Mohammad Miri

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of roadside green infrastructure in reducing particulate matter-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PM-bound PAHs) in urban soils and to assess the associated human health risks in Sabzevar, Iran, a developing city characterized by limited green space and sparse environmental monitoring. We conducted soil sampling across 4 traffic-influenced zones with varying vegetation cover, including a non-vegetated control, during the summer of 2022. Sampling was performed at standardized distances along vegetated buffer strips to assess spatial distribution patterns of 15 priority PAHs. Soil extracts were analyzed via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and vegetation density was quantified using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from satellite imagery. Traffic dynamics were proxied by posted speed limits. Health risks, including lifetime cancer risk (LTCR), were probabilistically estimated using Monte Carlo simulations. Results demonstrated significant spatial variability in PAH concentrations. The highway and control sites exhibited the highest total and high-molecular-weight PAH levels, whereas the inner-city boulevard showed the lowest overall contamination but elevated phenanthrene concentrations. No statistically significant reduction in PAH concentrations was observed up to 50 m behind vegetative buffers. However, several carcinogenic PAHs (eg, benzo[a]pyrene and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene) were negatively correlated with NDVI and positively correlated with vehicle speed limits, indicating that vegetation density and traffic intensity significantly influence roadside PAH distribution. Health risk estimates remained below regulatory thresholds for all demographic groups, although relatively higher susceptibility was observed among children, the elderly, and adolescent males. In conclusion, roadside vegetation alone did not provide measurable short-distance attenuation of soil PAHs, but vegetation density and traffic characteristics were important determinants of contamination patterns. These findings suggest that effective mitigation of traffic-related PAHs in developing cities requires integrated urban green planning combined with traffic management strategies rather than reliance on vegetation buffers alone.

Personality traits have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in adults through the development of atherogenic dyslipidemia. However,

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the relationship between both short-term and long-term exposure to key outdoor air pollutants

Oil and gas extraction plays a critical role in global energy supply and economic development, but it is increasingly associated with adverse health outcomes, particularly during pregnancy. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the relationship between maternal exposure to oil and gas pollutants and selected adverse birth outcomes. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to June 16, 2024. We included studies assessing the effects of maternal exposure to oil and gas extraction processes on preterm birth (PTB), miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW), and birth weight (BW). Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale and GRADE framework. From 4,235 screened articles, 24 studies met inclusion criteria. Our analyses revealed statistically significant associations between maternal exposure and increased odds of PTB (pooled OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01–1.13), miscarriage (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.60–2.58), SGA (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05–1.45), and reduced BW (mean difference: -30.36 g, 95% CI: -43.98 to -17.28). No significant associations were observed for stillbirth (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.68–1.40), birth defects (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.84–1.53), or LBW (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.93–1.24). Substantial heterogeneity was present across most outcomes, and publication bias could not be ruled out in several analyses. These findings suggest possible associations between maternal exposure to oil and gas extraction processes and several adverse birth outcomes, including PTB, miscarriage, SGA, and LBW. However, due to methodological variability, potential biases, and high heterogeneity among studies, these results should be interpreted with caution. Further research with standardized exposure assessments and larger, population-based cohorts is needed to confirm and refine these associations.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental pollutants with known harmful effects on human health. However, their specific impact on reproductive outcomes, both cancer-related and non-cancer-related, has not been comprehensively assessed. This study systematically reviews and synthesizes existing evidence on PAH exposure and reproductive health in men and women. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed/MEDLINE, ProQuest, and Scopus through May 31, 2024, following PRISMA guidelines. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and the strength of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE framework. The certainty of evidence was rated as moderate for male reproductive organ cancers and low for female reproductive organ cancers, based on GRADE assessment, primarily due to imprecision in the latter. Of the 4,546 articles screened, 30 met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Among these, 9 studies were included in a meta-analysis. In men, PAH exposure was consistently associated with reduced semen quality, including lower sperm count, motility, viability, and morphology, as well as increased DNA damage and hormone disruption. The meta-analysis of seven studies found a 13% increased risk of male reproductive cancers, primarily prostate cancer, associated with PAH exposure (standardized incidence ratio [SIR]: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04–1.23; P < 0.001). For women, PAH metabolites were linked to infertility and possibly endometriosis, but these associations were weakened after controlling for confounders. No significant association was found between PAH exposure and female reproductive cancers (SIR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.91–1.12; P = 0.91). PAH exposure may be associated with adverse male reproductive outcomes, including impaired semen quality and a potential increase in reproductive cancer risk. However, the evidence is limited by methodological heterogeneity, observational designs, and imprecision. In contrast, evidence in females is sparse and of very low certainty, underscoring the need for more rigorous, targeted research on female reproductive outcome.

Exposure to greenspace has been linked to reductions in depression symptoms; however, limited research has examined how this association impacts individual components of depression, such as depressed affect, somatic complaints, social interactions, and positive affect. This study aimed to explore the relationship between greenspace exposure and the subscales of the CESD-20 depression scale among women in Sabzevar, Iran. In 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 741 women aged 15 to 45. Greenspace exposure for each participant was measured by assessing the distance to the nearest green space (of any size and those ≥ 5,000 m²) as well as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index 2 (MSAVI2) within 100, 300, and 500 m buffers around their residences. Quasi-Poisson models were used to analyze the associations between greenspace exposure and CESD-20 scores and subscales. Results showed that NDVI at a 300 m buffer and MSAVI2 at 300 and 500 m buffers were inversely associated with total depression scores. In contrast, greater distances to green spaces of ≥ 5,000 m² were positively associated with higher total depression scores. Somatic complaints were significantly negatively associated with higher NDVI and MSAVI2 across several buffer sizes, while social interaction scores (Dis-Inter-Relation) were inversely related to MSAVI2 at 300 and 500 m buffers. Notably, positive affect scores were positively associated with NDVI at 100 and 300 m buffers. The likelihood of depression symptoms was lower with higher NDVI and MSAVI2 at 300 and 500 m buffers, while greater distances to larger green spaces were associated with higher symptoms. These findings suggest that higher greenspace exposure may reduce symptoms of depression, especially its negative components, among women.

Aim: Airborne infectious diseases have many adverse economic effects worldwide. However, evidence of these effects in low- and middle-income countries is still scarce. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate the socioeconomic burden of the COVID-19 pandemic as the most important infectious disease in the recent decade by estimating disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and lost productivity. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on 456 patients with COVID-19 diseases in Sabzevar, Iran, 2020–2021. We used Murray and Lopez’s approach to calculate the burden of disease. The data on COVID-19 were collected from the Hospital Information System at Vaseie Hospital. Lost life after premature death (years of life lost [YLL]) and life with a disability (years lived with disability [YLD]) were used to measure DALY. The Human Capital Approach (HCA) was used to estimate Temporary Productivity Loss (TPL). Results: During the study period, 6456 patients with the COVID-19 disease were identified, of which 1028 cases resulted in death. The burden of disease caused by COVID-19 was 18,748 DALYs with a discount rate of 3%. The YLL was 4782 in men and 3597 in women. Moreover, YLD was 5283 and 5086 in males and females, respectively. The total costs of productivity loss due to absenteeism (TPL) and due to COVID-19 premature mortality were about $4 and $8 million purchasing power parity for all working-age classes, respectively. Conclusion: Overall, our study suggested that the main burden of COVID-19 was morbidity. YLD was responsible for about 55% of DALYs and males had a higher YLL and YLD than females.