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Background & Objective: Nowadays petroleum compounds have been widely used all over the world. Intentional and accidental release of these compounds into the environment disturbs aquatic ecosystem especially groundwater. Therefore, removal of petroleum compounds from water is necessary from the point of health and environmental view. This work aimed at investigation of the effect of electro-coagulation process using iron and stainless steel electrodes on removal of petroleum compounds from groundwater. Methods: required water samples were taken from one of the monitoring wells of Tehran petroleum refinery. Effect of electro-coagulation process using iron and stainless steel electrodes on removal of petroleum compounds was evaluated through determination of turbidity and COD in groundwater. The variables studied include the effects of current density, anode and cathode types, reaction time, and initial pH of solution. Turbidity was measured using a HACH 2100 N TURBIDIMETER and COD was determined by open reflex method. Results: The optimum materials for anode and cathode were determined to be stainless steel and Iron, respectively. Efficiency of process was improved by increasing current density and reaction time. The optimum pH was found to be between 7 and 9. Conclusion: The results obtained imply that the electro-coagulation would be an efficient and reliable technique for removal of petroleum contaminants from groundwater.

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Background & Objectives: Using immethodically and uninformed of allowed and non- allowed artificial food dyes in food production establishments without supervision of authorized experts, has caused concerns in consumers health. Being aware of the knowledge and attitude of food dealers can facilitate throughout planning and managerial programs. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude of confectionery employees on usage of artificial food dyes. Methods: Knowledge and attitude of all 46 confectionery employees were studied using a standard questionnaire. ANOVA, Duncan, and Pearson correlation tests were applied for data analysis. Results: Despite the significant positive correlation between knowledge scores and employees education level, negative relationships were found between knowledge scores and age and experience (p<0.05). Attitude scores had significant relationship only with education (p<0.01), however, their differences in different groups were not considerable. Conclusion: The results showed that staff awareness on food and non-food grade dyes and their application is low and training is necessary on this field. It is recommended that training to be planned based on employee’s education levels. Subjects had negative attitude on health effects of non-allowed artificial dyes. Controlled and limited supply of artificial colors along with promoting awareness of producers and users of these dyes are the best strategies to reduce the unauthorized application of artificial dyes in the community.

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Objective & Background: Phenol and its derivatives are common organic pollutants existing in wastewater of many industries such as oil refineries, coal processing, coking operations, and petrochemical, resin, and plastic manufacturing industries. Phenol is very toxic for human and environment. Adsorption is one of the processes used to remove phenol from aqueous solution. At present, one of the most interested absorbents is agricultural wastes. Thus, the aim of this study was application of carbonized service bark (CSB) and modified-carbonized services bark by ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO/CSB) due to the abundance of these wastes in the area studied. Methods: This Applied fundamental study was performed in Batch system. The adsorbent was carbonized at 500 °C for 2 hours and soaking method was applied for their modification by ZnO nanoparticles. Required concentrations of phenol were prepared by dissolving crystalline phenol in double distilled water. All experiments were performed in 100 ml Erlenmeyer flasks on shaker and the effect of different parameters such as pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial phenol concentration and mixing speeds were investigated. Phenol was measured by 4-aminoantipyrine colorimetric method according to standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Data were analyzed using Excel software. Results: Maximum removal of phenol was observed at pH 2 for both adsorbents. The best condition for both adsorbents obtained in initial phenol concentration of 50 mg/l, adsorbent dose of 1 g/l and mixing speed of 200 rpm. Conclusion: The results indicated that established ZnO on CSB may increase adsorption capacity and it can be used as an effective adsorbent for phenol removal.

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Background & objectives: Understanding relationships between dietary factors and prevention of diabetes is increasing. Pre-diabetic patients should have an appropriate diet. The overall goal of this project was to investigate the effect of application of Trans-theoretical Model based education on enhancing nutritional behaviors in pre-diabetic individuals in Yazd city. Methods: This experimental-trial research with control group was conducted on randomized samples of 220 pre-diabetic patients referred to Yazd city health centers using Trans-theoretical Model to improve nutritional behaviors controlling diabetes. In order to achieve project goals, a multi-dimensional questionnaire was designed based on the model constructs and requirements and filled in a long with 72-hour recall and food frequency forms by participants before and after intervention. Results: Before intervention, measurements of stage of change construct revealed that majority of participants (i.e. 86.4% of experimental group and 79.1% of control group) were in the pre-action stages (pre-contemplation, contemplation and preparation) in terms of nutritional behaviors. However, 21.4% of the experimental group and 73.4% of the control group were observed in the pre-action stages after the intervention. Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes is a global crisis that threatens health and economy of all nations. Scientific evidence shows that the vast majority of type 2 diabetes can be prevented through improving diet and lifestyle modification in pre-diabetic patients.

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Background & Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are the most important cause of death in Iran and the world. Regarding the relationships between cardiovascular diseases and nutritional status as well as the tendency of people toward having food in restaurants and hotels present study conducted to study the effect of education on knowledge, attitude and practice of restaurant and hotels’ chefs to prevent risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in Yazd. Methods: In a semi-experimental study, intervention factor for case group was education through lectures, pamphlets, and videos were. All the restaurant and hotels’ chefs of Yazd were divided in two groups, intervention and control (each group 39). Data were gathered through a researcher made questionnaire. Its validity was confirmed under supervision of health education and cardiovascular professionals and its reliability was proved through conducting a pilot study and calculation of Cronbach's alpha (α=0.75). Pretest was done prior to interventional educational program (in 4 sessions of 90 min). Posttest questionnaire was filled in after one week from implementation of educational intervention and the data were analyzed by SPSS software using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Before training, average scores of knowledge and attitude had no significant differences between case and control groups. However, unlike attitude (p=0.065), mean score of knowledge (p<0.001) significantly increased in intervention group comparing to control group. Significant differences were observed in scores of knowledge and attitude of intervention group between prior and one week after education courses (p<0.001). The main information source of the subjects was media (63.5%) with physicians being their preferred source (62.2%). Conclusion: According to average knowledge of chefs before the intervention and significant role of chefs on cardiovascular health improving chefs' information through regular training programs in consultation and health education centers, posters, pamphlets, and media is suggested.

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Background & aim: Nitrate is used as a chemical water quality indicator. Therefore, nitrate removal from contaminated water is considered as an important health and environment issue. The aim of this work was investigation of nitrate adsorption from aqueous solution by Local Green Montmorillonite (LGM) as a novel adsorbent.

Methods: This study was conducted in a laboratory batch reactor. The most important variables affecting adsorption process were investigated and adsorption kinetic and isotherms were determined. Spectrophotometer was used for nitrate measurement and adsorbent characteristics were determined by BET, SEM and FTIR examimations. Data analysis was performed by excel software.

Results: The results showed the optimum pH=1.5 and nitrate adsorption increased by increasing contact time and adsorbent dosage. The adsorbent specific surface area of 13m²/g was obtained and FTIR test revealed the functional groups existing on adsorbent surface to have important role in nitrate adsorption. Experimental data was well fitted by pseudo second-order kinetic model. Langmuir isotherm model best represented the experimental data to describe adsorption process and the maximum nitrate adsorption capacity was 89 mg/g.

Conclusion: Overall, data showed that the Local Green Montmorillonite can efficiently remove nitrate from aqueous solution.

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Background & objectives: The use of geographic information system software (GIS) for monitoring water resources can be very effective to protect, manage and correctly operate water resources. The aim of this study was to assess groundwater quality in Yazd-Ardakan for agricultural purposes using GIS.
Methods: In this study, to assess groundwater quality in Yazd - Ardakan Plain, data were collected from 75 wells within 10 years (2005 to 2015). GIS 10.22 software and kriging spatial analysis model were applied for data interpolation and zoning maps.
Results: The results showed that the water quality in Yazd - Ardakan Plain based on TDS, SAR and EC parameters was unfavorable for irrigation purposes in 42, 40.26 and 55.3% of the areas, respectively. The calculated total quality index showed that water quality in 53.18% of the areas was suitable, 28.65% average and 18.17% poor in Yazd-Ardakan plain for irrigation.
Conclusion: According to the results, differences in type and composition of the soil have induced changes in water quality. Since, the main water quality problem in Yazd-Ardakan plain is EC, SAR and TDS, direct use of groundwater must be avoided in order to prevent damage and reduce crop yields in north and east areas.

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Background & objectives: The organic dyes are environmental pollutants that pour into water sources by industrial wastewater. It is necessary to develop effective methods for removing pollutants. The aim of this study was to evaluate photocatalytic efficiency of bare ZnO nanoparticles doped with Mg and La (1 to 6% by weight) and Mg 5% -La 5% / ZnO and Mg6%-La4% / ZnO nanoparticles in the removal of Rhodamine B from water solution by UVC irradiation.
Methods: In this study, nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol-gel method. Their photocatalytic activity was investigated by UVC irradiation to remove Rhodamine B in batch photoreactor. The concentration of Rhodamine B in aqueous solutions was measured by the determination of its absorption at the maximum wavelength of 554 nm with a visible-ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The removal amount in the presence of nanoparticles in 21 min of UVC irradiation was analyzed. In addition, a suitable kinetic model for the photocatalytic activity was investigated.
Results: After 21 min UVC irradiation, the percentage of Rhodamine B removal from 11.5% (absence of nanoparticles) to 72.84% (presence of ZnO), 94.36% (presence of Mg 5% / ZnO), 88.54% (presence of La4% / ZnO) and 96.23% (presence of Mg5%-La5% / ZnO). The kinetic constants of active nanoparticles were also calculated.
Conclusion: The results of the study show that ZnO nanoparticles are effective as a photocatalyst for the removal of Rhodamine B from aqueous solutions under UVC irradiation, by doped and co-doped ZnO with Mg²⁺ and La³⁺ ions enhance the efficiency of nanoparticles in the removal of Rhodamine B. Also, results indicated that the kinetic model followed from the pseudo-first order.
 

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Background & objectives: The rapid spread of COVID-19 has recently become a worldwide health challenge. Coping with the highly contagious outbreak of COVID-19 requires preventive measures and self-care behaviors in the first instance. To this end, the use of techniques and methods of coping, disease prevention as well as management, lifestyle, education and use of health items and providing self-care instructions can prevent further spread of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prioritization of self-care indicators in the prevention of Covid-19 in Ardabil province, which is one of the foci of this disease.
Methods: This descriptive-field survey was conducted from the beginning of Covid-19 outbreak (March 1998 to January 1999). The sample size consisted of 120 people who were selected using the available snowball sampling method. Data analysis was performed using TOPSIS analysis software and formulation in Excel software based on weighting with entropy algorithm and prioritization with TOPSIS algorithm.
Results: The results of this study showed the Sub-indics of increasing awareness of people about the prevalence of infection with proximity with coefficient (CLi +) of 0.8673, washing hands with soap and water or disinfecting with alcohol-based solution with proximity coefficient (CLi +) of 0.9391, electronicization of most activities Employees' work with a coefficient of closeness (CLi +) of 0.8687, observing a safe distance (1.5 meters) from people who cough and sneeze with a coefficient of closeness (CLi +) of 0.8277, avoiding any gatherings with a coefficient of closeness (CLi +) 0.9276, as the most important indicators among self-care methods in Ardabil province.
Conclusion: This study was a proposed method to assist health care providers in making decisions and selecting the COVID-19 self-care model in Ardabil province

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Background & objectives: Recently, fitness (bodyweight workout), kickboxing and TRX training have become very popular. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a period of fitness-kickboxing and fitness-TRX training on some anthropometric indices and cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women.
Methods: Forty overweight women were randomly divided into three groups. The control group included fitness training and the experimental group included fitness training with kickboxing and fitness training with TRX. Subjects performed the training for two months (3 sessions per week). Then anthropometric indices with body composition analyzer and blood samples (to measure blood lipid profile) were measured on two occasions (before the beginning of the course and 48 hours after the end of the course). For analyzing data, paired sample t-test and one-way analysis variance with the significant level of p<0.05 were used.
Results: There was a significant difference between body weight (p=0.001), BFM (p=0.009), BMI (p=0.0001), %BF (p=0.037), WHR (p=0.024) and also total cholesterol (p=0.011) in fitness group, a significant difference between BFM (p=0.012), %BF (p=0.003) and WHR  (p=0.002) and also total cholesterol (p=0.009), HDL (p=0.016) and LDL (p=0.0001) in fitness-kickboxing group and a significant difference between body weight (p=0.0001), BFM (p=0.001), BMI (p=0.0001), %BF (p=0.001), WHR (p=0.0001) and also total cholesterol (p=0.001) and LDL (p=0.004) in fitness-TRX in the pre-and post-test (p<0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant difference between %BF (p=0.003) and also HDL (p= 0.021) and LDL (p=0.0001) in three groups after a period of training.
Conclusion: All three trainings somehow influenced anthropometric indexes and cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women. With the comparison of the three groups, it can be concluded that fitness training is more effective on decreasing %BF and LDL, fitness-kickboxing on decreasing %BF and increasing HDL as well as fitness-TRX training on reducing LDL.
 

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Background & objectives: Industrial air pollution is one of the most important environmental problems, and various industries are essential sources of air pollutants. This study aims to investigate the concentration of suspended particles (PM_2.5, PM₁₀) and assess the risk of silica dust around the tile and ceramics factory.
Methods: This study was conducted around a tile factory, where 48 environmental samples were collected. The NIOSH method 7601 was used to collect these samples with SKC individual sampling pumps. They were taken at a distance of 1.5 meters from the ground, using a TES-5200 Particle Mass Counter from Taiwan. The samples were analyzed in the laboratory by a DR6000UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method was employed to evaluate the health or non-carcinogenic risk. The risk of death due to lung cancer was assessed using the linear regression method of Rice et al.
Results: This study found that the highest average concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and silica were 0.013, 0.206, and 0.285 mg/m3, respectively. The hazard quotient was calculated to be below one at all environmental stations, indicating a low risk. The study estimated 0.69 deaths per thousand people due to lung cancer.
Conclusion: At some of the environmental stations in the factory area, the level of suspended particles and silica exceeds the permitted limit. To stay safe, it is advised for everyone to take personal precautions when in or around the factory.