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.     

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.     

Heavy metal monitoring of marine algae from the Turkish Coast of the Black Sea, 1998-2000

Concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in macroalgae samples collected from the Turkish Coast of the Black Sea. Certain algae species were chosen among the green, brown and red algae species at Sile and Sinop sampling stations from 1998 to 2000. In general, as regards the influence of the collection sites on the whole metal accumulation, Sinop is considered to be more polluted than Sile. The concentrations of the heavy metals in Cystoseira barbata algae are compared with previous studies in the same stations. The results showed that all metal levels have gradually decreased during past years. At the same time, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni and Pb levels in the present study are lower than in Bosphorus and Marmara Sea algae. However, Mn and Zn concentrations are higher than Bosphorus but lower than at Marmara. According to these findings the heavy metal pollution decreased in Turkish Coast of the Black Sea during the years investigated.     

Estimation of total sediment load concentration obtained by experimental study using artificial neural networks

Estimation of sediment concentration in rivers is very important for water resources projects planning and managements. The sediment concentration is generally determined from the direct measurement of sediment concentration of river or from sediment transport equations. Direct measurement is very expensive and cannot be conducted for all river gauge stations. However, sediment transport equations do not agree with each other and require many detailed data on the flow and sediment characteristics. The main purpose of the study is to establish an effective model which includes nonlinear relations between dependent (total sediment load concentration) and independent (bed slope, flow discharge, and sediment particle size) variables. In the present study, by performing 60 experiments for various independent data, dependent variables were obtained, because of the complexity of the phenomena, as a soft computing method artificial neural networks (ANNs) which is the powerful tool for input–output mapping is used. However, ANN model was compared with total sediment transport equations. The results show that ANN model is found to be significantly superior to total sediment transport equations.     

Formulation of a soil-pesticide transport model based on a compartmental approach

A semianalytical soil-pesticide transport model is formulated based on a compartmental approach to determine spatial and temporal variations of pesticide residues across a soil profile. The compartmental model is implemented by drawing an analogy between a series of continuous-flow stirred tank reactors and a soil horizon that consists of multiple perfectly mixed compartments. The analogy is strengthened by exploiting a relation between the compartment series and the conventional convective-dispersive equation (CDE) for vertical transport in the soil. Consequently, the number of compartments in the model formulation is not free, but dictated as a function of transport parameters. The model formulation allows consideration of arbitrary boundary value specifications and also, for some cases, spatially varying initial concentration profiles. Sorption kinetics is represented via a two-site model that involves a linear sorption isotherm and a first-order irreversible sorption or a radial diffusive penetrating model. For these three cases, analysis of the compartmental model allows the resultant concentration profiles to be expressed in terms of the Poisson distribution. When a nonlinear kinetic sorption model is used to simulate the sorption processes, an analytical solution is not found and a numerical approach is required.     

Heavy Metal Levels in Biota and Sediments in the Northern Coast of the Marmara Sea

Concentration of Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Zn, Fe, Mn, Pb and Cu were determinedin biota and sediment samples collected from the Marmara Sea in Turkey. The levels of Zn, Fe, Mn, Pb and Cu in the macroalgae are higher than previous studies in the Marmara Sea. Moreover, Cu and Zn concentrations at the present study are significantly high than Bosphorus and Black Sea algae. The order heavy metal concentrations in the mussel samples was: Fe > Zn > Ni > Mn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd > Co. The metal concentrations are generally lower when compared with the Black Sea mussels except Pb. At the same time, concentrations of Pb, Cu and Zn in the mussel species are lower when compared with the results in the Aegean Sea. The ranges of Mn and Cu in the tested fish samples are higher than Black Sea fish. On the other hand, Cd, Co, Cr, Zn and Pb concentrations are lower. The northern coast of the Marmara Sea having the highest metal concentrations in sediments as follows: Co, Cr, Ni, Fe at ?arköy ; Pb, Cu at M. Ere?li; Cd, Zn, Mn at Menek?e. The heavy metal levels in the sediment samples are lower than other areas in the Marmara Sea.     

MODELING NITROGEN UPTAKE AND POTENTIAL NITRATE LEACHING UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION PROGRAMS IN NITROGEN-FERTILIZED TOMATO USING THE COMPUTER PROGRAM NLEAP

Readily available nitrogen (N) sources such as ammonium nitrate with excessive irrigation present a potential hazard for the environment. The computer program Nitrate Leaching and Economic Analysis Package (NLEAP) is a mechanistic model developed for rapid site-specific estimates of nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) moving below the root zone in agricultural crops and potantial impacts of NO₃-N leaching into groundwater. In this study, the value of NLEAP was tested to simulate N uptake by crops and NO₃-N leaching parameters in large lysimeters under the tomato crop. Three seedlings of tomato variety of H-2274 (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) were transplanted into each lysimeter. N fertilizer at the rate of 140 kg N ha^–1 was sidedressed in two split applications, the first half as ammonium sulphate and the second half as ammonium nitrate. The lysimeters were irrigated based on programs of C 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50, C referring to class A-Pan evaporation coefficients. Parameters such as leaching index (LI), annual leaching risk potential (ALRP), N available for leaching (NAL), amount of NO₃-N leached (NL) and amount of N taken up by the crops (NU) were estimated using the NLEAP computer model. To test the ability of model to simulate N uptake and NL, measured values were compared with simulated values. Significant correlations, R² = 0.92 and P < 0.03 for the first year and R² = 0.86 and P < 0.06 for the second year, were found between measured and simulated values for crop N consumption, indicating that the NLEAP model adequately described crop N uptake under the varied irrigation programs using an optimal N fertilization program for the experimental site. Significant correlations, R² = 0.96 and P < 0.01 for the first year and R² = 0.97 and P < 0.01 for the second year, were also found between measured and simulated values of NL, indicating that the NLEAP model also adequately predicted NL under the varied irrigation programs. Therefore, this computer model can be useful to estimate the NO₃-N moving beyond the root zone under conditions in which the present experiment was carried out. Also, the NLEAP-estimated NAL values and other parameters can also be used to improve N management practices and N fertilizer recommendations that will help to decrease the adverse effect of N fertilizer on groundwater quality and farm profitability.