Nahid Jesri; Abedin Saghafipour; Fatemeh Rezaei; Moharram Karami Jooshin
Volume 23, Issue 3 , July and August 2016, , Pages 496-503
Abstract
Background This study aimed to assess the geographical distribution of smoking which is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disorders in Iran. In this regard, mapping of cigarette smoking was designed and implemented using Geographic Information ...
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Background This study aimed to assess the geographical distribution of smoking which is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disorders in Iran. In this regard, mapping of cigarette smoking was designed and implemented using Geographic Information System.Materials & Methods This is a cross-sectional study. Initially, the national data from risk factors for non-communicable diseases screening program were collected from the Iranian Non-communicable Disease Control Center. Then, the incidence of cigarette smoking in each province was calculated. These data have been prepared by the Health Ministry. In the next step, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Then, these data were arranged in a geo-referenced database in the ArcGIS software. The map of distribution of cigarette smoking was drawn by ArcGIS version 9.3.Results The incidence of cigarette smoking in Iran has been estimated as 10.82%. More than 20% of Iranian men currently smoke tobacco on a daily basis and this percentage among Iranian women is 1.02%. The average start age of smoking is at the age of 20.13 years. The average smoking years was 13.82 years. Cigarette smoking in many provinces, such as Tehran, West Azerbaijan, Ardebil, as well as Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, were higher than the national average. Conclusion People in the provinces of Tehran, West Azerbaijan, Ardebil, as well as Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, are more exposed to the danger of cigarette smoking than the people in the other provinces.
Bahman Ramavandi; Mehdi Ahmadi Moghaddam; Narjes Shah Heidar; Maryam Bighami
Volume 23, Issue 2 , March and April 2016, , Pages 253-261
Abstract
Background & Purpose: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) significantly affect the chemistry of atmosphere and human health and petroleum storage has been identified as largest emitters of VOCs. With models of air pollution can model the concentration and distribution ...
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Background & Purpose: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) significantly affect the chemistry of atmosphere and human health and petroleum storage has been identified as largest emitters of VOCs. With models of air pollution can model the concentration and distribution of VOCs from oil tanks. The aim of this study was to investigate and model of VOCs emissions from an oil tanks field in Iran using the TANKs 4.0.9d software and the distribution of these compounds in the study area using AERMOD model. Materials & Methods: In this study, the rate and percentage of monthly emissions of VOCs from 22 oil storage tanks in 12 months year 2014(1392-1393) using the TANKS software were determined according to losses and tank type in Esfahan, Iran. Then, by using AERMOD model the maximum concentration of VOCs in the area with the surface of 10 × 10 km2 and with a network distance of 200m and then in the range of 50 × 50 km2 and with a network of 1000 m in the statistic period of 12 months and for a average time of 1, 3, 8 and 24 hours, one-month and one -year statistical period at the height of 1.5m of the Earth's surface was determined and the distribution of VOCs in the area was simulated and displayed by GIS software. Results: The results of TANKS software showed that the studied tanks were annually emitted 1485801.26 tons VOCs in which the tanks with external floating roof 99.98% and with fixed vertical roof 0.017% were contributed. The results of AERMOD software also indicated that maximum concentrations of VOCs occur in the area 10×10 km2 in cold seasons. This phenomenon is due to reduce of mixing depth and resulting in the formation of the inversion phenomenon. Conclusions: This work can help plant engineers to decide on an appropriate strategy to control VOCs. Employing the tanks with fixed vertical roof and modification of operational pattern could lead to a reduction of VOCs emissions and eventually affect the economical, ecological and hygienic aspects.
Hasan Izanloo; Seyyed Mostafa Khezri; Gharib Majidi; Aliasghar Al Sheykh; Hamidreza Tashauoei; Mohammad Khazaee; Behnam Vakili; Vahid Vaziri rad; Hossein Aghababaee; Shahnaz Arsang Jang
Volume 21, Issue 6 , January and February 2015, , Pages 1194-1204
Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was surveying the trends of nitrate variations in drinking water of rural areas of Qom province and its mapping using GIS software.
Materials and Methods: This study was of descriptive cross-sectional type. The collected data related to nitrate concentrations during ...
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Background: The purpose of this study was surveying the trends of nitrate variations in drinking water of rural areas of Qom province and its mapping using GIS software.
Materials and Methods: This study was of descriptive cross-sectional type. The collected data related to nitrate concentrations during years 2006-2011 were acquired from Qom Province Rural Water and Wastewater Company. During the year 2012, 73 wells were tested via two sampling runs; one sampling set performed in wet season and the other one carried out in the dry season. Nitrate concentrations were determined spectrophotometric ally. The Chi-squared test and segmented regression model were used for data analysis. Four software’s, namely, Excel-2007, SPSS-16 and Joinpoint-4.1, were used for data mapping and analysis.
Results: The average nitrate concentration during 2006-2012 period was 23.12 mg/L with the standard deviation of 18.68 mg/L. 7.5% and 4.9% of the surveyed wells were “at risk” and “contaminated”, respectively. Regression results indicated a lack of sufficient statistical evidence to accept an increasing trend of nitrate during the study period (P value=0.85). There was no significant difference in the contamination averages between the results of two sample sets which were taken during each year. During the beginning of 2006 to the beginning of 2013, an increasing trend of nitrate concentration was observed in the contaminated wells.
Conclusion: In the majority of monitored wells, the nitrate concentration was in the standard range. In the “at risk” wells and also in the others, the concentrations were beyond the standard levels. Therefore, Management approaches should be applied to avoid the nitrate penetration into the aquifers.
Ayoub Rastegar; AmirHossein Mahvi; Aliakbar Mohammadi; Hossein Faraji
Volume 21, Issue 2 , May and June 2014, , Pages 293-301
Abstract
Background: Underground water resources constitute an important part of urban water resources. One of the serious challenges in ensuring and promoting community health is gradual increase in nitrate levels of drinking water of communities across the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate ...
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Background: Underground water resources constitute an important part of urban water resources. One of the serious challenges in ensuring and promoting community health is gradual increase in nitrate levels of drinking water of communities across the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seasonal variation of nitrate and ammonia levels in drinking water wells of Babol city using GIS software, in 2010-11.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was performed on drinking water wells of Babol city in 2010-11. Sampling was done according to a standard method from 20 drinking water wells, in different seasons; and in final, 80 water samples were analyzed. Nitrate and ammonia concentration of samples was measured using Spectrophotometer DR2000 (Hach company) in 500 and 425 nm, respectively. For qualitative analysis and seasonal fluctuation of nitrate and ammonia concentration of different areas, Geographic information systems , ArcGIS, was used.
Results: The results showed that the highest amount of nitrate was in summer (23.68 mg/l), and the lowest was in winter (14 mg/l). While the highest and the lowest amount of ammonia was in spring (0.43 mg/l) and summer (0.06 mg/l), respectively. Also, the results showed that only in well number 5 located in Kate Sofla village, nitrate concentration had increasing trend, and in the remaining wells, nitrate and ammonia concentration, had an increasing and a decreasing trend, respectively.
Conclusion: The results indicate that nitrate and ammonia levels in all samples were lower than the WHO recommendations. To avoid increasing in the ammonia and nitrate concentrations in the underground waters, ongoing training to farmers on the proper use of chemical fertilizers, as well as the construction and operation of wastewater collection systems are recommended.