Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 12 2 2025 3 1 Study of physical and chemical parameters of Arvand River based on fuzzy logic and NSFWQI index 117 136 FA Azita Koshafar Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran Mohammad Velayatzadeh Master of Industrial Safety, Caspian Institute of Higher Education, Qazvin, Iran Background: The quality of river water is deteriorating due to natural and human impacts. Arvandroud is a common river on the border of Iran and Iraq that irrigates many urban and rural areas and agricultural fields in Abadan and Khorramshahr regions. This research was conducted in 2022 with the aim of determining the quality characteristics of Arundroud water using NSFWQI index and fuzzy association model. Materials and Methods: Sampling and measurement of physical, chemical and microbial parameters were done using the standard method and 60 water samples were prepared from 10 stations with 3 replications in spring and summer. The water quality of Arvand River was investigated based on NSFWQI index and fuzzy correlation model. Results: Fuzzy correlation analysis between the measured values of the parameters in the studied stations showed that the correlation was significant with the increase of the Pearson statistic values (P<0.05). Based on the results of the classical correlation method, only the pH variable showed a significant correlation between the stations under study (P<0.05). Input functions included Pearson correlation and Sig. statistic (2 tails) and the output variable was the fuzzy correlation coefficient. For Sig. (2-tailed), 5 classes as very weak, weak, medium, strong and very strong, for Pearson's statistic 5 classes as very weak, weak, medium, strong and very strong and for phase correlation coefficient 4. The classes were determined as very weak, weak, medium and strong. Conclusion: According to the final NSFWQI index, the quality of water in all studied stations in Arundrud is at a bad level. By inserting the calculated correlation values in each variable, the results showed that the effect of pollutants on temperature was very weak, pH and total coliform were weak, and nitrate and TSS were moderate and strong for BOD, DO, phosphate and turbidity.

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 12 2 2025 3 1 Investigation of Advanced Oxidation Processes Based on Ultraviolet Radiation for the Removal of Phthalate Compounds from Aquatic Environments 137 151 FA Fatemeh Shirvani Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Saeedeh Morad-Alizadeh Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Mahdi Rezaei Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Background: Phthalates are among the most significant industrial pollutants that endanger human health. These endocrine-disrupting compounds are commonly used in the manufacture of furniture and plastic containers, which can easily enter water sources through wastewater flow. Photochemical advanced oxidation processes have attracted considerable attention among the methods for removing these pollutants from aquatic environments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate and compare advanced oxidation processes based on ultraviolet radiation for the removal of phthalate compounds from aquatic environments. Materials and Methods: For the current study, after searching the keywords in the databases “ScienceDirect, PubMed, Wiley, Springer, SID, Magiran” from January 2013 to December 2024, a total of 693 articles were found, which after screening and full review of the articles, finally 54 articles were registered and used in the study. The criterion for the entry of articles was their relevance of the content to the subject matter. Results: Ultraviolet radiation alone can partially degrade phthalate compounds. However, this radiation is ineffective against many of these compounds; thus, effective removal of phthalate compounds with this method requires combining ultraviolet radiation with oxidants. Various advanced oxidation processes based on ultraviolet radiation exist, mainly including UV/H2O2, UV/H2O2/Fe+2, UV/H2O2/Fe+3, UV/Cl-, UV/persulfate, UV/H2O2/Fe+2-oxalate, UV/TiO2, UV/Cl-/TiO2, and UV/O3. Generally, the UV/Cl- cyanurate process is recognized as the most cost-effective advanced oxidation process based on ultraviolet radiation. Conclusion: After examining the characteristics and performance of these processes for removing phthalate compounds from aquatic environments, the UV/Cl--cyanurates process was ultimately recommended due to its lower energy consumption, cost-effectiveness, and particularly its ability for nearly 100% removal efficiency

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 12 2 2025 3 1 Local analysis of areas prone to artificial feeding of underground water resources in the Rozae Chai River catchment of Urmia 152 170 FA Mehdi Hasanzadeh M.Sc Student Water structures, Department of Science and Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Noorali Haghdoust Ghahramanlou Ph.D. in irrigation and drainage, Assistant Professor of Department of Science and Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Behzad Hessari Ph.D. in Hydrology, Associate Professor of Department of Science and Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Background: In recent decades, the growing population, increasing human needs, and changing consumption patterns necessitate more effective planning and management of water resources. Key strategies for managing groundwater include artificial recharge and sustainable exploitation of aquifers. The aim of this study was to local analysis of areas prone to artificial feeding of underground water resources in the Rozae Chai River catchment of Urmia According to the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), there were 8 layers, namely surface permeability, unsaturated zone thickness, aquifer transport capacity, groundwater quality, slope, land use, distance from the river, and distance from the village. Materials and Methods: After preparing the relevant layers, the layers were fuzzified and weighted using the AHP. A pairwise comparison matrix of various factors was created for this purpose. In the output of this model, the highest weights were respectively assigned to surface permeability, unsaturated zone thickness, and aquifer transmissivity. Finally, the potential areas were identified and evaluated using the ROC curve. Results: In the final weights, the highest values were assigned to surface permeability, unsaturated zone thickness, and aquifer transport. The final zoning map indicated that the central areas of the plain were most conducive to groundwater recharge due to the influence of these three primary factors, exhibiting high weights and gentle slopes of 0 to 2%. Conversely, the western and lowland areas had the least recharge potential due to low aquifer transportability, high slopes, and thick unsaturated zones. The area under the ROC curve of susceptible regions is 0.98, indicating high accuracy of the results. Conclusion: It can be stated that the use of multi-criterion decision-making methods for designing, evaluating, and prioritizing options for decisions, along with the application of GIS for analyzing large volumes of geographic data, combined with fuzzy logic, can assist us in implementing artificial feeding locations accurately and precisely.

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 12 2 2025 3 1 Modeling and optimization of nickel (II) ion removal from aqueous solutions using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel crosslinked with ferric chloride 171 190 FA Ensieh Alsadat Alavi Polymer Engineering Group, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran Mahboub Saffari Department of Environment, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran Sina Modiri Polymer Engineering Group, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran Hossein Yari Department of Surface Coatings and Corrosion, Institute for Color Science and Technology (ICST), Tehran, Iran Background: Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in utilizing biocompatible and renewable polymers as efficient adsorbents for removing heavy metals from aqueous solutionsz. This study investigates the efficacy of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) hydrogel crosslinked with ferric chloride as a low-cost and effective adsorbent for nickel (Ni) removal from aqueous solutions. Materials and Methods: In this research, CMC hydrogel was synthesized through a chemical crosslinking process with ferric chloride. The structural properties of the hydrogel were evaluated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Optimal conditions for Ni removal were determined using Response Surface Methodology (Box-Behnken design) by examining the influence of key variables, including initial Ni concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage, and contact time. Results: FTIR and SEM analyses revealed that the carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups present in the hydrogel structure, along with its unique morphology, facilitate Ni adsorption from aqueous solutions through potential mechanisms such as chelation, electrostatic interactions, and the formation of coordination bonds. The highest Ni removal efficiency (87.88%) was achieved under conditions with an initial concentration of 80 ppm, pH of 7.5, adsorbent dosage of 1.5 g/L, and contact time of 30 minutes. The study of variable effects demonstrated that increasing pH enhances Ni removal, while adsorbent dosage and contact time exhibit a lesser impact on removal efficiency. Additionally, results indicated that the reduced second-order statistical model (Box-Behnken) effectively describes the experimental data, and the predicted values align well with observed values. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the high efficiency of CMC hydrogel as an effective polymeric adsorbent for removing Ni ions from moderately polluted aqueous solutions. Furthermore, the results clearly indicate that Ni removal by this adsorbent is significantly influenced by the initial Ni concentration and solution pH. However, the effects of contact time and adsorbent dosage were not significant in the subsequent stages of the process. For future studies, it is recommended to modify the CMC structure through advanced crosslinking methods and combine it with minerals to increase specific surface area, surface charge, and ultimately enhance performance and adsorption capacity.

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 12 2 2025 3 1 Comparison of the conventional chemical coagulation process and electrocoagulation and flotation efficiency in cosmetics industry wastewater treatment 191 210 FA Ramin Hosseini Sanjari MSc, College of Environmental science and engineering, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad university, Tehran, Iran Roya Mafigholami PhD, College of Environmental science and engineering, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad university, Tehran, Iran Background: Cosmetic and personal care industry wastewater contains chemicals and non-biodegradable organic compounds that must be treated before discharge into the environment. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of conventional chemical coagulation and electrocoagulation-flotation processes in treating wastewater from the cosmetic industry. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, both processes were designed using a central composite design (CCD) approach. For the chemical coagulation process, the variables optimized included pH (5-9), rapid mixing time (30-60 sec), slow mixing time (10-20 min), settling time (30-60 min), and the dose of the coagulant (0.5-1 g/L). For the electrocoagulation process, the optimized variables were pH (5-9), direct current intensity (2-4 A), reaction time (40-80 min), the number of electrodes (4-8 n), and the distance between electrodes (2-4 cm). Results: In both processes, the designed model followed a quadratic model with a high correlation coefficient. The efficiency of the electrocoagulation process in reducing COD levels in cosmetic industry wastewater was significantly higher than the conventional chemical coagulation process. Under optimal conditions, the COD concentration decreased from 570 mg/L to 57 mg/L in the electrocoagulation process. In contrast, the conventional chemical coagulation process achieved 65% efficiency under optimal conditions, reducing COD levels to 199.8 mg/L. Conclusion: The results indicated that after treatment using the aforementioned processes, the effluent can be safely discharged into the environment

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 12 2 2025 3 1 Determining the Status of Medical Waste Production in Healthcare Centers of Siahkal City 211 226 FA Darioush Nematpour kajel Department of Environmental science and engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Iran Babak Tavakoli Department of Environmental science and engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Iran Javad Torkaman Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Iran Mehdi Aalipour Department of Environmental science and engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Background: Medical and healthcare wastes are major environmental concerns due to their hazardous and polluting nature. Considering the environmental hazards posed by medical waste as a regional and global issue, it is essential to conduct studies on the status of medical waste generation and management in Siahkal city, located in the eastern part of Gilan province. This city serves as a representative example of northern cities in the country. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the waste produced by all medical and healthcare centers in Siahkal on an annual basis. Three days of each month were selected to weigh the waste produced, using a 10-gram scale. Excel and SPSS software were used to categorize and analyze the data. Results: The average total amount of waste produced in healthcare centers in the city was estimated to be 8,262.98 kg annually, consisting of 5,588.43 kg of infectious waste, 2,111.74 kg of general waste, 317.09 kg of needles, and 245.72 kg of chemical waste. The results showed that the total amount of waste produced (from clinics, private sectors, and hospitals) is higher in the spring and summer seasons compared to the autumn and winter. Additionally, the amount of medical waste produced by different treatment departments varied significantly. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that hospital waste management in Siahkal city is generally inadequate. Private offices and clinics in the city are in worse condition than healthcare centers and hospitals in terms of waste production, separation, decontamination, and disposal.

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 12 2 2025 3 1 An Overview of Simulation and Optimization Models for Urban Solid Waste Management Systems 227 242 FA Narjes Baharvandi Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran Mohammad Darvishmotevalli Research Center for Health, Safety and Environment (RCHSE), Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Zahra Mohammadi Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Hossein Faraji Department of Health and Paramedicine, Tropical and Communicable Diseases Research Center, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr. Iran Akbar Eskandari Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Background: Considering the increasing production of waste and the challenges associated with traditional waste management, this research examines the integrated application of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in improving the waste management process. The main objective of this study is to provide innovative and efficient solutions for the collection, sorting, and recycling of waste using advanced technologies. Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive review conducted in 2024, aimed at reporting the search process, documentation, and screening using the PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews. The methodology involved searching for articles from 2000 to 2024 with the English keywords waste management, Internet of Things in waste management, artificial intelligence in waste management, new methods of waste management, and their corresponding Persian equivalents on reputable sites such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Magiran, and SID. Results: After searching with relevant keywords, a total of 1021 studies were found, and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 41 articles were utilized. According to the results, the combination of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence in waste management leads to the optimization of waste collection, prediction of waste volume, and reduction of costs. Machine learning algorithms are also widely used in municipal solid waste management, from waste generation to collection and transportation. Smart sensors and devices are capable of providing real-time data, which can lead to better decision-making and ultimately enhance MSWM, environmental sustainability, and the protection of natural resources. Conclusion: Waste management in contemporary societies faces challenges such as increased waste production and a lack of infrastructure. The utilization of modern technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence can significantly aid in improving the waste management process by analyzing data, predicting waste volume, and optimizing collection routes. This approach not only reduces costs but also contributes to environmental protection and enhances urban quality of life.

Alborz University of Medical Sciences Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 2383-3211 12 2 2025 3 1 Fire risk assessment and provision of control measures in a selected hospital in Alborz province 243 258 FA Narmin Hassanzadeh-Rangi Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, School of Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Niyayesh Farsijani Member of Student Research and Technology Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Mohammad Amin Davtalab Member of Student Research and Technology Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Background: Fire and explosion are the first and second main hazards in industries and services, respectively. Using fire engineering in design is only possible based on risk assessment methods. The computational of  fire risk engineering evalution  (FRAME) is a comprehensive, transparent and practical method for evaluating fire risk in buildings. This study aims to assess fire risk using the FRAME method in a selected hospital in Alborz province. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital complex in Alborz province. Using this method, three different fire risk modes for buildings and their contents, occupants and activities inside the buildings were calculateted for 32 hospital departments. The required data were collected through firld investigation and monitoring of hospital condition, measurement of parameters, moitoring  questionnaire, checklists and according to the information mentioned in the FRAME executive instructions; Then it was analyzed in FRAME software. Results: The risk value for buildings and their contents, occupant and activities befor applying control measures was estimated as 0.21, 0.75 and 0.13 respectively. Also amount of risk for buildings and their contents, occupants and activities after control measures was calculated as 0.05, 0.22 and 0.05.  Conclusion: The findings of the study show that the highest risk of fire is related to occupants, and it is necessary for the authorities to take the necessary measures in this case. Installation of automatic fire alarm and fire extingushing systems and training can have a significant effect in reducing the risk of fire.