https://jreh.mums.ac.ir/ Journal of Research in Environmental Health en daily 1 Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://jreh.mums.ac.ir/article_27651.html Background and Objective: Due to the increasing environmental concerns and the incidence of occupational diseases in industrial units, especially petrochemical industries, the establishment of environmental management systems (EMS) in these industries is of great importance. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigating the effect of EMS on reducing industrial pollution and improving the health of employees of the western ethylene petrochemical complex in 2025.Materials & Methods: In this descriptive study, by using quantitative data collected from a questionnaire, qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with employees and experts, direct observation, and also environmental monitoring reports, the impact of EMS on reducing industrial pollution and improving employee's health. Also, a combination of quantitative statistical methods and qualitative content analysis was used to data analyses.Results: Based on the results obtained, implementing EMS had a significant relationship with reducing pollution, improving employee health, increasing job satisfaction, and reducing healthcare costs. So that EMS explained 38 to 46% of the changes in reducing pollution and improving employee health and was effective in reducing pollution and improving the work environment. However, cultural resistance, lack of resources, and lack of management commitment were identified as major obstacles to the expansion of EMS in the studied industry.Conclusion: It was found that the implementation of EMS system has led to the improvement of internal processes and the reduction of industrial waste generation through the reduction of resource consumption, material recycling and improved energy management. Therefore, it is recommended to implement EMS in other similar industrial units. Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://jreh.mums.ac.ir/article_27798.html Background and Objective: The extensive use of chemical pesticides, despite improving crop yields, has led to persistent contamination of water and soil, biodiversity decline, and human health risks. Microalgae and cyanobacteria offer a dual functionality—production of biopesticides and degradation of pollutants—yet an integrated analytical comparison of these roles is lacking. This review aimed to analyze the evidence to identify which strains and metabolites possess the greatest potential to replace or reduce high-risk chemical pesticides, and to highlight existing research gaps.Materials and Methods: This narrative and integrative review searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for articles published between 2020 and 2025 using the keywords "microalgae," "cyanobacteria," "biodegradation," "bioremediation," and "biopesticide." Studies were included if they provided quantitative data on pesticidal efficacy or enzymatic degradation rates and clearly identified the algal or cyanobacterial strain. From approximately 100 retrieved records, 58 met the inclusion criteria. Extracted evidence was organized and analyzed by pesticide class, mechanism of action, and algal strain."Results: The analysis revealed that Spirulina platensis and Sargassum wightii exhibited the highest insecticidal and antibacterial activity in vitro, respectively, whereas Nostoc muscorum and Coleofasciculus chthonoplastes were most efficient in degrading organophosphate pesticides (chlorpyrifos and malathion). Notably, field-condition degradation rates were, on average, 45% lower than laboratory-based data. The predominant pesticidal mechanism was photosynthetic inhibition via cyanobacterin, while enzymatic degradation was primarily driven by phosphotriesterase-mediated hydrolysis. A critical research gap identified was the lack of pilot-scale studies on combined formulations and chronic toxicity assessments on non-target organisms. The overall evidence weighting suggests that current research prioritizes "biodegradation," while "biopesticide development" remains at an early stage.Conclusion: This review confirms the proven dual potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria in biopesticide production and pesticide bioremediation. However, bridging the gap between laboratory success and field application necessitates targeted research on formulation optimization, environmental stability of metabolites, and long-term safety evaluations. Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://jreh.mums.ac.ir/article_27789.html Background and Objective: Staphylococcus aureus is a significant foodborne pathogen known for its extensive antibiotic resistance capabilities. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between phenotypic and genotypic resistance patterns and determine the diversity of the accessory gene regulator (agr) system in isolates recovered from chicken meat and cold salads (Olivier and Caesar) in Hormozgan, Iran.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 130 samples including chicken meat (n=75), Olivier salad (n=30), and Caesar salad (n=25) were analyzed. Following bacteriological isolation and species confirmation, the phenotypic susceptibility of 48 isolates was tested against 11 antibiotics. The presence of 11 resistance genes (including ermA/C, msrA/B, tetK/M, aacA-D, vatA/B/C, and linA) and agr types were evaluated using conventional PCR.Results: Out of 130 samples, 48 (36.92%) were positive for S. aureus, with the highest contamination rate found in Olivier salad (56.66%). Phenotypically, the highest resistance was observed against Azithromycin and Clindamycin. Molecular results revealed that the ermC gene was the most prevalent resistance marker. Regarding the regulatory system, agr IV was the predominant genetic profile (35.4%, 17 cases), followed by agr II (27%) and agr I (20.8%).Conclusion: The findings indicate a high microbial load and an alarming prevalence of MDR strains dominated by the agr IV genotype in RTE foods. These results emphasize the need for stricter monitoring of personnel hygiene and the processing chain of RTE salads to mitigate the risk of transmitting resistant bacteria to consumers. Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://jreh.mums.ac.ir/article_27882.html Background and Objective: Gas refineries, as one of the largest industrial centers in the production of energy and chemical products, always face serious challenges in the management of their produced wastewater. These wastewaters, which contain chemical compounds, hydrocarbons, oils, and sometimes heavy metals, can pose significant threats to the environment and water resources. The purpose of this study is to analyze the performance of wastewater treatment packages and identify problems in the treatment processes, especially fluctuations in input quality, technical problems in equipment and lack of accurate online monitoring. Materials and Methods: In this study, performance data of wastewater treatment units of South Pars gas refineries were collected from internal reports and parameters such as COD, dissolved oil and H₂S were examined to evaluate the system efficiency. Oily wastewater was first treated in the API unit and then in the IGF with the help of chemicals such as Demulsifier. Acidic wastewater was also modified in neutralization tanks by adjusting pH and entered the next stages of treatment. Results: The results show that despite significant improvements in the performance of treatment packages, there are still problems such as input fluctuations and technical problems in the API and IGF systems, the improvement of which can help reduce pollution and improve the quality of treated water. This study effectively emphasizes improving the performance of treatment systems and compliance with environmental standards. Conclusion: The efficiency of the treatment system is affected by input fluctuations and technical problems, and equipment upgrades and online monitoring can significantly improve treatment performance. Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://jreh.mums.ac.ir/article_28017.html Background and Objective: The internal evaluation of educational groups plays an effective role in formulating appropriate programs and regulations aimed at improving the managerial, educational, and research status of faculties.Materials and Methods: Data were collected through questionnaires in various domains including educational, managerial, structural, and student-related aspects. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software version 25.Results: The results showed that the domains of mission and educational goals, management and organization by the group manager, and the educational and research competencies of faculty members are at a favorable level. However, the domains of the faculty’s physical space, quality of classrooms, professors’ room, and library space were less than 50% favorable. Students’ satisfaction with their field of study was 25%, and 50% intended to continue their studies in this field. In addition, only 38.5% of the graduates were satisfied with their future career prospects.Conclusion: Comparison of the results with studies of other groups across the country shows that, despite the existence of relatively suitable educational groups and infrastructural facilities nationwide, student satisfaction with their field of study, their motivation to continue education, and their hope for finding suitable employment are declining day by day. Therefore, this issue requires comprehensive and strategic planning at the Board and Ministry levels to update the course units and make internships more practical. It also necessitates follow-up measures to create suitable employment opportunities and foster motivation among students and graduates in this field.Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://jreh.mums.ac.ir/article_28044.html Background and Objective: Hormuz Island, located at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, is an environmentally sensitive area due to its unique geological setting and proximity to major industrial and port facilities. The island is largely composed of Neoproterozoic evaporitic–carbonate deposits. This study aims to determine the concentrations and sources of heavy metals in the rocks and red soils of the island and to assess their contamination status and ecological risk.Materials and Methods: Rock and red soil samples were collected from different lithological units. The concentrations of arsenic, iron, cadmium, titanium, and vanadium were measured using XRF and ICP MS techniques. To improve analytical accuracy, six additional samples were re analyzed using ICP MS.Results: The results showed that arsenic concentrations in red soils (≈151/2 ppm) and limestone (up to 130 ppm) were more than 60 and 52 times higher than the upper continental crust (UCC), indicating severe contamination. Iron concentrations in limestone (≈395/763 ppm) and salt units (≈187/460 ppm) were relatively high and reflected a combination of geogenic and anthropogenic inputs. In contrast, cadmium and vanadium remained within natural ranges. Ecological risk assessment revealed that all samples, except one limestone sample, exhibited low risk, whereas this sample showed a very high cadmium contamination factor and a high single element risk, placing it in the “high risk” category.Conclusion: This study provides precise geochemical data and ecological risk analysis, offering a scientific basis for environmental management and protective planning in this sensitive region.Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://jreh.mums.ac.ir/article_28093.html Background and Objective: The pharmaceutical cold supply chain is susceptible to temperature fluctuations and technical failures, and disruptions can lead to drug spoilage and hazardous pharmaceutical waste. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the factors influencing waste management in the cold supply chain of insulin in Iran.Materials and Methods: This analytical-applied, survey-based research first identified initial factors through a systematic literature review. These factors were then refined using the Fuzzy Delphi method with input from 16 experts, resulting in the confirmation of 12 final factors. Finally, weighting and ranking were performed using the Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Best-Worst Method with the participation of 3 highly experienced experts.Results: The most important factors, in order of priority, were environmental monitoring and control; technical issues and equipment failure; cold transportation infrastructure; warehousing and storage management; and tracking technologies and blockchain. The technical-technological dimension received the highest weight, followed by the logistical dimension, while the managerial dimension had the lowest weight. Weaknesses in temperature control and equipment performance are mainly responsible for insulin spoilage in Iran.Conclusion: The primary focus for reducing insulin waste should be on strengthening real-time temperature monitoring, preventive maintenance of cold equipment, and upgrading refrigerated transportation fleets. Managerial and educational factors play a supporting role and will have a limited impact without first addressing technical and logistical infrastructure deficiencies.Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://jreh.mums.ac.ir/article_28094.html Background and Objective: Sustainable Municipal Sewage Sludge Management (MSS ) and its stabilization to reduce pathogens and unpleasant odors are critical environmental imperatives. However, the influx of antibiotic residues into wastewater systems can affect the diversity and function of microbial communities, posing new challenges for biological stabilization processes. Consequently, the present study was designed to isolate and identify bacterial strains from municipal excess sludge samples and analyze their resistance patterns against amoxicillin and gentamicin, in order to evaluate the impact of these compounds on the performance of these strains.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, bacterial strains were isolated from municipal waste activated sludge. The strains were identified via biochemical tests, and their antibiotic resistance patterns against amoxicillin and gentamicin were evaluated using the disk diffusion method.Results: The results demonstrated a significantly high level of antibiotic resistance among the bacterial agents isolated from the waste activated sludge. Among the antibiotics studied, the highest resistance was observed toward amoxicillin.Conclusion: The findings indicate that the excessive and improper use of antibiotics in healthcare has led to increased microbial resistance within sewage treatment environments. Consequently, it is recommended to revise protocols for managing unused medications and optimize sludge stabilization methods by considering the influence of antibiotics.Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/