Organochlorine contaminants in the hair of Iranian pregnant women

In the present study, the hair of pregnant women was sampled between November 2007 and January 2008 in Ahvaz and Noushahr cities and the countryside of Noushahr, Iran. They were analyzed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), α-, β-, and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers and seven polychlorinated (PCBs) congeners (IUPAC Nos. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180). Significant differences between the concentrations of investigated pollutants were found between the locations (p < 0.05). For HCHs, the γ-HCH isomer was measured at higher mean concentrations (6 ng g⁻¹ hair) compared to the β-HCH isomer (0.03 ng g⁻¹), which generally is the most prevalent HCH in biological matrices. Very high mean concentrations of p,p′-DDT in countryside of Noushahr (24 ng g⁻¹) combined with lower values (0.6) of ratio p,p′-DDE/p,p′-DDT in the hair samples suggest recent exposure to “fresh” DDT in this region. Significant differences in OCPs and PCBs were found between primiparous and multiparous mothers (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between levels of OCPs and PCBs in the hair of Iranian pregnant women and their age. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the organochlorine levels, including HCHs, between mothers who have eaten fish once a week and those who consumed fish more than once per week in Noushahr.     

Evaluation of heavy metal contamination hazards in nuisance dust particles, in Kurdistan Province, western Iran

The effects of natural andgeochemical factors depending on heavy metal contamination in nuisance dust particles were evaluated. The nuisance dust particles were sampled using passive deposit gauge method for one year from April2010 to March2011 and the obtained samples were measured for the total contents and the contamination levels of Fe, Mn, Cu and As usinggeo-accumulation index (Igeo ), enrichment factor (EF) and the integrated pollution index (IPI). The results showed that, the contamination levels of Fe and Mn based on Igeo values, were uncontaminated (Igeo < 0) (variations of the Igeo index was from -3.11 to -1.751 for Fe, from -0.630 to -1.925 for Mn), while the values of Cu and As were demonstrated to have moderate contamination based on Igeo values (variations of Igeo index was from -1.125 to 0.848 for Cu, and from -2.002 to 1.249 for As). The analysis of EF also revealed minor to moderate enrichment for Mn (1.215-4.214), minor to moderately severe enrichment for Cu (2.791-6.484), and As (1.370-8.462), respectively. The variation of the IPI index also showed low to moderate level of heavy metal pollution in nuisance dust particulates (0.511-1.829). The analysis of the results also approved that the natural processes andgeochemical variables (the changing meteorological parameters) can significantly affect the availability of heavy metals in nuisance dust particles in Western Iran.     

Investigating green roofs’ CO2 sequestration with cold- and drought-tolerant plants (a short- and long-term carbon footprint view)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In recent years, green roofs have become the subject of increasing interest because of their good aesthetic qualities, energy conservation, and...     

Environmental geochemistry of higher radioactivity in a transboundary Himalayan river sediment (Brahmaputra,Bangladesh): potential radiation exposure and health risks

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study of a downstream segment (Brahmaputra, Bangladesh) of one of the longest transboundary (China-India-Bangladesh) Himalayan rivers reveals...     

Adsorptive removal of ibuprofen to binary and amine-functionalized UiO-66 in the aquatic environment: synergistic/antagonistic evaluation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The removal of ibuprofen (IBP) from the aqueous solution by metal–organic frameworks such as UiO-66, UiO-66-NH2, and a binary MOF...     

Correction to: Multivariate modeling of agricultural river water abstraction via novel integrated-wavelet methods in various climatic conditions

Environment, Development and Sustainability - The authors would like to apologize for inadvertent mistakes in this article.     

Investigation of long-term hazards of chemical weapon agents in the environment of Sardasht area,Iran

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study aimed to investigate the persistence and existence of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and related dissipation products in the...     

Multivariate modeling of agricultural river water abstraction via novel integrated-wavelet methods in various climatic conditions

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Water resource management in the agricultural sector is a necessity that profoundly impacts water resources conservation for future generations. With...     

Optimization of copper recovery from electronic waste using response surface methodology and Monte Carlo simulation under uncertainty

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Electronic waste (e-waste) production is currently the largest growing waste stream in the world. These wastes contain the precious metals such as...     

Improving the Antibacterial Activity of Curcumin Loaded Nanoparticles in Wastewater Treatment by Enhancing Permeability and Sustained Release

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this research, the antibacterial effect of curcumin entrapped in polymeric nanoparticles (mPEG-PCL/curcumin) on resistant bacteria were investigated....