Background and Aims: One of the most important issues of today’s world is water scarcity and water supply pollution with heavy metals. This study aimed to investigate the removal of cadmium ions by date stone meal from aqueous solution. Materials and Methods: Date stone meal was prepared of date packaging workshop in Shadegan city, with the permission of the head of the workshop. This was an experimental study in laboratory by batch system. In this study was investigated test variables effects including pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentration of cadmium and reaction time on removal efficiency. The concentration of cadmium ions was measured using atomic absorption. In carrying out this study, and the use of resources, ethical issues was conducted. Results: The results showed that the adsorption capacity of cadmium on date stone meal dependent on the parameters of pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentration and contact time. Adsorption capacity increased by increasing of pH, adsorbent dose and contact time, while it decreased with increasing initial concentration. The optimum efficiency was obtained in the pH 6, adsorbent dosage of 3 g/L, the initial concentration of 15 mgCd/L, and 15 min contact time. The result showed that cadmium adsorption isotherm by date stone meal is followed the Freundlich model. The best model of cadmium adsorption kinetics in this study, was shown pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Conclusion: In this study, it was found that date stone meal, have a high ability to adsorb cadmium and can be used as a low-cost adsorbent.

Background and Aims: Puberty in the most important evaluation during adolescence. This evolutionary change is referred to as a turning point of an adolescence. The present study was aimed to determine puberty heath behaviour and its affecting factor among girl students of khamir city at their first year of high-school in 2015 -2016. Materials and methods: During this cross sectional study, totally 260 secondary school students were sampled in Khamir city. The sampling was done in full. The data were collected through questionnaires and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 16 software through independent t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean and standard deviation of respondent’s age were 13.8 and 0.8 years, respectively. The first menstrual period (menarche) happened around an average (±standard deviation) age of 12.42 (±0.8). About 65% of students were moderately aware about puberty health . Also, the majority of students (81.9%) produced a moderate performance in their adulthood. The results further showed a statistically significant relationship between knowledge and behavior of students with regard to adolescent health (P<0/001). Conclusion: It seems that students’ performance in the first menstrual period was influenced by factors such as lack of proper awareness about menstrual hygiene. This study revealed that adolescent health behaviour of students was at the intermediate level. Thus the implementation of health education programs is suggested to modify the health behaviour of girls during puberty.

Background and Aims: Obesity represents an economical setback for the country, and its outbreak threatens the public health. The present study aimed at studying factors affecting women’s willingness to pay (WTP) for controlling weight gain and treating obesity. Materials and Methods: A researcher-designed questionnaire survey consisting 450 women was carried out on Mashhad residents in 2014 (Iran). The participants were selected by a convenience sampling method out of people coming to Mellat Park in Mashhad. The questionnaire credibility and reliability were confirmed by a panel of experts, and its reliability was estimated to be >0.7 by Cronbach’s alpha,confirming that the employed measuring tool has had enough credability. Data were collected by face-toface interview and were analyzed by Logit regression model using SPSS (ver. 19) Software Package. Results: Among participated women, about 86% were willing to pay for controlling weight gain. Mean monthly payment by women to control weight gain was estimated to be 823,110 IRR (Iranian Rials).The variables positively affected WTP included household monthly income (P < 0.05), social impacts of obesity (P < 0.05), and awareness of obesity side effects (P < 0.05). On the other hand, offered price (P < 0.05) negatively affected it. Conclusion: Participants having higher monthly income were more willing to pay for controlling weight gain. Awareness of the effects of obesity on health had positive influence on WTP. Social impacts of obesity, also, increased women’s WTP for controlling weight gain. Therefore, it is necessary for health policy-makers to design appropriate plans for training the health, social and even economical impacts of obesity in the society in order to motivate people to pay for its control.

Background and Aims: Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases and a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and stroke. Due to the increasing prevalence of hypertension and its serious complications, this study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention on preventive behavior of hypertension in school students’ mothers in Eslamshahr, Iran. Materials and Methods: In the present experimental study, a total of 112 mothers of elementary school girls and boys were selected through a two-stage cluster sampling and were divided into two groups (n=56 per group). The lecture method of education was employed in the form of question and answer at the end of the lecture. A questionnaire survey was performed to evaluate subjects at three stages consisting of a pretest, a post-test immediately after education, and a post-test two months later. All stages of this research were conducted ethically. Results: The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between test and control groups in terms of the mean knowledge and attitude score, before the intervention. Concerning the mean practice score, however, a little difference was observed. After education, by contrast, scores for all above mentioned variables were significantly increased in intervention group (P-value<0.001). Conclusions: The results revealed that the educational program on knowledge, attitudes and behavior to promote effective preventive behavior and to increase the knowledge and attitudes can promote the preventive behavior of hypertension.

Background and Aims: The production of fertilizer from waste by the use of worms (vermicomposting), covers all positive environmental, health and economic aspects. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different media on the quality of produced compost from solid waste. Materials and Methods: Three different media including kitchen waste, rotting foliage of trees and animal waste were designated in the present study through 20 treatments. TKN, P, TC, pH, EC, Na, K, and moisture, ash, organic matter contents as well as C/N ratio and physical properties of produced compost were analyzed at the end of composting process. Results: The results showed that the quality of produced compost was in conformity with current standards in all 20 studied treatments. With regard to the high contents of nitrogen in raw material in some treatments such as M, N, O, Q, R, and U, the corresponding ratio of N in achieved compost was higher than other treatments. A survey of worm growth in studied samples revealed that U (leaf 90% and food waste 10%) and Q (leaf 90% and food waste 10%) treatments superbly overcame other treatments with 266 and 253 worms, respectively. Conclusion: Our study found that the type of raw material has a paramount importance on the compost quality, so that any change in the composition can affect the compost production process and the reproduction of worms mainly through the changes in the presence or absence of macro and micronutrients. Thus, optimization of media components, is of particular importance affecting the efficient use of capital investments and reducing the time duration of vermicomposting.

ackground and Aims: Job burnout is the reaction of workers to chronic stress, with disastrous physical, psychological and adverse organizational consequences for employees. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the dimensions of job burnout and workplace physical environment and facilities among health workers in Golestan province. Materials and Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 1141 respondents out of totally 1275 health workers in Golestan province participated in the survey. The sampling method was census. Data collection was done through a questionnaire dealing with physical environment and facilities of workplace as well as Maslach burnout inventory. Verbal consent was obtained from all participants and their responses were kept confidentially. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Chi-Square test at a significance level of 0.05 Results: The results of the present survey indicate that the physical condition of the workplace was assessed as weak by 17.4% of participants. Similarly, 24.8% of respondents assessed health house facilities as weak. There were significant relationships between emotional exhaustion and physical condition as well as workplace facilities (p<0.005). The study, however, did not show a significant relationship between depersonalization and personal performance and workplace physical conditions and facilities (p>0.005). Conclusion: Regarding the relatively poor workplace physical conditions and facilities, it is recommended to improve these conditions in order to decrease health workers emotional exhaustion.