en Environmental Health, Sciences, and Engineering Environmental Health, Sciences, and Engineering پژوهشي Original Article <div><span style="font-size:9pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:Gulliver"><v:shape id="AutoShape_x0020_10" o:gfxdata="UEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAW0NvbnRlbnRfVHlwZXNdLnhtbKSRvU7DMBSF dyTewfKKEqcMCKEmHfgZgaE8wMW+SSwc27JvS/v23KTJgkoXFsu+P+c7Ol5vDoMTe0zZBl/LVVlJ gV4HY31Xy4/tS3EvRSbwBlzwWMsjZrlprq/W22PELHjb51r2RPFBqax7HCCXIaLnThvSAMTP1KkI +gs6VLdVdad08ISeCho1ZLN+whZ2jsTzgcsnJwldluLxNDiyagkxOquB2Knae/OLUsyEkjenmdzb mG/YhlRnCWPnb8C898bRJGtQvEOiVxjYhtLOxs8AySiT4JuDystlVV4WPeM6tK3VaILeDZxIOSsu ti/jidNGNZ3/J08yC1dNv9v8AAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEArTA/8cEAAAAyAQAACwAAAF9y ZWxzLy5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7TehCRpr2I4FX0AdZk2wbbJGTj39ubi6AgeJtl2G9m6vYx jeJGka13CqqiBEFOe2Ndr+B03C3WIDihMzh6RwqexNA281l9oBFTfuLBBhaZ4ljBkFLYSMl6oAm5 8IFcdjofJ0z5jL0MqC/Yk1yW5UrGTwY0X0yxNwri3lQgjs+Qk/+zfddZTVuvrxO59CNCmoj3vCwj MfaUFOjRhrPHaN4Wv0VV5OYgm1p+LW1eAAAA//8DAFBLAwQUAAYACAAAACEA4BFeFCsCAACYBAAA HwAAAGNsaXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWykVNtu2zAMfR+wfxD8nthOnZvRpCic pC/dWiDdB7CyYguTJUNSnATD/n2UbDeX9WnLQ0JJ5OHhIZn7h2MlSMO04UougngYBYRJqnIui0Xw 420zmAXEWJA5CCXZIjgxEzwsv365h7TQUJecEkSQJoVFUFpbp2FoaMkqMENVM4lvO6UrsHjURZhr OCByJcJRFE3CCrgMlmeoFVgge83/AUoo+pPlGcgGDEIKml7edBwF/X9kSGXzpOtt/aodc/q9edWE 54sAlZNQoURB2D10bngMb6KKM8Bxpyvnr3Y7cvQoJ/ftMdjREtpe0vMtLV8+8aXl+hNvTNwmQOMi KT3Kbe2yyiZz5m0t8V1fzOPeqm0JNSNxRworvoxx4c8oviFSZSXIgnn3t1ONUsSuDkx9GeO1uEAw mJ28H76pHAMA0/mJuJFlNJnMRlOUGGVI4vl8NB5fS5SMpzhS6PAh1EfpkNba2CemKuKMRWCsBl6U NlNSMmqVjn1KaJ6Nbfn2AV4iteFC+H4ISQ5YFBKJfIRRgufu1fkZXbxnQpMGBDbQf7rqr9y02svc o5UM8nVnW+CitZG2kA4Pm498Oqvdil/zaL6erWfJIBlN1oMkWq0Gj5ssGUw28XS8ultl2Sr+7ajF SVryPGfSses3NE7+Gv+KU62M2tkhVVWIM8gp67cUdzSOzjsqex3Ca3TfYCTb/3rSWIXra9v8dtjC m530b91/iFv8y/PyDwAAAP//AwBQSwMEFAAGAAgAAAAhAM4q+U1EBgAA0xkAABoAAABjbGlwYm9h cmQvdGhlbWUvdGhlbWUxLnhtbOxZS28bNxC+F+h/WOy9sWS9bCNyYEty3MZOgkhJkSO1S+0y5i4X JGVHtyI59VKgQFr00AC99VAUDdAADXrpjzHgoE1/RIfch0iJih/wISgiA8bu7DfD4czsNyT35q2n CfWOMReEpV2/fqPmezgNWEjSqOs/HO19tuF7QqI0RJSluOvPsPBvbX/6yU20FVCSjRni4SjGCfbA UCq2UNePpcy21tZEAGIkbrAMp/BswniCJNzyaC3k6AQGSOjaeq3WXksQSf1tsCiVoQGFf6kUShBQ PlRmsJeiBEa/N5mQAGtseFRXCDETPcq9Y0S7PtgM2ckIP5W+R5GQ8KDr1/TPX9u+uYa2CiUqV+ga env6V+gVCuHRuh6TR+Nq0Gaz1WzvVPY1gMpl3KAzaA/alT0NQEEAM819MW22djd3+60Ca4DyS4ft fqffqFt4w35jyeedlvqz8BqU228u4ff2ehBFC69BOb61hG82O+u9poXXoBzfXsJ3ajv9ZsfCa1BM SXq0hK612o1eOdsKMmF03wnfbDX3OuuF8TkKqqGqLjXEhKVyVa0l6AnjewBQQIokST05y/AEBVCT PUTJmBPvgESxVMOgLYyM57koEEsiNaInAk4y2fW/yFDqG5CzN29On70+ffbH6fPnp89+M61bevso jUy9dz9/++/Lr7x/fv/p3Yvv8qEX8cLEv/3167d//vU+8/AyzSd79v2rt69fnf3wzd+/vHBY3+Fo bMJHJMHCu4tPvAcsgQnq6Nj+4DG/nMYoRsTU2EkjgVKkRnHYH8jYQt+dIYocuF1sx/ERBzJxAW9P n1gOD2M+lcRh8U6cWMBDxugu484o3FFjGWEeTdPIPTifmrgHCB27xu6h1MryYJoBixKXyV6MLTfv U5RKFOEUS089Y0cYO2b3mBArrock4EywifQeE28XEWdIRmRsVdNcaZ8kkJeZy0HItxWbw0feLqOu WffxsY2EdwNRh/MjTK0w3kZTiRKXyRFKqBnwAyRjl5PDGQ9M3EBIyHSEKfMGIRbCpXOPw3yNpN8B InGn/ZDOEhvJJTly2TxAjJnIPjvqxSjJXNghSWMT+7k4ghJF3n0mXfBDZr8h6h7ygNKV6X5EsJXu 89ngIXCo6dK8QNSTKXfk8jZmVv0OZ3SCsKYaoHiLuROSnkvj+QjXQ+BAk2c/vnT4fD2k7TZsRfyS dL3DifN92V8g6VW4RWruMR6SD5+Z+2ia3sfwMiy3p4/E/JGY/f89Ma96n6+fjucMDOSsFoL5klsv wJOV6+8JoXQoZxQfCL0EF9B3wj0QKj29z8TVfiyL4VK9yTCAhYs40joeZ/JLIuNhjDJYvtd9ZSQS helIeBkTsG3UYqdthafT5JCF+bazXldbzJw8BJJzea1VyWHLIHN0uzPfSlXmtbeR3vKWDijdyzhh DGY70XA40SmFKkh6gw1BczihZ3YtXmw6vNhQ5stULXkBrlVZgYWRB8uprt9qggoowb4JURyqPOWp LrOrk3mdmV4VTKsCanCOUVTAPNObyteV01Ozy0vtApm2nDDKzXZCR0b3MBGjEBfVqaQXceOyud6c p9RyT4WiiIXhRmfjfV5cNdegt8gNNDWZgqbeSddvN1pQMgHKuv4Etu9wmWRQO0ItaBGN4OArkDx/ 4a/CLBkXso9EnAdck07OBgmRmHuUJF1fTb9KA001h2jf6utACB+sc5tAKx+ac5B0O8l4MsGBNNNu SFSk81tg+JwrnE+1+tXBSpNNId3DODzxxnTKHyAosVanrgIYEgFnPPU8miGBY8mKyOb1t9CYCto1 zwV1DeVyRLMYFR3FJPMcrqm8ckffVTEw7oo5Q0CNkBSNcBypBmsG1eqmVdfIfVjZdc9XUpEzSHPe My1WUV3TzWLWCGUbWIjl1Zq84VUZYmiXZofPqXuRcjdLrltYJ1RdAgJexc/RdS/QEAzX5oNZrimP l2lYcXYhtXtHOcFzXLtIkzBYv12aXYhb1SOcw4HwSp0f9BarFkSTcl2pI+36xHCIMm8c1bs+HPPD 6cNTuIIPBT7I1pVsXcngCk7/oV3kR/Zdv7goJfA8l1SYRilplJhmKWmWklYpaZWSdilp+54+24bv KepY2/fKo2voYcVRd7G2sL/DbP8HAAD//wMAUEsDBBQABgAIAAAAIQCcZkZBuwAAACQBAAAqAAAA Y2xpcGJvYXJkL2RyYXdpbmdzL19yZWxzL2RyYXdpbmcxLnhtbC5yZWxzhI/NCsIwEITvgu8Q9m7S ehCRJr2I0KvUBwjJNi02PyRR7Nsb6EVB8LIws+w3s037sjN5YkyTdxxqWgFBp7yenOFw6y+7I5CU pdNy9g45LJigFdtNc8VZ5nKUxikkUigucRhzDifGkhrRykR9QFc2g49W5iKjYUGquzTI9lV1YPGT AeKLSTrNIXa6BtIvoST/Z/thmBSevXpYdPlHBMulFxagjAYzB0pXZ501LV2BiYZ9/SbeAAAA//8D AFBLAQItABQABgAIAAAAIQC75UiUBQEAAB4CAAATAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABbQ29udGVudF9U eXBlc10ueG1sUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhAK0wP/HBAAAAMgEAAAsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANgEAAF9y ZWxzLy5yZWxzUEsBAi0AFAAGAAgAAAAhAOARXhQrAgAAmAQAAB8AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIAIAAGNs aXBib2FyZC9kcmF3aW5ncy9kcmF3aW5nMS54bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAAACEAzir5TUQGAADTGQAA GgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACIBAAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL3RoZW1lL3RoZW1lMS54bWxQSwECLQAUAAYACAAA ACEAnGZGQbsAAAAkAQAAKgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECwAAY2xpcGJvYXJkL2RyYXdpbmdzL19yZWxz L2RyYXdpbmcxLnhtbC5yZWxzUEsFBgAAAAAFAAUAZwEAAAcMAAAAAA== " strokeweight="1pt" style="position:absolute; left:0; text-align:left; margin-left:-3px; margin-top:9px; width:5in; height:0; z-index:251662336" type="#_x0000_t32"> <w:wrap type="square"> </w:wrap></v:shape><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><b>Background:</b> Heavy metals, such as lead harms animals&rsquo; health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of Pb pollution in the cities of Golestan and Mazandaran Provinces by measuring Pb concentrations in the blood of brown rats, which serve as omnivorous bioindicators living in the same habitat as humans.</span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height:normal"><b>Methods:</b> Eight highly populated cities were selected, with 10 rats trapped in each city. Blood samples were taken from the rats, and Pb measurements were done by atomic absorption spectrometry.<span lang="FA" dir="RTL" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:normal"><b>Results</b>: All sampled rats were Pb-contaminated. The mean Pb concentrations in different cities of Golestan Province were statistically similar (<i>p</i><i> ></i> 0.05). In Mazandaran cities, however, significant differences in mean Pb concentrations were observed. The highest contamination was recorded in Neka (10.28 <span dir="RTL" lang="FA">&plusmn; </span>0.97 &mu;g/dL), while the lowest contamination was observed in Babol (7.3 <span dir="RTL" lang="FA">&plusmn; </span>1.36 &mu;g/dL). The mean Pb concentrations in the studied cities of Golestan (9.43 <span dir="RTL" lang="FA">&plusmn;</span> 1.81 &mu;g/dL) and Mazandaran (9.02 <span dir="RTL" lang="FA">&plusmn;</span> 1.07 &mu;g /dL) Provinces, as well as in male (10.38 &mu;g/dL) and female (9.25 &mu;g/dL) rats were similar.<br> <b>Conclusion</b>: The Pb contamination observed in the sampled rats is indicative of Pb contamination of the sampled cities and the presence of Pb sources in these areas. It seems necessary to take precautionary procedures to prevent the entry of polluted effluents into the sampled cities and the consumption of Pb-contaminated gasoline in these areas, to prevent Pb contamination of human populations.</span></span></span></div> Heavy metal, Rodent, North Iran, Golestan, Mazandaran, 52 56 http://jhehp.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-610-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Amir Shahbazadeh Bengar amirshabazadeh1990@gmail.com 100319475328460013990 0000000199798697 No Department of Environmental sciences, Faculty of fisheries and environmental sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran. Somayeh Namroodi namroodi@gau.ac.ir 100319475328460013991 100319475328460013991 Yes Department of Environmental sciences, Faculty of fisheries and environmental sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran. Somayeh Galdavi s.galdavi@yahoo.com 100319475328460013992 0000000222181186 No Department of Water Sciences and Engineering, Kashmar Higher Education Institute, Seyed Morteza Blvd, Kashmar, Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran.