Health Endpoint of Exposure to Criteria Air Pollutants in Ambient Air of on a Populated in Ahvaz City, Iran.

The presence of criteria air pollutants (CAP) in the ambient air of a populated inhalation region is one of the main serious public health concerns. The present study evaluated the number of cardiovascular mortalities (CM), hospital admissions with cardiovascular disease (HACD), and hospital admissions for respiratory disease (HARD) due to CAP exposure between 2010 and 2014. The study used the Air Q model and descriptive analysis to investigate the health endpoint attributed to the ground level of ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfide dioxide (SO2), and particle matter (PM10). Baseline incidence (BI) and relative risk (RR) are the most important factors in the evaluation of health outcomes from exposure to CAP in the ambient air of a populated area according to EPA and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Our study showed that annual cases of cardiovascular mortality during the period 2010-2014 relating to particle mater were 478, 506, 469, 427, and 371; ozone was 19, 24, 43, 56, and 49; nitrogen dioxide was 18, 20, 23, 27, and 21; and sulfide dioxide was 26, 31, 37, 43 and 11, in the years 2010 to 2014, respectively. These results indicate that the number of hospital admissions for respiratory disease attributed to PM were 2054, 2277, 2675, 2042, and 1895; O3 was 27, 35, 58, 73, and 63; NO2 was 23, 24, 15, 25, and 18; and SO2 was 23, 24, 25, 30, and 20, in the years from 2010 to 2014, respectively. The results also showed that the number of hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease related to particle mater was 560, 586, 529, 503, and 472; ozone was 22, 32, 38, 55, and 51; nitrogen dioxide was 19, 18, 13, 21, and 14; and sulfide dioxide was 12, 14, 16, 22, and 9, in the same period, respectively. Observations showed that most of the pollution was from outdoor air and in the human respiratory tract. Increased levels of sulfide dioxide, particle matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone can cause additional morbidity and mortality for exposed populations. According to the results, it is possible to help increase the level of public health. The use of these findings could also be of great help to health professionals and facilitators at regional and national levels.

Estimation of PM10 pollutant and its effect on total mortality (TM), hospitalizations due to cardiovascular diseases (HACD), and respiratory disease (HARD) outcome.

Dust storms not only affect the quality of life but also pose a serious health and social problem. The main source dust events include central and west Asia, the Taklimakan desert, and Middle East, carrying out high volume of particulate matter, which increased the level of PM10 as representative of dust storm. The purpose of this study was to investigate the number of mortality (TM), hospitalizations due to cardiovascular diseases (HACD) and respiratory diseases (HARD) among the people of Bishkek and Ahvaz. Data validation was performed using the WHO criteria. The average time PM10 in outdoor air was calculated, and its health effects were obtained by entering its annual data and population at risk, baseline incidence (BI), and relative risk index (RR) for IHD outcomes. In our study, AirQ software was used. The number of excess cases in Bishkek and Ahvaz for total mortality and cardiovascular mortality was 63 and 758 and 35 and 478 persons while for HARD and HACD was 84 and 2054 and 33 and 560 persons, respectively. The survey requires the need to enact and enforce permissible PM10 levels/standards due to dust storms to reduce the health effect on humans by relevant environmental authorities both at federal and state levels.

Assessment of types of bacterial bio-aerosols and concentrations in the indoor air of gyms.

The presence of airborne microorganisms in indoor air (home and work) is a serious public health concern. Bio-aerosols have a significant role in indoor air pollution as they can be pathogenic or cause an allergic reaction following inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption. This study aimed to assess bacterial bio-aerosols in the indoor air concentration of gyms, and its relationship with gym area per person, temperature, and relative humidity. Sampling was performed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 0800-0999 and using an Anderson single-step sampler. Fifty-five gyms were selected with simple random sampling method and 165 samples collected for evaluation of bacterial bio-aerosols. The concentrations of airborne bacteria were measured as colony-forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/m3) collected by impaction on to tryptic soy agar plates. The maximum and minimum densities of bacteria in the air of gyms were 877 and 117 CFU/m3, respectively. Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Escherichia Coli had an order of the highest to lowest frequency among the microorganisms, respectively. Generally, with increasing temperature and humidity, the density of bacteria was increased. The higher amount of the microorganisms was observed in the air of gyms in the lower available area per person. Athletes are at risk of high exposure to the bacterial bio-aerosol that can affect their health.

Corrigendum to "The relationship between knowledge of leadership and knowledge management practices in the food industry in Kurdistan province, Iran" [Data Brief 15 (2017) 155-159].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.09.031.].

Assessment of carbon monoxide concentration in indoor/outdoor air of Sarayan city, Khorasan Province of Iran.

Nowadays, air pollution by humans is considered a serious problem. One of the main sources of air pollution is carbon monoxide which is called the silent killer. With the increasing rate of population growth in Iran and subsequent acceleration of vehicle and fossil fuel usage, the mortality rate of carbon monoxide has increased. The aim of this study is assessment of the concentration of carbon monoxide in indoor and outdoor air of Sarayan city, Khorasan Province of Iran. In this descriptive-analytic study, the air condition of a residential area and outdoor environment of Sarayan city has been monitored for determining the carbon monoxide concentration during a 3-month period from January to March 2017. Overall, 25 stations with uniform distribution were located in the city. Fifty samples were taken monthly and by considering 3-month period, a total of 150 samples were gathered. The samples were taken in kitchens between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and by considering the respiratory height of the human body, the carbon monoxide meters (TES model, Taiwan) were placed at a height of 75-150 cm. The descriptive statistics were presented after entering data into SPSS-16, and, by applying Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests in the case of α = 0.05, the data were analyzed. The average concentrations of carbon monoxide in indoor and outdoor environments were 0.84 ± 3.21 ppm and 0.27 ± 0.92 ppm, respectively. The maximum carbon monoxide concentration in February in an outdoor environment was 6 ppm (station no. 4) and the least one was 0 ppm. In March, for an indoor area, the maximum carbon monoxide concentration was 41 pm for station no. 11. The indoor-to-outdoor (I-to-O) ratio in March was higher than other months, and in January, was less than others. The study reveals that the indoor and outdoor carbon monoxide indices of Sarayan city are at acceptable levels.

Ambient particulate matter concentration levels of Ahvaz, Iran, in 2017.

Dust storm in Khuzestan region is strongly influenced by transportation and influx of large amount of particulate matter from internal sources (Hawizeh Marshes and East Ahwaz) and external sources (the Arabian Desert in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and the Sahara Desert). Particulate matter is one of the main components of indoor and outdoor air quality that can be very dangerous for human. The principal objective of this study was the pinpoint of the source of airborne particulate matter by the NOAA HYSPLIT model in Ahvaz City, southwest of Iran. The investigation of dust storm and their origin was performed by the GFSG Meteorological Data (backward trajectories ending analysis of the NOAA HYSPLIT model) and collecting particulate samples with high-volume air samplers during the fall and winter seasons. The results showed the average ambient particulate matter concentration in the cold and warm seasons was 158 and 161 µg/m3, respectively. Moreover, the average particulate matter concentration in the cold season was significantly higher than the standard level as presented in the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. Consequently, it seems essential to develop green space, decrease particulate emission from source and make determined efforts to control dust at governmental and international scales.

Assessment of microbial quality of household water output from desalination systems by the heterotrophic plate count method.

Point-of-use household water desalination systems (HWDSs) are becoming popular in Iran because of the deterioration of drinking water. This study aimed to determine the microbial quality of output water from HWDSs in Qom, Iran by using the heterotrophic plate count (HPC) method. Samples of input and output water from 30 HWDSs were collected over a six-month period. Heterotrophic bacteria were tested using the pour plate technique. At the first sampling stage, the HPC level in 23% of samples exceeded the 500 CFU/ml threshold level. On average, for 50% of samples, the HPC level of input samples was 0-10 CFU/ml, for 42% it was 10-100 CFU/ml and for 8% it was 100-500 CFU/ml. For output samples, for 25%, the level of HPC was 0-10 CFU/ml, for 43% it was 10-100 CFU/ml, for 24% it was 100-500 CFU/ml and for 8% it exceeded 500 CFU/ml. For total coliforms the most probable number test was positive for the first and third stages of sampling (3% input samples). The comparison of the averages with national standard values shows that in some cases, the contamination of output water from HWDSs in the city of Qom has been above the standard values.

Association between cancer risk and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons' exposure in the ambient air of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran.

Nowadays, a large number of health endpoints such as disease rates, treatment costs, and death, by air pollutants, have been a serious health problem for humans. One of the most hazardous air pollutants, which is highly dangerous for human health, is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The existence of the emission of industries' pollutants and seasonal variations are the primary agents affecting PAHs' concentration. The purposes of this study were to calculate the cancer risk and measure PAHs' exposure in the ambient air of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, during 2017. Three distinct areas ((S1) industrial, (S2) high traffic, and (S3) residential) of Ahvaz metropolitan were selected. Omni sampler equipped with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filters were used for active sampling of PAHs. To detect the level of PAHs, gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used. Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and lifetime average daily dose (LADD) were used to estimate the health risk caused by PAHs. The results showed that the residential and industrial areas had the lowest and highest level of PAHs. Moreover, the average levels of PAHs in industrial, high traffic, and residential areas were 8.44 ± 3.37, 7.11 ± 2.64, and 5.52 ± 1.63 ng m-3, respectively. Furthermore, ILCR in autumn and winter was higher than EPA standard, 0.06307 and 0.04718, respectively. In addition, ILCR in different areas was significantly higher than standard. Research findings imply that the levels of exposure to PAHs can increase ILCR and risk of health endpoint. The cancer risk attributed to PAHs should be further investigated from the perspective of the public health in metropolitans.

Health risk assessment on human exposed to heavy metals in the ambient air PM10 in Ahvaz, southwest Iran.

Heavy metals (HM) are one of the main components of urban air pollution. Today, megacities and industrial regions in southwest of Iran are frequently suffering from severe haze episodes, which essentially caused by PM10-bound heavy metals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the health risk assessment on human exposed to heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the ambient air PM10 in Ahvaz, southwest Iran. In this study, we estimated healthy people from the following scenarios: (S3) residential site; (S2) high-traffic site; (S1) industrial site in Ahvaz metropolitan during autumn and winter. In the current study, high-volume air samplers equipped with quartz fiber filters were used to sampling and measurements of heavy metal concentration. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was utilized for detection of heavy metal concentration (ng m-3). Also, an estimate of the amount of health risk assessment (hazard index) of Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn of heavy metal exposure to participants was used. Result of this study showed that the residential and industrial areas had the lowest and the highest level of heavy metal. Based on the result of this study, average levels of heavy metal in industrial, high-traffic, and residential areas in autumn and winter were 31.48, 30.89, and 23.21 µg m-3 and 42.60, 37.70, and 40.07 µg m-3, respectively. Based on the result of this study, the highest and the lowest concentration of heavy metal had in the industrial and residential areas. Zn and Pb were the most abundant elements among the studied PM10-bound heavy metals, followed by Cr and Ni. The carcinogenic risks of Cr, Pb, and the integral HQ of metals in PM10 for children and adults via inhalation and dermal exposures exceeded 1 × 10-4 in three areas. Also, based on the result of this study, the values of hazard index (HI) of HM exposure in different areas were significantly higher than standard. The health risks attributed to HM should be further investigated from the perspective of the public health in metropolitans. The result of this study showed increasing exposure concentrations to heavy metal in the studied scenarios have a significant potential for generating different health endpoints, while environmental health management in ambient air can cause disorders in citizenship and causing more spiritual and material costs.

Data on evolutionary relationships between hearing reduction with history of disease and injuries among workers in Abadan Petroleum Refinery, Iran.

The present work examined data obtained during the analysis of Hearing Reduction (HR) of Abadan Petroleum Refinery (Abadan PR) workers of Iran with a history of disease and injuries. To this end, all workers in the refinery were chosen. In this research, the effects of history of disease and injury including trauma, electric shock, meningitis-typhoid disease and genetic illness as well as contact with lead, mercury, CO2 and alcohol consumption were evaluated (Lie, et al., 2016) [1]. After the completion of the questionnaires by workers, the coded data were fed into EXCELL. Statistical analysis of data was carried out, using SPSS 16.

The effect of education on the nursing care quality of patients who are under mechanical ventilation in ICU ward.

Nurses have the most important role among health care workers (HCWs) in each hospital (Aiken et al., 2008) [1]. Nurses education can lead to the improvement of nursing care If is implemented and designed based on nurses' needs and proper principles (Aiken et al., 2008) [1]. Nowadays, increased quality of the treatment and increase the chances of survival of patients with acute respiratory failure are very important (Teixeira et al., 2013) [2]. Nursing care plan in ICU patients is one of the important elements in nursing care, and one of the main strategies is promotion of education level. Nurses due to longtime relationship with nursing staff in 24 hours and use of multiple roles of education have excellent position in evaluating educational needs and performing clinical educator roles. The effect of education on the nursing care quality of patients who were under mechanical ventilation (UMV) in intensive care unit (ICU) ward of Razi hospital is evaluated during 2015. The present study is descriptive-analytical and semi experimental research. Research statistical population included 30 nurses. In this paper, the effects of communication with the patient, correct suctioning, compliance of aseptic techniques, the correct discharge of tube cuff, chest physiotherapy, the correct change positions, health food gavage, prevent of foot drop, oral hygiene, the eyes hygiene and protect the cornea have been studied. After completion of the questionnaires by patients, the obtained coded data were fed into EXCEL. Reliability was confirmed with coefficient Alfa 0.86 and the result of software and techniques were entered to SPSS for statistics and analysis.

The relationship between knowledge of leadership and knowledge management practices in the food industry in Kurdistan province, Iran.

The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between the knowledge of leadership and knowledge management practices. This research strategy, in terms of quantity, procedure and obtain information, is descriptive and correlational. Statistical population, consist of all employees of a food industry in Kurdistan province of Iran, who were engaged in 2016 and their total number is about 1800 people. 316 employees in the Kurdistan food industry (Kurdistan FI) were selected, using Cochran formula. Non-random method and valid questions (standard) for measurement of the data are used. Reliability and validity were confirmed. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out, using SPSS 16. The statistical analysis of collected data showed the relationship between knowledge-oriented of leadership and knowledge management activities as mediator variables. The results of the data and test hypotheses suggest that knowledge management activities play an important role in the functioning of product innovation and the results showed that the activities of Knowledge Management (knowledge transfer, storage knowledge, application of knowledge, creation of knowledge) on performance of product innovation.

The effect of reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal complications in patients treated with aspirin, referred to Imam Hospital, of Ahvaz, Iran.

This research contains data which were obtained during the analysis of treated patients with aspirin who were referred to Imam Hospital (Imam H) of Ahvaz, Iran; and the effect of this type of treatment (Helicobacter pylori eradicate (HPE)) on reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal complications. Studies have shown that taking aspirin in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with a decreasing risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (O'connor et al., 2013) [1]. In this study, 165 patients with positive helicobacter pylori infection test were chosen among those who were referred to Imam H. In this paper, the effects of sex, smoking, renal failer, diabetes, age, blood pressure and aspirin consumption have been studied (Fletcher et al., 2010) [2]. After completion of the observations and records of patient's medical records, the obtained coded data were fed into EXCELL. Data analysis was performed, using SPSS 16.

Risk factors accelerating hypothyroidism in pregnant women referred to health centers in Abadan, Iran.

The present work contains data obtained during the analysis of pregnant women referred to Abadan Health Centers Organization (Abadan HCO) with confirmed acute hypothyroidism diagnosis. From among all pregnant women referred to Abadan HCO, 600 were chosen consisting of 120 pregnant women from each of the health centers in quintuple areas. In this paper, the effects of family history, occupation, death, abortion, type of diabetes, smoking, lithium consumption, allergy, radiotherapy, ovarian cysts (OC) and oral contraceptive pills (OCP) consumption have been studied (Yassaee et al., 2014) [1]. After completion of the questionnaires by the patients, the obtained coded data were fed into ECSELL software. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using Special Package for Social Sciences version 16 (SPSS 16).

A comparative study of hospital admissions for respiratory diseases during normal and dusty days in Iran.

During the last century, most of people around the world moved from communicable to non-communicable diseases, mainly due to air pollution. Air pollutants and dust storm increase risk of morbidity, for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and increase the number of deaths. The city of Ahvaz is considered as the focal point of air pollution and dust storm in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the number of Hospital Admission Respiratory Disease (HARD) including asthma attacks, acute bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease attributed to PM10 by a descriptive study during normal and dust event days in Ahvaz during the time period 2010-2012. The hourly PM10 data was collected from the Iranian Environmental Protection Agency and Razi hospital. The annual PM10 mean concentrations reached 282, 288 and 278 µg/m3 in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The number of HARD attributed to PM10 was 1438, 1945 and 1393 people, respectively, and the highest number of daily admissions was attributed to the highest daily PM10 concentration in Ahvaz. The average number of daily HARD during dusty days was higher than normal days, and a significant positive correlation, between the number of hospital admissions and dusty days, was found. Dust had significant impact on HARD in Ahvaz.

An evaluation of hospital admission respiratory disease attributed to sulfur dioxide ambient concentration in Ahvaz from 2011 through 2013.

There is no doubt that air pollutants have adverse impacts on human health. The main objective of this study was to evaluate hospital admission respiratory disease (HARD) attributed to sulfur dioxide levels in Ahvaz during three successive years. Data was taken from Iranian Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The AirQ2,2,3 model is used to quantify the impact of SO2 on inhabitants of Ahvaz and in terms of hospital admission respiratory diseases. This is a kind of statistical model which is based on some epidemiological indices such as relative risk, baseline incidence, and attributable proportion. Sampling was already performed for 24 h in four stations during 2011-2013. Four stations are good representative for residential, high traffic, industry, and background sites which cover the whole area of the Ahvaz city. Regarding to gravimetric scale, raw data of sulfur dioxide was processed using Excel software. Encoding, filtering, and processing were conducted to prepare input file for the Air Q2,2,3 model. After running model, outputs presented in term of hospital admissions respiratory cases. Based on our result, the highest mean and maximum of seasonal and annual levels for sulfur dioxide were observed in 2013. We concluded that obnoxious quality of fuel and some deficiencies in maintenance and operation of industries lead to worse quality of ambient air especially in 2013. Cumulative cases of HARD attributed to sulfur dioxide level at central of relative risk (RR) were estimated 24, 25, and 30 persons for 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. The finding of this study showed that total mean of sulfur dioxide was higher than standard concentration. We also noticed that wintertime concentrations of sulfur dioxide during three successive years were higher than of those levels in summer.

Cardiovascular and respiratory mortality attributed to ground-level ozone in Ahvaz, Iran.

Ahvaz, the capital city of Khuzestan Province, which produces Iran's most oil, is on the rolls of fame in view of air pollution. It has also suffered from dust storm during the recent two decades. So, emissions from transportation systems, steel, oil, black carbon, and other industries as anthropogenic sources and dust storm as a new phenomenon are two major concerns of air pollution in Ahvaz. Without any doubt, they can cause many serious problems for the environment and humans in this megacity. The main objective of the present study was to estimate the impact of ground-level ozone (GLO) as a secondary pollutant on human heath. Data of GLO in four monitoring stations were collected at the first step and they were processed and at the final step they were inserted to a health effect model. Findings showed that cumulative cases of cardiovascular and respiratory deaths which attributed to GLO were 43 and 173 persons, respectively. Corresponding RR for these two events were 1.008 (95% CI) and 1.004 (95% CI), respectively. Although we did not provide a distinction between winter and summer in case of mentioned mortalities attributed to GLO, ozone concentrations in winter due to more fuel consumption and sub adiabatic condition in tropospheric atmospherewere higher than those GLO in summer.