Environmental Health Engineering and Management

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between demographic, social, and ecological factors, as well as underlying diseases (diabetes, kidney, liver, and hypertension) with the COVID-19 mortality rate in the city of Kerman. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 200 COVID-19 survivors and 200 hospitalized deceased patients after infection to COVID-19 from March 2019 to March 2020. Logistic regression and Poisson regression were used to assess the relationship between demographic, social factors, underlying diseases, ecological parameters, and mortality rate. Results: The COVID-19 mortality rate in the affected population (n=6966 people) was 19.5%. The affected people were over 60 years old, male, Iranian, and married in more than half of the cases. A significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of age (P&lt;0.001). However, there was no significant difference between hospitalized deceased patients and survivors in terms of social variables. Diabetes (OR=1.79; 1.1 to 3.17), hypertension (OR=1.6; 1.02 to 2.52), and liver disease (OR=5.13; 1.05 to 24.99) had a significant effect on the mortality rate due to COVID-19 infection. The risk of COVID-19 death has significantly reached 0.96; in other words, decreased by 4% (P=0.03), for a one-degree increase in the average rainfall during the studied period. Conclusion: Finally, the prevalence of underlying diseases in the hospitalized deceased patients was more than that in the survivors. The results of the present study are expected to have preventive interventions and identify risk factors for mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and similar diseases.

Mitra Naderipour

Majid Hashemi

Moghaddameh Mirzaei

Ali Akbar Haghdoost

Maryam Faraji

Association of social, demographic, ecological factors, and underlying diseases with COVID-19 mortality rate: A cross-sectional study

社会、人口、生态因素及基础疾病与COVID-19死亡率的关联：一项横断面研究

Background: Anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) of various wastes is a suitable method for the removal of contaminants and biogas production. The first aim of this study was to determine the optimal ratio of landfill leachate (LL) and sewage sludge (SS) for AcoD, and the second one was to evaluate the effect of pre-ozonation of the mixture on AcoD. Methods: The LL and SS samples were taken from landfill sites and municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWTPs), respectively. In the first step, five reactors were used and named R1 (100% SS), R2(100% LL), R3 (15% LL/85% SS), R4 (25% LL/75% SS), and R5 (45% LL/55% SS). Mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) was performed on the reactors and the optimal ratio was determined. In the second stage, the optimal mixtures were subjected to an ozonation process before AcoD. Results: The results of the first stage showed that the highest efficiency removal of the total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), and the highest biogas production belonged to R3 digester, containing 15% LL and 85% SS. In the second stage, the results showed that the removal efficiency of COD and VS in the ozonated sample at the dosage of 7.6 gO3 /h were 29.8% and 36.6% higher than the non-ozonated sample, respectively. Furthermore, in the ozonated sample, the biogas yield and the content of methane in the gas mixture were 27% and 9% higher respectively, compared to the non-ozonated sample. Conclusion: According to the results, the appropriate ratio of LL to SS and pre-ozonation of LL/SS mixture have a great impact on the performance of AcoD.

Zahra Jamshidinasirmahale

Ahmadreza Yazdanbakhsh

Mohamadreza Masoudinejad

Nadali Alavi Bakhtiarvand

Anaerobic co-digestion of landfill leachate and sewage sludge: Determination of the optimal ratio and improvement of digestion by pre-ozonation

垃圾渗滤液与污泥厌氧共消化：确定最佳比例及通过预臭氧处理改善消化

Background: Heavy metals (HMs) are toxic pollutants whose concentrations in confined spaces might cause severe health impacts. This study aimed to determine the concentration and health risk of As, Cd, Co, Pb, Mn, Ni, and V in indoor household dust in Isfahan during 2022-2023. Methods: Ninety dust samples were collected from 30 sampling homes. After preparation and acid digestion of the samples in the laboratory, the concentrations of the elements were determined using the ICP-OES method and analyzed statistically. Results: Except for Pb, the HMs’ mean concentrations were significantly lower than the permissible limit (P&lt;0.050). The maximum daily exposure through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact for children and adults were 66.1 and 79.1 mg/kg/d, respectively, with Pb as the relevant element in both groups. Furthermore, the maximum lifetime daily exposure doses of 8-10×26.1 mg/kg/d belonged to Pb. The maximum non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk values through direct ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact were 4.83×1-10 and 1.40×8-10 for children and 5.23×2-10 and 7.91×9-10 for adults, which were associated with Pb in both groups. Conclusion: The results showed that the HMs content in indoor household dust in Isfahan followed a decreasing trend of Pb&gt;Mn&gt;Ni&gt;V&gt;As&gt;Co&gt;Cd. Moreover, direct ingestion followed by dermal contact and inhalation were the most important exposure pathways to the HMs-contaminated dust for both children and adults.

Makkiyah Abdulhssein Hammood

Atefeh Chamani

Soheil Sobhanardakani

Health risk assessment of heavy metal exposure from indoor dust: A case study of residential buildings in Isfahan, Iran

室内灰尘中重金属暴露的健康风险评估：伊朗伊斯法罕住宅建筑案例研究

Background: Despite the detrimental environmental and distributional effects of economic activity in Iran, these effects are not uniform across provinces. Environmental degradation and income inequality are increasing in some provinces of Iran. This study aimed to determine the causal relationship between environmental degradation and income inequality in provinces. It investigates whether environmental degradation is a cause or consequence of income inequality. Methods: Data were collected from official statistical publications in Iran. Then, two simultaneous regression models were estimated to investigate the causal relationship between environmental degradation and income inequality. Finally, Granger causality tests were performed to verify the results. Results: The results show a one-way causality from income inequality to environmental degradation, and environmental degradation is not the cause of income inequality. While income inequality leads to environmental degradation, other factors are at play in causing income inequality. Income inequality, per capita gross domestic product (GDP), and industrial structure increase environmental degradation. Energy intensity, education, and environmental government budget reduce environmental degradation. Environmental degradation, education, and per capita GDP negatively impact income inequality, while the environmental protection budget and taxation worsen income inequality. Conclusion: To reduce environmental pollution and income inequality, policies should be adopted that aim to improve the level of education, increase per capita income, increase the budget for environmental protection, reduce polluting industrial structure, and reduce energy intensity. Also, attention should be paid to better management and improvement of the quality of life in different regions of the country to improve the compatibility of different parts of the society with the environment.

Habib Ansari Samani

Masumeh Rouzbahani

Hadis Dalvandi

Reza Sadeghi

Income inequality and environmental degradation in the provinces of Iran

伊朗各省的收入不平等与环境退化

Background: Nitrate (NO3 ) is a necessary element for plant growth, but its excessive use in agricultural products causes different health problems. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NO3 concentrations in vegetables and the prevalence of gastrointestinal cancers in Minab city, Iran. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 60 people with cancer as the case group and 120 healthy people as the control group in Minab city. Data were collected through a questionnaire and measuring NO3 concentration levels in vegetables. All samples were examined for NO3 by reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) method. Results: The concentration levels of NO3 in all vegetables ranged from 15.08 (onion) to 1143.55 mg/kg (spinach). There was no significant difference between the concentrations of NO3 in all vegetables among the different regions. The most common cancer in the case group was stomach cancer (61.7%). There was a significant difference between the amount of daily intake of NO3 , through different vegetables, and the prevalence of gastrointestinal cancer between the case and control groups (P&lt;0.05). The results showed that increasing the consumption of vegetables increases the chance of getting gastrointestinal cancer (OR: 5.72; P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, there is a significant relationship between the NO3 concentration in vegetables and the prevalence of gastrointestinal cancers in the studied areas. It is highly recommended to closely monitor the cultivation, fertilization, and spray process of agricultural products, and frequent monitoring of NO3 levels in fruits and vegetables.

Mahdi Khaksar

Vali Alipour

Omid Rahmanian

Naeme Soltani

The risk of gastrointestinal cancer and nitrate intake due to vegetable consumption: A case-control study in Minab, Iran

蔬菜消费导致的硝酸盐摄入与胃肠道癌症风险：伊朗米纳布的病例对照研究

Background: Research on the relationship between bioaerosols and particulate matter (PM) concentrations is necessary, especially in hospitals where airborne bioaerosols can facilitate disease transmission. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between PM (PM2.5 and PM10) and bioaerosols, as well as the factors influencing them (temperature and humidity), in the air of liver transplant operating rooms (LTOR) at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. Methods: Bioaerosol samples (32 samples) were collected using the passive sampling method, employing open-door plates containing culture medium, during June and July of 2019. PM samples were obtained concurrently with bioaerosol samples using the GM8803 air quality detector, during four one-hour periods. Simple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between bioaerosol and PM concentrations. Results: It was revealed that the average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were 17.8 (SD=2.2) and 27.0 (SD=2.6) µg/m3 , respectively. Additionally, the average concentrations of bacterial and fungal bioaerosols were 2132 (SD=837) and 550 (SD=189.4) CFU/m2 .h, respectively. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between bacterial bioaerosols and PM concentrations, whereas the relationship with fungal bioaerosols was relatively weaker. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the indoor air in LTOR exhibits a higher level of microbial contamination than the recommended guidelines for high-risk environments. To improve the air quality in LTOR, it is recommended to implement periodic microbial monitoring, ensure the proper functioning of ventilation systems, and pay attention to their maintenance and operation.

Saba Fouladvand

Majid Nozari

Kazem Nadafi

Mahmood Alimohammadi

Meraj Khalui

Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand

Mohammad Reza Pourmand

Assessment of bioaerosols, PM2.5, and PM10 in liver transplantation operating rooms in Tehran, Iran: Implications for air quality

评估德黑兰伊朗肝移植手术室中的生物气溶胶、PM2.5 和 PM10：对空气质量的影响

Background: Following an extensive examination of various biofiltration packing materials within a typical bioreactor (a biofilter) is aiming to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) in the raw biogas. Methods: Both biochar (pre- and post-pyrolysis at 400, 500, and 600 °C) and cellular concrete (CLC) waste, representing organic and inorganic packing materials, respectively, displayed remarkable removal efficiency (RE) performance under dynamic conditions. Nevertheless, the physical and chemical properties of these packing materials play a crucial role in absorbing and trapping H2 S for further filtration from the raw biogas. Key evaluations encompass chemical compositions, porosity, and specific surface area, aligning with contemporary research methodologies (e.g., XRF, Walkley-black, Kjeldahl, BET, T-plot), as analyzed in this study. Results: Subsequently, the modification of these physicochemical properties aimed to demonstrate continued interactions of iron (III) oxide (Fe2 O3 ) with H2 S for chemical modification of CLC waste, and enhance the specific surface area of biochar from 12, 22, and 24 m2 /g to 235, 433, 475 m2 /g, and for porosity from 0.01, 0.42, and 0.025 cm3 /g to 0.096, 4, 0.24 cm3 /g, respectively, for physical modification of biochar samples after pyrolysis at 400, 500, and 600 °C. Conclusion: In the end, improving the possibility of getting better RE from a laboratory-scale biofilter is possible by modification of the most effective physical (adding KOH to biochar and increasing porosity by 9 times, specific surface area by 19 times) and chemical (adding Fe2 O3 to CLC waste) properties of the environment-friendly packing materials.

Kamyab Mohammadi

Rasa Vaiskunaite

Alvydas Zagorskis

Innovative biofiltration materials for H2S removal from biogas

生物气中H2S去除的创新生物过滤材料

Background: An essential component of environmental sustainability and sanitation is the management of dry toilets, especially waste disposal. Understanding the composition of the brown water from dry toilets, putting the proper composting technique in place, and guaranteeing safe disposal and reuse procedures are all necessary to handle the waste successfully. It has been discovered that brown water, sometimes known as feces, can be used for brick-making, fuel, fertilizer, and other purposes. Methods: This review focuses on dry toilet technology, management processes, and sanitation systems in Ethiopia and other underdeveloped nations. It utilizes secondary information and searches from Google scholars, Library catalogs, and Researchers to comprehend dry sanitation systems, including their implementation, use, and maintenance. Keywords used in the search include "in-situ treatment," "fecal sludge treatment," "fecal slurry management," and "brown water treatment." Results: The review used a total of 108 articles and books, agricultural research, and reports on the feces’ physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. It also discussed risks associated with the mismanagement of feces, including parasitic diseases in exposed humans. The main aim of the review was to develop an understanding of brown water uses, composition, and management and select the proper method of composting with dry toilets. Conclusion: Dry toilets in developing countries are utilized for ecological sanitation and agriculture, with feces potentially used as fertilizer. Utilizing feces as fertilizer is a sustainable, eco-friendly, and environmentally responsible practice that can increase productivity while maintaining a clean environment.

Firomsa Bidira

Mamuye Busier Yesuf

Nina Schaefer

Matthias Friedle

Esayas Alemayehu

Review on dry toilet and management: Brown water (feces) characteristics, composition, and management

干厕及其管理综述：棕水（粪便）特性、组成及管理

Background: The growing use of treated wastewater in farming has raised concerns about the potential impacts on public health. Methods: This study assessed the levels of the heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) in plants watered in greenhouse settings using both well water and synthetic wastewater. Synthetic wastewater with As at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg/L, Pb at 1, 3, and 5 mg/L, and Cd at 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05 mg/L, as well as well water were used to irrigate radish, coriander, and grass. In the end, 144 vegetable samples were gathered, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to determine the heavy metal concentrations in the samples. Risk assessment for consumers was determined based on the measured levels of heavy metals in the vegetables. Results: Even though the concentrations of heavy metals in the wastewater were within the limits for irrigation, the risk assessment showed that consumption of vegetables irrigated with treatment wastewater could pose risks to individuals’ health. The maximum concentration of Pb in radish leaves was observed at the Pb concentration of 5 mg/L, and the maximum concentration of As in cress irrigated with As effluent at the As concentration of 0.02 mg/L. Conclusion: The consumption of vegetables containing Pb can pose a significant non-carcinogenic risk to consumers. However, well water may also be dangerous in the long run. Therefore, it is important to ensure about food safety when using treated wastewater for irrigation.

Zeinab Parmoozeh

Gholamreza Reza Mostafaii

Davarkhah Rabbani

Hossein Akbari

Atieh Salem

Mohammad Bagher Miranzadeh

Investigation of heavy metal concentrations (lead, cadmium, and arsenic) in vegetables irrigated with synthetic effluent and well water: Risk assessment of carcinogenicity and non-carcinogenicity

调查用合成废水和井水灌溉的蔬菜中重金属（铅、镉和砷）的浓度：致癌性和非致癌性风险评估

Background: Dukku and Kalgo rivers in Kebbi, Nigeria, provide essential ecosystem services such as drinking and domestic water, fishing, and farming. However, the safety of these rivers in terms of microplastic pollution has not been investigated. This study aimed to characterize and determine the concentration and associated risks of microplastics in both rivers. Methods: Microplastics were extracted from water samples through filtration and analyzed using spectroscopy and microscopy. Results: Significant concentrations of microplastics were detected in both rivers. Dukku River samples showed concentrations ranging from 125.00 to 160.30 particles/liter, while Kalgo River ranged from 119.30 to 134.70 particles/liter. Both rivers predominantly contained microplastic fibers and fragments, with fibers comprising the highest percentages (61% in the Dukku River and 56% in the Kalgo River). Microplastics in Kalgo River were predominantly sized between 0 and 100 µm, whereas in Dukku River, sizes ranged from 500 to 1000 µm. Polyamide was the dominant polymer, constituting 50% in the Dukku River and 42.50% in the Kalgo River, followed by polyethylene (34% in the Kalgo River and 25.60% in Dukku River), and polyvinyl alcohol (24.40% in Dukku River and 23.50% in Kalgo River). The predominant risk level posed by these polymers was level III (moderate risk), although polyamide posed a level IV risk (high risk). The pollution load index (PLI) for both rivers exceeded one, indicating a high risk. Conclusion: Microplastic pollution in these rivers poses ecological and health risks. Identifying and mitigating sources of microplastic entry into the rivers is crucial to reducing exposure levels.

Tajudeen Yahaya

Mutiyat Kehinde Adewale

Tawakalt Fagbayi

Titilola Fausat Salisu

Ja’afar Umar

Junaidu Nasir

Concentration, characterization, and risk assessment of microplastics in two main rivers in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

尼日利亚比尔宁凯比两条主要河流中微塑料的浓度、特征及风险评估

Abbreviation
Journal Impact	1.26
Quartiles(Global)	ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES(Q4)

ISSN	2423-3765, 2423-4311
h-index	12

Publication Information	Publisher: Kerman University of Medical Sciences，Publishing cycle: ，Journal Type: journal，Open Access Journals: Yes
Basic data	Year of publication: 2019，Proportion of original research papers: 92.50%，Self Citation Rate:30.80%， Gold OA Rate: 97.60%
Average review cycle	网友分享经验：12 Weeks

Environmental Health Engineering and Management

Journal Citation Format

A journal article with 1 author

A journal article with 2 authors

A journal article with 3 authors

A journal article with 5 or more authors

Books Citation Format

Thesis Citation Format

Web sites Citation Format

Patent Citation Format

Staying up late manually editing references? ivySCI automatically matches journals and helps you generate references with a single click.

Share Submission Experience