Kurdistan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Advances in Environmental Health Research2676-34786420181001Survey of Fluoride, Chlorine, Potassium, Sodium, and Trihalomethane contents in the drinking water of five major universities in Iran2022097340910.22102/jaehr.2018.140528.1093ENAmir SalariDepartment of Food Hygiene and Aquaculture, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran0000-0001-7553-0362Saeid KhanzadiDepartment of Food Hygiene and Aquaculture, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran0000-0003-0106-587xZeynab RezaeiDepartment of Food Hygiene and Aquaculture, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran0000-0002-8793-8290Journal Article20180715Water quality directly influences individual and public health. Monitoring of water supplies and their sanitation is of paramount importance. The present study aimed to determine the concentrations of fluoride, chlorine, potassium, sodium, and trihalomethanes in the drinking water of five major universities in Iran. This descriptive study was conducted during January 2016-2017. In total, 60 samples of drinking water were collected from the central kitchens of the universities, including Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (two places), Gilan University, Kerman University, Hamedan University, and Shiraz University. Water samples with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers were obtained from the sources and shipped to the water laboratory in standard conditions. Parameters such as fluoride, chlorine, potassium, sodium ions, and trihalomethanes were measured in accordance with the national standard methods. According to the results, fluoride levels were within normal limits in all the samples, while chlorine and potassium ions were below the standard level. Similarly, sodium ion and trihalomethanes were below the standard limit in all the samples. Although the concentrations of the studied parameters were not above the standard limit, the periodic monitoring of water chemical quality is crucial to controlling community health.https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_73409_dc9f7453d884422b37035712739e2f55.pdfKurdistan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Advances in Environmental Health Research2676-34786420181001Physical, chemical, and microbial quality of drinking water in Sanandaj, Iran2102166991310.22102/jaehr.2018.121023.1066ENAsad NouriEnvironmental Health Research Center, Research institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, IranReza SadeghnezhadStudent of Environmental Health Engineering, student research committee, Faculty of Health, Health Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran university of Medical Sciences, Sari, IranMohammad Mahdi SooriDepartment of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, IranParisa MozaffariStudent Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran0000-0003-3963-2390Shahram SadeghiEnvironmental Health Research Center, Research institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran0000-0002-6119-721XMehrzad EbrahemzadihEnvironmental Health Research Center, Research institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran0000-0002-1783-1308Hamze SalehzadehStudent Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran0000-0002-1057-0707Journal Article20180228Drinkability of water is determined based on its physical, chemical, and microbial properties. Undesirable changes in these parameters could threaten the health of consumers. The present study aimed to assess the physical, chemical, and microbial parameters of the drinking water sources in Sanandaj, Iran and compare them with the national standard values. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted for 24 months. Samples were collected via simple random sampling from 116 stations in accordance with the principles of water sampling, including 51 stations of Sanandaj water distribution system, 15 reservoir stations, 25 stations for the outlet of the water treatment plant, and 25 stations for raw water. In total, 2,784 samples were obtained from the stations and transferred to the laboratory in standard conditions. Residual chlorine, pH parameters, turbidity, total coliforms, thermophilic coliforms, and heterotrophic plate count (HPC) were measured. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 18 using t-test and ANOVA. According to the results, the mean values for the physical parameters of turbidity and pH in the water distribution system were 0.9522 NTU and 7.9644, respectively. With regard to the chemical parameters, the mean residual chlorine in the water distribution system was 0.5548 mg/L, and the microbial parameters of total coliforms, thermophilic coliforms, and HPC were 0 MPN/100 mL, 0 MPN/100 mL, and 107.6533 CFU/ml, respectively. Our findings indicated that the mean concentrations of the measured parameters in the water distribution system of Sanandaj were within the national standard limits.https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_69913_52db211d0585c2e33802712a02b76ab9.pdfKurdistan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Advances in Environmental Health Research2676-34786420181001The kinetics of the removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions using magnetic nanoparticles supported on activated carbon2172247695710.22102/jaehr.2018.125899.1068ENMohammad Ebrahimi-ZarandiDepartment of Chemistry, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran0000-0003-4916-8894Azita KhosravanDepartment of New Materials, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Science, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran0000-0001-5315-6437Mahmoud Reza SohrabiDepartment of Chemistry, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran0000-0001-5470-3711Morteza KhosraviDepartment of Chemistry, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran0000-0002-4916-0190Mehran DavalloDepartment of Chemistry, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran0000-0002-4752-1394Journal Article20180328Removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution supplies is possible through the process of adsorption. One of these processes involves the preparation of magnetic nanoparticles on activated carbon (AC). Adsorbed coppre ions on the surface of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-AC are separated from aqueous solutions using external magnetic fields. In the present study, magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized using the co-precipitation method. Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-supported AC was also used for the removal of copper ions from an aqueous solution. In additon, the effects of parameters such as pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial Cu(II) concentration on the removal process were investigated. The optimal conditions for the removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions were at the pH of 7, adsorbent dosage of 0.1 gram, and initial Cu(II) concentration of 10 mg/l. Removal percentage was estimated at 96.37% for Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-AC, while it was 61.52% for AC. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models were also used in equilibrium studies. According to the findings, Temkin isotherm was well-fitted with the experimental data. In the kinetic studies, pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were assessed, and the pseudo-first-order equation provided the optimal correlation with the obtained data.https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_76957_2957249f54c7f12645b75407a9f938a9.pdfKurdistan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Advances in Environmental Health Research2676-34786420181001Effects of nanobubble aeration in oxygen transfer efficiency and sludge production in wastewater biological treatment2252337556010.22102/jaehr.2018.135459.1086ENMehrdad AhmadiPhD Scholar, Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of
Tehran, Tehran, Iran6104337801805019Gholamreza Nabi BidhendiProfessor, Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranAli TorabianProfessor, Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranNasser MehrdadiProfessor, Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranJournal Article20180611Low efficiency of conventional aeration techniques and the excessive production and disposal of sludge are great concerns in biological wastewater treatment systems. The present study aimed to evaluate the active sludge method using batch reactors under continuous operation to determine the efficiency of aeration and sludge production through microbubble and nanobubble aeration. The results indicated that compared to microbubble aeration, nanobubble aeration increased the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the mixed liqueur of the reactor (from 2 to 4.5 mg/l), while reducing the production of excess sludge from 100 to 40 ml/g (SRT: 15-40 d). With the same SRT duration, these values were within the range of 160-70 ml/g using fine-bubble aeration. According to the results, nanobubble aeration could increase the efficiency of aeration, thereby increasing the capacity of the treatment plant and reducing the costs of biological wastewater treatment.https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_75560_5a9995f1f5fc329ab2bb1d2636f76a0b.pdfKurdistan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Advances in Environmental Health Research2676-34786420181001Absorbability and translocation of Nickel from soil using the sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus)2342397707410.22102/jaehr.2018.133153.1081ENMaryam RafatiYoung Researchers and Elite Club, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran0000-0002-4682-3323Nikoo SiahpoorM.Sc of Environmental Pollution, Department of the Environmental pollution, Ahvaz branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, IranMaryam Mohammadi RoozbahaniDepartment of the Environmental pollution, Ahvaz branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran0000-0003-1008-2655Masomeh HeidariDepartment of the Environmental science, School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Sanandaj branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran0000-0002-2846-7898Journal Article20180524Today, soil pollution with heavy metals is a major environmental concern across the world. Phytoremediation is defined as a technique through which plants are able to absorb contaminants and potently recover the soil that is polluted by heavy metals. The present study aimed to investigate the level of nickel concentration in the roots, stems, and leaves of sunflower, as well as the mobility of this heavy metal in the organs of the plant. Various concentrations of nickel nitrate (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were added to the soil in the form of solutions. After the growing season, samples of the plant organs and corresponding soils were collected in order to measure the total concentration of nickel. According to the results, the highest concentration of nickel at the treatments of 0, 50, and 100 was detected in the stem, while the highest concentration in 200 mg/kg was detected in the roots. The lowest concentration of nickel was observed in the leaves in all the treatments. In addition, the measurement of the nickel mobility in various layers of the soil samples indicated that this index was above one only in the soil to the root layer (200 mg/kg) and root to the stem in the other treatments, which denoted the high translocation of this metal in the mentioned layers. Considering the risk of nickel toxicity, it seems that sunflower accumulates the highest level of nickel in the root and sending the lowest one to the shoot at high concentrations in soil.https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_77074_463db0ca1f8b583e88cdaadfa97cb009.pdfKurdistan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Advances in Environmental Health Research2676-34786420181001Effects of dried Rose Petals (Rosa damascena) on the antioxidant capacity of Green and Black Tea2402457369510.22102/jaehr.2018.135422.1085ENJavad AliakbarluDepartment of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, IranShadieh MohammadiDepartment of Environmental Health engineering, Kurdistan University of Medical Science, Kurdistan, Iran0000-0002-0711-4305Saeed DehestaniatharEnvironmental Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan
University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, IranDepartment of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran0000-0002-8236-3598Surur Khalili SadaghianiDepartment of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran0000-0002-7776-1145Journal Article20180610The health benefits of green and black tea are mainly associated with their antioxidant potential and phenolic compounds. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dried rose petals (<em>Rosa damascena</em>) on the antioxidant capacity of green and black tea. Antioxidant capacities of tea and rose infusions were assessed using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2-azinobis-3-<em>ethylbenzothiazoline</em>-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging. In the DPPH method, various concentrations of rose increased the radical scavenging activity of green tea, while the higher concentrations (2 g) negatively influenced the radical scavenging activity of black tea. In the ABTS assay, lower concentrations of rose (0.5 and 1 g) significantly increased the antioxidant activity of green tea. Moreover, various concentrations of rose enhanced the ABTS radical scavenging activity of black tea. According to the results, higher concentrations of rose decreased the DPPH radical scavenging activity of black tea, while the lower concentrations exerted synergistic antioxidant effects on the ABTS radical scavenging activity of green tea.https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_73695_d281da37d1b7d4abe26eab79f1f73a63.pdfKurdistan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Advances in Environmental Health Research2676-34786420181001Synthesis and structural properties of Mn-doped ZnO/Graphene nanocomposite2462528029510.22102/jaehr.2018.136175.1089ENMahnaz MohammadiMSc in Environmental Health, Student Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, IranAfshin MalekiEnvironmental Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran0000-0001-8261-8717Shiva ZandiEnvironmental Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, IranEbrahim MohammadiEnvironmental Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran0000-0002-1586-0922Esmail GhahramaniEnvironmental Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran0000-0003-4976-1233Journal Article20180621Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a promising metal oxide semiconductor with various applications, especially in the photocatalytic destruction of environmental pollutants. However, this nanoparticle has some limitations, such as poor dispersion, aggregation, and a wide energy gap. As such, the doping of metal oxide semiconductor has been strongly recommended. Addition of manganese (Mn) has proven effective in resolving these issues. On the other hand, addition of carbon-based materials (e.g., graphene) could improve the stability and photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO. Graphene oxide acts as an electron- transport and electron-acceptor agent, controlling the charge transfer in the ZnO/graphene nanocomposite interface. The present study aimed to synthesize manganese-doped graphene/ZnO nanocomposites and determine its structural properties. Some techniques were employed to characterize the prepared composites, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. According to the FTIR analysis, the peak in the range of 3467 cm<sup>-1</sup> was due to the presence of zinc groups in the graphene structure, and the peak observed at 439 cm<sup>-1</sup> also indicated the presence of Mn in the compound. Furthermore, the results of AFM analysis showed that graphene to be a layered sheet with the mean thickness of 1.48 nanometers. The results of the DLS analysis showed the mean diameter of GO-ZnO-Mn to be 37 nanometers, which reduced after graphene modification. According to the findings, addition of Mn and ZnO to graphene could effectively result in doping.https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_80295_45ea3839f8829c1a22337b5b5142a054.pdfKurdistan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Advances in Environmental Health Research2676-34786420181001Improvement of petroleum hydrocarbon remediation using the oat plant in the soil treated by poultry manure2532618017010.22102/jaehr.2018.141039.1094ENMaryam BaratiDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, IranSedigheh SafarzadehDepartment of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran0000-0002-9172-0016Dariush MowlaChemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, IranFereshteh BakhtiariDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, IranJournal Article20180716This greenhouse experiment aimed to investigate the effects of poultry manure (PM) on the growth of oat plant (<em>Avena sativa</em>) and removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) from soil. The treatments consisted of three TPH levels (4%, 6%, and 8% w/w) and two PM levels (zero and 1%) at three replications. According to the findings, shoot height, number of leaves, and the fresh and dry weight of the shoots and roots of oat decreased significantly with 6% and 8% TPHs compared to 4% contamination level. On the other hand, the removal of TPHs and microbial respiration rate significantly increased by 16.8% and 78.18%, respectively in the PM treatment compared to the non-PM treatment. The rate was estimated at 28.85% and 27.03% in the soil cultivated by oat compared to the unplanted soil, respectively. The highest and lowest removal rate of TPHs was observed in the soil cultivated with oats in the PM treatments containing 4% of the TPHs (45.25%) and unplanted treatments without manure containing 8% of TPHs (11.38%). Therefore, it could be concluded that the addition of PM to the soil cultivated with oat in the soils with TPH contamination could increase the microbial respiration rate of the soil, as well as the removal of TPHs.https://jaehr.muk.ac.ir/article_80170_b7b98207decd5d4e687bc5c8324c5d15.pdf