Fractionation and Sequential Extraction of Heavy Metals in the Soil of Scrapyard of Discarded Vehicles

Chemical and physical size fractionation of heavy metals were carried out on 20 soil samples from the scrap yard area. Tessier method was used in sequential extraction. Cadmium showed the highest levels among the other elements studied in the exchangeable fraction (about 33%), while other elements showed low levels in this fraction (≥1%). Lead and manganese were mostly found in the Fe–Mn oxide fraction, zinc and iron were mostly in residual fraction, while copper was mostly found in the organic fraction of the soil. Soil samples were size-fractionated into four sizes: 1000–500, 500–125, 125–53, and less than 53 μm. The highest levels of Fe, Cu, Pb, Mn, and Cd were found in the medium fraction (500–125 μm), while zinc showed its highest levels in the fine fraction (125–53 μm). The order of heavy metal load in the size fractions was found to be medium > fine > coarse > silt for Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Cd, where it was found as fine > medium > coarse > silt for zinc.     

THE MEANDERING OF NATURAL STREAMS IN ALLUVIAL MATERIALS1

Although there have been numerous publications which might be classified under the general subject of meanders, they have, for the most part, been preoccupied with the origin of meanders, helicoidal flow or the search for a characteristic or standard meander. There seems to be little published information on the analysis of actual velocity patterns, the nature and role of bank caving or anomalies and differences in the geometry of bends. The purpose of this paper is to present a qualitative summary of current knowledge on the meandering of streams in alluvial materials, based upon a review of pertinent literature, data supplied by the Vicksburg and Little Rock Districts, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, and the observation of small-scale meanders on a tilting sand table. It is intended that this paper provide some coverage of the aspects of meandering that have hitherto been neglected.     

Modelling equilibrium adsorption of single,binary, and ternary combinations of Cu,Pb, and Zn onto granular activated carbon

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Elevated concentrations of heavy metals in water can be toxic to humans, animals, and aquatic organisms. A study was conducted on the removal of Cu,...     

Postural assessment in pen-and-paper-based observational methods and their associated health effects: a review

Introduction. This review describes standardized ergonomics assessment based on pen-and-paper observational methods for assessing ergonomics risk factors. Objective. The three main objectives are to analyze published pen-and-paper observational methods, to extract and understand the risk levels of each method and to identify their associated health effects. Methodology. The authors searched scientific databases and the Internet for materials from 1970 to 2013 using the following keywords: ergo, posture, method, observational, postural angle, health effects, pain and diseases. Postural assessments of upper arms, lower arms, wrists, neck, back and legs in six pen-and-paper-based observational methods are highlighted, extracted in groups and linked with associated adverse health effects. Results. The literature reviewed showed strengths and limitations of published pen-and-paper-based observational methods in determining the work activities, risk levels and related postural angles to adverse health effects. This provided a better understanding of unsafe work postures and how to improve these postures. Conclusion. Many pen-and-paper-based observational methods have been developed. However, there are still many limitations of these methods. There is, therefore, a need to develop a new pen-and-paper-based observational method for assessing postural problems.     

Carbonyl compound leaching from polyethylene terephthalate into bottled water under sunlight exposure

Polyethylene terephthalate bottles containing natural spring water were used to study the leaching effect of carbonyl compounds after one year storage under real conditions of exposure. Ultraviolet-B and ultraviolet-A spectra of direct sunlight were acquired during the experiment. Leaching of acetone, acetaldehyde, and formaldehyde reached steady state after 210 days of outdoor storage, with the following concentrations: 434 ± 22, 345 ± 18, and 94 ± 5 µg/L, respectively. The increase due to sunlight exposure in comparison with laboratory storage in the dark was around 10%, 16%, and 36%. The leaching process of all three carbonyl compounds was found to follow the first-order kinetics. Photo-degradation of Polyethylene terephthalate bottles and the appearance of carboxyl end-groups were followed by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectra. After 313 days of storage under direct sunlight, new peaks appeared in the regions of 1770–1920 cm^?1 and 1685–1490 cm^?1. Cations, anions, total dissolved solids, pH, and conductivity were also measured during the storage period. Additionally, microbiological measurements as well as statistical analyses were also carefully discussed.     

Correlation between lead and iron in children's blood in Jordan

A total of 200 Jordanian children were classified into two groups: 100 Fe replete and 100 Fe deficient with ages ranging between 3.0 and 12.0 years (6.9 ± 2.7 years). All participants were chosen according to proper selection criteria followed by the sample collection: the samples were analyzed for hemoglobin and red blood cells; ferritin, an immunoassays-based instrument; and levels of Pb, Cu, and Zn. There were no significant differences between genders regarding Fe-deficiency (p = 0.57 and χ2 = 0.33), with a significant association of younger individuals (3.0–9.1 years) with Fe-deficiency (p < 0.05 and χ2 = 22.7).

In addition, there is a significant positive correlation between Fe-deficiency with blood levels of Pb, Cu, and Zn (p < 0.05), (r = 0.43, 0.35, and 0.42, respectively) as compared to control group, this findings supported, by comparing the levels of the examined metals in both groups, in individuals whom close to heavy metals source (highway traffic or oil gas station), and found that the mean of the heavy metals level in close Fe-deficient group higher than in close Fe-replete group.     

Public space networks as a guide to sustainable urban development and social life: A case study of Muğla,Turkey

This study examines the possibility of designating and implementing a citywide public space network, constituted of randomly dispersed and not interrelated public spaces and greenways across the city of Mu?la. Although Mu?la is a major coastal province, with worldwide tourism districts, the city centre falls behind other settlements in terms of quality of social life, physical layout, economic investment and tourism revenue. In 2001, the local government commissioned the Department of Landscape Architecture of Ege University to prepare a comprehensive master plan towards achieving a corporate public space network, as well as development strategies to ameliorate the previous failures. The master plan developed a blueprint for the citywide network and addressed each existing or potential public space and greenway as integrated components of the network. The process involved short-, medium- and long-term action from the local government to achieve the physical layout and efficiently implement phases of the network. As a guide for other small or medium urban settlements in Turkey, a model proposal was derived from the study to address formulation, implementation, and management of the network in order to create a sustainable urban development.     

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic in medical waste amounts: a case study from a high-populated city of Turkey

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In this study, the amount of medical waste generated in a high-populated city in Turkey between January 2018 and August 2021 was evaluated, and the...