Journal of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development

The Role of Green Buildings in Reducing Air Pollution: Opportunities and Challenges

2025-10-05T09:02:28+00:00

The Article Abstract is not available.

Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for Pathogens Surveillance

2025-10-05T09:02:50+00:00

Introduction: Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a valuable approach for environmental management and public health surveillance. By detecting viral RNA and biomarkers in wastewater, WBE provides community-level early warning signals that can support outbreak preparedness and guide policy-making.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies published until March 2025 were screened from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Data on study design, sample type, detection methods, positivity rates, and temporal associations with clinical indicators were extracted. Pooled positivity rates were calculated using random-effects models, heterogeneity was assessed, and subgroup analyses were conducted.

Results: Twenty-nine studies on SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance were included in this review. The pooled positivity rate was 59.5% (95% CI: 49.6–68.7), with signals detected earliest in the sludge samples (98.8%). Wastewater indicators preceded reported clinical cases by a median of six days. Evidence has also demonstrated WBE’s applicability of WBE for influenza, RSV, norovirus, polio, and antimicrobial resistance, reinforcing its value beyond COVID-19.

Resilience and Transformation of University Waste Management During COVID-19: A Case Study of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd

2025-10-05T09:03:06+00:00

Introduction: Universities are concentrated hubs of waste generation, and the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly reshaped waste management dynamics. This study investigated the resilience and transformation of campus waste streams at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran, in 2020.

Materials and Methods: Monthly physical waste analyses were conducted across seven campus zones (dormitories, faculties, cafeterias, sports halls, and faculty clubs). Waste was manually sorted, weighed, and characterized according to ASTM D5231-92, and key physicochemical parameters (moisture, density, calorific value, and C/N ratio) were measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (SPSS) to compare the pre-pandemic, peak-pandemic, and post-peak periods.

Results: The results revealed an 81.6% reduction in total waste generation during the lockdown, alongside a major spatial shift. Waste output from academic and commercial areas (cafeteria: 90.8% decrease) collapsed, whereas dormitories became the primary source (49.3% decrease). Compositionally, organic waste increased sharply from 38.7% to 58.9%, whereas recyclables such as paper and cardboard declined drastically from 25.1% to 6.2%. These shifts reduced the calorific value by 25% and increased the moisture content, undermining the thermal treatment potential but enhancing the suitability for biological processing.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates how the pandemic acted as both a disruptive shock and a catalyst for transformation. This underscores the vulnerabilities of centralized waste management models while highlighting opportunities for adaptive and decentralized solutions, such as dormitory-level composting, that strengthen resilience and foster a more flexible and crisis-responsive system.

Hospital Wastewater Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA: Association With COVID-19 Cases and Insights into Environmental Persistence

2025-10-05T09:03:16+00:00

Introduction: Analyzing municipal wastewater for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA serves as a cost-effective and timely tool for epidemiological surveillance to mitigate virus-related health risks. Therefore, this study assessed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in untreated hospital wastewater and its correlation with COVID-19 case numbers over six months at Shahidzadeh Hospital in southwest Iran.

Materials and Methods: In this analytical investigation, a total of 24 grab samples of untreated hospital wastewater were systematically collected over six months, spanning from September 2020 to February 2021. Each sample was subsequently processed and analyzed using a reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) approach, with specific amplification targeting both the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene and the nucleocapsid (N) gene of SARS-CoV-2.

Results: All 24 wastewater samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Concentrations ranged between 130 to 490 gene copies/100 mL, with mean values increasing from 247 (September) to 425 (February). RNA levels were strongly correlated with hospitalized COVID-19 cases (Spearman’s p < 0.05, R² = 0.87).

Conclusion: These findings highlight the value of hospital wastewater surveillance as a cost-effective epidemiological tool, particularly in settings with limited diagnostic capacity. Future research should investigate viral viability and optimize disinfection strategies to reduce potential environmental risk.

Spatial Distribution and Public Health Implications of Radon and Thoron in Groundwater: A Large-Scale Study in Largest Province of Iran - 2023

2025-10-05T09:03:38+00:00

Introduction: Radon (²²²Rn) and thoron (220Rn) are radioactive gases that pose significant health risks, including lung cancer, when inhaled or ingested. This study aimed to assess the health risks associated with radon and thoron in groundwater across Kerman Province, the largest province in Iran.

Materials and Methods: A total of 107 wells were sampled (2023), and radon/thoron concentrations were measured using a RAD7 detector. Data were analyzed using SPSS-26 and ArcMap 10.5, employing the Kruskal-Wallis test and ordinary kriging for spatial distribution mapping.

Results: The annual effective dose of radon ranged from 10.00 ± 6.72
to 224.84 ± 28.40 μSv/yr for adults, while thoron doses ranged from
15.00 ± 10.07 to 337.26 ± 42.59 μSv/yr for adults. No significant correlation was found between radon concentration and environmental parameters (pH, temperature, and residual free chlorine). Seven sampling points exhibited a high respiratory risk, whereas the others posed a moderate risk. No association was observed between the radon/thoron levels and fault proximity.

Conclusion: All measured radon concentrations were below Iran’s permissible limit (100 Bq/L). To mitigate health risks, high-concentration wells should be restricted or sealed, and aeration/storage tanks (≤ 4-day retention time) should be implemented to reduce radioactivity. These measures are crucial for minimizing public exposure to radioactive groundwater contamination.

Phytoremediation of Uranium-238 and Thorium-232 in Contaminated Soils Using Native Dryland Shrubs

2025-10-05T09:03:42+00:00

Introduction: This study investigated the phytoremediation potential of Atriplex canescens, Haloxylon aphyllum, and Nitraria schoberi for decontaminating soil polluted with radioactive elements.

Materials and Methods: Contaminated soil was collected from a uranium mine site. Compost and sawdust were used as soil amendments. Radionuclide activities and concentrations were determined using gamma spectrometry and ICP-MS.

Results: H. aphyllum demonstrated the highest uptake of radioactive elements, accumulating 58 mg.kg^-1 of Th-232 and 28.08 mg.kg^-1 of U-238, respectively. Considering their initial concentrations, the thorium removal efficiency was higher than that of uranium, with a maximum of 85% for Th-232 achieved by H. aphyllum. Plant roots accumulated higher concentrations of radionuclides than the stems. A comparison of phytoremediation factors (TF, BAF, and BCF) indicated that H. aphyllum had a greater stabilization potential than the other two species. Furthermore, phytoextraction was identified as the dominant remediation mechanism.

Conclusion: Compost application enhanced the phytostabilization potential of all three plants (e.g., as indicated by the increase in BCF, which reached a maximum of 0.45 for H. aphyllum). In contrast, sawdust had an inhibitory effect, likely due to the disruption of the C/N ratio, which prevented plant growth. H. aphyllum showed significant potential for radioactive soil rehabilitation, particularly when it was amended with compost.

Investigation of the Bacterial Contamination of Dental Unit Waterlines and the Effectiveness of Flushing on the Contamination Level in Rafsanjan, Southeastern Iran

2025-10-05T09:03:57+00:00

Introduction: Dental unit water lines (DUWLs) are potential sources of microbial contamination that threaten patients and dental personnel. This study aimed to determine the bacterial quantity and quality of DUWLs in Dental School in Rafsanjan and to determine the effect of flushing on the contamination rate.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 124 water samples were collected from 20 active units in five departments (endodontics, periodontics, pediatrics, prosthetics, and restorations) at Rafsanjan Dental School (July 2024). Sampling was carried out using a standard method from the water inlet and the connection point of the turbine and scaler in three stages: before work, after 30-second flushing, and after work. To identify the bacterial contamination load, heterotrophic plate counting (HPC), Gram staining, and standard biochemical tests for each bacterial species were used. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to analyze the data.

Results: The results showed that the contamination level in 53.2% of the samples was above the permissible limit. The highest contamination level was observed in the periodontics department (890 CFU/mL), and the lowest was in the endodontics department (380 CFU/mL). 30-second flushing significantly reduced contamination and the number of bacteria (p ≤ 0.001), while the difference between contamination levels in different departments and components of the dental units was not significant (p ˃ 0.05).

Conclusion: Given the contamination of DUWLs, continuous water disinfection, cleaning of water lines, and flushing before and during work in dental units are recommended.

Enhanced Sensitive Determination of Triclosan and Methyl Triclosan in Human Urine by Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Coupled with GC–MS

2025-10-05T09:04:15+00:00

Introduction: Triclosan is a lipophilic antimicrobial agent primarily found in personal care products, including shampoos, toothpastes, and cosmetics. Both compounds are largely excreted in urine, making it the most accessible and reliable biological matrix for human exposure monitoring. This study aims to evaluate a novel extraction procedure dependent on the Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction (DLLME) technique to detect and quantify triclosan and methyl triclosan in urine samples from children and adolescents in Kerman.

Materials and Methods: Triclosan and methyl triclosan levels in urine samples from 79 children and adolescents (6 to 18 years) in Kerman, Iran were measured by DLLME using the chromatography-mass -mass spectrometer (GC-MS) device.

Results: The method yielded relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 4.6% and 3.9% for triclosan and methyl triclosan, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) were 1.9 µg/L for triclosan and 1.8 µg/L for methyl triclosan, while the limits of quantification (LOQ) were 6.3 µg/L and 6.0 µg/L, respectively. The average urinary concentrations were 4.62 ± 2.08 µg/L for triclosan and 1.91 ± 0.88 µg/L for methyl triclosan.

Conclusion: Triclosan and methyl triclosan were detected in all samples studied, indicating that all subjects were exposed to these compounds. These findings underscore the urgent need to reduce exposure pathways through enhanced public awareness and stringent regulatory oversight.