Iranian Journal of health, safety andenvironment

947-956

Authors: Majid Kermani, Zahra Asadgol, Hossein Arfaeinia

The concentrations of thirteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and six trace elements adsorbed to a fine fraction of particulate matter (PM ≤ 2.5 µm) were determined at an urban site in Tehran (Iran) during the spring period in 2013. The average concentration of PM2.5 was 41.19 µg/m3, which was 1.64 and 1.2 times higher than the annual average of WHO guidelines and EPA ambient air quality standards, respectively. The trace elements measured in the PM2.5 samples were Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, As and Zn with the mean concentrations of 38.05, 18.2, 4.24, 4.19, 1.34, and 69:92 ng/m3 respectively. Hg wasnot found in any sample in this study. Results from correlation tests between PM2.5 concentrations and different toxic metals; which were studied in various days of the week, including holidays, 1 day after the holidays, and the other days showed that the variability between groups were significant at the 0.05 level. Exception is Hg and Zn. The mean concentrations of PM2.5 and trace elements in 1 day after the holidays were higher compared other 2 groups. Total PAHs concentrations in PM2.5 were found to be 7.92 ng/m3.The most abundant PAHs found were high molecular weight homologues (4-6 ring PAHs) such as Inp, Bgp, Dba, Bkf and Bbf, which are contributing to constituents of vehicular emissions. In general, high molecular weight PAHs are more correlated than low molecular weight PAHs. Moreover a moderate correlation was observed between total PAH concentration and PM2.5 mass.

966-971

Authors: Saeed Ardashiri, Seyed Enayat Hashemi

Environmental contamination with heavy metals is one of the main concerns on a global scale and the risk related to exposure to heavy metals present in indoor dust is considered as a serious threat to human health. Therefore, the purpose of the current research was to evaluate the heavy metals concentrations in indoor dust and their potential risks in urban areas in Bushehr city, Iran. Fifty-four indoor dust samples were collected from different buildings including lab rooms, offices, school rooms and households within the Bushehr City, during May – July 2016 and analyzed using ICP-AES (Arcousmodel, Germany). The sum of hazard quotient (hazard quotient (HQs) for heavy metals for adults declined in the order of Cr > Cd > Cu >Ni > Zn > Pb for the household while the order of ΣHQ for trace metals for adults in offices is Cr > Cd > Ni >Cu > Zn > Pb. Moreover, the values ΣHQ for trace metals for children declined in the order of Cr > Cd > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb for the schools while the order of ΣHQ for trace metals for children in households is Cd > Zn >Cu > Cd > Ni > Cr > Pb. For all heavy metals, the HQs was about an order of magnitude higher for children than for adults. These findings can be attributed to the more vulnerability of children to the toxic substances.

982-990

Authors: Razzagh Rahimpour, Sajjad Farhadi, Mahdi Jalali

Exposing to the high-level of BTXs concentration can occur in the oil-dependent industries and may cause considerable adverse impacts on the health of employees. The main objective of the present study firstly is determining the exposure of petrochemical and oil depot workers to benzene, toluene, ortho and methyl xylenes, and p-xylene (BTXs), and secondly is estimating the lifetime cancer risk (LCR) and non-carcinogenic risk using the hazard quotient (HQ). This cross-sectional study is conducted on 85 workers at petrochemical (34 subjects) and oil depot (51 subjects) industries of Iran in 2016. In order to determine the exposure concentrations of BTXs, through inhaling way, individual sampling was carried out according to the NIOSH 1501 method. Then, estimating LCR of benzene, and non-carcinogenic risk of benzene, toluene, ortho and methyl xylenes, and p-xylene, using the HQ, has been conducted regards to criteria recommended by USEPA. The mean exposure concentration of benzene among the oil depot workers was higher than the petrochemical workers, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.162). The mean exposure concentration of benzene in the oil depot workers (2.1 ± 2.53 mg/m3) was higher than the occupational exposure limits provided by the American conference of governmental industrial hygienists (ACGIH_TLV = 1.67 mg/m3). The mean concentration of toluene in the exposed workers of the oil depot (46.81 ± 22.43 mg/m3) was higher than the exposed workers of petrochemical (41.83 ± 30.06 mg/m3), but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.412). The results of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment revealed high-risk exposure level in the both investigated groups. The mean LCR of benzene in the oil depot workers was higher than the petrochemical workers (1.681E-3 and 1.163E-3, for the oil depot and petrochemical, respectively). The LCR of benzene and HQ of BTXs in the both investigated groups were higher than the reference values. In order to reduce occupational exposure to BTXs in the investigated oil depot and petrochemical, control measures should be taken in the future, as soon as possible.

997-1006

Authors: Mohammad Mehdi Babaei, Mousa Jabbari, Ahmad Ali Babaei

Individuals involved in development, repair and maintenance activities of power transmission and distribution are at high risk of electrocution. The purpose of this research is to calculate the human injuries risk of medium voltage electrocution accidents using Bow Tie model in fuzzy environment. Therefore, existing evidences and documents was investigated, and accident causes was determined using the FTA technique. Then, their outcomes were identified by using ETA and William Fine method, and Bow Tie diagrams were drawn based on the results. After that, because of inadequate data, the fuzzy logic was used to calculate the probability of the root causes and outcomes of the accident. The probability of the middle causes and top event was also calculated by probabilistic equations. The results showed that in terms of frequency, medium voltage electrocution accident with probability of 2.2E-4 is one of the significant accidents in the electricity distribution activities, as well as the outcome of "permanent total disability or death of one person" and "with no injury", are the maximum and minimum outcome of the mentioned accident with the probability of 2.1E-6 and 1.29E-10, respectively. These outcomes with the risk of 1.05E-8 and 1.29E-10 are also considered as highest and lowest risk, respectively. "Permanent total disability or death of one person" is the most important outcome of medium voltage electrocution accident, in terms of both frequency and risk. "Lack of installing earth system" and "absence of double insulation" are the most important root causes of accidents. Finally, the results of this research can facilitate financial and human resources planning, and also, the use of Bow Tie in the fuzzy environment can resolve risk assessment problem greatly in the uncertainty and lack of inadequate data.