Detection of SARS-CoV-2 genome in the air, surfaces, and wastewater of the referral hospitals, Gorgan, north of Iran.

Background and Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic caused by the novel virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Knowing the virus's behavior and its persistence in different environments are crucial and will lead to the proper management of the disease. In this study, air, surface, and sewage samples were taken from different parts of referral hospitals for COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Air samples were taken with impinger, surface samples with swabs, and sewage samples were taken from the hospital wastewater treatment plant. After viral genome extraction, a real-time RT-PCR test was applied to confirm the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the collected samples. Results: The virus genome could be traced in the wards and wastewater related to hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Overally, 29%, 16%, and 37.5% of air, surface, and sewage samples were positive for the SARS-CoV-2 genome, respectively. Conclusion: Findings of such studies provide valuable results regarding the degree of contamination of hospital environments and the risk of virus transmission in different environments and among hospital staff and patients.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes-CoFe2 O4 nanoparticles as a reusable novel peroxymonosulfate activator for degradation of Reactive Black 5.

In this study, CoFe2 O4 nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), as novel peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator, were synthesized for degradation of Reactive Black 5 (RB5). The results showed that the maximum removal efficiencies of RB5 (100%), chemical oxygen demand (83.12%), and total organic carbon (65.5%) could happen at pH of 7, catalyst dosage of 100 mg/L, PMS dosage of 2 mM, RB5 concentration of 50 mg/L, and time of 30 min. The results of the temperature effect showed that the activation energy (Ea  = 20.92 kJ/mol) for the synthesized catalyst is much lower compared to other studies. The PMS/MWCNTs-CoFe2 O4 system had higher decolorization efficiency and kinetic rates compared to other adsorption and oxidation systems. Quenching experiments proved that RB5 was degraded by sulfate and hydroxyl radicals. The MWCNTs-CoFe2 O4 catalyst showed suitable stability and reusability even after five consecutive catalytic reactions. The continuous treatment of RB5 in real water resources was performed using catalyst packed in a column reactor, and its results showed the high efficiency of the column in the catalytic treatment of the dye at long reaction time. Based on the proposed degradation pathway, the azo bands and the naphthalene structure of RB5 are oxidized to compounds with low molecular weight. PRACTITIONER POINTS: MWCNTs-CoFe2 O4 was used as a novel recyclable catalyst for the activation of peroxymonosulfate and dye degradation. The rate of dye degradation and peroxymonosulfate activation by MWCNTs-CoFe2 O4 was much higher than that of the catalysts alone. Radical SO 4 · - , with contribution percentage of 73.20%, was the main agent for degradation of Reactive Black 5 dye. MWCNTs-CoFe2 O4 in the dye degradation process showed excellent stability and reusability, lower activation energy, and easier separation. The dye degradation products were identified by gas chromatography and UV-vis spectrophotometric analyses, and their degradation pathway was suggested.

Catalytic degradation of diclofenac from aqueous solutions using peroxymonosulfate activated by magnetic MWCNTs-CoFe3O4 nanoparticles.

CoFe3O4 nanoparticles supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-CoFe3O4) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method as a novel catalyst for degradation of diclofenac (DCF). The comparative experiments indicated that MWCNTs-CoFe3O4 has a better catalytic activity in degradation of DCF and activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) compared to other catalytic systems. This can be attributed to the interaction of MWCNTs with CoFe3O4 in accelerating the absorption process and activating the PMS (E a = 22.93 kJ mol-1). The removal efficiencies of DCF and total organic carbon (TOC) were 99.04% and 50.11%, under optimum conditions, e.g., pH of 7, PMS dosage of 4 mM, DCF concentration of 30 mg L-1, catalyst dosage of 500 mg L-1, and reaction time of 120 min. The oxidation of DCF was fitted by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the constant rate was increased by increasing the pH, temperature, dosage of PMS and catalyst. The production of reactive species was studied using scavengers such as TBA and ethanol and the results showed that sulfate radical is the reactive species responsible for the degradation of DCF. The MWCNTs-CoFe3O4 catalyst showed high stability and reusability based on five successful repeated reactions, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. Based on the intermediates detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the possible pathways for DCF catalytic oxidation were proposed. The results explained that the PMS/MWCNTs-CoFe3O4 system is a promising method for treating DCF solution due to high efficiency, good reusability of catalyst and greater PMS activation.

Data on wastewater treatment plant by using wetland method, Babol, Iran.

Date in this paper highlights the applications of constructed horizontal surface flow (HF-CW) wetland with two different local plants (Louis latifoila and Phragmites -australis (Cav.) Trin) at the wastewater treatment plant in Babol city. This system was designed as an advanced treatment unit in field scale after the treatment plant. Parameters such as Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), Turbidity, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), were investigated. The result shows that treatment efficiency increases with the passage of time. The efficiency of Phragmites planted setups in open environment was fairly good for all studied parameters (28.6% of TDS, 94.4% for TSS, 79.8% for turbidity, 93.7% for BOD and 82.6% for COD). The efficiency of the latifoila set up was also good, but lower than that of Phragmites (26.5% of TDS, 76.9% for TSS, 71.5% for turbidity, 79.1 for BOD and 68.8% for COD). In brief, the obtained dates show that using local plants in (HF-CW) wetland not only effectively reduces various contaminants from the effluent of the wastewater according to Effluent Guideline regulations (WHO & EPA), but it is also a cost- effective and environmentally friendly method. Also, it was calculated that in full scale operation [time (1 day) and a depth (0.3 m)], 8 ha of wetland was needed.

Patterns, Beliefs, Norms and Perceived Harms of Hookah Smoking in North Iran

Introduction: Hookah smoking is considered as a public health threat around the globe. The aim of this study was to investigatethe hookah smoking patterns, beliefs, norms and perceived harms in Golestan province of Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 395 hookah smokers using convenience sampling method in 2015. To collect data, Heinz's hookah patternwas utilized. Ordinal regression models were used to exploring of covariates related to the odds of life time, last-30-day, and current hookah use. Results: In general, 357 (90.4%) subjects were male smokers. Most of subjects smoked hookah in café (62.2%) and with friends (75.6%). The majority of them (71.1%) did not consider themselves as a hooked person. Cigarette smoking (OR =.65, 95 % CI .42-.98), low perceived addictiveness of hookah than cigarettes (OR =2.33, 95 % CI 1.45-3.73), Social context of hookah smoking with friends in café (OR =1.14, 95 % CI 1.08-1.2), and number of close friends who smoked hookah (OR =1.38, 95 % CI 1.18-1.61) were effective variables affected the past month use of hookah. Conclusion:Development, implementation and assessment of interventions particularly adapted to hookah smoking regarding increase of perceived harm of hookah than cigarette and its probable addiction focusing on close friends appeared to be beneficial.

Influence of bioaugmentation on biodegradation of phenanthrene-contaminated soil by earthworm in lab scale.

BACKGROUND: Use of earthworm to eliminate the phenanthrene from the soil (bioaccumulation) is developed as an economical method. Bioaugmentation of microorganism was used for promotion of bioaccumulation by earthworm. The aim of this study was to determine the bioaccumulation or biodegradation of phenanthrene by Eisenia fetida and bacterial consortium in polluted soil. METHODS: The amount of 0.4 kg of the polluted soil in the ratio of 10 and 30 mg phenanthrene per kg of dry soil was transferred into each pot. Afterwards, bacteria and earthworms were added to each pot in separate and combination. The samples were kept under field conditions, and the retention concentrations of phenanthrene were analyzed after 8 weeks. RESULTS: Results showed that the Eisenia fetida was able to significantly remove phenanthrene from the polluted soil samples. Bioaccumulation and bioaugmentation alone have the removal efficiency of 60.24% and 50.3%, respectively. In the combined mode, phenanthrene removal efficiency was 63.81%. CONCLUSIONS: The current study indicated that the use of earthworms, could improve both phenanthrene bioavailability and microbial activity, which led to enhancing removal of carbon-based pollutants.