Hassan Hashemi; Ehsan Gharehchahi; Mohammad Golaki; Amin Mohammadpour; Zohre Moeini
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, first recognized in China and quickly became a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has been found to have positive and negative environmental impacts. Air, wastewater, and solid waste are some examples that show this pandemic’s ...
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, first recognized in China and quickly became a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has been found to have positive and negative environmental impacts. Air, wastewater, and solid waste are some examples that show this pandemic’s consequences. The current review summarizes the interactions between the COVID-19 pandemic with air, water, wastewater, and solid waste. During the COVID-19 outbreak, air pollution, ambient noise, fuel, and energy consumption, have been reduced. On the other hand, air pollution has been shown to increase the risk of COVID-19; thus, there is a positive correlation between air pollution and the number of COVID- 19 cases. Moreover, the researchers have detected the SARSCOV- 2 in feces and wastewater. Therefore, exposure to SARSCoV- 2 is possible by utilizing untreated effluent and wastewater in irrigation or aerosol generation during specific wastewater treatment processes. Furthermore, monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater allows us to detect the virus before it spreads in the community take the necessary measures, and implement effective policies. Changes in the composition and quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) are typical results of the COVID-19 pandemic, as plastic waste generation has increased globally due to the higher use of disposable single-use plastic bags and packaging. Mixing infectious virus-infected waste with domestic waste has led to the terminus of waste recycling in many parts of the world due to its hazardous potential. Developing effective strategies based on the sustainable development approach may reduce the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and similar outbreaks in the future.
Fallah Hashemi; Hassan Hashemi; Mansooreh Dehghani; Mohammad Hoseini
Abstract
Introduction: One of the major pollutants in the environment is heavy metals. The stability of heavy metals in the environment has created a lot of problems. Refinery effluents are one of the most important sources of heavy metals and should be treated before being discharged into the environment. ...
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Introduction: One of the major pollutants in the environment is heavy metals. The stability of heavy metals in the environment has created a lot of problems. Refinery effluents are one of the most important sources of heavy metals and should be treated before being discharged into the environment. Methods: This interventional experimental study aimed to remove heavy metals from petroleum effluent by using the micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) at Kermanshah Oil Refinery. Since ultrafiltration membranes alone cannot remove the heavy metals, surface active agents, such as surfactants, are injected into the effluent. Surfactant monomers in reaction to metal ions creating a complex that cannot cross the ultrafiltration membrane. Heavy metals are removed from the effluent stream. In the present study, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) as surfactant was used to add the effluent to improve the process of heavy metal removal. Result: The results showed that heavy metals such as nickel, lead, cadmium and chromium decreased by 96%, 95%, 92% and 86%, respectively. In the inlet effluent with increasing pH, the efficiency of the processes for metal removal increased, so that at pH = 10, the highest removal efficiency was observed. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the use of membrane processes as a practical and efficient method in industrial wastewater treatment can be applied in various industries, especially refinery ones.
Hassan Hashemi; Abbas Khodabakhshi; Bahram Alinia; Fariba Abbasi
Abstract
Background: This study investigated the bioremediation of lead and zinc in contaminated soils by the compost worm Eisenia Fetida. Methods: The initial concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/kg for zinc and lead respectively as well as 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg for the control group were studied. 30 earthworms were ...
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Background: This study investigated the bioremediation of lead and zinc in contaminated soils by the compost worm Eisenia Fetida. Methods: The initial concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/kg for zinc and lead respectively as well as 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg for the control group were studied. 30 earthworms were used for bioremediation of 500g samples of the polluted soils during 14 and 28 days. Then, Pb and Zn were measured by atomic absorption kit (Varian 240) in the soil and earthworm’s tissue. Results: The mortality rate of earthworms was insignificant statistically, so that it was lower than 20% when exposed to 86 mg/L of lead. Moreover, the removal efficiency of Pb and Zn was higher than 90% in th soil. Initial concentration of Pb and Zn was 3 and 6 mg/kg and the bioaccumulation was 0.16 and 32 μg/g respectively during 14 days, while they were 0.31 and 59 μg/g at the end of 28 days. The removal efficiency of Pb and Zn was increased as the exposure time and concentration of Pb and Zn in the earthworm bodies increased. Conclusion: As a consequence, the use of earthworms is an appropriate organic and cost-effective method for bioremediation of Pb and Zn significantly. However, the improvement and modification of bioaccumulation in earthworm bodies is an environmental challenge that should be managed.
Mansour Kashfi; Mostafa Eslahi; Tayebeh Rakhshani; Hasan Hashemi; Pejhman Baqeri; Mehdi Sharafi
Volume 6, Issue 1 , January 2018, , Pages 40-45
Abstract
Introduction: Environmental health is definitely one of the issues and challenges considered by human societies on the eve of the third millennium. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude and performance of the people of Fasa on segregation of municipal solid wastes ...
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Introduction: Environmental health is definitely one of the issues and challenges considered by human societies on the eve of the third millennium. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude and performance of the people of Fasa on segregation of municipal solid wastes in 2017. Method: This cross – sectional study was conducted on 400 residents of Fasa who were selected through cluster sampling. The tool used in this study was a Lickert-spectrum questionnaire, which was essentially a combination of two standard instruments and the researcher’s field studies. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 22 software as well as descriptive statistics, Man-Whitney test and one – way ANOVA test. Results: The results of this study showed that the mean knowledge, attitude and performance of the people were 23.5±5.3, 13.5±3.0, and 21.5±2.6, respectively. 43.7% of the subjects had weak knowledge (188 people), 28.6% had moderate knowledge (123 people) and 27.7% had good knowledge (119 people). Moreover, 36.6% had weak attitude (156 people), 19.3% had moderate (85 people) and 44% had good attitude (189 people). Finally, the performance of 46% of the participants was weak (198 people), that of 30.5% was moderate (131 people), and 23.5% had good performance (101 people). The mean scores of knowledge, attitude and performance of the male and female subjects were not significantly different.