Japan, Iran and the oil business: a case study of the Iran Japan petrochemical company

The issue of Japan's heavy dependence on Middle Eastern oil has attracted a lot of attention in the political and academic circles for the reason that Japan is the second biggest consumer and the largest importer of oil in the world. Consequently, any action by Japan would not only have a major impact on petroleum markets, but also on international relations, security and on the Middle East itself. In the late 1960s Japan began negotiations with Iran, her biggest oil supplier at that time, about the establishment of a petrochemical joint venture. These negotiations led to the creation of the Iran Japan Petrochemical Company (UPC) in 1973. This study examines the different reasons why the main partners, Mitsui Bussan of Japan and the National Petrochemical Company of Iran as well as their respective governments, were so interested in the idea of a joint venture. It traces the troubled history of UPC from the preliminary negotiations in 1968, through two decades which saw the Iranian Revolution and the setting up of an Islamic state, the Iran-Iraq War, and two oil crises, until its dissolution in 1990. The research reveals conflicts of interest between Japanese and Iranian motivations behind the venture, between the goals of the privately owned Mitsui Bussan and the state-run National Petrochemical Company as well as their contrasting organisational and managerial styles, which led to the failure of UPC and its eventual dissolution. Using the case of IJPC as an example, the study argues that the setting up of a joint venture of this nature was an inappropriate response to the main purposes of each nation, i.e. the Japanese desire for a stable oil supply and the Iranian desire for rapid industrialisation and transfer of technology. Finally, it suggest alternative policies through which each country could achieve its respective ambitions

The Concentration of Mercury, Cadmium and Lead in Muscular Tissue of Fishes in Khersan River

Background: Aquatic ecosystems including fish in rivers may be widely contaminated by heavy metals released into waters from industrial, agricultural and other human activities.This study aimed to investigate the level of contamination of theses heavy metals (mercury, cadmium and lead) in fish caught in Khersan river, the largest tributary of Karun river. Methods: The heavy metals level of mercury, cadmium and lead was investigated by atomic absorption spectrometry using Perkin Elmer 4100ZL in rainbow trout, pike and common carp species caught in Khersan river. Results: The average concentration of mercury, cadmium and lead in muscular tissue of trout, pike and common carp in all three breeding areas were (0.023,0.110, 1.12), (0.026, 0.162, 1.34) and (0.027, 0.155, 1.45) mg/kg, respectively and only lead metal was more than the level determined by the World Health Organization and European Commission regulations. The concentration of cadmium and lead in muscular tissue of caught fishes indicated an inverse and significant relationship with increasing weight and reducing fish metabolism (r=-0.568 and r=-0.517). The concentration of heavy metals of fishes in the river reduced by an increase in fish age, length and weight. Conclusion: The level of mercury and cadmium in fishes of Khersan river was shown not to be threatening for their consumers, but the increase for lead concentration reflects the fact that the entry of urban, rural and agricultural wastewater affects the concentration of heavy metals in fishes of the river that may be threatening for their consumers

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of dental clinics waste in Zabol city, Iran

Dental clinics are one of the sources of waste production that are important due to producing infectious and potentially infectious waste, chemical and pharmaceutical waste, and toxic waste. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze dental clinics in Zabol quantitatively and qualitatively. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014 on waste produced in dental clinics in Zabol. Sampling of 25 dental clinics was performed three times per week. At the end of the working day, the samples were transferred to a suitable site and weighed carefully after separation of the components. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Excel software. 5457 kg of waste is annually produced in the dental clinics of Zabol that the amount of infectious and potentially infectious waste, household-like waste, chemical and pharmaceutical waste, and toxic wastes are approximately 48.08, 43.75, 7.82 and 0.35%, respectively. Given that proper management of waste produced is not performed in dental clinics in Zabol, special attention to waste produced in this sector through programs of reduction in source, separation and recycling can reduce the waste volume significantly. Keywords: Dentistry waste, Dental clinics, Waste composition, Infectious waste, Toxic wast