Removal of metoprolol from aqueous solutions by the activated carbon prepared from pine cones

Background: Metoprolol (MTP) with its low biodegradability is one of the most dominant micropollutant in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of metoprolol from aqueous solutions by the activated carbon prepared from pine cones. Methods: The pine cones were activated using thermal activation method. Characteristics of the adsorbent were determined using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In this study, the influent of different parameters such as pH, contact time, initial concentrations of metoprolol, adsorbent dose, temperature, adsorption isotherms, and kinetics were investigated. Results: The maximum removal efficiency of MTP (89.2%) was obtained at pH=8.5, adsorbent dose=1.5 g, contact time=60 min, and initial concentration=50 mg/L. By increasing the adsorbent dose, the removal efficiency also increased, but the adsorption capacity decreased, however, by increasing the initial concentration, the removal efficiency decreased, but the adsorption capacity increased. The isotherm experimental data for metoprolol was best fitted using the Langmuir model, and kinetic data were better described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The thermodynamic study indicated that the adsorption of MTP by the adsorbent was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic. Conclusion: MTP removal by the activated carbon prepared from pine cones showed that this natural adsorbent is appropriate for removal of metoprolol from aqueous solutions regarding cost, efficiency, and production method. Keywords: Metoprolol, Adsorption, Pine cones, Isotherm, Kinetics, Thermodynamic

Quantity and quality of solid wastes produced in dental offices of babol city

Introduction: Dental wastes due to having bacterial disease-causing agents and toxic chemicals are categorized in hazardous wastes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quantity and composition of dental waste produced by general and specialized dental offices in babol city. Materials &Methods: From all dental offices (170 and 40 dental offices were related to general and specialized respectively) in babol city, 20 general and 5 specialized offices were randomly selected. Waste samples were collected three times a week (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday), 50 sub-groups were separated and weighted by a digital scale with accuracy of 0.01 gram. The data were presented by excel and word software in figures and tables. Results: The total wastes of general and specialized offices were 11829 and 2831.5 kg/year, respectively. The percentages of domestic-type, infectious, pharmaceutical and toxic wastes in general dental offices were 52.5%, 42.5%, 4.7% and 0.3%; and in specialized offices were 42.5%, 50%, 7% and 0.5%, respectively. Most components in a variety of dental waste included plastic, paper, plaster molds, glass and metal. Conclusion: Due to the large contents of plastic, paper, plaster molds, glass and metals in domestic- type and infectious wastes produced in the general and specialized dental offices, it is necessary to manage the wastes and their separation and recycling in source place

Evaluation of quality and quantity of solid wastes in Babol Dental Faculty–North of Iran

Introduction: Dental wastes are a main part of urban solid wastes in each society and have pathogenic agents and toxic chemicals, which put health of patients, personnel and other referees to dental clinics in danger. The present study was done to recognize the quality and quantity of the different generated wastes at various parts of the Faculty of Dentistry-Babol University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The whole solid wastes generated in the odd and even days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) of the middle of the week from the second month of each season were examined. Various dental solid wastes including general, infectious and hazardous chemical wastes were weighted by typical scale. Results: The generation rate of the solid wastes were: total dental wastes: 291.2 kg including general solid wastes: 251.3 kg (%86.3), infectious wastes and sharps: 38 kg (%13) and hazardous chemical waste: 2 kg (%0.7). The total amount of wastes in a year was 69888 kg. The solid wastes are daily produced according to each active dental unit as total, domestic-type, infectious and the hazardous chemical wastes were 3.07 kg, 2.65 kg, 0.4 kg and 0.02 kg, respectively. Conclusions: Considering the quality and quantity of the generated dental solid wastes especially infectious wastes and their unfavorable effects on the peoples' health and environment, it is necessary to compile a distinct policy for the management of these medical solid wastes. Also, holding training workshops, knowledge of the staffs in the dentistry care centers should be increased to avoid possible dangers

Comparison of heavy metals contamination and ecological risk between soils enriched with compost and chemical fertilizers in the North of Iran and ecological risk assessment

Abstract Background: Nowadays, uncontrolled use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture is one of the reasons for the entry of heavy metals into the environment. In this study, the heavy metals contamination of the soils enriched with compost and chemical fertilizers in the North of Iran and its ecological risk assessment were evaluated. Methods: In this study, 108 soil samples were collected from agricultural soils of some places of Babol in Mazandaran province. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer (PG-990) was used to determine the concentrations of lead, cadmium, and zinc in the soil samples. The assessment of soil contamination was performed by the contamination factor, degree of contamination indices, and the potential ecological risk of the heavy metals. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive and chi-square tests were used to compare the mean with existing standards. Significant level was considered at P < 0.05. Results: The highest lead concentration (35.7 ± 9.5 mg/kg) was observed at 5-cm depth, and the maximum cadmium (1.1 ± 0.2 mg/kg) and zinc (88 ± 22.6 mg/kg) concentrations were observed at 15-cm depth. The results showed that lead, cadmium, and zinc concentrations in the agricultural soils enriched with compost fertilizers were acceptable, but agricultural soils enriched with chemical fertilizers indicated higher content than those enriched with compost fertilizers and higher than the maximum allowable concentration. The maximum contamination degree, pollution index, and potential ecological risk in the agricultural soils enriched with the chemical fertilizers were 15.77, 1.97, and 293.48, respectively, and these soils had low potential pollution and moderate ecological risks. Conclusion: According to the results, it is necessary to use compost fertilizers for the agricultural soils enrichment. Keywords: Heavy metals, Ecological risk assessment, Agricultural soils, Compost and chemical fertilizer

Prevalence of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) among Students and Teachers of Guidance Schools in Babol, Winter 2018

Background: It is important to determine the prevalence of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms in school students and teachers, which is relevant to the physical environment of the building. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sick building syndrome in students and teachers of guidance schools in Babol. Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in 15 guidance schools in Babol in the winter of 2018, among 150 students and 95 teachers. The MM040EA (Miljomedicine040) questionnaire was used to collect data and was completed by interview. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: Among the 12 symptoms of SBS, 50.7% of students had fatigue, and 44.7% had headaches. There was a significant correlation between heavy headedness (p = 0.42) and headache (p = 0.029) with students’ gender. There was a significant correlation between the teachers’ gender with the redness or dryness of facial skin (p = 0.015), redness or itching of hands (p = 0.009) and also fatigue (p = 0.003). There was a significant correlation between the symptoms of the SBS with very high temperature in the students (p = 0.050), and with the noises (p = 0.40) in the teachers. Conclusion: The present study showed that more than half of the students and teachers had symptoms of SBS. Since the symptoms of SBS are associated with some physical conditions of the classroom and school environment, the health condition of the schools should be annually checked for all aspects

The Evaluation of Social Medicine Training Programs from Point of View of General Practitioners

Background & Objective: Community oriented medical education has been considered by many universities. The aim of this study was to determine the general practitioners (GPs) point of view regarding social medicine training programs (SMTP). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on GPs, graduated from different Iranian medical Universities after 1985, in Babol, Iran, in 2010. Subjects were selected by simple randomized sampling method. Data were gathered using a questionnaire consisting of three parts and analyzed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests by SPSS. Results: In this study 130 GPs, who had graduated 10.4 ± 5.7 years ago, were evaluated. Data showed some topics of SMTP, like occupational health, disease management, executing a research project, and presence in rural/urban health centers, were more common in GPs graduated after 2001 in comparisons with counterpart group. Moreover, GPs who worked in rural health centers indicated to have more attention on mental health, dental health, elderly care, disease management, and social health assessment methods in curriculum of SMTP. Conclusion: According to our findings, mental and occupational health along with elderly care should be considered in social medicine curriculum of medical students. Moreover, appropriate revisions on SMTP and continuous education programs on these topics for GPs are recommended. Keywords Education Medical students Social medicine training progra

Evaluation of heavy metal concentrations in Rutilus frisii kutum on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea (northern Iran)

Background: Marine products, especially fish, play an increasingly significant role in human diets and health. This research evaluated the concentrations of cadmium, lead, chromium, and nickel in liver and muscle tissues of Rutilus frisii kutum along the Caspian Sea coasts of northern Iran. Methods: Thirty samples of fishes were taken from five stations (Astara, Rezvanshahr, Anazali, Ramsar, and Tonekabon) during fishing season. An ICP-OES spectrophotometer was used to determine concentrations of the studied metals. Data was analyzed by SPSS 19 using descriptive statistical index, t test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test; P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Mean concentrations of cadmium, lead, chromium and nickel in the livers were 0.06, 1.1, 2.1 and 1.5 µg/g respectively and in the muscles were 0.05, 0.8, 1.7 and 1.1 µg/g, respectively. In liver: cadmium= 0.01-0.13; lead= 0.3-2.7; chromium = 0.9-4.5; nickel = 0.1-2.8. In muscle: cadmium = 0.01-0.08; lead = 0.2- 1.5; chromium = 0.7-2.7; nickel = 0.5-1.5. Mean contents of these heavy metals were higher in the liver than in muscle. The order of heavy metal concentrations in the liver and muscle tissues were: Cr>Ni>Pb>Cd. The results showed statistically significant differences in the concentrations of these metals in liver and muscle tissues (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between males and females. Conclusion: Based on calculations, the estimated permissible tolerable weekly intakes (PTWIs) of cadmium (0.042 and 0.567 mg) and lead (0.0021 and 0.027 mg) in this study are lower than the levels established by the World Health Organization (WHO) (0.455 mg for cadmium and 1.625 mg for lead)

Assessment of Nitrous Oxide Concentration in the Operating and Recovery Rooms of Babol University of Medical Sciences

Background & purpose: There are occupational hazards related to Nitrous Oxide (N2O) in hospitals operating and recovery rooms. These hazards include the decrease of mental performance and audio-visual ability, and reduced fertility, spontaneous abortion and neurological, renal and liver diseases. In this survey, the concentration of Nitrous Oxide in indoor air of hospitals operating and recovery rooms in Babol University of medical sciences was determined. Materials & Methods: This descriptive study was performed in 23 operating rooms and 3 recovery rooms in 3 educational hospitals of Babol medical sciences university. The rooms with continuous usage of N2O with 2-3 lit/min of flow of general anesthesia were studied. For sampling and detecting N2O concentration as part per million (ppm), a portable IR spectrophotometer (3015 model of Bacharach Inc.) was used. The sampling was performed in 5 different zones of the operating rooms and 1zone of recovery room in 3 different hours of work time (8:30-9AM, 10:30-11AM and 12:30-1:00PM). One-way ANOVA ,SPSS 18 was used to analyze data and comparing the means. Results: N2O concentration mean in 5 different zones of the operating rooms was 318&plusmn; 22.6, 325.5&plusmn; 24.1, 299&plusmn; 21.8, and 301&plusmn; 22, 314&plusmn; 23.7 ppm and in recovery room, it was 51&plusmn; 15 ppm. There was no significant difference between the means of N2O concentration in different zones of the operating rooms, but the means of N2O concentration in different zones of the operating rooms and recovery room were significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Considering high average concentration of Nitrous Oxide in different operating and recovery rooms with maximum contamination levels of N2O, this situation subjects the health personnel to risk. Therefore, further research and applying protection utilities are recommended

Investigating the Physicochemical Analysis of Potable Ground Water Resources in Rural Area of Babol City

Introduction and Aims Safe and good quality drinking water is one of the most important human needs. The effect of ground water contamination is one of the most important concerns of public-health worldwide. The purpose of this was to investigate the chemical and physical quality of ground water resource in rural areas of Babol city. Material and Methods Sampling of this cross sectional- descriptive study carried out during 2011-2012. 14 physical and chemical parameters were measured in 78 random samples of 39 stations in Spring and Autumn. The results were analyzed by descriptive statistical method and were compared with the standards of ground water quality of Iran, WHO and Shuler&rsquo;s diagram. Results The findings of this study indicated that the concentration of Nitrate, Nitrite, Sulfate, Chloride, Calcium, Sodium, EC and pH were within the standard range, but the level of turbidity, total hardness and Fe at 7.7, 5.13 and 20.5 percent of samples are higher than the standard limits and fluoride concentration that ranged from 0.02 to 1.13 ppm, where lower than the standard limits in 87.2 percent samples and 12.8 percent water samples were within optimum limit i.e. 0.5-1.5 ppm. According to Shuler&rsquo;s diagram, the parameters of water quality ranged between good and medium situations. Conclusion Based on the results, the mean concentration of most physico -chemical parameters in Babol&rsquo; village&rsquo;s drinking water is based on 1053 standard limit in Iran, but the fluoride level is lower than the maximum contaminant levels in many villages. Therefore, by addition of fluoride to water supplies of these regions, deficiency complications would be prevented. * Corresponding Author: Babol University of Medical Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Engineering. Email: [email protected]

Survey of Hospital Solid Waste Management in North of Iran Background and Objectives

Continuous development of health systems and the growing access of community to medical centers have resulted in escalating production of healthcare-related waste. Hospital waste often contains infectious and/or poisonous materials whose contact with soil, water, and air will contaminate environment