Heavy metal contaminated soil, water, and vegetables in northeastern Iran: potential health risk factors.

Purpose: This study was designed to measure the concentrations of heavy (Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn) metals in water, soil, and frequently edible leafy vegetables in the Iranian population and assessed the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk in consumers.

Methods: The samples of soil, water, and vegetables were collected from forms near the Tehran-Mashhad highway in Neyshabur, Iran. The content of heavy metals in the samples was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry.

Interaction between meteorological parameters and COVID-19: an ecological study on 406 authorities of the UK.

Understanding the factors affecting COVID-19 transmission is critical in assessing and mitigating the spread of the pandemic. This study investigated the transmissibility and death distribution of COVID-19 and its association with meteorological parameters to study the propagation pattern of COVID-19 in UK regions. We used the reported case and death per capita rate (as of November 13, 2020; before mass vaccination) and long-term meteorological data (temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and visibility) in 406 UK local authority levels based on publicity available secondary data.

Socioeconomic determinants of global distribution of multiple sclerosis: an ecological investigation based on Global Burden of Disease data.

Background: Socioeconomic factors may be involved in risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), either indirectly or as confounding factors. In this study two comprehensive indicators reflecting socioeconomic differences, including the Human Development Index (HDI) and Prosperity Index (PI), were used to assess the impact of these factors on the worldwide distribution of MS.

Methods: The data for this global ecological study were obtained from three comprehensive databases including the Global Burden of Disease (as the source of MS indices), United Nations Development Programme (source for HDI) and the Legatum Institute Database for PI.

Association of COVID-19 global distribution and environmental and demographic factors: An updated three-month study.

We investigated the association of some environmental and economic factors and the global distribution indicators of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the number of cases and deaths is higher in high-income countries located in higher latitudes and colder climates, further studies are required to shed light on this matter.

Do socioeconomic factors affect the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Iran?

Background: A rising trend for incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been observed during the recent years in Iran. Several factors have been investigated as the reason, but socioeconomic determinants have been neglected. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between Human Development Index (HDI), income and education and MS prevalence in the provinces of Iran.

Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis in Torbat-e Heydarieh (Northeast of Iran) during 1982-2016.

It was believed that the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with latitude gradient. Due to the increasing prevalence of MS in some areas around the equator such as Iran, this theory has been criticized in recent years. Since the distribution of MS in Iran is not uniform, this study was designed to describe the prevalence and incidence of MS in the northeastern area of Iran.

High Concentration of Fluoride Can Be Increased Risk of Abortion.

The presence of fluoride in drinking water can be either beneficial or harmful for human health, depending on its concentration. Most adverse effects of fluoride are observed at high concentrations (above 1.5 mg/L).

Performance, kinetic, and biodegradation pathway evaluation of anaerobic fixed film fixed bed reactor in removing phthalic acid esters from wastewater.

Emerging and hazardous environmental pollutants like phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are one of the recent concerns worldwide. PAEs are considered to have diverse endocrine disrupting effects on human health. Industrial wastewater has been reported as an important environment with high concentrations of PAEs.

Long-term trends of Nitrogen oxides and surface ozone concentrations in Tehran city, 2002-2011.

Background And Aim: Tropospheric ozone is a problem with multi aspects - hazard to human health, plant, and welfare and a key factor to climate change, air pollution and atmosphere chemistry, as well. Behavior of ozone and nitrogen oxides (NO, and NO2) concentration is highly complex and variable; therefore, their trends as short and long-term were significantly attended. Most of the studies were carried out on the behavior of pollutant concentrations in North America, Europe, and East Asia, but few studies have been conducted in west Asia.

The Evaluation of Multiple Sclerosis Dispersal in Iran and Its Association with Urbanization, Life Style and Industry.

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease with unknown factor. The prevalence and incidence rate of this disease had an upward trend in many regions in the world such as Middle east and consequently in Iran over the recent years. As the risk factors of this increased trend and high-prevalence is unknown in Iran, the current study has been designed to evaluate the correlation between MS dispersal with urbanization, life style and industry, as an ecological research.