Non-carcinogenic and cumulative risk assessment of exposure of kitchen workers in restaurants and local residents in the vicinity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are often formed when organic substances do not burn completely. This study evaluates the non-carcinogenic and cumulative risks associated with PAHs levels by testing blood and urine samples in kitchen workers and residents near restaurants in Shiraz, Iran. Metabolites of PAH in the urine samples as well as clinical parameters in the blood samples were measured. The non-carcinogenic and cumulative risk assessments from exposure of the study groups to PAH metabolites were also evaluated. The highest average concentrations of PAH metabolites were related to kitchen workers (2126.7 ng/g creatinine (ng/g cr)). The metabolites of 1-Hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) and 9-Phenanthrene (9-OHPhe) had the highest and lowest mean concentrations, respectively. A direct correlation was observed between the levels of PAH metabolites with malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidation capacity (TAC) levels (p < 0.05). Hazard Index (HIi) was obtained less than one (HIi < 1), indicating low-risk negative health impacts on the target groups. Nevertheless, conducting more studies to determine the health status of these people is quite evident.

Health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in individuals living near restaurants: a cross-sectional study in Shiraz, Iran.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent toxic substances that have ubiquitous presence in water, air, soil, and sediment environments, posing serious environmental risks. The present study aimed to investigate the concentrations of urinary PAHs and their health effects in individuals living near restaurants via a health risk assessment analysis. This cross-sectional study was performed on 57 people living near restaurants and 30 individuals as the control group. Five urinary metabolites of PAHs were monitored. In order to evaluate the effects of the urinary metabolites of PAHs on Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, Total Anti-oxidation Capacity (TAC) in urine samples, and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in serum samples, regression model was used by considering the effects of the possible confounding factors. Non-carcinogenic health risk was calculated, as well. The median concentration of urinary PAHs was 1196.70 and 627.54 ng/g creatinine in the people living near restaurants and the control group, respectively. Among the metabolites, the lowest and highest mean concentrations were related to 9-OHPhe and 1-OHP, respectively in the two study groups. Moreover, PAHs were significantly associated with MDA level and TAC (p < 0.05). Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) were less than 1. Long-term studies are required to determine the actual health effects by identifying the sources of PAHs emission and to find ways to decrease the production of these compounds.

Biomonitoring of BTEX in primary school children exposed to hookah smoke.

Hookah smoking is one of the major indoor sources of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). This study aimed to investigate the potential exposure to BTEX among primary school children, particularly those exposed to hookah smoke. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Khesht, one of the southwestern cities in Iran, in mid-June 2020. Totally, 50 primary school children exposed to hookah smoke were chosen as the case group and 50 primary school children were selected as the control group. Urinary un-metabolized BTEX was measured by a headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Additionally, a detailed questionnaire was used to gather data and information from the students' parents. The mean levels of urinary benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, and o-xylene were 1.44, 5.87, 2.49, 6.93, and 7.17 µg/L, respectively in the exposed children. Urinary BTEX was 3.93-folds higher in the case group than in the controls (p<0.05). Household cleaning products, the floor on which the house was located, children's sleeping place, and playing outdoors were found to be important factors in predicting urinary BTEX levels. Overall, it was found necessary to avoid indoor smoking to prevent the emission of BTEX compounds via exhaled mainstream smoke and to protect vulnerable non-smokers, especially children, from exposure to second-hand and third-hand smoke.

Exposure assessment of children living in homes with hookah smoking parents to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: urinary level, exposure predictors, and risk assessment.

Children are extremely liable to indoor air pollutants as their physiology and a few metabolic pathways are different from those of adults. The present cross-sectional study aimed to assess exposure of children living with parents who use hookah tobacco smoke to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using a biomonitoring approach. The study was conducted on 25 children (7-13 years of age) exposed to hookah smoke at home and 25 unexposed age-matched children. Urinary levels of five metabolites of PAHs were quantified via headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured, as well. Information regarding the sociodemographic and lifestyle conditions was collected through interviews using managed questionnaires. The urinary 1-OH-NaP and 9-OH-Phe concentrations were respectively 1.7- and 4.6-folds higher in the case samples compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, urinary MDA levels were 1.4 times higher in the exposed children than in the unexposed group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Increasing the consumption of grilled and meat food in the diet increased the participants' urinary 2-OH-Flu and 1-OH-Pyr levels, respectively. Moreover, sleeping in the living room instead of the bedroom at night was a significant predictor of high 1-OH-NaP and 2-OH-NaP concentrations in the children's urine. Overall, the findings confirmed that children living in their homes with hookah-smoking parents were significantly exposed to naphthalene and phenanthrene. Hence, implementing protective measures is critical to reduce the exposure of this group of children.

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced oxidative stress in individuals living near restaurants: a cross-sectional study in Shiraz, Iran.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are environmental pollutants caused by the incomplete combustion of organic matter. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of urinary PAHs and their health effects in individuals living near restaurants. This cross-sectional study was done on 57 individuals who were living near 36 restaurants, and 30 individuals as the control group. Five urinary metabolites of PAHs (1-OH pyrene, 1-OH naphthalene, 2-OH naphthalene, 2-OH fluorine, and 9-OH phenanthrenen) were monitored. The total anti-oxidation capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and creatinine were also measured. The mean concentration of the sum of urinary PAHs (ΣOH-PAHs) was 1973.7, and 1687.61 ng/g creatinine in people living near restaurants and control group, respectively. Among the metabolites, the highest mean concentration was related to 1-OH Pyrene in the two study groups. In the individuals living near restaurants, the concentration of PAH metabolites was directly related to MDA and TAC (p < 0.05 for both). The present study findings revealed no significant correlation between PAH metabolites and CRP in the two study groups (P > 0.05). People living near restaurants are more exposed to components in cooking fumes, which may adversely affect their health. Further researches are required to elucidate the effect of PAHs exposure on these individuals' health status.

Data on the trend of corrosivity and scale formation potential of Shiraz groundwater drinking water resources during 2001-2007.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the corrosivity and scale formation potential of groundwater drinking water resources for the time period of 2001 to 2007 in Shiraz, Iran. Chemical parameters including total alkalinity, EC, pH, temperature, and TDS of ground water resources were analyzed. Langelier saturation indices (LSI) and Ryznar stability indices (RSI) were utilized to determine the potential for corrosivity and scale formation. The data showed that Shiraz groundwater potable water resources tended more likely towards the scale formation potential.

Direct red 81 adsorption on iron filings from aqueous solutions; kinetic and isotherm studies.

Direct Red 81 (DR-81) dye with a very high water solubility is widely used in many industries particularly textile industries. This study aimed to evaluate the practicability of using iron filings for the adsorption of DR-81 dye from the aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, adsorbent dose, initial DR-81 dye concentration, and adsorption time on adsorption process were also evaluated. The maximum of adsorption efficiency of DR-81 dye achieved in the optimum pH: 3, adsorbent dose: 2.5 g/L, contact time: 30 min, and initial dye concentration: 50 mg/L. The dye adsorption efficiency is increased by increasing the adsorbent dose and adsorption time. The kinetic and isotherm studies indicated that the adsorption process obeys a pseudo-first-order and Langmuir isotherm models. The experimental studies indicated that iron filings had the potential to act as an alternative adsorbent to remove the DR-81 dye from an aqueous solution.

Indoor radon concentrations in residential houses, processing factories, and mines in Neyriz, Iran.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine radon concentrations in mines, stone processing factories, residential houses, and public areas, as well as calculating its effective dose in Neyriz, Iran. METHOD: A total of 74 alpha Track detectors (CR-39 detector) were installed at the desired locations based on the US-EPA's protocol. After 3 months the detectors were collected and delivered to a Radon Reference Laboratory for analyzing. RESULTS: Mean ± SD, minimum and maximum radon concentrations in the sampling buildings were 29.93 ± 12.63, 10.33, and 66.76 Bq/m3, respectively. The effective annual dose was calculated to be 0.75 mSv/year, which was lower than the recommended value. Significant positive correlations were found between radon concentrations and some studied variables including smoking cigarettes, number of cigarettes smoked, duration of smoking, building's age, number of floors, having cracks, use of colors in the building, use of ceramic for flooring, use of stone for flooring, and gas consumption. The number of cigarettes smoked by the residents was the most important predictor of radon concentrations. Radon concentrations were lower than standard values in all sampling locations. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to conduct further studies in the field of regional geology and determine the sources that release radon in these areas to prevent further increases in radon concentration due to the proximity and plurality of mines and factories.

Photocatalytic degradation of atrazine herbicide with Illuminated Fe+3-TiO2 Nanoparticles.

BACKGROUND: Atrazine is a herbicide that is widely used to control broadleaf and grassy weeds for growing many crops especially in maize production. It is a frequently detected herbicide in many groundwater resources. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using ultraviolet radiation UV and fortified nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO2) doped with trivalent iron to remove atrazine from aqueous phase and determin the removal efficiency under the optimal conditions. RESULTS: The results of this study demonstrated that the maximum atrazine removal rate was at pH = 11 in the presence of Fe+ 3-TiO2 catalyst =25 mg/L and the initial concentration of atrazine equal to 10 mg/L. As the reaction time increased, the removal rate of herbicide increased as well. Atrazine removal rate was enhanced by the effect of UV radiation on catalyst activation in Fe+3-TiO2/UV process. It was also revealed that pH has no significant effect on atrazine removal efficiency (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the data obtained in this study, atrazine removal efficiency was increased by increasing pH, initial atrazine concentration, catalyst, and contact time. The results also showed Fe+3-TiO2/UV process was an appropriate method to reduce atrazine in contaminated water resources. In conclusion, Fe+3-TiO2/UV process may enhance the rate of atrazine reduction in highly polluted water resources (more than 99%).

Estimation of the residential radon levels and the annual effective dose in dwellings of Shiraz, Iran, in 2015.

INTRODUCTION: Radon is the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. Thus, the determination of indoor radon concentrations in dwellings and workplaces is an important public health concern. The purpose of this research was to measure the concentration of radon gas in residential homes and public places in the city of Shiraz and its relationship with the type and age of the buildings as well as the type of materials used to construct the building (brick, block). We also determined the radon dosages that occupants of the building would receive. METHODS: The present study is a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional research that was conducted on the building's indoor air in the city of Shiraz in 2015. Using geographic information system (GIS) software and a spatial sampling cell with an area of 25 square kilometers, 200 points were selected. In this study, we used passive diffusive samplers as Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD) CR-39 polycarbonate films for three months in the winter. Sampling was conducted in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's protocol. We determined the concentrations of radon gas at the time of sampling, and calibration factors were determined. The data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS, version 20, descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: This study showed that the average radon concentration was 57.6 ± 33.06 Bq/m(3) in residential dwellings. The average effective dose was 1.45 mSv/y. The concentration of radon in 5.4% of the houses was found to be greater than 100 Bq/m(3), which is above the level allowed by the World Health Organization (WHO). CONCLUSION: Since radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, it seems necessary to increase the public's awareness of this issue and to take action to reduce radon in homes when the concentrations are above the WHO's guideline.

Survey on air pollution and cardiopulmonary mortality in shiraz from 2011 to 2012: an analytical-descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Expanding cities with rapid economic development has resulted in increased energy consumption leading to numerous environmental problems for their residents. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between air pollution and mortality rate due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in Shiraz. METHODS: This is an analytical cross-sectional study in which the correlation between major air pollutants (including carbon monoxide [CO], sulfur dioxide [SO2], nitrogen dioxide [NO2] and particle matter with a diameter of less than 10 µ [PM10]) and climatic parameters (temperature and relative humidity) with the number of those whom expired from cardiopulmonary disease in Shiraz from March 2011 to January 2012 was investigated. Data regarding the concentration of air pollutants were determined by Shiraz Environmental Organization. Information about climatic parameters was collected from the database of Iran's Meteorological Organization. The number of those expired from cardiopulmonary disease in Shiraz were provided by the Department of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. We used non-parametric correlation test to analyze the relationship between these parameters. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that in all the recorded data, the average monthly pollutants standard index (PSI) values of PM10 were higher than standard limits, while the average monthly PSI value of NO2 were lower than standard. There was no significant relationship between the number of those expired from cardiopulmonary disease and the air pollutant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Air pollution can aggravate chronic cardiopulmonary disease. In the current study, one of the most important air pollutants in Shiraz was the PM10 component. Mechanical processes, such as wind blowing from neighboring countries, is the most important parameter increasing PM10 in Shiraz to alarming conditions. The average monthly variation in PSI values of air pollutants such as NO2, CO, and SO2 were lower than standard limits. Moreover, there was no significant correlation between the average monthly variation in PSI of NO2, CO, PM10, and SO2 and the number of those expired from cardiopulmonary disease in Shiraz.

The Performance of Trauma Research Centers of Iran during the Past 10 Years; A Science Monitor Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To compare and evaluation of scores of trauma research center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran with other trauma research centers in Iran. METHODS: The assessment scores of each center were gathered from Iran medical research and Ministry of Health and Medical Education website. Each score is recorded in helical year which is defined from the 21th of March of every year until the 20th of March of the next. They are ranked and scored by knowledge production, capacity development, and research projects. RESULTS: The total evaluation scores of the trauma research center of Iran's Universities of Medical Sciences have increased from establishment. The highest increase in assessment scores was related to Tehran Trauma Research Center. An upward trend was observed in the total indicators of knowledge production index of all the trauma research centers from 2001/2002 to 2011/2012. An ascending trend was showed in the published articles score of Shiraz and Kashan Trauma Research Centers through the recent years. CONCLUSION: The increasing trend in scores of trauma research centers in Iran indicated a significant role in the knowledge production but it is need to find barriers of research and doing interventional projects to promote trauma care and prevention.