Hospital hazardous waste management: Treatment, storage and disposal

Rapid population growth, industrialization, and growth of demand for raw materials for industrial and medical production result in generating a huge amount of hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is identified by its toxicity, flammability, and radioactivity characteristics. Disposing hazardous waste into the natural environment has a significant impact on health and all living things in the environment. Nowadays, numerous hospitals and industrial places generate a large amount of hazardous waste. The objective of this study is to evaluate the management system of hazardous hospital waste in Erbil city. Additionally, the focus is on hazardous hospital waste management and characterizations and situation of the waste in Erbil city as well. The generation rate of hazardous wastes from hospitals in Erbil city was collected for 12 months from 2015 to 2020. The results showed that the highest amount of medical hazardous waste was generated in 2019. Moreover, the number of onsite incineration centres should be increased to reduce the cost of storage and transportation

Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) operational parameters and limitations for wastewaters treatment with cost study

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) technology is one of the efficient techniques for purification of many types of wastewaters which contain pollutants less dense than water. Nowadays, due to high quality standards, wastewaters should be treated with high quality wastewater treatment techniques which meet the appropriate standards. DAF can remove suspended materials and oily particles contained in raw wastewaters. The study aims to review DAF system with its operation and limitations of the system. Additionally, the cost of system is discussed. Pretreatments of primary sedimentation and post treatments such as filtration, biological, and chemical treatments can enhance the removal of pollutants and efficiency of the system

GIS Visualization of Solid Waste Disposal Sites and Environmental Impacts in Kurdistan Region-Iraq

The increase in the quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) has made environmental problems in the Kurdistan Region (KR)-Iraq. Current study illustrated components and generation rates (GR) of MSW in seven different cities of KR. Geographic information system (GIS) was applied to locate MSW disposal sites, components, and generation rate in the cities. The study reported the maximum GR for MSW in Sulaymaniyah City which was 1.20 Kg/Capita/day and the minimum GR for domestic solid waste in Erbil City was 0.65 Kg/Capita/day. In-addition, the amount of organic waste component (OWC) in Erbil, Halabja, Sulaymaniyah, Semel, Duhok, Qaladize, and Ranya Cities were 79.34 %, 58 %, 65 %, 65 %, 79 %, 75.1 %, and 67.05 %, respectively. The average GR and OWC were calculated to be 0.972 Kg/Capita/day and 71.91%, respectively. Consequently, all MSW disposal sites had great impact to the surrounding areas resulting in air, water, and soil contamination

COVID-19 Vaccination Among Diverse Population Groups in the Northern Governorates of Iraq

Objectives: The present study was carried out to investigate COVID-19 vaccination coverage among populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and host communities in northern Iraq and the related underlying factors.Methods: Through a cross-sectional study conducted in five governorates in April–May 2022, 4,564 individuals were surveyed. Data were collected through an adapted questionnaire designed to gather data on participants.Results: 4,564 subjects were included (59.55% were 19–45 years old; 54.51% male). 50.48% of the participants (51.49% of host communities, 48.83% of IDPs, and 45.87% of refugees) had been vaccinated with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 40.84% of participants (42.28% of host communities, 35.75% of IDPs, and 36.14% of refugees) had been vaccinated by two doses, and 1.56% (1.65% of host communities, 0.93% of IDPs, and 1.46% of refugees) were vaccinated with three doses.Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors including age, gender, education, occupation, and nationality could affect vaccination coverage. Moreover, higher acceptance rate of vaccination is associated with belief in vaccine safety and effectiveness and trust in the ability of the vaccine to prevent complications

Global burden of chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors, 1990–2019: an update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Updated data on chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are vital in their prevention, control, and treatment in the path to achieving the third UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a one-third reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030. We provided global, regional, and national estimates of the burden of CRDs and their attributable risks from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we estimated mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), prevalence, and incidence of CRDs, i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumoconiosis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, and other CRDs, from 1990 to 2019 by sex, age, region, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) in 204 countries and territories. Deaths and DALYs from CRDs attributable to each risk factor were estimated according to relative risks, risk exposure, and the theoretical minimum risk exposure level input. Findings: In 2019, CRDs were the third leading cause of death responsible for 4.0 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval 3.6–4.3) with a prevalence of 454.6 million cases (417.4–499.1) globally. While the total deaths and prevalence of CRDs have increased by 28.5% and 39.8%, the age-standardised rates have dropped by 41.7% and 16.9% from 1990 to 2019, respectively. COPD, with 212.3 million (200.4–225.1) prevalent cases, was the primary cause of deaths from CRDs, accounting for 3.3 million (2.9–3.6) deaths. With 262.4 million (224.1–309.5) prevalent cases, asthma had the highest prevalence among CRDs. The age-standardised rates of all burden measures of COPD, asthma, and pneumoconiosis have reduced globally from 1990 to 2019. Nevertheless, the age-standardised rates of incidence and prevalence of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis have increased throughout this period. Low- and low-middle SDI countries had the highest age-standardised death and DALYs rates while the high SDI quintile had the highest prevalence rate of CRDs. The highest deaths and DALYs from CRDs were attributed to smoking globally, followed by air pollution and occupational risks. Non-optimal temperature and high body-mass index were additional risk factors for COPD and asthma, respectively. Interpretation: Albeit the age-standardised prevalence, death, and DALYs rates of CRDs have decreased, they still cause a substantial burden and deaths worldwide. The high death and DALYs rates in low and low-middle SDI countries highlights the urgent need for improved preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures. Global strategies for tobacco control, enhancing air quality, reducing occupational hazards, and fostering clean cooking fuels are crucial steps in reducing the burden of CRDs, especially in low- and lower-middle income countries

The global, regional, and national burden of adult lip, oral, and pharyngeal cancer in 204 countries and territories:A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Importance Lip, oral, and pharyngeal cancers are important contributors to cancer burden worldwide, and a comprehensive evaluation of their burden globally, regionally, and nationally is crucial for effective policy planning.Objective To analyze the total and risk-attributable burden of lip and oral cavity cancer (LOC) and other pharyngeal cancer (OPC) for 204 countries and territories and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) using 2019 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study estimates.Evidence Review The incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to LOC and OPC from 1990 to 2019 were estimated using GBD 2019 methods. The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate the proportion of deaths and DALYs for LOC and OPC attributable to smoking, tobacco, and alcohol consumption in 2019.Findings In 2019, 370 000 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 338 000-401 000) cases and 199 000 (95% UI, 181 000-217 000) deaths for LOC and 167 000 (95% UI, 153 000-180 000) cases and 114 000 (95% UI, 103 000-126 000) deaths for OPC were estimated to occur globally, contributing 5.5 million (95% UI, 5.0-6.0 million) and 3.2 million (95% UI, 2.9-3.6 million) DALYs, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, low-middle and low SDI regions consistently showed the highest age-standardized mortality rates due to LOC and OPC, while the high SDI strata exhibited age-standardized incidence rates decreasing for LOC and increasing for OPC. Globally in 2019, smoking had the greatest contribution to risk-attributable OPC deaths for both sexes (55.8% [95% UI, 49.2%-62.0%] of all OPC deaths in male individuals and 17.4% [95% UI, 13.8%-21.2%] of all OPC deaths in female individuals). Smoking and alcohol both contributed to substantial LOC deaths globally among male individuals (42.3% [95% UI, 35.2%-48.6%] and 40.2% [95% UI, 33.3%-46.8%] of all risk-attributable cancer deaths, respectively), while chewing tobacco contributed to the greatest attributable LOC deaths among female individuals (27.6% [95% UI, 21.5%-33.8%]), driven by high risk-attributable burden in South and Southeast Asia.Conclusions and Relevance In this systematic analysis, disparities in LOC and OPC burden existed across the SDI spectrum, and a considerable percentage of burden was attributable to tobacco and alcohol use. These estimates can contribute to an understanding of the distribution and disparities in LOC and OPC burden globally and support cancer control planning efforts

Effect of environmental factors on spermatogenesis. : Ex-vivo assessment of low level of cadmium or bisphenol A on testicular meiotic cells. : Dosage of metals in semen and in DNA of spermatozoa.

Nous avons fait l'analyse des flux cytométrie nous a permis d'évaluer les changements dans le nombre de cellules de Sertoli et germinales par le cadmium. Seulement cellules germinales ont diminué dans le temps et de manière dose-dépendante. CS fragmenté, asynapsis et "mitée" CS ont été observés. Cd induit modifications ex-vivo en cours de la méiose. BPA changé chronologie de la méiose et active le point de contrôle de pachytène. Asynapsis et la fragmentation ont été induites. Noyaux leptotène anormaux, et zygotène asynapsed, observées. CS pulvérisé indiqué les anomalies de recombinaison et / ou d'appariement génétique.BPA modifie principales fonctions biologiques et les voies canoniques. Le nombre de gènes affectés par BPA a augmenté au cours du temps d'exposition. Changement Fold augmenté. Quatre fonctions altérées étaient le cancer, la mort cellulaire, le développement cellulaire et la cellule de cellulaire signalisation. Nous insistons sur le fait que les gènes liés à l'ADN interagi ORD réparation perturbés.la mesure des métaux dans le plasma séminal et de l'ADN du sperme des hommes normaux et anormaux. Nous avons utilisé ICP / MS pour mesurer la concentration de métal dans l'ADN de le sperme et plasma séminal. Tous les métaux analysés ont été détectés dans le plasma séminal. De l'ADN de sperme, As, Hg, Sb et Se, ont été non détecté par cette méthode. Aucune correlation des concentrations de métaux entre le plasma séminal et d'ADN de sperme ont été observées. Les concentrations de métaux, dans le sperme normaux et anormaux, visualiser une augmentation significative de Sb dans le plasma séminal et de Al dans l'ADN des spermatozoïdes dans le sperme de groupe anormal.We did Flow cytometric analysis enabled us to evaluate changes in the number of Sertoli cells and germ cells by cadmium. Only germ cells were decreased in a time and dose dependent manner. Fragmented SC, asynapsis and "motheaten" SC were observed. Cd induced ex-vivo modifications in meiotic process. BPA changed meiotic chronology and activates the pachytene checkpoint. Asynapsis and fragmentation were induced. Abnormal leptotene nuclei, and asynapsed zygotene, observed. Pulverized SC indicated the abnormalities of genetic recombination and/or pairing. Transcriptomic analysis showed that BPA alters main biological functions and canonical pathways. The number of genes affected by BPA increased over the exposure time. Fold change increased. Four impaired functions were cancer, cell death, cellular development and cell to cell signaling. We emphasize that interacted genes linked to DNA DSB repair disturbed.The other part of this thesis is including the measurement of metals in seminal plasma and in sperm DNA of normal and abnormal men. We used ICP/MS to measure the metal concentration in the seminal plasma and sperm DNA. All metals analyzed were detected in seminal plasma. In sperm DNA, As, Hg, Sb and Se, were undetected with this method. No correlation between the seminal plasma and sperm DNA metal concentrations were observed. The metal concentrations, in normal and abnormal semen, visualized a significant increase of Sb in the seminal plasma and of Al in the sperm DNA in the abnormal semen group

Biofilm formation monitoring using SEM in synthetic wastewater pollutant removal by combination of DAF and modified MBBR

Nowadays, moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR) and dissolved air flotation (DAF) are frequently used in combination for the biological and physical treatments of synthetic oily wastes. The efficiency of the biocarriers utilized in MBBR is crucial since it has a big impact on the system's overall performance. A study was carried out utilizing a DAF-MBBR technique to treat synthetic oily wastewater in order to evaluate this. Two different kinds of biocarriers were used in this modified MBBR: polyethylene and plastic bottle caps. The result showed the DAF-MMBBRs process demonstrated excellent removal efficiencies for a range of parameters. Moreover, it seemed that DAF had higher COD, nitrite, nitrate, and turbidity removal efficiencies. For COD, the average removal efficiency was 39.62%; for oil and grease, it was 77.05%; and for ammonia, it was 39.71%. In the same way, MBBR1 is effective at eliminating phosphate, ammonia, TSS, and oil and grease. For COD, the average removal efficiency was 39.12%; for oil and grease, it was 94.10%; and for ammonia, it was 85.42%. The average removal efficiencies for COD, oil and grease, and ammonia in MMBBR2 were 38.76%, 84.95%, and 86.49%, respectively. Furthermore, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the biofilm within the system. This revealed a well-developed biofilm layer on the interior surfaces of the biocarriers, improving the effectiveness of synthetic wastewater treatment. Excellent removal efficiencies were shown by the DAF-MBBR system for a range of parameters during a ten-day operational period

Folic acid delivery device based on porous silicon nanoparticles synthesized by electrochemical etching

Folic acid insufficiency has long been related to the occurrence of various diseases. However, the loss of integrity of folic acid has led to the investigation of strategies to improve the vitamin stability and controlled release. Porous silicon nanoparticle is an attractive inorganic material for drug delivery applications due to its biocompatibility and tunable degradation behavior. The aim of this work is to produce porous silicon nanoparticles with suitable dimensions for loading folic acid. Porous silicon was fabricated by anodic electrochemical etching in a Teflon cell containing a 1:4 (v/v) solution of 49% aqueous HF in ethanol. Pores between 15 and 20 nm in diameter were obtained and the highly degradable porous silicon was stabilized to SiO2 structures by thermal oxidation. Folic acid was loaded into these structures by simple adsorption and the release was examined by UV absorption spectroscopy. The surface morphology of porous silicon delivery device in each stage of the fabrication was characterized by FE-SEM, X-ray spectrometer, FTIR, and XRD and the drug loading confirmed based on the comparison with pure folic acid spectra. pSi nanoparticles showed optimal folic acid delivery capabilities (60 % released after 6 h) and due to its simple fabrication method and its intrinsic optical properties have the potential to be used as a diagnostic and therapeutic point of care too

Nanosporous silicon as drug delivery system for cancer therapies

Porous silicon nanoparticles have been established as excellent candidates for medical applications as drug delivery devices, due to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and high surface area. The simple fabrication method by electrochemical anodization of silicon and its photoluminescent properties are some of the merits that have contributed to the increasing interest given to porous silicon. This paper presents the methods of fabrication, which can be customized to control the pore size, various chemical treatments used for the modification of silicon surfaces, and the characterization and pore morphology of silicon structures. Different approaches used for drug loading and the variety of coatings used for the controlled released are revised. The monitoring of the toxicity of silicon degradation products and the in vivo release of a drug in a specific site are described taking into account its significance on medical applications, specifically on cancer therapy