Evaluation of vitamin E and calcium effects on fluoride toxicity-induced fertility impairment

Chronic fluoride (Fl) toxicity is a serious public health problem globally where drinking water contains more than 1 ppm of Fl. Sodium fluoride (NaF) produced male reproductive system toxicity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the amelioration of Fl toxicity-induced fertility impairment by vitamin E and calcium during the withdrawal period. The study was carried out on 70 adult male albino rats divided into five main groups: group I control; subdivided into group Ia (maintained on standard diet and water ad libitum for 60 days) and group Ib (maintained on standard diet and water ad libitum for 120 days), group II was administered NaF and subdivided into group IIa (administered NaF for 60 day and sacrificed) and group IIb (administered NaF for 60 day then maintained on standard diet and water ad libitum for a further 60 days), and treated groups III, IV, and V were administered NaF. Rats were maintained during withdrawal from NaF, on vitamin E (10 mg kg^?1 day^?1 for 60 days), calcium (50 mg kg^?1 day^?1 orally for 60 days), and both vitamin E and calcium, respectively. The duration of NaF administration was 60 days at a dose 20 mg kg^?1 day^?1 for all treated groups. The following parameters were determined: body and organ weights, sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm viability, fertility test, and hormone assays: testosterone, in vitro testosterone production, luteinizing hormone, and follicular stimulating hormone. The combined administration of vitamin E and calcium during withdrawal from NaF showed significant improvement from chronic FL-induced toxicity on male reproductive organs.     

An assessment of the air pollution data from two monitoring stations in Kuwait

This article assesses the air pollution data from two monitoring stations in Kuwait. The measurements cover major pollutants, i.e., CO, CO₂, methanated and non-methanated hydrocarbons, NO _x , SO₂, O₃, and particulate matter (PM10). The data also includes meteorological parameters, i.e., solar intensity, temperature, wind speed, and wind direction, and has been collected over a period 4 years, from 2001 to 2004. Data analysis includes the assessment of annual hourly averages and 1-h maxima. Typical pollutant concentration trends, similar to those previously reported for Kuwait and for other locations around the world, are observed except for particulate matter measurements, which have higher values because of proximity to the desert. Emissions of nitrogen oxides show a consistent increase over the years. This is caused by the increase in the number of motor vehicles and the expansion in power generation and industrial activities. The data collected is a subset of the air quality criteria, as defined by the US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency).     

Mechanochemical activation for lead extraction from spent cathode ray tube

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In this study, a mechanochemical activation technique to effectually extract lead from the funnel glass of cathode ray tube (CRT) is proposed. A...     

Optimizing safety-constrained solvent selection for process systems with economic uncertainties

Solvents are very commonly used in industrial facilities for a multitude of reasons. Traditionally, solvent selection has been based on minimizing the process operating cost while satisfying a set of operational requirements. Regrettably, safety considerations have typically been overlooked during the design phase. In this paper, a systematic approach is introduced to integrate safety issues into solvent selection and provides a computationally effective method for establishing tradeoffs between the economic and safety objectives. In order to quantify the risk associated with the solvent, we focus on the potential spillage of the solvent and introduce a risk index that is a function of the amount of solvent used and stored, as well as the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) dictated by regulatory directives. An optimization formulation is developed and the associated mathematical program solved to select optimal solvents and blends while incorporating economic, technical, and safety considerations. Tradeoff (Pareto) curves are developed to represent the multi-objective optimization results and tradeoffs. Furthermore, economic-data uncertainty and variability over expected ranges are included in the optimization formulation to conduct an insightful sensitivity analysis. Finally, an illustrative case study is considered via increasing levels of complexity in order to evaluate the proposed optimization method which considers both operating cost and safety risk implications in the presence of economic uncertainties.     

Impact assessment of subsurface drainage on waterlogged and saline lands

Waterlogging and salinity due to seepage from canals have polluted land and environment in various parts of Pakistan. A sustainable environment requires urgent remedial measures for this problem. The research in this paper presents the impacts of the Fourth Drainage Project, Faisalabad on the twin problem of waterlogging and salinity. Monitoring of the project was made on regular basis. The key performance indicators for the project include the lowering of water table, improvement of water quality and soil salinity, increase in area under cultivation, cropping intensity, and socioeconomic status of the project population. Data regarding water levels and discharge from the drain pipes were collected to monitor the impact on waterlogging. Soil samples were tested to evaluate the impact of drainage on land. It has been found that the percentage of the contaminated land in the project area has considerably been decreased, while the cropping intensities have been increased.     

Tropospheric Ozone in Tehran,Iran, during the last 20 years

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Air pollution and its effects on human health and the environment are one of the main concerns in urban areas. This study focuses on the distribution and...     

The ameliorative effect of kaempferol against CdCl2- mediated renal damage entails activation of Nrf2 and inhibition of NF-kB

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study evaluated the nephroprotective effect of kaempferol against cadmium chloride (CdCl2) -induced nephropathy in rats. It also investigated if...     

Swelling related to ettringite crystal formation in chromite ore processing residue

Several million tons of Chromite Ore Processing Residue (COPR) were deposited at two sites in New Jersey and Maryland, USA, and over time they exhibited extensive heaving phenomena. Ettringite, a needle-shaped mineral and an expansive mineral commonly recognized in the literature concerning cement- and soil, has been identified extensively in numerous COPR samples collected from these sites. It was therefore believed that ettringite formation and its crystal growth are strongly associated with COPR heaving. We investigated the correlation between ettringite and the heaving phenomena in COPR materials that contained no initial ettringite. Two identical COPR samples were exposed to a 4% w/w sulfate solution (25°C, 50°C) in a confined swell test apparatus. Both swell test samples were analyzed by means of X-ray powder diffraction. The peak intensities of newly formed ettringite were more pronounced in the sample tested at 50°C, and swell development was only observed in this sample. Scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed well-crystallized ettringite needles exceeding 40 μm in length for this sample, while ettringite crystals less than 15 μm in length formed in the sample tested at 25°C. Therefore, the results suggest that the quantity of ettringite and the extent of crystallization play a key role in the heave of COPR.     

A multi-process phytoremediation system for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from contaminated soils

To improve phytoremediation processes, multiple techniques that comprise different aspects of contaminant removal from soils have been combined. Using creosote as a test contaminant, a multi-process phytoremediation system composed of physical (volatilization), photochemical (photooxidation) and microbial remediation, and phytoremediation (plant-assisted remediation) processes was developed. The techniques applied to realize these processes were land-farming (aeration and light exposure), introduction of contaminant degrading bacteria, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and plant growth of contaminant-tolerant tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Over a 4-month period, the average efficiency of removal of 16 priority PAHs by the multi-process remediation system was twice that of land-farming, 50% more than bioremediation alone, and 45% more than phytoremediation by itself. Importantly, the multi-process system was capable of removing most of the highly hydrophobic, soil-bound PAHs from soil. The key elements for successful phytoremediation were the use of plant species that have the ability to proliferate in the presence of high levels of contaminants and strains of PGPR that increase plant tolerance to contaminants and accelerate plant growth in heavily contaminated soils. The synergistic use of these approaches resulted in rapid and massive biomass accumulation of plant tissue in contaminated soil, putatively providing more active metabolic processes, leading to more rapid and more complete removal of PAHs.     

Toxic effects of carbofuran and glyphosate on semen characteristics in rabbits

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of chronic treatment with two sublethal doses of Carbofuran (carbamate insecticide) and Glyphosate (organophosphorus herbicide) on body weight and semen characteristics in mature male New Zealand white rabbits. Pesticide treatment resulted in a decline in body weight, libido, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, semen initial fructose and semen osmolality. This was accompanied with increases in the abnormal and dead sperm and semen methylene blue reduction time. The hazardous effect of these pesticides on semen quality continued during the recovery period, and was dose‐dependent. These effects on sperm quality may be due to the direct cytotoxic effects of these pesticides on spermatogenesis and/or indirectly via hypothalami‐pituitary‐testis axis which control the reproductive efficiency.