Seasonal variation of water-soluble inorganic ions in PM10 in a city of northwestern Turkey

The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of inorganic ions present in particulate matter smaller than 10 µm (PM₁₀), released into the environment by industrial, domestic and mobile sources in Duzce. To assess spatial variations, samples were collected from two sampling sites that had urban and suburban characteristics. Further, the process was carried out in two seasons to understand the seasonal variations. An ion chromatography device was used for analyzing the inorganic ion content in the collected samples. The highest levels of inorganic ion concentrations were measured at the urban sampling site during the winter campaign. Furthermore, the highest ion concentrations were measured for SO₄^2? ion at both sampling sites and during both seasons, while the lowest concentrations were measured for Br^?. Moreover, there were significant relationships between meteorological parameters and ion concentrations. A comparison of the cation and anion equivalence values using seasonal CE/AE (cation equivalence/anion equivalence) ratios showed that the aerosol matter had alkaline characteristics during both seasons. The mean value for the CE/AE ratios was 1.58 in winter and 2.06 in summer at the urban sampling site and 1.36 in winter and 1.52 in summer at the suburban sampling site. The interrelationships among the ions were determined by Pearson correlation analysis. Based on the correlation analyses, the ions emitted from common sources and those exposed to similar atmospheric conditions displayed strong correlations with each other.     

Concentration of heavy metals in the food web of Lake Egirdir, Turkey

The concentration of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Hg and Pb,) was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in sediment, water, plankton and fish samples from Lake Egirdir in South-Western Turkey. Lake Egirdir is an important bird nesting and visiting areas, and it is also used as irrigation and drinking water source. The heavy metal concentrations were in the order Cd > Pb > Cr > Hg in water, Cr > Pb > Cd > Hg in sediment, Pb > Cd > Cr > Hg in plankton, Cd > Cr > Pb > Hg in the muscle and Cd > Pb > Cr > Hg in the gills of Ctenophatyngodon idella. The significant differences of concentrations occurred in water, sediment, plankton and fish tissues (Chi square test, p < 0.05). The concentrations of the heavy metals in water and fish tissues of three years old, were above the maximum permissible level for human consumption.     

The assessment of the malignant mesothelioma cases and environmental asbestos exposure in Sivas province, Turkey

One of the most significant diseases related to environmental asbestos exposure is malignant mesothelioma (MM). Sivas province is located in the Central Anatolia where asbestos exposure is common. We aimed to study clinical, demographical and epidemiologic features of the patients with MM in Sivas, along with the history of asbestos exposure. In total, 219 patients with MM who were diagnosed in our hospital between 1993 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of demographical and clinical features. Rock, soil and house plaster samples were taken from the habitats of those patients and were evaluated with optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. The age of the patients ranged between 18 and 85 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.4:1. Most of the patients confirmed an asbestos exposure history. The most frequent symptoms of the patients were chest pain (60 %) and dyspnea (50 %). The gap between the start of first symptoms and the diagnosis date was approximately 4 months in average. The plaster materials used in most of the houses were made up of mainly carbonate and silicate minerals and some chrysotile. Ophiolitic units contained fibrous minerals such as serpentine (clino + orthochrysotile) chiefly and pectolite, brucite, hydrotalcite and tremolite/actinolite in smaller amounts. MM is not primarily related to occupational asbestos exposure in our region, and hence, environmental asbestos exposure may be indicted. Yet, single or combined roles and/or interactions of other fibrous and non-fibrous minerals in the etiology of MM are not yet fully understood and remain to be investigated.     

Extracting urban impervious surfaces from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 satellite data for urban planning and environmental management

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Impervious surface is mainly defined as any surface which water cannot infiltrate the soil. Due to the impact of urban impervious surfaces (UIS) on...     

Human maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 16 and fetal development

Two severely growth-retarded fetuses found to have maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) for chromosome 16 and trisomy 16 placental mosaicism both had an unfavourable outcome. Antenatally, the first case was complicated by an unexplained raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration, preterm premature rupture of the membranes, and growth retardation detectable at 21 weeks' gestation, whilst the other had an unexplained raised maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin level, a two-vessel cord on ultrasound, and cessation of growth at 25 weeks. At post-mortem, both babies had an imperforate anus. Fetal maternal UPD may explain the poor outcome that occurs in some cases of confined placental mosaicism for chromosome 16 and is also associated with specific fetal abnormalities.     

Use of glazed ceramic waste as additive in mortar and the mathematical modelling of its strength

This study investigated the reusability of waste material from the tile manufacturing industry as an alternative material to natural pozzolan trass. Yield strength values of mortar made from Portland cement (CEM 142.5), were measured by adding glazed ceramic waste and trass at various weight ratios (5 to 40%). The test results proved that the strength values at 2, 7, and 28 days gave good results for concentrations of waste materials less than 5-10% in the cement. A decrease in strength was observed at higher concentrations. Mathematical modelling results showed a logarithmic correlation between the mortar strength and weight fraction of cement.     

A Study of the Photocatalytic Oxidation of Humic Acid on Anatase and Mixed-phase Anatase–Rutile TiO2 Nanoparticles

In this study, slurry photocatalytic oxidation process was investigated for natural organic matter removal from aqueous humic acid solutions by using different titanium dioxide (TiO₂) under UV-A irradiation. Bench scale experimental studies were conducted at different humic acid concentration at the range of 10–50 mg/L and different pH. Anatase and mixed-phase anatase–rutile TiO₂ nano particles used in the photocatalytic reactor. The results were evaluated in terms of the parameters that are specific to organic matter content such as dissolved organic carbon concentration, ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV₂₅₄), specific ultaviolet absorbance at 254 nm, and color (VIS₄₀₀). It was observed that increasing humic acid concentration decreases photocatalytic degradation efficiency. The reactivity of the mixed-phase anatase–rutile (Degussa P-25) TiO₂ was greater than individual anatase particles and the highest efficiency was observed at pH 3 for anatase TiO₂.     

Evaluation of different wastewater treatment techniques in three WWTPs in Istanbul for the removal of selected EDCs in liquid phase

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are exogenous substances that cause adverse health effects in an intact organism, or its progeny, subsequent to the changes in endocrine function. Recent studies have shown that wastewater treatment plant effluents play an important role in the release of EDCs into aquatic environments. Therefore, in this study, influent and effluent samples from three different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Istanbul were analysed for the presence of the principal EDCs. These chemicals include steroids and synthetic organic chemicals. Thus, the occurrence and fate of EDCs of great health concern were monitored at three WWTPs in Istanbul. Furthermore, these WWTPs are employing different treatment processes. Therefore, the EDC removal performances of different treatment regimes were also evaluated. Phytosterol was the most abundant EDC in the influent samples. Second group of compounds at high influent levels were alkyl phenols. Pesticide levels of all three WWTP influent samples were low. Pasakoy Advanced WWTP is more effective at eliminating EDCs. Kadikoy Primary WWTP exhibits the lowest EDC elimination efficiencies. To the best of our knowledge, this work comprises the first detailed report on the occurrence and behaviour of both natural and synthetic EDCs in WWTPs of Istanbul and Turkey. The steroid estrogen levels of this study are higher than the previously documented values, except the levels given for Gaobeidian WWTP in Beijing, China. This is attributed to higher population densities of Beijing and Istanbul and as well as to lower individual water consumption rates in the two cities.     

Synthesis of Ion-Imprinted Alginate Based Beads: Selective Adsorption Behavior of Nickel (II) Ions

Ni(II) imprinted and non-imprinted bioadsorbent alginate beads were prepared, and utilized in the selective adsorption of Ni(II) ions. The optimum adsorption capacity were 6.00 mmol g^?1 at 500 ppm initial metal ion concentration at pH 7 for Ni(II) imprinted alginate beads (IIP). The equilibrium data were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, and it fitted both isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameters showed favorable and endothermic nature of adsorption. Ni(II) imprinted bead showed the strong ability to selective adsorption from Cu(II), Co(II) and Zn(II) ions. In conclusion, Ni(II) ion imprinted alginate beads could be used repeatedly without any significant reduce of adsorption capacity.