---

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the response of lung function indices to aerobic and anaerobic exercises in polluted air. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 20 healthy men were randomly divided into two equal groups experiment and control. The experiment group initially had one session of aerobic exercise and after a three-week break, received one session of anaerobic exercise on ergometer bicycle in polluted air. The control group did the same kind of exercise in healthy clean air. Lung function tests were run before, right after (the first post-test), and 24 hours after the exercises (the second post-test). Results: Aerobic exercise in unhealthy polluted air resulted in the significant reduction of FEV1, FVC, and FEF25-75% indices in the first and second post-tests. Following anaerobic exercises in polluted air, a significant decrease was observed in FVC and FEF25-75% indices in both the first and second post-tests. FEV1 and FEF25-75% indices in the first and second post-tests, and FEV1 and FVC indexes in the second post-tests underwent a remarkably greater reduction following aerobic exercise. Conclusion: While aerobic physical exercise in polluted air caused a reduction in the lung function indices (FEV1, FVC and FEF25-75%) in the first and second post-tests, it seemed that anaerobic exercises in polluted air induced a significantly smaller reduction in FEV1 and FEF25-75% in the first and second post tests, and FEV1/FVC in the second post test.

---

Background: Solid waste is one of the environmental pollution. Therefore the aim of this study was to survey of knowledge, attitude and practice of student and teachers about weast management for developing methods of educational in Arak city.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross sectional and analytical study that was carried out on 1739 student and 149 teacher in school of Arak city in 2012. sampling with cluster and data collection with questionnaire including knowledge, attitude, practice and appropriate resource of education for waste management. Finally data analyzed with statistical tests.

Results: The mean knowledge and attitude student was 4.1±1.9 (out of 8) and was 20.63±5.9 (out of 35) respectively. Based on most educational methods for weast management viewpoint of student book 441 student (29% ) but impact of internet very low interest 487 (32%) of student. Moreover the most educational methods based on level of education significant difference was observed (p=0.001).

Conclusion: Due to a level of knowledge and attitude of student and accsses to educational resourse and huge of weaste in school educational program planned via book, teacher and peer education for student recommended.

---

Background: The air pollutants such as CO, SO₂, NO₂, O₃, and particulate matters have harmful effects on public health. Determination of the actual concentration of the pollutants and description of air quantity and quality contents in comparison of standard conditions and timely informing people to regulate control programs is essential. Kashan is exposed to the winds contain-ing the suspended particulate matters due to the proximity of the desert. Moreover, the growth of population, factories and industries in the city are artifical resources of the air pollution. Hence, assessment and monitoring of air pollution standard condition in kashan is crucial.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, the concentration of CO, SO₂, NO₂, O₃, and suspended particulate matters less than 10 microns (PM₁₀) measured according to WHO standards in Panzdah-e-Khordad station of Kashan in 2011. The annual mean and maximum rates, the mean and maximum rate of summer and winter, and annual percentile 98%, determined for each pollutant and used in AirQ software. Then, the number of death and disease attributed to each pollutant was calculated.

Results:  The results demonstrate that the cumulative number of deaths attributed to PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ was 100, 22, 82, and 54, respectively.

Conclusion: In total, the suspended particulate matters have the most effects on death and disease resulted from the air pollution. Hence, managing the resources of particulate matters and SO₂ pollutants has many effects on reducing the adverse health effects of air pollution in Kashan.

---

Background: Today, environmental pollutants are one of the most important human problems. The purpose of this study was to assess the health belief model structures for promotion of preventive behaviors in pregnant women exposed to air pollution in Arak city in 2014.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 208 pregnant women referred to healthcare centers in Arak city were selected by multistage sampling and were studied. Data were collected by using a valid and reliable self- report questionnaire. The questionnaire included the demographic characteristics of the mother, the aspects of the HBM model, and the maternal practice checklist. Finally, the data were analyzed.

Results: The mean age of subjects was 26.48 ±4.77 and the mean gestational age was 14.88 ±5.59 weeks. The highest level of education for pregnant women (47.1%) was a diploma. The mean practice score was 72.9 and among the structures, the highest and the lowest score was obtained for perceived susceptibility(83.25) and barriers(59.16), respectively. To predict the hehavior by using the HBM structures, regression analysis showed that of the studied variables, the external practice guides, perceived susceptibililty, and barriers are as behavior predictive predictive agents that totally, predicted 26% (R2=0.265) of behavior changes.

Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the design of educational interventions should be based on the external practice guides, perceived susceptibility and barriers structures as the most important predictors of maternal behavior.

---

Abstract

Background: Human exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of diseases such as heart failure, asthma and cancer. It has been suggested that oxidative stress is involved in air pollution-induced disorders. Recently, γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is known as a marker of oxidative stress. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of exposure to outdoor air pollution on enzyme activity of GGT and also usage of GGT serum level as a marker for studying of harmful effects of air pollution in the resident with high air pollution level.

Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, 110 healthy adult men, never-smoking, who worked in an area with high air pollution and 90 men who worked in an area with low air pollution, as control group, were enrolled. All subjects were in the age range of 25-45 years with minimum work history of three years. The GGT activity in the serum samples was determined using a spectrophotometric method.

Results: Our results showed that the serum levels of GGT in the subjects in the areas with high air pollution (33.92 ± 1.61 U/L) did not differ significantly with those of control region (33.62 ± 1.74 U/L).

Conclusion: Overall, this study did not support the hypothesis that GGT enzyme could be considered as an oxidative stress marker following exposure to outdoor air pollution. Further studies with a larger sample sizes and also trials in other areas are required to confirm these results.

---

Abstract

Background: Poor air quality has a lot of damage on the environment and humans. Awareness of the air quality situation reduces health effects of air pollution. This study was performed with the aim of the comparative investigation of Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and its application in seven major cities of Iran in 2011.

Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive–analytic one. First, the required data of four criteria pollutants were taken from Department of Environment in seven major cities of Iran. The data were validated by the World Health Organization criteria. The air quality health index was measured based on the instructions and classified into low, medium, high and very high degrees according to the air quality standard tables.

Results: The results demonstrate that according to air quality health index, the level of air pollution in seven major cities of Iran has been undesirable and air quality has exceeded the standard level in Ahvaz 85%, Arak73%, Tehran70%, Esfahan60%, Shiraz 47%, Tabriz 43% and, Mashhad 29% of days.

Conclusion: Due to poor air quality and health consequences resulting from it, importance of Air Quality Health Index is explored in planning to control and reduce air pollution and awareness of peoples from daily status of air quality and its health effects.