Improved power density and Cr/Pb removal using ozone in a microbial desalination cell

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Microbial desalination cells are promising bio-electrochemical technologies for water desalination, treating wastewater and bioelectricity production. In this...     

Municipal solid waste management in Tehran: current practices, opportunities and challenges

Tehran, the capital city of Iran and a metropolis with a population of 8.2 million and containing 2.4 million households, generated 2,626,519 tons of solid waste in 2005. The present study is aimed at evaluating the generation, characteristics and management of solid waste in Tehran. Municipal solid waste comprises more than 97% of Tehran's solid waste, while three other types of solid waste comprise less than 3% of it, namely hospital waste (1.0%), industrial waste (0.6%) and construction and demolition waste (0.5%). The contribution of household solid waste to total municipal solid waste is about 62.5%. The municipality of Tehran is responsible for the solid waste management of the city; the waste is mainly landfilled in three centers in Tehran, with a small part of it usually recycled or processed as compost. However, an informal sector is also active in collecting recyclable materials from solid waste. The municipality has recently initiated some activities to mechanize solid waste management and reduce waste generation. There remain important challenges in solid waste management in Tehran which include: the proper collection and management of hospital waste; public education aimed at reducing and separating household waste and educating municipal workers in order to optimize the waste collection system; and the participation of other related organizations and the private sector in solid waste management.     

A comparison of standard k–ε and realizable k–ε turbulence models in curved and confluent channels

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - Bends and confluences are often observed in rivers, and one of the phenomena that characterize flows in open channel bends and confluences is secondary current....     

Effects of microbial inoculations and surfactant levels on biologically- and chemically-assisted phytoremediation of lead-contaminated soil by maize (Zea Mays L.)

Assisted phytoremediation has been widely used for decontamination of potentially toxic elements contaminated soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of different microbial inoculations and surfactant levels on the phytoremediation of a Pb-polluted calcareous soil by maize. The results showed that application of surfactant increased both root and shoot dry matter yields. Microbial inoculations, however, had no significant effect on the root or shoot dry matter yield. Mean Pb uptake in maize root or shoot increased only following the application of some surfactant levels. Inoculation with microorganisms significantly increased both mean Pb concentration and uptake in maize root but not in maize shoot. Application of 4?mmol surfactant kg?1 along with inoculation with Priformospora indica was effective in increasing Pb phytostabilisation potential. While the application of 2?mmol surfactant kg^?1 along with inoculation with Pseudomonas fluorescens was effective in increasing Pb phytoextraction potential. The fact that the values of translocation efficiencies were low in all treatments, demonstrated the low capability of maize for translocation of Pb from root to shoot. Inoculation with P. fluorescens was the most effective treatment in increasing metal micronutrient uptake. Microbial inoculation and surfactant levels enhanced Pb phytoremediation mostly through phytostabilisation of this metal by maize.     

Assessing energy efficiencies,economy, and global warming potential (GWP) effects of major crop production systems in Iran: a case study in East Azerbaijan province

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Efficient use of energy in farming systems is one of the most important implications for decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating...     

A three-dimensional numerical study of flow characteristics in strongly curved channel bends with different side slopes

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - The influence of channel side slope on flow in strongly curved channel bends is studied numerically. The performances of five different turbulence models are...     

Heavy metal concentration in sediment, benthic, benthopelagic, and pelagic fish species from Musa Estuary (Persian Gulf)

The concentration of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, and Pb was measured in sediment and three fish species collected from Musa Estuary, Persian Gulf. The concentration order of heavy metals in sediment were Ni > Co > Cu > Pb > Cd >. Concentrations of the heavy metals in the fish were apparently different among the three species. The concentrations of Cd and Ni in fish were Johnius belangerii > Euryglossa orientalis > Liza abu, while the Co and Cu levels were L. abu > E. orientalis > J. belangerii and E. orientalis > L. abu > J. belangerii, respectively. Result of regression analysis showed that there were no significant relationships between metal concentration in fish tissues and sediment, except for Ni concentration in the J. belangerii liver. The concentrations of studied metals in fish muscle were below the permissible limits proposed by FAO, WHO, and EC.     

Effect of fishing vessels on trace metal contamination in sediments of three harbors along Iranian Oman Sea coast

In this study, the levels of natural and anthropogenic metal contamination (aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)) in surface sediments of three harbors along the Iranian coast of Gulf of Oman were examined and reported for the first time. Effect of grain size, mineralogy, normalization technique using Fe concentrations, and different sediment quality guidelines were discussed. Data from the harbors were compared with other harbors worldwide. Sediments inside the harbors are characterized by moderate and high levels of pollution by trace metals Cu (12–287 μg/g), Pb (11–1,780 μg/g), Zn (38–547 μg/g), Cr (70–2,370 μg/g), and Ni (31–116 μg/g). However, As and Cd did not show considerable pollution inside and outside the harbors. Considering that there is no industrial activity around the study harbors, the major sources of contamination in the harbors are repairing, fueling, greasing, and painting of fishing ships and boats. Mineralogy of sediments in the study area as well as trace metal concentration in reference samples taken from onshore geological units confirmed that natural inputs of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the harbors are very low while most of Ni and Cr contamination in the study area comes from erosion of ophiolitic mélange units at the North of Makran mountains.     

Urinary arsenic,cadmium, manganese,nickel, and vanadium levels of schoolchildren in the vicinity of the industrialised area of Asaluyeh,Iran

Asaluyeh is one of the most heavily industrialised areas in the world where gas, petrochemical, and many downstream industries are located. This study aims to survey the biomonitoring of four metals and one metalloid in children living in the vicinity of Asaluyeh area. To do this, we analysed the creatinine-adjusted urinary levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), vanadium (V), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) in 184 elementary schoolchildren (99 boys and 85 girls) living in Asaluyeh and compared them with a reference population. The comparisons were done for two seasons (spring and fall). The results showed that in the case area (Asaluyeh), the levels of As, V, Mn, and Ni were significantly higher and that of Cd was not significantly higher than the reference city for both seasons. The mean concentration of metal(loid)s in Asaluyeh (case) and Sadabad (reference) area as μg g^?1 creatinine was As 2.90 and 2.24, V 0.06 and 0.03, Mn 0.28 and 0.25, Ni 0.54 and 0.29, and Cd 0.31 and 0.28 in spring and As 3.08 and 2.28, V 0.07 and 0.03, Mn 0.30 and 0.26, Ni 0.91 and 0.30, and Cd 0.36 and 0.31 in the fall. Seasonal variations played a key role in determining urinary metal(loid) concentration, as we saw the significant level of As, Cd, V, and Ni in fall than in spring. With regard to the impact of gender on the absorption and accumulation of urinary metal(loid)s, boys showed higher levels of the studied elements, especially for As, than girls as outdoor activities are more popular among boys. Due to the values being lower than those reported in literature, more research is needed on various population groups and other exposure sources in order to judge whether living in the vicinity of the gas and petrochemical industries in Asaluyeh is a threat to nearby residents.