On-site phytoremediation applicability assessment in Alur Ilmu,Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia based on spatial and pollution removal analyses

The present paper aims to assess the phytoremediation performance based on pollution removal efficiency of the highly polluted region of Alur Ilmu urban river for its applicability of on-site treatment. Thirteen stations along Alur Ilmu were selected to produce thematic maps through spatial distribution analysis based on six water quality parameters of Malaysia’s Water Quality Index (WQI) for dry and raining seasons. The maps generated were used to identify the highly polluted region for phytoremediation applicability assessment. Four free-floating plants were tested in treating water samples from the highly polluted region under three different conditions, namely controlled, aerated and normal treatments. The selected free-floating plants were water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), rose water lettuce (Pistia sp.) and pennywort (Centella asiatica). The results showed that Alur Ilmu was more polluted during dry season compared to raining season based on the water quality analysis. During dry season, four parameters were marked as polluted along Alur Ilmu, namely dissolve oxygen (DO), 4.72 mg/L (class III); ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₃–N), 0.85 mg/L (class IV); total suspended solid (TSS), 402 mg/L (class V) and biological oxygen demand (BOD), 3.89 mg/L (class III), whereas, two parameters were classed as polluted during raining season, namely total suspended solid (TSS), 571 mg/L (class V) and biological oxygen demand (BOD), 4.01 mg/L (class III). The thematic maps generated from spatial distribution analysis using Kriging gridding method showed that the highly polluted region was recorded at station AL 5. Hence, water samples were taken from this station for pollution removal analysis. All the free-floating plants were able to reduce TSS and COD in less than 14 days. However, water hyacinth showed the least detrimental effect from the phytoremediation process compared to other free-floating plants, thus made it a suitable free-floating plants to be used for on-site treatment.     

A research on conventional and modern algorithms for maximum power extraction from wind energy conversion system: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the last few decades, wind energy has become a significant source of the renewable energy system, and it is essential to use wind energy for...     

Different treatment strategies for highly polluted landfill leachate in developing countries

The aim of this research was to determine appropriate treatment technique for effective treatment of heavily polluted landfill leachate. We accomplished several treatment experiments: (i) aerobic biological treatment, (ii) chemical coagulation, (iii) advanced oxidation process (AOP) and (iv) several combined treatment strategies. Efficiency of these treatment procedures were monitored by analysing COD and colour removal. Leachate used for this study was taken from Matuail landfill site at Dhaka city. With extended aeration process which is currently used in Matuail landfill site for leachate treatment, maximum COD and colour removal of 36% and 20%, respectively could be achieved with optimum retention period of 7days. With optimum aluminium sulphate dose of 15,000mg/L and pH value of 7.0, maximum COD and colour removals of 34% and 66%, respectively were observed by using chemical coagulation. With optimum pH of 5.0 and optimum dosages of reagents having H(2)O(2)/Fe(2+) molar ratio of 1.3 the highest removal of COD and colour were found 68% and 87%, respectively with sludge production of 55%. Fenton treatment which is an advanced oxidation process was the most successful between these three separate treatment procedures. Among the combined treatment options performed, extended aeration followed by Fenton method was the most suitable one.     

Injury prevention programs against distracted driving: Are they effective?

Introduction: Distracted driving (talking and/or texting) is a growing public safety problem, with increasing incidence among adult drivers. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of distracted driving (DD) among health care providers and to create awareness against DD. We hypothesized that distracted driving is prevalent among health care providers and a preventive campaign against distracted driving would effectively decrease distracted driving among health care providers.

Methods: We performed a 4-phase prospective interventional study of all health care providers at our level 1 trauma center. Phase 1: one week of pre-intervention observation; phase 2: one week of intervention; phase 3: one week of postintervention observation; and phase 4: one week of 6 months of postintervention observation. Observations were performed outside employee parking garage at the following time intervals: 6:30–8:30 a.m., 4:40–5:30 p.m., and 6:30–7:30 p.m. Intervention included an e-mail survey, pamphlets and banners in the hospital cafeteria, and a postintervention survey. Hospital employees were identified with badges and scrubs, employees exiting through employee gate, and parking pass on the car. Outcome measure was incidence of DD pre, post, and 6 months postintervention.

Results: A total of 15,416 observations (pre: 6,639, post: 4,220, 6 months post: 4,557) and 520 survey responses were collected. The incident of DD was 11.8% among health care providers. There was a significant reduction in DD in each time interval of observation between pre- and postintervention. On subanalysis, there was a significant decrease in talking (P = .0001) and texting (P = .01) while driving postintervention compared to pre-intervention. In the survey, 35.5% of respondents admitted to DD and 4.5% respondents were involved in an accident due to DD. We found that 77% respondents felt more informed after the survey and 91% respondents supported a state legislation against DD. The reduction in the incidence of DD postintervention was sustained even at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion: There was a 32% reduction in the incidence of distracted driving postintervention, which remained low even at 6-month follow-up. Implementation of an effective injury prevention campaign could reduce the incidence of distracted driving nationally.     

Genetic evidence that the “Padstow mussel” is Mytilus galloprovincialis

Electrophoretic analysis of loci controlling a variety of enzymes has been applied to samples of the Padstow mussel and typical Mytilus edulis L. living strictly sympatrically at Rock, Cornwall, England, in order to resolve the disputed status of the Padstow mussel. Small samples indicated similar monomorphic states at the GPDH, TO, MDH-2 loci and weak polymorphism at the 6 PGD locus in both types of mussel. The MDH-1 locus may be weakly polymorphic in the Padstow mussel and monomorphic in M. edulis. Large samples assayed for AP, LAP, PGM, and PHI produced data showing very large and highly significant differences in allele frequencies at three of these loci between the two groups of mussels separated on anatomical characters. At the LAP locus, significant deficiencies of heterozygotes were observed in both groups of mussels. A small percentage of mussels from Rock are difficult to assign with certainty to one or other group on anatomical and morphological criteria, but the genetic evidence indicates that most, if not all, such specimens are M. edulis. These genetic differences make it highly improbable that any significant degree of genetic exchange occurs between the two groups in nature and, taken together with the evidence of genetic resemblance of the Padstow mussel to M. galloprovincialis from Venice and that of Rock M. edulis to M. edulis, from the Gower peninsula of Wales we conclude that the Padstow mussel is indeed M. galloprovincialis.     

Using GIS tools to detect the land use/land cover changes during forty years in Lodhran District of Pakistan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Land use/land cover (LULC) change has serious implications for environment as LULC is directly related to land degradation over a period of time and...     

Microplastics pollution in Bangladesh: current scenario and future research perspective

ABSTRACT

Microplastics are emerging environmental pollutants that have gained tremendous scientific interest in recent years. These micropollutants are omnipresent both in the terrestrial and aquatic environments posing a deleterious threat to the ecosystem and biodiversity. So, it is important to develop a deep understanding of the environmental fate and potential adverse impacts of microplastics on the aquatic and terrestrial environments. By critically reviewing the previously published scientific literature, the present synthesis briefly outlines the characteristics, occurrence and potential toxic effects of microplastics on terrestrial and aquatic biota. The article also focuses on some innovative approaches for sustainable remediation of macroplastics as well as microplastics. Since the concept of microplastics pollution has yet in its infancy in Bangladesh, this synthesis provides an overview of the current scenario of microplastics pollution and some future research recommendations in the context of Bangladesh which might be helpful to the novice researchers of this field.     

Heavy metal contamination and exposure risk assessment via drinking groundwater in Vehari,Pakistan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The presence of toxic substances in aquifers, particularly potentially toxic heavy metals, is an important environmental and social concern worldwide....     

Antibacterial and Catalytic Performance of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Embedded in Crosslinked PVA Sheet

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this research work, a green method of using Saussurea costus extract for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is developed. Analysis of the...