The effect of nanosilica incorporation on the mechanical properties of concrete exposed to elevated temperature: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Exposing concrete to high temperatures leads to harmful effects in its mechanical and microstructural properties, and ultimately to total failure. In...     

Impact of ginseng on neurotoxicity induced by cisplatin in rats

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Over the years, many researches have shown the potential protective effects of ginseng for preventing and treating neurological damage and their...     

Assessment of using unleaded fuel in the harsh environment of the United Arab Emirates

The service life of lubricating oil produced in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was examined using a car fueled with leaded or unleaded gasoline of the same grade in harsh local conditions. In addition, the economic impact of using leaded vs. unleaded gasoline via the effects on the useful life of engine oil was investigated. Every 500 km that the car was operated, the physical properties of the oil were examined to determine the optimum oil life before replacement. It was found that relative to unleaded gasoline, leaded gasoline resulted in a faster deterioration of lube oil properties and a reduced useful life of the oil. Many of the effects of use on the physical properties of oil became apparent from the beginning of its service, especially when leaded gasoline was used. Our findings indicate that the recommended useful life of oil when using leaded gasoline is 2500 km. With unleaded gasoline, deterioration of the physical properties of the lubricating oil became a concern after 3000 km. Thus with unleaded gasoline, it is recommended to have an oil change every 3500 km. These findings indicate that the decision of the UAE government to stop using lead compound additives to improve the octane number of gasoline will not only protect the environment from the harmful effects of lead compounds, but will also extend the useful life of oil. This extension will reduce the amount of used oil that is disposed of by up to 4678 tons/year. This reduction in oil use translates to a cost savings of about 23.4 million UAE Dirhams (=$6.37 million US Dollars) per year.     

Seasonal Variations of Trace Metal Chemical Forms in Bed Sediments of a Karstic River in Lebanon: Implications for Self-purification

Although Lebanon has abundant water, its rivers are polluted and aquifer water mismanaged. Effective river water usage requires an understanding of the geochemistry of polluting metals in catchments. Climate is “Mediterranean”: wet winters and dry summers. Active sediment flushing is restricted to winter high discharge episodes. Except in winter, water column pollutants are removed by precipitation or sorption to the surface of static bed sediments. Hence (1) does winter flushing of contaminated sediment and replacement by clean sediment favour self purification? (2) does the distribution of metals between extractable fractions change seasonally and thereby affect metal bioavailability ? Results on the distribution of metals are reported for Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in bed sediments from Nahr Ibrahim (a karstic river) for summer and winter. A Tessier-like sequential extraction scheme was applied to samples (< 75 μm) for five locations along a 13 km stretch to the sea. Water pH was above 8.2 at all locations implying a very low solubility for Fe. Sediment was derived from catchment soils and limestone. Total sediment Fe increased in winter at all sites following deposition of eroded soil from upstream. Cadmium, Cu and Pb derived from polluting sources; the sources of Zn were more complex. Dilution by clean sediment explained winter reductions in total Cd, Cu and Pb; Zn changes were less consistent. Iron occurred mostly (> 77 sum of fractions) in the residual fraction compared with 6– 31 for pollutants; residual Cu and Zn showed a small increase in winter whereas Cd and Pb did not change. All readily exchangeable metals decreased in winter and the carbonate bound forms predominated in both seasons. Nahr Ibrahim has a high capacity for self purification and metal resolubilisation from sediment will be limited by the solubility of carbonate forms.     

On the search for environmental sustainability in Africa: the role of governance

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Africa remains the most affected by environmental degradation, thereby exacerbating the negative effect of climate change in the region. Little...     

Role of ROS generation in acute genotoxicity of azoxystrobin fungicide on freshwater snail Lymnaea luteola L

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Azoxystrobin (AZ) is an aryloxy pyrimidine fungicide extensively applied in the agriculture field all over the world. There is a little information...     

Optical detection of microplastics in water

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Unfortunately, the plastic pollution increases at an exponential rate and drastically endangers the marine ecosystem. According to World Health...     

Arsenic and lead in the indoor residential settings of different socio-economic status; assessment of human health risk via dust exposure

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the present study, occurrence of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) is reported in rural and urban household dust (floor and AC filter dust) of the Kingdom...     

Evaluation of the effect of serum cystatin-C and ACE I/D and ACE G2350A polymorphisms on kidney function among hypertensive sewage workers

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cadmium (Cd) as nephrotoxicant metal exerts its potent effect mainly on renal tubules disturbing its functions. A cross-sectional study was conducted...