Iranian Journal of Health, Safety and Environment (IJHSE)
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Arsenic Exposure of Mothers and Low Birth Weight
Get PDFLow birth weight (LBW) of the babies was found to be associated with arsenic exposure through consuming arsenic-contaminated water in Bangladesh. But the influences of maternal nutritional status and hemoglobin level remains to be dealt with. This study was conducted to assess the LBW of the babies in reference to arsenic exposure of mothers controlling the influences of the nutritional status (BMI) and hemoglobin level. This was a cross-sectional study carried out amongst the pregnant mothers who came to a district hospital for delivery. The mothers aged ≥18 years and had no complication were included in the study. A total of 101 mothers and their newborn babies were the study sample. Of the total 101 participant mothers, 41.5% were arsenic exposed. Comparatively, on an average, lower birth weight (2492± 477gr) was found among the babies born to arsenic exposed-mother. The exposed mother of LBW babies had significantly a higher urine arsenic concentration (381.38µg/L). The correlation analysis revealed that there was a negative relationship with the urine arsenic concentration (r=-.619; p=.000) and positive relationship with the hemoglobin level (r=.280; p=.092) and BMI (r=.204; p=195) of the exposed mother with the birth weight. After controlling the influence of hemoglobin level and BMI, an almost same association was found between LBW and urine arsenic. Mothers with arsenic exposure were at risk of giving birth to LBW babies, this could increase as evident by higher maternal urine arsenic concentration. And any positive effect of maternal nutritional status and hemoglobin level on birth weight of newborn could be offset by arsenic exposure
The Investigation Relationship between Mental Workload and Occupational Fatigue in the Administrative Staffs of a Communications Service Company
Get PDFMental workload reflects the level of attention resources required to meet both objective and subjective performance criteria, which may be affected by task demand, external support and past experience. Mental workload and occupational fatigue have been commonly cited as a major cause of workplace accidents. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between workload and occupational fatigue in the administrative staffs of a communications service company in Tehran. In this study, 94 employees of the administrative service (69 female and 25 male) were provided with a demographic characteristics questionnaire including age, body mass index (BMI), level of education and work experience. Then the Swedish occupational fatigue inventory questionnaire was used to determine the job fatigue. The NASA-TLX mental workload questionnaire used for assessing mental workload. Finally, Data were analyzed by SPSS Version 20, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test and ANOVA test. Results showed that NASA-TLX mental workload in female (59.14) is more than from male (54.56). Also result showed Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) in female (30.12) is more than from Male (28.12). Also, the Pearson correlation test showed that there is a significant correlation between NASA-TLX and SOFI (r = 0.76,
Comparing the Effect of Two Portable Cooling Vests on Physiological Parameters under Hot Laboratory Conditions
Get PDFPersonal protective clothing (PPC) can cause heat strain. The purpose of this study was Heat strain control by two portable cooling vests under wearing vapor protective suit and hot condition. An experimental study was conducted in a climatic chamber on 15 male students under warm conditions (ambient temperature =40°C, relative humidity=40%). Each participant performed the test without a cooling vest and with Spadana (Of 70% cotton and 30% polyester with 10 pockets for PCM: Hydrogel packages and a total weight of 2.3kg) and Techkewl-7026 (100% cotton with 4 pockets for PCM packages and a total weight of 2 / 2kg) phase change material cooling vests. The activity rate on a treadmill was light (2.8km/h) and the test lasted 30 minutes for each stage. Cooling effects were evaluated by measuring heart rate, oral temperature and skin temperature. Results showed that the mean and standard deviation for heart rate, oral temperature and skin temperature with a Spadana cooling vest were 100.55 (8.12)(bpm), 36.83 (0.25)°C and 31.52(1.85)°C, respectively, and for Techkewl-7026 cooling vests were 103.64 (10.9)(bpm), 36.98(0.34)°C and 34.2 (1.4)°C, respectively, and for without cooling vest were 113.33(11.23)(bpm), 37.05(0.35) °C and 37.93(0.48) °C, respectively . The difference between parameters with cooling vests and without cooling vest was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The use of Spadana and Techkewl-7026 phase change material cooling vests can reduce thermal stress through a reduction in heart rate, oral temperature, skin temperature and sweating rate
The relationship between Work Engagement and Job Stress among Emergency Technicians of Markazi Province, Iran, in 2015
Get PDFSeveral factors influence the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations, one of them is work engagement.
Nowadays job stress has become one of the most costly and a common problem in the workplace. United Nations introduced job stress as wentieth-century disease. Emergency unit in hospitals is stressful environments with high working pressure. This study is a cross-sectional study to determine the most common stress factors and assess work
engagement among emergency center technicians in Markazi Province in 2015. Data were collected by using three questionnaires containing demographic questionnaire, job stressors questionnaire and job engagement questionnaire
(UWES-9 Scale. SPSS version 19 software was used to analyze the data. The results showed that the patient care stressor had the maximum mean stress score (3.63±0.59) and physical stressors had the lowest mean stress score (3.26± 0.77). A significant relationship was observed between individual stressors and all aspects of work engagement
and interpersonal stressors and vigour (P≤0.05). The results of this study showed that work engagement can have aneffect on job stress or job pressure. There was a negative association between work engagement and job stress
A Survey on the Frequency of Medication Errors Caused Due to Look-Alike Drugs in the Emergency Department of the Educational Hospitals of Shiraz, Iran, 2016
Get PDFThe words “look-alike” and “sound-alike” are used to express the confusion caused by drugs whose names or features are similar. Look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) drugs are one of the most common causes of medication errors. The emergency department is the first place where mistakes related to LASA drugs occur. Medicinal errors increase health care costs by about two billion dollars annually. This study examines the frequency of errors resulting from LASA drugs in the emergency department and identifies the main causes of these errors. This sectional analytical study was conducted in 2016 in the Namazi and Faghihi hospitals of Shiraz. The questionnaire was developed by the researcher and its validity was confirmed by the experts. The stratified sampling method was used and the sample size was determined to be 106 people, based on the Cochran formula. The data were analyzed using the software SPSS 20 by the Pearson correlation coefficient, the independent t-test, and an analysis of variance (ANOVA). Seventy-seven nurses stated that during the past six months they had made at least one error resulting from look-alike medication and a total of 132 errors were reported. The most common errors in medication related to ampoules and vials. The rate of errors was statistically significant in terms of marital status (
Assessing the Suitability of the Design, Safety and Physical Environment of Hospitals for the Elderly: A Case Study in Iran
Get PDFIran, like many other countries, is experiencing a growing elderly population. In 2016 census in Iran, out of a population of 79,926,270 people, more than 6 million people (8.2% of the population) were 60 years and over. This can be a major challenge for both healthcare providers and senior patients. This study assesses the suitability of the design, safety, physical environment and systems of Iranian hospitals based on age-friendly design principles.
In this descriptive research, 26 hospitals in Tehran were selected and examined. Data were collected using a valid and reliable checklist with 50 items assessing the physical environment, accessibility, service delivery, and management systems of the hospitals.
The results showed that 96 % of hospitals have wide corridors, 88% have suitable lighting, 85% have ramps for wheelchair users and railings for staircases, but 58% do not have an alarm in each toilet. It can be said that the majority of the hospitals were in a relatively good condition in terms of safety of the physical environment, but resource management and special programs and healthcare systems for the elderly were in a poor condition.
Given the rising elderly population in developing countries such as Iran, it is imperative to create elder-friendly environments and programs. The increasing demand for hospital beds necessitates special care be given to elder-friendly principles in the design and construction of new hospitals as well as the renewal of existing ones. It is also vital to carefully consider the health, safety and special needs of older patients in design and construction of new hospitals as well as the renewal of existing ones and developing health policies at the macro, meso and micro level, especially as they relate to inpatient and outpatient services
Effect of Smoking and Noise Exposure on Hearing Threshold Levels in Industrial Workers in West of Iran
Get PDFCigarette smoking had many adverse effects on health, also exposure to industrial noise is known as a health risk factor in the workplaces. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between industrial noise exposure and smoking on the hearing threshold levels in workers.
In the study, 200 male workers in the two groups (100 smokers and 100 nonsmokers with noise exposure) were involved. To assess noise exposure used calibrated noise dosimeter. Demographic, smoking habits and health status information was obtained via questionnaire.
The results showed a significant difference between noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in two ears and total NIHL in smokers and non-smokers with less than 10 years and more 10 years of noise exposure duration.
From the outcome of this investigation it is possible to conclude a positive effect between cigarette smoking and noise exposure on hearing loss and it can be suggested that hearing protection programs should train workers about the increased risk of developing NIHL from smoking and exposure to high occupational noise levels
Intensive Swine Production: Impact on Air Quality and Its Association with Community Residents’ Respiratory Illnesses
Get PDFInadequate waste disposal from an intensive piggery operation has resulted in community residents’ disquiet about the poor air quality. This study (I) assessed the air quality in the community and (II) quantified the extent of symptoms related to respiratory ailments among residents. Measurements, done in the experiment and control areas, included; aerial emission levels of hydrogen sulphide and ammonia and respiratory symptoms of a sample of 172 residents. Results showed that: the highest levels of gas were measured directly outside the farm and gradually decreased as measurements were taken further from the farm; hydrogen sulphide levels were slightly higher than that of the ammonia levels at all test times in experiment area; no gases were detected in the control area; the values for both ammonia and hydrogen sulphide in the experiment samples were significantly lower than that of the established NIOSH Time Weighted Averages; residents in the experiment area reported a higher severity of most symptoms. Recommendations included I) education for the community to enable them to understand the risks faced II) more frequent visits from government health officials and III) persuasion to have the owners of the piggery modify its farm practices and to engage industry best practices
Water Defluoridation Using Modify Zeolite by Al+3 Ions and Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron (nZVI) in a Fixed Bed Column
Get PDFRemoval of the fluoride ion of drinking water requires an effective technique. In study zeolite clinoptilolite by Al+3ions and nanoscale iron (nZVI) modify was used to remove fluoride from water. Contact was done by a fixed bed absorbent column. In this column, experiments were carried out using aqueous solutions and drinking water with mass. The dynamics of the adsorption process were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich models. The results showed that highest uptake capacities 1.14 and 2.4mg/g for the modified zeolitic Al and nanoscale iron (nZVI) respectively, were obtained with a 5g mass column, an inlet 10 mg/L fluoride solution, and a flow rate of 3mL/min, but the sorption capacities decreased when drinking water used. Experimental data were fitted to both models Langmuir and Freundlich, and the methods indicated that these materials are suitable for the removal of fluoride from water in fix bed systems. In general, it can be concluded that modified zeolite clinoptilolite with fixed bed an effective and economical method to remove fluoride from groundwater
Pollution Potential of General Dentistry Offices in Terms of Wastewater and Solid Waste: A Case Study in the City of Arak, Iran
Get PDFDental wastewater and solid waste are one of the most important sources of environmental pollution. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the quality of wastewater and solid waste produced in the general dentistry offices in the city of Arak, Iran. A total number of 30 samples of wastewater and 30 samples of solid waste were taken from 30 general dentistry offices. The samples of wastewater were analyzed for metals and other parameters such as BOD, COD, and TSS. The samples of solid wastes were manually separated into 66 components and 4 categories and then weighted. The mean concentrations of Zn, Cu, Hg, Fe, B, Ba, Sn, Ag, Pb, Al, Mn, Cr, and Co were 3950.09, 2578.59, 1247.28, 1060.21, 538.36, 493.21, 300.91, 156.56, 108.32, 107.37, 91.11, 66.00, and 6.48µg L-1, respectively. The mean generation of dental solid waste in each general dentistry office was 670.22g day-1. Potential infectious waste, domestic-type waste, chemical & pharmaceutical waste, and toxic waste constituted 51.52%, 35.30%, 11.11% and 2.07%, of the total waste generated, respectively. Due to the high levels of some metals in the samples, the wastewater should be treated before discharging into the public sewer