khorasan Razavi), Zahedan (Sistan and Baluchestan), Shiraz (Fars), Qom, Ardabil and Ahwaz (Khuzestan) are more exposed to additional cancer risk related to nitrosamine.•The results of this study is considered as the comprehensive report that indicate the association between gastrointestinal cancer and nitrate exposure through drinking water.

Optimization of saline wastewater treatment using electrochemical oxidation process: Prediction by RSM method.

Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to find the optimum parameters for COD and TOC removal from saline wastewaters using electrochemical oxidation process. The independent variables considered were reaction time, pH, salt concentration, and voltage. Optimization of parameters was performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Quadratic regression equation was suggested as a model for prediction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency. The results indicated that the COD and TOC removal efficiencies at the optimal conditions of pH 7.69, reaction time of 30.71 min, salt content of 30. 94 g/L and voltage of 7.41 V were 91.78% and 68.49%, respectively. In terms of COD and TOC removal efficiency, the coefficients of determination were found to be 0.95 and 0.94, respectively. This study suggests that electro-oxidation is an effective process in decreasing COD and TOC from saline wastewaters. Further, RSM was a suitable technique for optimization of the variables involved in COD and TOC removal through electro-oxidation process. •The findings demonstrate that response surface methodology is a good tool for the optimization of parameters of the experimental data.•A quadratic model was suggested as a good model for COD and TOC removal prediction.•The findings proved good agreement between the experimental data and the predicted equation.