Ambient air quality and asthma cases in Niğde, Turkey

Urban air quality is one of the key factors affecting human health. Turkey has transformed itself into an urban society over the last 30 years. At the same time, air pollution has become a serious impairment to health in many urban areas in the country. This is due to many reasons. In this study, a nonparametric evaluation was conducted of health effects that are triggered by urban air pollution. Ni?de, the city which is the administrative centre of Nigde province was chosen of the effects of air pollution since, like many central Turkish cities, it is situated on a valley where atmospheric inversion occurs. In this paper, the relationship between ambient urban air quality, namely PM₁₀ and sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and human health, specifically asthma, during the winter season is examined. Air pollution data and asthma cases from 2006 to 2010 are covered in this study. The results of our study indicate that total asthma cases reported in Nigde between 2008 and 2010 were highly dependent on ambient SO₂ concentration. More asthma cases were recorded when 30 μg?m^?3 or higher SO₂ was present in the ambient air than those recorded under cleaner ambient air conditions. Moreover, it was determined that in Nigde in 2010, asthma cases reported in males aged between 45 and 64 were closely correlated with ambient SO₂ (α?=?0.05).     

Biosorption of Cu^2＋ and Zn^2＋ by raw and autoclaved Rocella phycopsis

The behavior of Cu2+ and Zn2+ biosorption onto raw and modified Roccella phycopsis from aqueous solutions was studied. Modification process was applied by autoclavation at 121°C for 30 min. The effcts of pH, initial metal concentration and biosorbent dosage were investigated. The maximum Cu2+ biosorption was achieved at pH 5.0 and the maximum biosorption capacities of 31.5 and 37.8 mg/g were recorded for raw and modified biosorbent, respectively. In the case of Zn2+ biosorption, maximum biosorption capacities were obtained at pH 4.0 as 29.1 and 35.3 mg/g for raw and modified biosorbent, respectively. Biosorption of Zn2+ and Cu2+ on all form of R. phycopsis increased much quickly with increasing initial metal concentrations from 10 to 100 mg/L. After modification process, probable changes in the surface polarity of raw and modified R. phycopsis were investigated by contact angle measurements. As expected, R. phycopsis has a polar surface and shows a highest contact angle with water, while after autoclavation water contact angle of R. phycopsis was significantly decreased from 47.5° to 34.4°.     

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) tends to reduce the toxic effects of nickel (II) chloride in Allium cepa L. roots

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The immense protection potential of plant-derived products against heavy metal toxicity has become a considerable field of research. The goal of the...     

Dechlorination of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) by Fe/Pd bimetallic nanoparticles: Comparison with nZVI,degradation mechanism,and pathways

Frontiers of Environmental Science &; Engineering - Acclimation is the main method to enhance the productivity of microorganisms in environmental biotechnology, but it remains uncertain how...     

Protective roles of grape seed (Vitis vinifera L.) extract against cobalt(II) nitrate stress in Allium cepa L. root tip cells

Excessive doses of toxic metals such as cobalt may cause detrimental hazards to exposed organisms. Six groups of onion bulbs were formed to investigate the therapeutic effects of grape seed extract (GSE) against cobalt(II) nitrate (Co(NO₃)₂) exposure in Allium cepa L. root tips. Control group was irrigated with tap water, while the latter groups were exposed to 150 mg/L GSE, 300 mg/L GSE, 5.5 ppm Co(NO₃)₂, 5.5 ppm Co(NO₃)₂ + 150 mg/L GSE and 5.5 ppm Co(NO₃)₂ + 300 mg/L GSE, respectively. Co(NO₃)₂ treatment seriously inhibited the root growth, germination and weight gain of the bulbs. Mitotic index was significantly decreased, whereas the chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei incidence exhibited a remarkable increase. In addition, Co(NO₃)₂ induced a variety of anatomical disorders in onion roots. Lipid peroxidation levels of the cellular membranes were assessed measuring the malondialdehyde content (MDA). MDA amount in Co(NO₃)₂-treated group reached the highest level among all groups. Co(NO₃)₂ treatment enhanced the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. The addition of GSE to Co(NO₃)₂ solution substantially suppressed the negative effects of Co(NO₃)₂ in a dose-dependent manner by strengthening the antioxidant defence system and reducing the cytotoxicity. Moreover, there was a significant recovery in growth parameters following the grape seed addition to Co(NO₃)₂. GSE had a remarkable reduction in genotoxicity when treated as a mixture with Co(NO₃)₂. Overall data obtained from this investigation proved that GSE, as a promising functional by-product, had a protective effect on Allium cepa L. against the toxic effects of Co(NO₃)₂.

     

Protective role of Ginkgo biloba on petroleum wastewater-induced toxicity in Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae) root tip cells

The Melet is one of Turkey's economically important rivers. Most of the petroleum plants are located at fairly nearby of the river This situation is considered as main source of heavy metal pollution in the river. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective role of Ginkgo biloba (GB) on cytotoxicity induced by petroleum wastewater in Vicia faba root tip cells. For this aim, we used the germination percentage, root length, weight gain and micronucleus (MN) frequency as indicators of cytotoxicity. Additionally to the cytological analysis, lipid peroxidation analyses were also performed in V. faba roots. Heavy metal concentrations in wastewater were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The V. faba seeds were divided into six groups. They were treated with petroleum wastewater and 10, 20 and 30 microM doses of GB. As a result, the mean concentrations of heavy metals in wastewater were observed in the order: Pb > A > Ni > Cr > Fe > Cu > Zn > Cd. The highest germination percentage was observed in the seeds of the control and positive control groups (in proportion as 98 and 96%, respectively). Wastewater treatment caused a significant decrease in the germination percentage of Group III (in proportion as 44%). The highest root length and weight gain were observed in the seeds of the control and positive control groups at the end of the experimental period. The least root length and weight gain were observed in the seeds of Group III treated with wastewater alone. In the control group, the final weights of all the seeds increased about 4.08 g according to initial weight. The root lengths of the control seeds were measured as 6.80 cm at the end of the experimental period. The final weights of the seeds exposed to wastewater alone increased about 0.90 g according to initial weight. Besides, there was a significantly increase in the MDA levels of the roots exposed to wastewater. Heavy metals in wastewater significantly affected the MDA production indicating lipid peroxidation. But, GB-treatment caused amelioration in indices of the germination percentage, root length, weight gain, MN frequency and lipid peroxidation when compared with group III. Each dose of GB provided protection against wastewater toxicity and its strongest protective effect observed at dose of 30 microM. In vivo results showed that GB is a potential protector against toxicity induced by petroleum wastewater and its protective role is dose-dependent.     

The investigation of cytotoxic effects of refinery wastewater on root tip cells of Vicia faba L

The present study was carried out to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of refinery wastewater collected from different stations of the Kizilirmak river on Vicia faba L. root tip cells. For this aim, we used the germination percentage, root length, weight gain and micronucleus (MN) frequency as indicators of cytotoxicity. Additionally to the cytological analysis, DNA analyses were performed in root tips meristems of Vicia faba seeds treated with refinery wastewater. Heavy metal concentrations in the water samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The concentrations of heavy metals in the water were in the order of Pb>Zn>Fe>Cu>Ni>Cd>Hg. The highest germination percantage was observed in the control group (in proportion as 96%). Heavy metals in the water samples collected from Station I, II and III caused a decrease in the germination percentage as 48, 18 and 30%, respectively. The highest root length and weight gain was observed in the control group at the end of the experimental period. The least root length and weight gain was observed in seeds treated with wastewater collected from Station I. In the control group, the weights of all the seeds increased about 4.08 g when compared with initial weight. The root lengths of the control seeds were determined as 6.38 cm at the end of the experimental period. The weights of the seeds exposed to wastewaters obtained from Station I, II and III increased about 1.08, 3.03 and 2.01 g according to initial weight, respectively. Microscopic examination of V. faba root tip meristem cells showed that any example of the MN formation was not seen in the control group. The highest frequency of MN was observed in group treated with wastewater collected from Station I and least frequency of MN was observed in group treated with wastewater collected from Station II. It was also observed that the yields of DNA in the seeds exposed to wastewater were lower than recorded in the controls. Hence, DNA yields exposed to wastewater were run ahead on agarose gel according to the control group. The results clearly indicate that refinery wastewater had important cytotoxic effects on V. faba root tip cells. It was also observed that V. faba seeds are very sensitive and useful biomarkers for monitoring these effects in waters contaminated with heavy metals.