Assessment of the spring water quality in The Shoubak area,Jordan

The present study investigates the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of spring water samples in Shoubak area in the southern Jordan. The samples were collected from May 2004 to May 2005. All samples were analyzed for temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺), major anions (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, HCO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, PO₄³⁻, F⁻), and trace metals (Fe²⁺, Al³⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cr³⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺). Water quality for available springs showed high salinity through long period of contact with rocks. The ion concentrations in the water samples were from dissolution of carbonate rocks and ion exchange processes in clay. The general chemistry of water samples was typically of alkaline earth waters with prevailing bicarbonate chloride. Some springs showed elevated nitrate and sulfate contents which could reflect to percolation from septic tanks, cesspools, and agricultural practices. The infiltration of wastewater from cesspools and septic tanks into groundwater is considered the major source of water pollution. The results showed that there were great variations among the analyzed samples with respect to their physical, chemical and biological parameters, which lie below the maximum permissible levels of the Jordanian and WHO drinking water standards. The results indicate that the trace metals of spring’s water of Shoubak area do not generally pose any health or environmental problems. Factor analysis was used to identify the contributers to water quality. The first factor represents major contribution from anthropogenic activities, while the second one represents major contribution from natural processes.     

Application of spatial multi-criteria analysis to site selection for a local park: a case study in the Bergamo Province, Italy

This contribution discusses a site selection process for establishing a local park. It was supported by a value-focused approach and spatial multi-criteria evaluation techniques. A first set of spatial criteria was used to design a number of potential sites. Next, a new set of spatial and non-spatial criteria was employed, including the social functions and the financial costs, together with the degree of suitability for the park to evaluate the potential sites and to recommend the most acceptable one. The whole process was facilitated by a new software tool that supports spatial multiple criteria evaluation, or SMCE. The application of this tool, combined with a continual feedback by the public administration, has provided an effective methodology to solve complex decisional problem in land-use and urban planning.     

Role of naphthenic acid contaminants in the removal of p-xylene from synthetic produced water by MEUF

The high demand for water in oil sands operations in addition to the shortage of fresh water resources mandate continuous search for reliable and cost effective water treatment technologies. Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) is potentially applicable to produced water treatment. MEUF is, however, susceptible to membrane plugging and back contamination, especially at high surfactant dosages. Recent investigations showed that addition of small amounts of a non-ionic surfactant to an ionic surfactant solution reduces the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the mixed surfactant solution, and consequently reduces the surfactant dosage required to achieve certain removal of contaminants using MEUF. In the present study a naphthenic acid, octanoic acid, typically existing in produced water is shown to play a similar role as the non-ionic surfactant when added to the cationic surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). Cross-flow MEUF using three different molecular weight cutoffs (MWCOs) of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) hollow fiber membranes was used to treat synthetic produced water containing p-xylene. The mixed CPC/octanoic acid solution removed comparable percentages of p-xylene contaminant at much lower concentrations of CPC. Decreasing CPC concentration in the feed resulted in less fouling and higher permeate flux and reduced back contamination. This, in turn, enhanced the performance of MEUF.     

Behavior and lifestyle characteristics of male Kuwaiti drivers

Introduction: The high traffic accident risk among young drivers is a well-known and well-documented fact in most countries. Lifestyle has proven to affect driving behavior as well as accident risk. This study covers the lifestyle component of the problems related to young male Kuwaiti drivers’ accident risk. Methods: The purpose of the study is to measure the relationship between lifestyle and accident risk. Lifestyle is measured through a questionnaire, where 302 male Kuwaiti drivers (mean age = 28 years; range 25-35 years) answer 39 questions related to behavioral and social factors, road conditions, police enforcement, and life satisfaction. They also report their involvement in accidents and traffic violations. Results: The questionnaire's validity and reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.7) were achieved. Principal component analysis reduced the 39 items on the questionnaire to 5 factors. Inadequate police enforcement is strongly correlated (r = 0.862) to accident risk and traffic violations and is thus considered the best predictor of traffic accidents in Kuwait. Impact on Industry: As driving-related incidents (on-the-job and off-the-job) are a significant source of fatalities and lost-work-days, the study points to the importance of considering cultural factors in the design of comprehensive safety programs for industry.     

Some engineering aspects of homoionized mixed clay minerals

Many studies have been conducted to investigate thephysicochemical behavior of pure clay minerals and predicttheir engineering performance in the field. In this study, thephysicochemical properties of an artificial mixture of differentclay minerals namely, 40-50% montmorillonite, 20-30% illite and 10-15% kaolin were investigated. The mixture was homoionized with sodium, Na⁺; calcium, Ca²⁺; andaluminum, Al³⁺. The engineering properties studied wereconsistency limits, sediment volume, compressibility behavior,and hydraulic conductivity. The results revealed that theliquid, plastic and shrinkage limits of soil increased withincreasing cation valence. The hydraulic conductivity of thesoil also increased with an increase in the valence of thecation at any given void ratio. Aluminum and sodium treatedclays had the highest and the lowest modified compressionindex values, respectively. Furthermore, trivalent cationsaturated clayey soil consolidates three times faster thanthat of monovalent and two times faster than that of divalent.These properties of the soils determined were, in general,similar to those of kaolinite rather than those ofmontmorillonite. The comparison of the results obtained withthe published data in the literature revealed that thephysicochemical behavior of the tested clay soil was, ingeneral, similar to that of kaolinite.     

Prevalent fecal contamination in drinking water resources and potential health risks in Swat, Pakistan

Fecal bacteria contaminate water resources and result in associated waterborne diseases.This study assessed drinking water quality and evaluated their potential health risks in Swat, Pakistan. Ground and surface drinking water were randomly collected from upstream to downstream in the River Swat watershed and analyzed for fecal contamination using fecal indicator bacteria(Escherichia coli) and physiochemical parameters(potential of hydrogen, turbidity, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, color, odor and taste). The physiochemical parameters were within their safe limits except in a few locations, whereas, the fecal contaminations in drinking water resources exceeded the drinking water quality standards of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency(Pak-EPA),2008 and World Health Organization(WHO), 2011. Multivariate and univariate analyses revealed that downstream urbanization trend, minimum distance between water sources and pit latrines/sewerage systems, raw sewage deep well injection and amplified urban,pastures and agricultural runoffs having human and animal excreta were the possible sources of contamination. The questionnaire survey revealed that majority of the local people using 10–20 years old drinking water supply schemes at the rate of 73% well supply,13% hand pump supply, 11% spring supply and 3% river/streams supply, which spreads high prevalence of water borne diseases including hepatitis, intestinal infections and diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, jaundice and skin diseases in children followed by older and younger adults.     

Residual effects of tobacco biochar along with different fixing agents on stabilization of trace elements in multi-metal contaminated soils

The residual effect of tobacco biochar(TB ≥ 500°C) mono and co-application with Cahydroxide(CH),Ca-bentonite(CB) and natural zeolite(NZ) on the bio-availability of trace elements TE(s) in alkaline soils has not been deeply studied yet.A pot study that had earlier been investigated TB mono and blended with CH,CB and NZ on the immobilization of Pb,Cu Cd,and Zn by Chinese cabbage.Maize crop in the rotation was selected as test plant to assess the residual impact of amendments on stabilization of Pb,Cu Cd,and Zn in mine polluted(M-P),smelter heavily and low polluted(S-HP and S-LP,respectively) soils.The obtained results showed that stabilization of Pb,Cd,Cu and Zn reached 63.84% with TB + CB,61.19% with TB + CH,83.31% with TB + CH and 35.27% with TB + CH for M-P soil,36.46% with TB + NZ,38.46% with TB + NZ,19.40% with TB + CH and 62.43% with TB + CH for S-LP soil,52.94% TB + NZ,57.65% with TB + NZ,52.94% with TB + NZ,and 28.44% with TB + CH for S-LP soil.Conversely,TB + CH and TB alone had mobilized Pb and Zn up to19.29% and 34.96% in M-P soil.The mobility of Zn reached 8.38% with TB + CB and 66.03%with TB for S-HP and S-LP soils.The uptake and accumulation of Pb,Cd,Cu and Zn in shoot and root were reduced in three polluted soils.Overall,the combination of TB along with CH,CB and NZ has been proven to be effective in Pb,Cd,Cu and Zn polluted mine/smelter soils restoration.     

Photosynthesis inhibition of soybean leaves by insecticides

Field grown soybean cv. Williams-82 plants were sprayed with malathion or carbaryl formulations at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting. Net photosynthesis (PN) was measured in the control (water-sprayed) and pesticide-treated plants, 1, 3 and 7 days after treatment, with a LICOR 6200 Portable Photosynthesis System. The pesticide-treated plants showed a significant reduction (24% with malathion and 20% with carbaryl) in PN after the first application. After the 60-day spray treatment PN suppression on day 1 and day 3 after treatment was the same as after the first application; but PN reached the same level as that of the water-sprayed control 7 days after treatment. After the 90-day treatment no change in PN was observed with the pesticide-treated plants compared to the control. These data indicate that malathion and carbaryl formulations may exert a detrimental influence on soybean physiology.     

Low-income housing location based on affordable criteria Using AHP Model and GIS Technique (Case Study: Babolsar City)

Environment, Development and Sustainability - The optimal location of housing for low-income group is one of the major challenges in its construction that neglecting it causes social, economic, and...