Determination and assessment of total mercury levels in local, frozen and canned fish in Lebanon

Fish is an important constituent of the Lebanese diet. However, very little attention in our area is given to bring awareness regarding the effect of the toxicity of mercury (Hg) mainly through fish consumption. This study aimed to report analytical data on total mercury levels in several fish species for the first time in thirty years and to also made individuals aware of the presence and danger from exposure to mercury through fish consumption. Fish samples were selected from local Lebanese markets and fisheries and included 94 samples of which were fresh, frozen, processed, and canned fish. All values were reported as microgram of mercury per gram of fish based on wet weight. The level of mercury ranged from 0.0190 to 0.5700 μg/g in fresh samples, 0.0059 to 0.0665 μg/g in frozen samples, and 0.0305 to 0.1190 μg/g in canned samples. The data clearly showed that higher levels of mercury were detected in local fresh fish as opposed to other types thus placing consumers at higher risk from mercury exposure. Moreover, the data revealed that Mallifa (yellowstripe barracuda/Sphyraena chrysotaenia), Sargous (white seabream/Diplodus sargus), Ghobbos (bogue/Boops hoops), and shrimp (Penaeus sp.) were among the types containing the highest amounts of mercury. On the other hand, processed fish such as fish fillet, fish burger, small shrimp and crab are found to contain lower levels of mercury and are associated with lower exposure risks to mercury. Lebanese population should therefore, be aware to consume limited amounts of fresh local fish to minimize exposure to mercury.     

Removal of humic acid using TiO2 photocatalytic process--fractionation and molecular weight characterisation studies

The photocatalytic removal of humic acid (HA) using TiO₂ under UVA irradiation was examined by monitoring changes in the UV₂₅₄ absorbance, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, apparent molecular weight distribution, and trihalomethane formation potentials (THMFPs) over treatment time. A resin fractionation technique in which the samples were fractionated into four components: very hydrophobic acids (VHA), slightly hydrophobic acids, hydrophilic charged (CHA) and hydrophilic neutral (NEU) was also employed to elucidate the changes in the chemical nature of the HA components during treatment. The UVA/TiO₂ process was found to be effective in removing more than 80% DOC and 90% UV₂₅₄ absorbance. The THMFPs of samples were decreased to below 20 μg l⁻¹ after treatments, which demonstrate the potential to meet increasingly stringent regulatory level of trihalomethanes in water. Resin fractionation analysis showed that the VHA fraction was decreased considerably as a result of photocatalytic treatments, forming CHA intermediates which were further degraded with increased irradiation time. The NEU fraction, which comprised of non-UV-absorbing low molecular weight compounds, was found to be the most persistent component.     

Effect of systemic herbicides on N2-fixing and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms in relation to availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in paddy soils of West Bengal

A field experiment has been conducted with four systemic herbicides viz., butachlor [N-(butoxymethyl)-2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl-acetanilide], fluchloralin [N-(2-chloroethyl)-(2,6-dinitro-N-propyl-4-trifluoromethyl) aniline], oxadiazon [5-terbutyl-3-(2,4-dichloro-5-isopro poxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-one] and oxyfluorfen [2-chloro-1-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzene] at their recommended field rates (2.0, 1.5, 0.4 and 0.12kga.i.ha(-1), respectively) to investigate their effects on growth and activities of aerobic non-symbiotic N(2)-fixing bacteria and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms in relation to availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in the rhizosphere soils as well as yield of the rice crop (Oryza sativa L cv. IR-36). Application of herbicides, in general, highly stimulated the population and activities of the target microorganisms, which resulted in a greater amount of atmospheric nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization in the rhizosphere soils of the test crop. The greater microbial activities subsequently augmented the mineralization and availability of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil solution, which in turn increased the yield of the crop. Among the herbicides, oxyfluorfen was most stimulative followed by fluchloralin and oxadiazon in augmenting the microbial activities in soil. Butachlor also accentuated the mineralization and availability of nitrogen due to higher incitement of non-symbiotic N(2)-fixing bacteria in paddy soil. The grain and straw yields of the crop were also significantly increased due to the application of oxyfluorfen (20.2% and 21%) followed by fluchloralin (13.1% and 15.4%) and butachlor (9.1% and 10.2%), respectively.     

Hydrophobic and Flame-Retardant Foam Based on Cellulose

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - A study aimed to prepare cellulose-based hydrophobic, lightweight, and flame retardant foam composites. Cellulose was activated by phosphoric acid followed...     

Developing a chloramine decay index to understand nitrification: A case study of two chloraminated drinking water distribution systems

The management of chloramine decay and the prevention of nitrification are some of the critical issues faced by water utilities that use chloramine as a disinfectant.In this study,potential association between high performance size exclusion chromatography(HPSEC)data obtained with multiple wavelength Ultraviolet(UV) detection from two drinking water distribution systems in Australia and nitrification occurrence was investigated.An increase in the absorbance signal of HPSEC profiles with UV detection at λ = 230 nm between apparent molecular weights of 200 to 1000 Da was observed at sampling sites that experienced rapid chloramine decay and nitrification while its absorbance signal at λ =254 nm decreased.A chloramine decay index(C.D.I) defined as the ratio of area beneath the HPSEC spectra at two different wavelengths of 230 and 254 nm,was used in assessing chloramine decay occurrences.The C.D.Is of waters at locations that experienced nitrification were consistently higher than locations not experiencing nitrification.A simulated laboratory study showed that the formation of nitrite/nitrate and/or soluble microbial products and/or the release of extracellular polymeric substances(EPS) during nitrification may contribute to the C.D.I.increase.These findings suggest that C.D.I derived from HPSEC with multiple wavelength UV detection could be an informative index to track the occurrence of rapid chloramine decay and nitrification.     

The interactional role of globalization in tourism-CO2 nexus in South Asian countries

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This research analyzes the impacts of tourism and globalization on CO2 emissions in South Asian countries. The annual data was converted into...     

Selection of a suitable mobile phase for the speciation of four arsenic compounds in drinking water samples using ion-exchange chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The performance of two mobile phase buffers, phosphate and TRIS, were compared for the speciation of four arsenic species: arsenate (As(V)), arsenite (As(III)), mono methylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethyl arsinic acid (DMA) in drinking water, using ion-exchange chromatography inductivelycoupled plasma mass spectrometry (IEC-ICP-MS). The mobile phase containing TRIS acetate buffer ("TRIS") demonstrated superior perfomance in baseline separation of all four arsenic species and the internal standard. It is also applicable to high-throughput sample analysis as it minimized the frequency required to clean the sampling interface due to salt build-up when compared to the phosphate mobile phase. The method was evaluated for its precision, accuracy, linearity and detection limits. The method was successfully applied for the analysis of drinking water samples.     

Removal of textile dyes from water by the electro-Fenton process

An environmentally friendly electrochemical treatment, electro-Fenton process, was applied to the depollution of a synthetic dismissal composed of three dyes, yellow drimaren, congo red and methylene blue, frequently used in textile and dyehouses. Here, we show that those dyes and their mixture are quickly degraded under current controlled electrolysis conditions, leading to an almost complete mineralization. The results show the efficiency of electro-Fenton process to quickly degrade aqueous effluents polluted by synthetic organic dyes.