Study of the effects of drinking water treatment sludge on the properties of Class F fly ash-based geopolymer

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) generated from water treatment plants is a global issue because of the environmental risks it imposes. Managing...     

Treating wastewater under zero waste principle using wetland mesocosms

• Smart wetland was designed to treat wastewater according to zero waste principle. • The system included a dynamic roughing filter, Cyperus papyrus (L.) and zeolite. • It removed 98.8 and 99.8% of chemical and bacterial pollutants in 3 days. • The effluent reused to irrigate a landscape and the sludge recycled as fertilizer. • The plant biomass is a profitable resource for antibacterial and antioxidants. The present investigation demonstrates the synergistic action of using a sedimentation unit together with Cyperus papyrus (L.) wetland enriched with zeolite mineral in one-year round experiment for treating wastewater. The system was designed to support a horizontal surface flow pattern and showed satisfactory removal efficiencies for both physicochemical and bacteriological contaminants within 3 days of residence time. The removal efficiencies ranged between 76.3% and 98.8% for total suspended solids, turbidity, iron, biological oxygen demand, and ammonia. The bacterial indicators (total and fecal coliforms, as well as fecal streptococci) and the potential pathogens (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) showed removal efficiencies ranged between 96.9% and 99.8%. We expect the system to offer a smart management for every component according to zero waste principle. The treated effluent was reused to irrigate the landscape of pilot area, and the excess sludge was recycled as fertilizer and soil conditioner. The zeolite mineral did not require regeneration for almost 36 weeks of operation, and enhanced the density of shoots (14.11%) and the height of shoots (15.88%). The harvested plant biomass could be a profitable resource for potent antibacterial and antioxidant bioactive compounds. This could certainly offset part of the operation and maintenance costs and optimize the system implementation feasibility. Although the experiment was designed under local conditions, its results could provide insights to upgrade and optimize the performance of other analogous large-scale constructed wetlands.     

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.     

Survey of quantity and management condition of end-of-life tires in Iran: a case study in Tabriz

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Once a tire is removed from a vehicle without the possibility of being remounted for continued on-road use, it is defined as waste and called...     

Hesperidin protects against aluminum-induced renal injury in rats via modulating MMP-9 and apoptosis: biochemical,histological, and ultrastructural study

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Aluminum, one of the most abundant metallic elements, is known to be toxic to multiple organs including the kidneys. This study aimed to investigate...     

Protective role of isoflavones against the toxic effect of cypermethrin on semen quality and testosterone levels of rabbits

Cypermethrin is considered as one of the endocrine disruptors. Isoflavones play an important role in various physiological processes in the body. It has both estrogenic and antioxidant effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective role of isoflavones (2 mg/kg B.W) on semen quality and plasma testosterone levels of male New Zealand White rabbits given sublethal dose (24 mg/kg BW every other day for 12 weeks) of cypermethrin. Results showed that treatment with cypermethrin caused a significant decreases (P < 0.05) in ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm output, sperm motility (%), total motile sperm per ejaculate (TMS), packed sperm volume (PSV), semen initial fructose and plasma testosterone. In addition, live body weight (LBW), dry matter intake (DMI) and relative weights of testes and epididymis were decreased. On the other hand, treatment with cypermethrin increased (P < 0.05) the numbers of abnormal and dead sperms, and initial hydrogen ion concentration (pH). Results indicated that the presence of isoflavones together with cypermethrin was capable to minimize its harmful effects. Treatment with isoflavones alone had positive effects on some semen characteristics in spite of it is considered as estrogen-like compound. Since it causes significant increases in libido (by decreasing the reaction time), PSV, sperm motility and TMS, while abnormal and dead sperm were reduced compared to control animals. Meanwhile, isoflavones had no negative effect on ejaculate volume, total sperm output, sperm concentration, initial fructose concentration, pH and plasma testosterone levels. Results demonstrated the beneficial influences of isoflavones in reducing the negative effects of cypermethrin on reproductive characteristics of mature male rabbits. Interestingly, data showed that isoflavones alone caused an improvement in some semen quality and had no negative effects on male fertility, and did not have negative effects on male fertility.     

Polysaccharides; Classification,Chemical Properties,and Future Perspective Applications in Fields of Pharmacology and Biological Medicine (A Review of Current Applications and Upcoming Potentialities)

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Polysaccharides are essential macromolecules which almost exist in all living forms, and have important biological functions, they are getting more...