Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 2676-3478 5 2 2017 05 01 Adsorption and desorption of lead in Iranian acid and alkaline soils amended with sewage sludge-derived biochar 59 69 51362 10.22102/jaehr.2017.71682. EN Hamed Fathi Dokht Ph.D Student, Department of Soil Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan ,Iran Esmaeil Dordipour Associate Professor, Department of Soil Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Seyed Alireza Movahedi Naeini Associate Professor, Department of Soil Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Journal Article 2016 05 18 The effective management of sewage sludge materials in an environmentally and economically acceptable way is through the pyrolytic conversion of the sludge to biochar and its use for agricultural purposes. The aims of this work were: (1) to assess the effect of biochar prepared from sewage sludge at two different temperatures (350^ºC and 650 ^ºC) on the adsorption/desorption capacity of Pb (II) in two different Iranian soils (acidic and alkaline soils), and (2) to investigate the adsorption/desorption isotherm. The results indicated that with increasing pyrolysis temperature, the soil pH, ash content, aromaticity, BET, and total heavy metal concentration increased. On the other hand, the pyrolysis yield, percentages of H, N and O, atomic ratios, CEC and polarity of biochar decreased. The adsorption and desorption of Pb was more accurately described by the Langmuir isotherm than the Freundlich isotherm The maximum adsorption capacity of biochars increased for alkaline and acidic soils when pyrolysis temperatures increased, suggesting that high temperature pyrolysis led to the biochars having high Pb adsorption capacity. The desorption of pre-adsorbed Pb (II) by NaNO₃ decreased in soils incorporated with biochars. https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_51362_ec1f435e40429d0e99cbc0f751430b02.pdf

Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 2676-3478 5 2 2017 05 01 Improving CO2 adsorption with new amine-functionalized Y-type zeolite 70 77 51226 10.22102/jaehr.2017.71674. EN Majideh Babaei Department of Chemistry, Kerman branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran Mansoor Anbia Professor, Research Laboratory of Nanoporous Materials, Faculty of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology, Narmak, Tehran, Iran Maryam Kazemipour Department of Chemistry, Kerman branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran Journal Article 2016 11 30 In this work, a new synthesized Y-type zeolite with an Si/Al molar ratio of 2.5 (NaY) was modified with amines, in order to probe the influence of the modification of the adsorbent’s surface on CO₂ adsorption. The three selected amines were diethanolamine, tetraethylenepentamine, and 2- methylaminoethanol. The surface nature of NaY was changed after amine modification, which causes a significant increase in the CO₂ adsorption capacity. The CO₂ adsorption capacity of the amine- modified NaY increased with temperature. The mechanism of CO₂ adsorption on NaY is usually a physical interaction, but it seems that after amine modification, chemical mechanism is the dominant mechanism for the chemical interaction between CO₂ and amine groups. The adsorbents were characterized by surface area and porosity analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The CO₂ adsorption capacity was measured by the volumetric method at 298 and 348 K. The CO₂ adsorption capacity of TEPA-NaY, DEA-NaY, and 2-MAE-NaY at 298 K was 60.63. The CO₂ adsorption capacity of TEPA- NaY, DEA-NaY, and 2-MAE-NaY at 348 K were 92.9, 78, and 85.42, respectively. These results showed that amine-functionalized NaY zeolites have excellent adsorption potential for CO₂ adsorption at high temperatures. https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_51226_6f9c9e68ee7d43a6d1defdb4850c0f37.pdf

Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 2676-3478 5 2 2017 05 01 Long-term spatial and temporal variability of ambient carbon monoxide in Urmia, Iran 78 84 51875 10.22102/jaehr.2017.90610.1027 EN Hamed Aghdasi Graduate School of the Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, IAU, Tehran, Iran Rahim Aali Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Health Technology Incubator Centre, School of Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran Nabiollah Mansouri Department of HSE Management, Graduate School of the Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, IAU, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-4228-6444 Heresh Amini Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland & University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland Journal Article 2017 06 25 One of the pillars of epidemiologic research on the long-term health effects of air pollution is to estimate the chronic exposures over space and time. In this study, we aimed to measure the intra-urban ambient carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations within Urmia city in Iran, and to build a model within the geographic information system (GIS) to estimate the annual and seasonal means anywhere within the city. We collected more than 5,000 measurements from 53 locations during July 2010 to July 2011 in four seasons to calculate the annual and seasonal means in Urmia. The Universal Kriging was used to predict the spatial and seasonal concentrations of CO. The annual mean and annual peak CO concentrations were respectively 2.5 and 4.4 ppm. The results of the spatial analysis showed that the north-eastern parts of the city were more polluted than the other areas. The mean and peak seasonal spatial patterns were consistent over time. This is the first study that monitored and predicted the long-term CO concentrations with a dense measurement network in Urmia, providing a foundation for future epidemiological studies on the health effects of air pollution. The spatial estimates can also be used for a variety of other purposes, such as evidence-based air quality management and urban planning. Overall, the CO levels in Urmia were lower than the values recommended by the World Health Organization. However, further research is required on other important pollutants, such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, air toxics and so forth. https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_51875_ef9faabb689bf617f8c6a1d87dea9b6f.pdf

Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 2676-3478 5 2 2017 05 01 The simultaneous removal of turbidity and humic substances from water using the enhanced coagulation process 85 92 51941 10.22102/jaehr.2017.79591.1009 EN Reza Rezaee Environmental Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran 0000-0003-2314-6697 Mahdi Safari Environmental Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran 0000-0003-0347-9283 Reza Ghanbari Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran 0000-0001-9296-4293 Esmail Ghahramani Lecturer, Environmental Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran 0000-0003-4976-1233 Mehdi Hosseini Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Yahya Zandsalimi Kurdistan Environmental Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran 0000-0002-5193-5442 Journal Article 2017 03 06 This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of the enhanced coagulation (EC) process for the simultaneous removal of turbidity and humic substances (HS) from raw water from the Sanandaj Water Treatment Plant (SWTP). This study was conducted on a laboratory scale using a jar test device and ferric chloride (FeCL₃) as the coagulant. Accordingly, the effects of pH and coagulant dosage variations on the simultaneous removal efficiency of turbidity and humic substances in the enhanced coagulation process were investigated. Furthermore, certain parameters including the total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ultraviolet absorbance (UV₂₅₄), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were determined as the indices of the humic substances and turbidity in the water samples. The results of the raw water analysis showed that the mean values of TOC, DOC, UV₂₅₄, COD, and turbidity parameters were 4.41 mg/L, 4.11 mg/L, 16.47 1/cm, 15 mg/L, and 4.37 NTU, respectively. Moreover, the results of the present study showed that the average efficiency of the enhanced coagulation process in the removal of TOC, DOC, UV₂₅₄, COD, and turbidity was 65%, 62%, 70%, 69%, and 93%, respectively. Accordingly, the EC process using FeCL₃coagulant is a suitable, cost-effective, and highly efficient method for the simultaneous removal of turbidity and humic substances from water. Furthermore, this process can be used as an applicable method in SWTP as well as in other similar water treatment plants. https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_51941_6a1ae9ec0746854ec70706a0310970a1.pdf

Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 2676-3478 5 2 2017 05 01 Surveillance of the physical, chemical, and microbiological quality of swimming pool water in the Hamadan province 93 100 51931 10.22102/jaehr.2017.87227.1023 EN Mostafa Leili Department of Environmental Health Engineering Hamadan University of Medical Sciences Hamadan, Iran Hossein Ali Norouzi MSc, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Vice-Chancellor in Health Affairs, Hamadan University of MedicalSciences, Hamadan, Iran Mahdi Khodabakhshi MSc, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Vice-Chancellor in Health Affairs, Hamadan University of MedicalSciences, Hamadan, Iran 0000-0001-6331-4056 Afsaneh Naghibi MSc, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Vice-Chancellor in Health Affairs, Hamadan University of MedicalSciences, Hamadan, Iran Journal Article 2017 05 24 Swimming is considered one of the most conventional recreational activities for both leisure and exercising. Swimming pools have either public or private usage. Nevertheless, if the water of the swimming pools is polluted and is not identified on time, it could result in the transmission of various diseases to the people who use them. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the health situation of swimming pools in the Hamadan province during the period of 2012–2014.This research was a descriptive-analytical (cross-sectional) study on the 19 active pools in the 8 cities of Hamadan province. A total of 120 samples were randomly taken from different parts of the swimming pools during the three-year study period. The sampling and testing procedures were performed according to standard methods. The SPSS software (IBM^Ò) and the linear correlation test were used for data analysis. The results showed that the physicochemical parameters, such as pH and residual chlorine for 76% and 86% of the total samples, respectively, showed good compliance in pool water during the study period. In terms of microbiological parameters, the lowest and highest numbers of positive samples were observed in the years 2012 and 2014, respectively. According to the results and the unfavorable trend observed mainly in terms of microbial contamination, appropriate measures, such as through strict enforcement of sanitary standards and provision of required equipment like turbidity meter, should be undertaken in order to increase the hygiene level of swimming pools in the Hamadan province. https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_51931_3848fdcafd0ecb75391f8b9c8b7599c3.pdf

Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 2676-3478 5 2 2017 05 01 Mercury removal from aqueous solutions by palm leaves adsorbent 101 107 51939 10.22102/jaehr.2017.89835.1026 EN Mitra Mohammadi Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Khadije Shamsi Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran Abdollah Dargahi Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran 0000-0003-2929-2556 Pegah Sekhavat Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Kurdistan, Iran Journal Article 2017 06 21 Mercury is a carcinogenic and teratogenic compound that tends to accumulate in water solutions. In this research, the removal of mercury from an aqueous solution was evaluated by using palm leaves. Experiments were performed to study the adsorption efficiency, the effect of the adsorbent amount, the balance time, the adsorbate concentration, and the pH on mercury removal. The experimental apparatus used was a batch stirred reactor (volume: 1m³). The study was conducted under almost isothermal conditions. The test results showed that the optimum adsorbate concentration was 2 g/l, the balance time was three hours, the optimum adsorbent concentration was 15 mg/l, and the pH was 6. The maximum efficiency obtained was 99.24%. The chemical compounds with the highest presence in the palm leaves were LoI (93.76%), and SiO₂(4.1%), whereas the compound with the lowest presence was Na₂O (0.08%). The mercury removal efficiency increased with an increase in the adsorbent dose and the contact time, and reduced with an increase in the initial mercury concentration. The Freundlich model, using the variables provided in the study, predicted the change in the adsorption kinetics. https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_51939_df5bb8067b7b1d641275af93581dea28.pdf

Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 2676-3478 5 2 2017 05 01 Removal of Natural Organic Matter (NOM), Turbidity, and Color of surface water by integration of enhanced coagulation process and direct filtration 108 113 52996 10.22102/jaehr.2017.71676. EN Saeid Fallahizadeh MSc. of Environmental Health Engineering, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran 0000-0002-6083-0757 Bahador Neamati MSc. of Environmental Health Engineering, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran Abdalmajid Fadaei Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran Nezamaddin Mengelizadeh Environment Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, Student Research Committee and Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Journal Article 2016 12 08 This work assesses the efficiency of integrated enhanced coagulation and direct filtration processes for the removal of color, turbidity, and natural organic matter (NOM) from surface water. The processes were conducted in a simulated pilot. The operating conditions of the treatment process, including pH, FeCl₃ dose, and influent flow, were investigated. Following that, its efficiency was evaluated by measuring specific water quality parameters in the output stream including NOM, turbidity, and color. The results showed that under optimum conditions (pH, FeCl₃ dose, and influent flow of 6.2, 95 L/h, and 40 mg/l, respectively), the color and turbidity were removed 96% and 95% respectively. According to factors analysis by the Taguchi method, the influence of these factors on the removal of pollutants decreased as follows: pH → FeCl₃ dose → influent flow. The results revealed that the integrated enhanced coagulation process and direct filtration can improve the efficiency of colors, turbidity, and NOM removal in water treatment plants. https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_52996_e3cfe7e0a4271a14d3dad39253b15f1d.pdf

Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 2676-3478 5 2 2017 05 01 Microbial removal of engine oil from polluted media (the case study: Hamadan City) 114 122 53457 10.22102/jaehr.2017.80690.1011 EN Fariba Mohsenzadeh Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran Sanaz Safaie Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran Journal Article 2017 03 19 Discharging industrial wastes into the soil causes accumulation of pollutants, especially petroleum hydrocarbons and used engine oil, in the environment. This study was done to find some bacterial strains capable of removing the engine oil from contaminated soils. Soil samples contaminated by engine oil were collected from some polluted area of Hamadan City, and then their bacterial strains were isolated and classified on the basis of morphological keys and biochemical tests. The efficiency of these bacterial strains in removing the pollutant was evaluated in minimal salt medium (MSM) containing 1% engine oil. The optical density (OD) of the media was measured as an indicator of bacterial growth and degradation of the engine oil during day 0, 5, 10, and 15 at 600 nm wavelength. The bacterial strain responsible for the highest OD was chosen as the effective one, and the efficiency of oil removing was evaluated for this bacterial strain. In this study, eight bacterial strains called EODB_1-8 were isolated. The results of the OD determination showed that the four bacterial strains caused more turbidity in the samples. The effects of time, type of bacteria, and their interaction effects were also significant in all samples. The turbidity of the samples was increased with increasing exposure time. The maximum turbidity was caused by the bacterial strain EODB₄ and it was introduced as the best engine oil degrading bacterial strain. Its engine oil removal efficiency was evaluated to be 62.85% and it was identified as <em>Pseudomonas alcaligenes</em> using morphological keys and biochemical identification methods. https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_53457_78183ce7ee7aeba9085029cd82d930e4.pdf