Rapid urbanization and severe air pollution levels have increased the burden of chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The present hospital-based cross-sectional study investigates demographic, behavioural, and environmental (household and occupational) determinants of COPD among 501 individuals visiting the respiratory outpatient department in Delhi, India. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data capturing socio-demographic, clinical, occupational, and household pollution-related variables, and these were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. COPD prevalence was 34.1
In this study, chitosan/graphene oxide aerogel (CS@GOA) was synthesized using a modified route of graphene oxide (GO) synthesis. The adsorbent was packed into a needle trap (NTD), introducing a novel solvent-free sampling method with direct thermal desorptionfor the analysis of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) in air. The quantitative characteristics of CS@GOA were specified using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The performance of the method was evaluated under both laboratory and field conditions, after assessing parameters like storage time, carryover effect, repeatability and reproducibility of the NTD. The optimization of injection parameters, including time and temperature, was performed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Central Composite Design (CCD). The method exhibited high sensitivity with limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) ranging from 0.0004 to 0.018 ng mL−1 and 0.0012 to 0.06 ng mL−1, respectively. Repeatability and reproducibility of the method were obtained within the ranges of 1.5–8.74
Fused Deposition Modeling technique is a widely used 3D printing technique that often employs polylactic acid filaments (PLA), which can be enhanced with nanomaterials such as Graphene Oxide (GO). During thermal processing, these materials may release airborne particles, raising occupational and environmental exposure concerns. This study evaluates potential exposure to aerosolized GO from PLA filaments using a tiered risk assessment approach based on the European standard EN 17058:2018 and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidance. A monitoring strategy combined near-field and far-field particle counters with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Raman Spectroscopy, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were assessed to compare with Spanish and Finish 2022 threshold occupational exposure limits. Nanoparticles and their agglomerates were detected at low number concentrations on average, with traces of Graphene Oxide in respirable fractions. These findings warranted further validation using statistical models such as ARIMA. Although concentrations were below proposed limits. The presence of GO in respirable aerosol indicates that GO nanoestructured within PLA was released into the workplace air. This finding underscores the need for tailored monitoring and control measures in occupational environments.
Aedes aegypti is the proven vector of dengue fever, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. In Iran, the first recorded sighting of Ae. aegypti dates back to 1920 and into the early 1950s. For 70 years, the species was not seen in the country. However, since 2018, reports have confirmed the presence of Ae. aegypti in various regions. It is now established in some areas of the southern provinces, including Hormozgan, Bushehr, and Sistan and Baluchistan. The appearance, disappearance, and subsequent re-emergence of Ae. aegypti in Iran, after a 70-year absence, are attributed to a combination of factors such as historical malaria control, infrastructure, globalization, urbanization, and climate change that is discussed in this study. This study underscores that the re-emergence of Ae. aegypti in Iran necessitates an urgent paradigm shift from reactive chemical-based control toward a proactive, integrated management framework. Ultimately, the long-term mitigation of dengue fever risk depends on the seamless integration of community-based environmental management with advanced biotechnological interventions.
Iron ore mining produces hazardous particulate matter, yet a holistic profile of its health impacts across different exposure levels is unavailable. This study aimed to provide an integrated health assessment of miners by evaluating a wide spectrum of clinical outcomes and linking them to job-specific dust exposure to identify high-risk groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,193 employees of an Iranian iron ore mine. Participants underwent demographic and occupational interviews, systematic physical examinations, and clinical tests. Workers were stratified into high, moderate-, and low-exposure groups based on job role for comparative analysis. To compare the demographic variables among the exposure groups, ANOVA and chi-square tests were performed. To identify the factors associated with occupational exposure levels, univariate and multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were employed. The workforce was relatively young (mean age: 34.9 ± 7.6 years) with a low prevalence of major chronic diseases. However, a significant burden of occupational ailments was observed, including hearing (23.8
In recent decades, concerns about microplastics increased as an important issue in the fields of environment and public health. This research evaluates the level of inhalation exposure to microplastics and examines their presence in the indoor air and nasal lavage fluid of beauty salon employees, both at home and during working hours in the salon. A total of 36 indoor air samples and 18 nasal lavage fluid samples were collected and analyzed. The results indicated the abundance of microplastics in the indoor air of beauty salons, and homes with mean values of 99.38 ± 4.1 and 36.61 ± 3.05 MPs/m3, respectively. Microplastics were also found in the nasal lavage samples of beauty salon workers and in homes, with the concentrations ranging from 12.33 to 23.78MP/ml and 9.32 to 20.12MP/ml, respectively. The average daily exposure to microplastics in homes, and beauty salons was calculated to be 211.55 ± 109 and 572.166 ± 238MPs/day, respectively. This research highlights the importance of reducing potential health hazards associated with microplastic exposure in these environments.
Healthcare hazardous materials represent an increasing challenge to public health, environmental sustainability, and healthcare resilience owing to the growing complexity of waste streams, emerging contaminants, and evolving regulatory requirements. Although numerous reviews have examined individual aspects of healthcare waste management, an integrated critical evaluation linking hazardous waste classification, risk assessment, treatment technologies, regulatory governance, and circular economy strategies remains lacking. This review addresses this gap by critically synthesizing current evidence on the sources, classification, exposure pathways, human and environmental risks, treatment technologies, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable management strategies for infectious, pharmaceutical, chemical, heavy metal, radioactive, plastic, and electronic healthcare wastes. The synthesis identifies inadequate source segregation, infrastructure deficiencies, inconsistent regulatory implementation, and the rapid emergence of medical plastics, antimicrobial residues, and healthcare electronic waste as the principal barriers to sustainable waste management. Comparative evaluation further demonstrates that effective source segregation, context-specific non-incineration treatment technologies, strengthened regulatory governance, digital waste monitoring, and resource recovery within a circular economy framework can substantially reduce environmental impacts, improve operational efficiency, and enhance resource sustainability. By integrating recent advances, identifying critical knowledge gaps, and proposing strategic priorities for research, policy, and healthcare practice, this review provides a comprehensive framework to support the transition towards safer, resource-efficient, and environmentally sustainable healthcare hazardous materials management.
Low-cost air quality sensors (LCS) provide high-resolution monitoring with affordability and real-time data but require performance evaluation and calibration due to probable lower accuracy compared to reference instruments and sensitivity to meteorological factors such as air relative humidity and temperature. Although most studies on low-cost sensors have been conducted in Europe and America, we did not find any study in regions like Iran, where air pollution levels and meteorological conditions differ significantly. In this study, performance evaluation and calibration of a low-cost particulate matter sensor were performed based on Federal Reference Method (FRM) and Federal Equivalent Method (FEM) in Tehran, from May 27, 2023, to August 19, 2024. Simple Linear Regression (SLR) and Multivariable Linear Regression (MLR) models were applied, validated via leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV). Results showed that LCS underestimated PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in both warm and cold periods, with more pronounced and variable underestimation during warm months and more systematic, smaller underestimation in cold months. Underestimation was greater for PM10 than PM2.5 in both periods. Despite this, LCS measurements tracked reference instrument trends and responded well to concentration variations. Seasonal calibration was performed in addition to calibration for the entire sampling period due to varying LCS performance under different meteorological conditions. After SLR calibration model was applied the performance criteria were met only during the cold period for both PM2.5 and PM10. Applying the MLR calibration model improved accuracy, achieving acceptable performance for PM2.5 throughout the entire sampling period and for PM10 across the entire period and warm months, with R² values of 0.62–0.93 and normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 10.7–24.36
The risks associated with heavy metals (HMs) in oil are important for health. This study investigated and evaluated the concentration of HMs in oils examined in Iranian studies using a systematic review method. First, published articles were identified in the Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The concentrations of HMs were extracted from reliable papers and subjected to risk assessments. This research utilized pooled concentration estimates from the selected articles, integrating them with a Monte Carlo probabilistic framework of 10,000 iterations to assess the uncertainty in both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for adults and children. After screening and quality control of the articles, 16 valid articles were identified. Rapeseed oil contained the highest amounts of Cd and Cu, soybean oil exhibited the highest level of Fe, corn oil had the lowest amount of As, and olive oil showed the highest levels of Ni, Zn, and Pb. The non-carcinogenic health risk assessment of HMs indicated that the hierarchy of metals, according to the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) for the exposed population, was as follows: As > Cd > Pb > Ni > Zn > Fe > Cu. Furthermore, THQ of As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn for adults were 2.947, 2.187, 0.115, 0.125, 1.321, 1.922, and 0.244, while THQ for children were 6.957, 5.200, 0.264, 0.292, 3.078, 4.414, and 0.566. The lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) for As, Cd, and Pb in Vegetable Oils (VOs) was within the permissible range. Moreover, the carcinogenic risk from As (4.361 × 10− 3) was found to be 1.3 times higher than that of Cd (3.640 × 10− 3) and 23.8 times higher than that of Pb (1.891 × 10− 4). It can be concluded that due to the toxic effects of HMs in VOs, we should be more serious about reducing the risk and pollution levels in this region.
Based on the data from NHANES database, the relationship between the levels of metabolites of five organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in adult urine and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was analysed to provide scientific foundation for the prevention and control of the development of NAFLD. Data from 3287 adults (NHANES 2011–2018) were analysed, and the presence of NAFLD was determined based on the fatty liver index. R4.3.2 software was utilized to explore the correlation between the levels of metabolites of urinary OPFRs and NAFLD. The gWQS package in R was employed to perform weighted quantile sum regression analysis. Subjects were further stratified by sex to conduct binary Logistic regression analysis and weighted quantile sum regression analysis. In sex-stratified logistic regression analyses, higher urinary bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCPP) levels were positively associated with NAFLD in men, with participants in the highest exposure category of log-transformed BCPP concentrations showing an increased risk of NAFLD (OR = 4.117, 95
Air pollution remains a significant global health challenge and is increasingly recognized as a critical exposomic risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. Although numerous epidemiological studies have linked prenatal air pollution exposure to low birth weight, preterm birth, and stillbirth, important uncertainties remain regarding the underlying biological mechanisms, critical exposure windows, and the interplay between different pollutants and susceptibility factors. This narrative review synthesizes epidemiological findings and mechanistic evidence identified through literature searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to provide a comprehensive overview of how maternal exposure to air pollutants affects fetal development and pregnancy outcomes. The reviewed epidemiological evidence largely supports an association between maternal air pollution exposure and adverse birth outcomes. For example, a 10 µg/m3 increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure during the second trimester has been associated with an 11.8 g reduction in birth weight and a 23.1
This research evaluates the potential radiological health risks caused by natural radionuclides in both imported and locally manufactured baby food brands consumed in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, utilizing statistical analysis and Monte Carlo-based methods. Activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were measured in various baby food samples using a NaI(Tl) based gamma spectrometry with a CASSAY software for spectral analysis. The results shows that ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K have mean activity concentrations of 13.2 ± 4.23, 10.6 ± 3.38, and 217.0 ± 6.94 Bq kg− 1, respectively. The estimated annual effective dose from the three radionuclides for infants in age groups < 1 y and 1–2 y surpassed the internationally suggested limit of 1 mSv y− 1, indicating a potential radiological health concern. The mean values of ELCR evaluated by deterministic calculations were 1.05 × 10− 2 and 4.83 × 10− 3 for infants aged < 1 y and 1–2 y, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations provided probabilistic risk estimates, which revealed that the ELCR surpassed the acceptable threshold of 1 × 10⁻⁴, suggesting a non-negligible carcinogenic risk associated with long-term consumption of the baby food brands. The results of this study emphasize the importance of stringent quality control measures, enhanced regulatory oversight and public awareness to mitigate potential health effects. Routine monitoring and additional research on dietary exposure routes are advised to guarantee the safety of infant food products in the region. The study calls for more research into dietary exposure pathways and regular monitoring to ensure the safety of infant food products in the region.
This study characterized physicochemical properties, elemental contamination, and health risks of size-fractionated settled dust in child-relevant microenvironments in Tehran, Iran. Paired indoor and outdoor samples were collected from 50 residential houses and 50 kindergartens (February–July 2023). The < 150 μm fraction was analyzed for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) by microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. Mineralogy, morphology, and water-soluble ions were determined by XRD, FE-SEM/EDX, and ion chromatography, respectively. Particle size distributions were dominated by coarse material (D50: 29.6–53.3 μm), consistent with a quartz–calcite–clay assemblage. Mean concentrations followed the order Al > Fe > Zn > Mn; Zn (622–1,129 µg/g) and Pb (72–139 µg/g) were the most enriched anthropogenic elements. Contamination factor analysis identified very high contamination by Zn and Pb, while the pollution load index remained below unity (0.24–0.34). Outdoor concentrations explained 82.4
Synthetic dyes, such as methyl violet (MV), are hazardous pollutants that pose risks to both aquatic ecosystems and public health. Thus, developing effective adsorbents for their removal is of environmental importance. In this study, a composite hydrogel of k-carrageenan-cl-Poly(Crotonic acid-co-N-isopropyl acrylamide)/dichloride-bis(6-aminopencillanic acid)titanium(III)Chloride), HML composite was created using a free radical copolymerization method with potassium persulfate (KPS) as the initiator and N, N-methylene bis-acrylamide (MBA) as a cross-linking agent. This hydrogel was designed to remove MV dye from aqueous solutions. The research focused on optimizing the synthesis conditions to prepare a hydrogel with the highest swelling ratio (SR
The increasing generation of healthcare waste (HCW), together with inadequate management practices, poses risks to public health and environmental safety. This situation highlights the need for robust quantitative approaches to support waste estimation and planning. In this study, machine learning–based regression models, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Ensemble of Trees (ET), and Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), were applied to estimate HCW generation across Indian states. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to reduce data dimensionality and to construct a hybrid model based on the best-performing individual approach. Model performance was assessed using the root mean square error (RMSE) and the coefficient of determination (R²). Pearson correlation analysis was conducted during the preliminary stage to evaluate relationships among input variables, and statistical significance was verified using a two-tailed test. Sensitivity analysis was performed through nonlinear input selection, resulting in eight model configurations for the model creation. Among the individual models, GPR produced the lowest prediction error, with an RMSE of 0.0048 (GPR-2), outperforming the SVM and ET models. The PCA–GPR hybrid model further improved prediction accuracy, achieving a minimum RMSE of 0.0019. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis was employed to enhance the effect of the model interpretability, revealing that healthcare capacity indicators and urban-demographic factors are the dominant drivers of HCW generation. The results demonstrate that regression-based and hybrid modelling approaches are effective for estimating HCW generation. The study also indicates that prediction performance can be enhanced by incorporating additional socioeconomic and demographic variables, although data availability and data quality remain key limitations, particularly in regions with incomplete historical records.
This investigation endeavored to assess the human health and ecological risks intrinsically associated with the environmental discharge of frequently utilized antibiotics during 2022–2023. Commonly used antibiotics (17 entities in 2022 and 18 in 2023) were designated based on sales volume metrics (> 95
Air pollution is the biggest environmental factor impacting the health of people worldwide contributing significantly to mortality. This study has been conducted to investigate the strategies of air pollution policies suggested by multilateral organisations to mitigate the adverse impact of air pollution on populations’ health. This study was a qualitative document analysis of health policies and strategies related to air pollution. For this purpose, READ’s 4-step approach (Ready material, Extract findings, Analyse data and Distil findings) was used. This approach entails systematic method for collating documents and extracting information from them. This was done with respect to air pollution and health policy studies at global, national and local levels. After extraction of related documents, the content analysis of the obtained documents was done. Cumulatively 12 documents were considered for analysis. In toto, 810 codes, 27 subcategories and 9 categories were extracted by content analysis. The categories included strategies for emission reduction, strategies for exposure reduction, strategies for education communication, strategies for high-risk groups, strategies for research, strategies for capacity building, strategies for policymaking, implementation and enforcement, strategies for collaboration and coordination, and strategies for evaluation. Mitigating health impacts of air pollution needs to go beyond emission reduction at the sources of pollution. They could encompass comprehensive and holistic measures addressed to population affected by pollution. Health sector strengthening, policy advocacy by health sector, health sector awareness, policy enforcement and implementation through cross sectoral and geographical collaboration and coordination also needs to be the focus for improving the health of the population.
Developing countries, undergoing rapid urbanization, have a keen interest in circular economy and its application in the construction sector in hopes of alleviating stresses on urban resources and waste management systems. This study presents a novel approach to identifying the demolition candidates from a city master plan, estimating natural building turnover from past demolitions, and quantifying the resultant materials with a potential to close the loop. Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, was selected as a representative case due to its booming construction development along with scarce data on demolition activities. The methodology included (1) using ArcGIS and its fine-tuned Mask RCNN model to extract building footprints, (2) manual identification of demolition activities, (3) characterization of the building stock based on the city’s master plan to estimate the demolition waste composition, and using results obtained, (4) the prediction of annual demolition material volumes until 2035. The model for footprint extraction from past satellite imagery achieved 70.1
According to global statistics, approximately 400 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year, yet only about 9
