Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 2588-4239 1 3 2014 6 1 Optimization of Chlorination Process for Mature Leachate Disinfection Using Response Surface Methodology 157 170 FA Hamzeh Ali Jamali1 Department of Environmental Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran N Kavoos Dindarloo Department of Environmental Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran N Mehrdad Farrokhi 3. Department of Environmental Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Y 10.18869/acadpub.jehe.1.3.157 Background: leachate from landfill contains high level of microbial pathogens which is considered as one of the most important threats for the environment. One of the common and simple methods for water and wastewater disinfection is chlorination, but it rarely has been used for leachate disinfection. The objective of this study was evaluating the efficiency of chlorine for leachate disinfection and optimization of the effect of concentration and contact time on the death of total and fecal coliforms, as a microbial contamination index. Methods: In this descriptive-analysis study, microbial indices monitoring in leachates initiated from landfill of Qazvin city were conducted for one year. After pre-tests, the range of chlorine concentration and contact time on the inactivation of microbial indices were determined. Central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) were applied to optimize chlorine concentration and contact time parameters effect on microbial inactivation. 13 runs of tests were performed on samples. Tests were included BOD, COD, total and fecal coliforms. All analytical experiments were according to the standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Results: Results of the study showed that microbial indices had relatively high sensitivity to inactivation by chlorination, which in the chlorine concentration of 2 mg/L and contact time of 9 min, and chlorine concentration of 0.5 mg/L and contact time of 12 min, 100% of total and fecal coliforms inactivated, respectively. The RSM method was used for analysis of bacterial inactivation. Analyses showed that in contact time of 9.4 min and chlorine concentration of 2.99 mg/L, the inactivation efficiency of total and fecal coliforms were 89.16% and 100%, respectively. Conclusions: Chlorine could be used for leachate disinfection. However, in high concentrations of organic matter in leachates, due to production potential of chlorination by-products, health and environmental consideration must be considered in choosing chlorine as a disinfectant. Leachate, Disinfection, Chlorination, Response Surface Methodology, Modeling http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-73-en.html http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-73-en.pdf

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 2588-4239 1 3 2014 6 1 Comparison of the Performance of Poly Aluminum Chloride with Natural Co-coagulants in Removal of Turbidity from synthetic aqueous solution 171 179 FA Leila Mosleh 1. Master of environmental pollutant, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran N Seyed Hossein Hashemi 2. Environmental pollutant group, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran Y Korous Khoshbakht 2. Environmental pollutant group, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran N Reza Deihim Fard Agro ecology group, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran N Afsane Shahbazi 2. Environmental pollutant group, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran N 10.18869/acadpub.jehe.1.3.171 Background: Contaminated water, naturally or by human, should be processed to become drinking water. Coagulation is a process that fine unsettling particles which called colloids and are important factors in the turbidity occurrence, join together and settle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and comparison of the performance of poly aluminum chloride accompany with corn starch and okra, as a co-coagulant agent, to remove turbidity from water. Methods: This research was descriptive-functional study. In this study, the effect of two natural co-coagulant agents, corn starch and okra, with poly aluminum chloride were evaluated and R and SAS software were used in order to experimental design and data analysis. Also, after the analysis of variance, LSD test was used to compare treatment averages. Results: In the initial turbidity of 250 NTU, poly aluminum chloride and corn starch (5 ppm and 0.7 ppm, respectively), the highest percentage of turbidity removal was observed which could reduce the turbidity up to 98.48% and reached at 3.73 NTU. Moreover, in the initial turbidity of 500 NTU, maximum turbidity reduction related to poly aluminum chloride and okra (5 ppm and 0.7 ppm, respectively) which reduced the turbidity up to 98.38% and reached at 8.1 NTU. Conclusions: As an economic aspect, replacement of natural polymers with synthetic polymers which have higher costs is economic and also higher turbidity reduction may be observed in compare with using chemical coagulants, solely. In addition, chemical coagulants consumption reduces, however more researches must be conducted on residual natural co-coagulants and interactions between chemical and natural and also their health effects on consumers. Corn starch, okra, PAC, Coagulation and flocculation, Turbidity removal. http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-74-en.html http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-74-en.pdf

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 2588-4239 1 3 2014 6 1 Performance Evaluation of Electro-Fenton Process (EFP) in Removal of Hexavalent Chromium in the Presence of Cyanide, as an Interfering Agent, from Synthetic Wastewaters 180 191 FA Ali Reza Rahmani . Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran N Jamal Mehralipour Student of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Research Committee (SRC) N Amir Shabanlo Student of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Research Committee (SRC) N Mostafa Jahanbakhsh Student of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Research Committee (SRC) N Sepideh Hosseini Student of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran N Elham Hosseini B.S. Student of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Research Committee (SRC) Y 10.18869/acadpub.jehe.1.3.180 Background: Chromium (VI) is a hazardous pollutant that enters into the environment through different industrial wastewater. Therefore, Choice a suitable method for removal of the pollutant before discharging into the environment is necessary. The aim of this work was performance evaluation of Electro-Fenton process (EFP) in removal of hexavalent chromium in the presence of cyanide, as an interfering agent, from synthetic wastewaters. Methods: In this experimental study, a reactor with 1 L useful volume and 4 electrodes made ​​of iron was used. pH, initial concentration of  chromium (VI), voltage, hydrogen peroxide and cyanide concentration, as an interfering agent, were investigated in order to determine the process efficiency. Results: Results reveals that the considered parameters were affected on the efficiency of the process. In optimum condition, pH=3 and voltage=20 V, initial concentration=100 mg/L, concentration of hydrogen peroxide=50 mL/L the maximum efficiency was reached up to 97%. Cyanide Presence, in the same condition, reduced the efficiency under 50 % and also, the efficiency was decreased by changing the parameters level from optimum condition. Conclusion: Results indicate the proper efficiency of chromium (VI) by EFP process; however presence of other pollutants such as cyanide can cause efficiency decrease which must be considered in the process application. Electro Fenton, Chromium, Cyanide, Interfering agent, Wastewater. http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-75-en.html http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-75-en.pdf

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 2588-4239 1 3 2014 6 1 Investigation of Modified Pumice with HCl and NaOH for Removal of Fluoride from Aqueous Solution 192 202 FA Mansur Zarrabi 1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Alborz Uinversity of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran N Seyed Mohammad arami 2. Students Research Committee, Faculty of Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran, 3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Shahid Beheshti Uinversity of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Y 10.18869/acadpub.jehe.1.3.192 Background: Fluoride is an essential element for human health body, since in standard levels, it prevents the tooth decay. If fluoride concentration in drinking water exceeds from standard levels, it can leads to some diseases such as alzeimer syndrome, sterility, brittle bones, and thyroid disorder. So, removal of excess amounts of fluoride seems to be essential in order to health protection and prevention of the environment. Methods: In this work, modified pumice with HCl and NaOH were used for removal of fluoride from aqueous solution. Several experimental parameters including pH (2-10), temperature (20-60°C), adsorbent dosage (2-10 g/L), initial fluoride concentration (5-20 mg/L), and contact time were studied. All experiment were conducted in batch system by keeping constant one parameter and changing others. Results: Results showed that removal efficiency was increased with increase in contact time, initial fluoride concentration and adsorbent dosage. The maximum removal efficiency was observed at pH 6, 10 g/L adsorbent dosage, 20°C solution temperature, 90 min reaction time and 20 mg/L of fluoride concentration. Moreover, the maximum removal efficiency was observed by adsorbents modified with HCl. In general, results revealed that modified Pumice with HCL could remove 96% of fluoride at 90 min contact time, pH=6, 20°C and 20 mg/L of fluoride concentration. Conclusion: Results showed that pumice modified with HCl and NaOH had high capacity in removal of fluoride which the capacity was higher for pumice  modified with HCl. http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-76-en.html http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-76-en.pdf

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 2588-4239 1 3 2014 6 1 Biological and Physicochemical Quality of Thermal Spring Pools, with Emphasis on Staphylococcus Aureus: Sarein Tourist Town, Ardabil 203 215 FA Hadi Sadeghi 1. Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran N Pari Bagheri Ardebilian 1. Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran N Roohallah Rostami 2. Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran N Yusef Poureshgh 3. Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran N Mehdi Fazlzadeh 4. Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Y 10.18869/acadpub.jehe.1.3.203 Background: This study aimed at evaluating the water quality of thermal spring of Sarein in the province of Ardabil, with emphasis on bacteria S. aureus as one of the organisms involved in skin and eye infections, in the first half of 2011. Methods: In this study, 85 composite samples were collected from all thermal spring pools of Sarein during May to September 2011; in the peak number of swimmers. The concentration of free residual chlorine, temperature, pH, turbidity, H2S, ORP, DO and EC were measured in-situ in the sampling sites by portable devices. Total and fecal Coliforms, Staphilococcus aurous, fecal Streptococci and HPC tests were done according to the Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater. Results: Data showed that the maximum contamination of total coliforms were occurred in August (MPN/100=309.82), fecal Coliforms in July (MPN/100=69.59), minimum contamination of samples were related to fecal streptococci in August and September, peak of HPC in September with 4774.12 cfu/mL, and Staphylococcus aureus with 1149.35 cfu/100mL in August were recorded. Results of averages comparing showed no significant difference between the months of sampling and contamination with bacteria S. aureus. Conclusion: Data showed that 3.53%, 9.41%, 84.71%, and 81.18% of samples were contaminated to total Coliform, fecal Coliform, HPC and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively which were higher than standard limits that it was an alarm for the occurrence of skin diseases and infections to swimmers. Thermal springs, Swimming pools, Quality indices, Staphylococcus aureus. http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-77-en.html http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-77-en.pdf

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 2588-4239 1 3 2014 6 1 Assessment of Microbial Contamination of Surfaces and Medical Equipment in Wards of the Panjom Azar Hospital of Gorgan in 2014 216 224 FA Roghaye Noroozi 1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Y Mohammad Hadi Mohammad Hadi 1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran N Ali Zafarzadeh 1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran N Leili Salehi Department of Health Education and Promotion, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran N Ziba Abasi Department of medical laboratory, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran N 10.18869/acadpub.jehe.1.3.216 Methods: In this cross-sectional study, different wards of panjom Azar educational hospital including ICU, dialysis and surgery room were investigated. Samples were collected randomly, for three months from July to September 2014, from beds, oxygen masks, oxygen manometer, patient table, covers of the patient's medical records, nurse's desk, border walls and water tap.  Samples were then cultured on blood agar and EMB agar. In order to determine the bacteria type, specific culture media with specific biochemical tests and diagnostic disks were used. Results: Results showed that from 216 samples collected from the levels, the 190 cases (88%) had microbial contamination. Most of the recognized bacteria were Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter and klebsiela. Results of microbial culture of equipments and levels were positive in case of bacterial contamination and maximum contamination was observed in the dialysis ward of the hospital. Conclusion: Due to the relatively high detected contamination, contamination control of levels and patient care equipments could considered as an effective action in reducing nosocomial infections. Thus, using appropriate disinfectant equipment, monitoring the disinfectants preparation, continuous monitoring and detection of common microorganisms are the most important ways for infection control in hospitals. Nosocomial infections, Microbial contamination, Ward hospital, Hospital equipments http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-78-en.html http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-78-en.pdf

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 2588-4239 1 3 2014 6 1 Evaluation of the Effectiveness of ISO14001 on Hospital Wastes Management Using AHP in Tehran Hospitals 225 235 FA Mohammad Noorisepehr Department of Environmental Health engineering, faculty of Health, Alborz University of Medical Science, Karaj, Iran N Manoochehr Omidvari Department of Mechanical and Industry, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran N Sima Tahmasebi . Faculty of Environment and Energy, Department of HSE Management, Islamic Azad University, science and Research Brach, Tehran, Iran Y 10.18869/acadpub.jehe.1.3.225 Background: Lack of enough supervision, wrong and partial planning in the part of hospital residuals management cause high volume of production from variety of residuals which controlling them impose high costs to every society. In order to improve hospital wastes management, implementing a system of environmental management like ISO14001 can improve the environmental performance of organization and introduce the ways of solving problems to managers. The main objective of this study was to identify and prioritize the effective factors in the implementation of ISO 14001 and the benefits of its implementation in hospitals of Tehran. Methods: In this study, after the identification of success factors and benefits of ISO 14001 implementation in hospitals of Tehran, the method of analytical hierarchy process is used in order to understand the importance and relative priority of these successful important factors and their benefits. Results: Results show that the most important successful factors, based on the importance, are management commitment, education and training, communications and community relations and documentation and control.  Also, the most important benefits, of ISO 14001 implementation, are cost reduction in waste management, increasing the awareness and commitment of staff, risk management practices improvement and work process and procedures improvement. Conclusion: Findings of the study indicate that which success factors of ISO 14001 requires more attention by managers and are in priority while implementing them. ISO14001, Hospital wastes management, AHP. http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-79-en.html http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-79-en.pdf

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 2588-4239 1 3 2014 6 1 Performance Evaluation of Semnan Active Bauxite Mine (Tash) in the Removal of Fluoride from Drinking Water: Case Study on Kuhbonan Water 236 246 FA Mohammad Malakootian Environmental Health Engineering Research Center and Department of Environmental Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Y Marzie Javdan MSc student in Environmental Health Engineering, Department of Environmental Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran N Farnaz Iranmanesh Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran N 10.18869/acadpub.jehe.1.3.236 Background: Although excess fluoride intake is detrimental for humans, but fluoride shortage may cause health problems. This study aimed on evaluation of removal of fluoride from aqueous solution using province Semnan (Tash) bauxite mine. Methods: The study was conducted in laboratory scale, from May to October 2013, on both synthetic and real water sample of Kuhbonan city in the Kerman environmental health engineering research center. The adsorbent was made from Bauxite obtained from Tash bauxite mine in Semnan province. Characterization of bauxite was studied by XRD and XRF. Synthetic samples contained fluoride were considered to determine the effect of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and initial fluoride concentration on the efficiency of fluoride removal. Experiments on real water samples were done based of optimized adsorption condition. The kinetics and isotherm of the adsorption process were evaluated in order to better understanding the adsorption process. Fluoride measurement was carried out by SPADNS method. Data analysis was done by Excel software. Results: The maximum removal efficiency of fluoride, in synthetic sample, was 68.2% which was obtained at pH=7, contact time of 120 minutes and absorbent amount of 25g/L. The efficiency for real water sample was 61.67%, in optimized condition. Fluoride adsorption was best fitted with the Langmuir sorption isotherm equation (R2=0.991) and the second order synthetic model (R2=0.985). Conclusion: Bauxite from Tash mine could be initially applied for fluoride removal from groundwater samples with the efficiency of 61.67% which could be used as a low-cost and effective adsorbent. Adsorption isotherm, Adsorption kinetic, Fluoride, Tash mine Bauxite. http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-80-en.html http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-80-en.pdf