Experimental investigation of cross-shore sandbar volumes

Sandbars are critical to the cross-shore movement of sediment. Prediction of cross-shore sandbar volumes requires knowledge about the functional relationship of sediment transport rate conditions with waves, currents, base slope, sediment property and water depth. In this study, experiments on cross- shore sediment transport were carried out in a laboratory wave channel for initial base slopes of 1/8, 1/10 and 1/15. Using regular waves with different deep-water wave steepness generated by a pedal-type wave generator, bar volumes caused by cross-shore sediment transport are investigated for beach materials with the medium diameter of d₅₀?=?0.25, 0.32, 0.45, 0.62 and 0.80 mm. A non-dimensional equation for sandbar volume was obtained by using linear and non-linear regression methods through the experimental data and was compared with previously developed equations in the literature. The results have shown that the experimental data fitted well to the proposed equation with respect to the previously developed equations.     

Toxic Metals in the Austrian Pine (Pinus Nigra) Bark in the Thrace Region, Turkey

Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) bark was collected in thirty-seven localities in the Thrace region, Turkey, for the determination of airborne toxic metal distribution. Five toxic metals, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, were monitored using atomic absorption spectrometry. Distribution maps of toxic elements in the region were plotted according to Geographic Information System technology. In general, the concentrations of all investigated elements were not high in the region apart from the vicinity of big cities, Tekirdag, Istanbul and, close to Bulgarian border. However, the highest concentrations were not at pollution level. They have a similar distribution pattern throughout the region.     

Using volcanic tuff wastes instead of feldspar in ceramic tile production

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The present study investigated the potential of utilizing the cutting dust waste generated in the sizing process of volcanic tuff stones as an...     

The influence of biomass energy consumption on CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions: a wavelet coherence approach

In terms of today, one may argue, throughout observations from energy literature papers, that (i) one of the main contributors of the global warming is carbon dioxide emissions, (ii) the fossil fuel energy usage greatly contributes to the carbon dioxide emissions, and (iii) the simulations from energy models attract the attention of policy makers to renewable energy as alternative energy source to mitigate the carbon dioxide emissions. Although there appears to be intensive renewable energy works in the related literature regarding renewables’ efficiency/impact on environmental quality, a researcher might still need to follow further studies to review the significance of renewables in the environment since (i) the existing seminal papers employ time series models and/or panel data models or some other statistical observation to detect the role of renewables in the environment and (ii) existing papers consider mostly aggregated renewable energy source rather than examining the major component(s) of aggregated renewables. This paper attempted to examine clearly the impact of biomass on carbon dioxide emissions in detail through time series and frequency analyses. Hence, the paper follows wavelet coherence analyses. The data covers the US monthly observations ranging from 1984:1 to 2015 for the variables of total energy carbon dioxide emissions, biomass energy consumption, coal consumption, petroleum consumption, and natural gas consumption. The paper thus, throughout wavelet coherence and wavelet partial coherence analyses, observes frequency properties as well as time series properties of relevant variables to reveal the possible significant influence of biomass usage on the emissions in the USA in both the short-term and the long-term cycles. The paper also reveals, finally, that the biomass consumption mitigates CO₂ emissions in the long run cycles after the year 2005 in the USA.     

Genotoxic risk assessment in professionals working hairdressers area using buccal micronucleus assay,in Aydın City,Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the genotoxic risk of professional hairdressers in Ayd?n City, Turkey, through investigating the micronucleus frequencies in buccal mucosa epithelial cells. All the hairdresser working hairdresser area were included in the genotoxic risk group (GRG = 20) in Ayd?n City, Turkey. The control group (CG = 20) comprised healthy individuals matching the gender and age of the GRG. Buccal mucosal scraping from all the 40 subjects of GRG (10 women and 10 men) and CG (10 women and 10 men) was stained with Giemsa stain and observed under light microscope (×40) for the presence of micronuclei (M 10 N) and karyolysis, pyknosis, condensed chromatin, karyorrhexis, nuclear bud, and binucleates in the exfoliated epithelial cells. There are significance between the incidence of MN in GRG and CG (P = <0.005) using one-way ANOVA, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z test, and Spearman Rank Correlation Tests.     

The effect of pyrolysis atmosphere on bio-oil yields and structure

A food industry waste, almond shell, was pyrolyzed under three different environment static, nitrogen, and steam to produce bio-oil and its derivatives. The oil yield obtained at pyrolysis temperature of 600°C was 24.23% in a static atmosphere, whereas it increased to 27.25% and 33.05% in nitrogen and steam atmospheres, respectively. The bio-oil obtained under steam atmosphere is very efficient due to the production of high liquid and gas yields. Moreover, co-feeding steam during the pyrolysis altered the bio-oil structure by increasing the aliphatics and reducing the asphaltenes. Moreover, steam treatment also increases H/C and heating value of bio-oils. According to the obtained results, steam pyrolysis is an alternative option for future applications in refineries.     

Measurement of selected indoor physical environmental factors in hairdresser salons in a Turkish City

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine electromagnetic fields, electric fields, humidity, temperature, and illumination levels in hairdresser salons located in the downtown area of Aydin, Turkey. Also some health problems which could be related with the occupational factors are evaluated. Materials and methods The study was carried out in 30 hairdresser salons, all of which had been registered within the past 5 years. Electric and electromagnetic fields, illumination, temperature and humidity measurements were determined for hairdryers, hood hairdryers and depilatory heaters in the participating salons. A brief questionnaire about characteristics and the health status of hairdressers and workplace conditions was prepared and administered to the hairdressers at the salons. Results The mean electric fields of hairdryers, hood hairdryers and depilatory heaters were determined as 518 ± 74, 1,123 ± 199, and 648 ± 146 in V/m, respectively, at 5 cm from the surface of each device. These appliances generate mean electromagnetic fields in excess of 0.25 μT at 5 cm: hand-held hairdryers, 5.0 ± 0.7 μT; hood hairdryers, 1.6 ± 0.3 μT; and depilatory heaters 1.9 ± 0.6 μT. Total average of cumulative electric and electromagnetic fields, measured at a distance of 90 cm from the surface of these three devices was calculated to be 98.8 V/m and 0.5 μT, in the participating salons. Conclusions This preliminary study suggests that physical environmental factors in the salons may be contributing to the health problems of the hairdressers, and the electrical equipments in the workplaces may have cumulative electric and electromagnetic effects.     

Inventory of emissions of primary air pollutants in the city of Kocaeli, Turkey

This study aims to obtain a reliable inventory of the emission rates of the principal air pollutants including PM, SO2, NOx) and CO in Kocaeli, Turkey. In the first stage, the pollutant sources classified as point, area and line sources are determined in the area. Then the annual emission rates of the pollutants released from these sources are estimated by the emission factors given by USEPA and CORINAIR. Results show that the annual emission rates for PM, SO2, NOx) and CO are 2195 tons, 5342 tons, 14632 tons and 23095 tons, respectively. On the other hand, the pollutant group with the highest contribution to total emission rate is determined as the point sources for NOx, which is responsible for 73% of total NOx emission, while it is the area sources for PM, SO2 and CO with the contribution percentages of 75, 76 and 69, respectively.     

Genotoxic effects of water pollution on two fish species living in Karasu River,Erzurum, Turkey

Karasu River, which is the only river in the Erzurum plain, is the source of the Euphrates River (Eastern Anatolia of Turkey). The river is in a serious environmental situation as a result of pollution by agricultural and industrial sewage and domestic discharges. The present study aims to evaluate genotoxic effects of toxic metals in chub, Leuciscus cephalus, and transcaucasian barb, Capoeta capoeta, collected from contaminated site of the Karasu River, in comparison with fish from an unpolluted reference site. Heavy metal concentrations in surface water of the river were determined. The condition factor (CF) was taken as a general biomarker of the health of the fish, and genotoxicity assays such as micronucleus (MN) and other nuclear abnormalities (NA) were carried out on the fish species studied. MN and NA such as kidney-shaped nucleus, notched nucleus, binucleated, lobed nucleus, and blebbed nucleus were assessed in peripheral blood erythrocytes, gill epithelial cells, and liver cells of the fish. A significant decrease in CF values associated with a significant elevation in MN and NA frequencies was observed in fish collected from the polluted sites compared with those from the reference site. Results of the current study show the significance of integrating a set of biomarkers to identify the effects of anthropogenic pollution. High concentrations of heavy metals have a potential genotoxic effects, and the toxicity is possibly related to industrial, agricultural, and domestic activities.     

Assessment of heavy metal levels in sediment samples of Kapulukaya Dam Lake (Kirikkale) and lower catchment area

In this study, the concentrations of 13 elements (Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni, Zn, Co, As, Pb, Cu, Mo, Hg, and Cd) were determined in the sediments of three different sites in the Kapulukaya Dam Lake between May 2007 and November 2008. They ranged from 1.47 to 4.64 for Al, 0.92 to 3.48 for Fe (in percent), 326.60 to 1053.00 for Mn, 98.00 to 1,116.00 for Cr, 24.70 to 127.10 for Ni, 14.80 to 124.20 for Zn, 11.0 to 43.20 for Co, 5.00 to 29.30 for Cu, 9.10 to 69.70 for As, 8.60 to 34.00 for Pb, 2.50 to 5.20 for Mo, 1.00 to 1.60 for Hg, and 0.50 to1.80 for Cd in microgram per gram dry weight sediment. The contamination degree of the sediment was assessed on the basis of enrichment factor and corresponding sediment quality guideline. The calculated enrichment factors (EF, measured metal vs. background concentrations) indicated that the effect of man-made activities on the occurrence of concentrations could be accounted for the majority of heavy metals namely Mn, As, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Co, Mo, and Cd, whereas such affect was not detected for Hg and Pb. The maximum values of the EF were represented by As, minimum values by Hg at all sites. Mean EF values were 36.60 and 0.70 for As and Hg, respectively. This study has clearly assessed a certain level of heavy metal pollution in the region, based particularly on the findings from sediment.