Functional, Structural and Non-Structural Preparedness of Ahvaz Health Centers Against Disasters in 2014 – 2015

Abstract

Background: Entrance of heavy metals into the respiratory system has adverse effects on human health. Accordingly, measuring metals concentration in places and times is necessary. Objectives: This study was done to evaluate the non-carcinogenic risk of Pb, Cd, and As in air suspended particles of Baharestan city, in Isfahan, during 2016 -2017. Methods: In order to evaluate the non-carcinogenic risk of heavy metals in air suspended particles (PM10), sampling was performed using a SKC pump with a low volume (1.5 L/min) and 37 mm membrane filter. Sampling was carried out on average every three days during 24-hours finally, the concentration of Pb, Cd, and As was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HGAAS), respectively. The acute and chronic non-carcinogenic risk of heavy metals sorption in the air was evaluated using the EPA method. Results: The highest and lowest Pb concentration belonged to May -June and October -November, with the mean concentration of 0.25 and 0.14 mg/kg, respectively. For Cd it was 0.017 and 0.009 mg/kg, respectively. Similar results were found for the air suspended particles. The highest and lowest Cd non-carcinogenic risk was observed for permanent residents of Baharestan city and the nondormitory students of this city with the mean of 3.1 × 10 -5 and 1.4 × 10 -5 , respectively. Conclusions:The results of this study showed that the non-carcinogenic risk of heavy metals was lower than the standard level during the study years. However, heavy metal accumulation can threaten human health, which needs more consideration.

Disaster Safety Assessment in Primary Healthcare Facilities: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kurdistan, Iran

“…In this study, the average safety score of the assessed healthcare facilities was approximately 30 out of 100. Although this nding correspond with the average safety score of 16078 healthcare centers that measured in Iran, 2015 [19], but it is lower than the obtained safety score of PHC centers in the study in Ahwaz [20] and also, the hospitals across the country [21].…”

“…The average score of structural safety in this assessment did not achieve an acceptable score, and it was even lower than the structural safety rate of hospitals in Iran [21]. This result con rms the ndings of the study conducted by Ardalan et al about the vulnerability of health facilities with focus on incomprehensive rural health centers at time of disasters [9].…”

Disaster Safety Assessment of Primary Healthcare Facilities: A Cross-Sectional Study in Kurdistan province of Iran

“…In this study, the average safety score of the assessed PHC facilities was approximately 30 out of 100. Although this nding is in line with the average safety score of 16078 PHC centers that measured in Iran, 2015 [30], but it is lower than the obtained safety score of PHC centers in the study in Ahwaz [31]. A few international studies found that they have assessed the safety of health facilities using the same tool used in this study.…”

“…The functional preparedness of PHC facilities in this study was not acceptable and was low in comparison to the functional preparedness of PHC facilities in Ahwaz study [31]. Moreover, although the functional preparedness of PHC facilities under assessment achieved the lowest score (16.5) in this study but it was higher than the assessed rate across the Iran country (11.9) [30].…”

Disaster Safety Assessment in Primary Healthcare Facilities: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kurdistan, Iran

“…In this study, the average safety score of the assessed PHC facilities was approximately 30 out of 100. Although this nding correspond with the average safety score of 16078 PHC centers that measured in Iran, 2015 [28], but it is lower than the obtained safety score of PHC centers in the study in Ahwaz [29] and also, the hospitals across the country [19]. A few studies found that they have assessed the preparedness of health care facilities or hospitals using the same tool used in this study in other countries.…”