Background:The organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are among the most commonly used in water streams around the world. Most of these contaminants are highly hydrophobic and persist in sediments of rivers and lakes. Studies have suggested that OCPs may affect the normal function of the human and wildlife endocrine systems. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the concentrations of selected organochlorine pesticides residues [OP'DDT, PP'DDT, alderin, dieldrin, heptachlor, (α,ß,γ,δ) HCH, (α, ß) endosulfan and metoxychlor] in samples from Karun River water at Khuzestan province in Iran , by GC-µ-ECD. Materials and Methods: Water was extracted with n-hexane and then purified by passing through a glass column packed with Florisil and Na 2 SO 4 , which was then eluted with ether: hexane solution v/v. Results: In general, all of 12 investigated organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were detected. Regardless of the kind of OCPs, the highest OCP pollution level in Karun River were seen from August to November 2009 ranging 71.43 -89.34 µg/L, and the lowest were seen from Dec 2010 to March 2011 at levels of 22.25 -22.64 µg/L. The highest and lowest mean concentrations of 12 investigated pesticides were ß-Endosulfan and pp' DDT with 28.51and 0.01 µg/L respectively. Conclusions: Comparison of total organochlorine pesticides residues concentration with WHO guidelines revealed that the Karun River had total OCPs residues above the probable effect level (0.2-20 µg/L, P < 0.05), which could pose a risk to aquatic life.

Background:The organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are among the most commonly used in water streams around the world. Most of these contaminants are highly hydrophobic and persist in sediments of rivers and lakes. Studies have suggested that OCPs may affect the normal function of the human and wildlife endocrine systems. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the concentrations of selected organochlorine pesticides residues [OP'DDT, PP'DDT, alderin, dieldrin, heptachlor, (α,ß,γ,δ) HCH, (α, ß) endosulfan and metoxychlor] in samples from Karun River water at Khuzestan province in Iran , by GC-µ-ECD. Materials and Methods: Water was extracted with n-hexane and then purified by passing through a glass column packed with Florisil and Na 2 SO 4 , which was then eluted with ether: hexane solution v/v. Results: In general, all of 12 investigated organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were detected. Regardless of the kind of OCPs, the highest OCP pollution level in Karun River were seen from August to November 2009 ranging 71.43 -89.34 µg/L, and the lowest were seen from Dec 2010 to March 2011 at levels of 22.25 -22.64 µg/L. The highest and lowest mean concentrations of 12 investigated pesticides were ß-Endosulfan and pp' DDT with 28.51and 0.01 µg/L respectively. Conclusions: Comparison of total organochlorine pesticides residues concentration with WHO guidelines revealed that the Karun River had total OCPs residues above the probable effect level (0.2-20 µg/L, P < 0.05), which could pose a risk to aquatic life.

Background: Prisoners are at higher risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than the general population. This study reported the prevalence and correlated factors of STI-related symptoms among male prisoners in Iran. Methods: Participants were selected from 27 prisons across 16 Iranian provinces in 2013 using a multistage cluster sampling (N = 5490). Men aged ≥18 years who spent at least one week in prison and self-reported having had sex during the previous year were eligible and asked if they have had penile discharge (PD) or genital ulcers (GU) within the last year. Demographic variables, HIV/STIs-related knowledge, STIs care-seeking practices, HIV self-perceived risk, history of substance use, and sexual behaviors were collected by face-to-face interviews. HIV tests were completed using the ELISA method. Factors associated with STIs-related symptoms were examined using logistic regression models, and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) along with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Results: Of 2,620 eligible male prisoners (mean age ± SD = 35.7 ± 8.9), 6.9% reported symptoms for PD, GU, or both; of whom 36.2% had not sought STIs care inside prison. A history of injection drug use (AOR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.45, 3.14), having access to condoms inside prison (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.82), self-perceived risk of HIV (AOR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.24), and HIV-seropositivity (AOR = 3.30, 95% CI: 1.02, 10.61) were positively and having sufficient STIs-related knowledge (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.89) was negatively associated with reporting STIs-related symptoms. Conclusion: Despite the low prevalence of STIs among Iranian prisoners, initiation of screening among high-risk prisoners, including people who inject drugs and prisoners living with HIV, may prevent subsequent health effects. Current HIV/STIs prevention policies across Iranian prisons to help improve prisoners' HIV/STIs knowledge and encourage their HIV/STIs preventive practices should be reinforced.

primary KI (PWIDs, bunk owners etc.) validated information collected during L1. Results The study identified 3837 PWID spots in 10 states. The total size estimate for all PWIDs is 49,876 while the size of female PWIDs is 11,031 across10 states. Oyo state had the highest number of PWIDs (all) with an estimate of 14,