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.     

Determinants of deforestation in Nepal's Central Development Region

The process of deforestation in the Central Development Region (CDR) of Nepal is diverse in space and time, with rapid deforestation still occurring in areas outside the national parks and wildlife reserves. This paper identifies the spatial driving forces (SDFs) of deforestation in the CDR for 1975–2000 using satellite data of 1975 (MSS), 1990 (TM), and 2000 (ETM+) along with socio-demographic and socioeconomic variables. Radiometrically calibrated satellite images are individually classified into seven distinct classes and merged together to cover the entire CDR. Classification accuracies are also assessed. Areas of land use and cover within the areas of each Village Development Committee (VDC) and municipality represented by GIS polygons are calculated from the classified images by overlaying vector files of 1845 polygons representing sections of VDCs and municipalities in 30–1199 m, 1200–2399 m, 2400–4999 m and >5000 m elevation levels. These elevation levels were estimated from the DEM compiled from 24 ASTER scenes taken on different dates. Only the first three elevation levels are used in the analysis because area >5000 m is under permanent snow cover where human related forestry activities are almost negligible. A transition matrix is generated for 1975–1990 using classified images of 1975 and 1990 and then this product is used to further develop another transition matrix for 1990–2000 with the classified ETM+ 2000 images as the final stage. The GIS polygon layer is overlaid on the transition matrices to calculate deforestation areas for 1975–1990 and 1990–2000. Biophysical and socioeconomic information collected from various sources is then brought into a GIS platform for statistical analyses. Six linear regression models are estimated using SAS; in effect, two models for each elevation range representing the 1975–1990 and 1990–2000 periods of change to identify SDF influences on deforestation. These regression analyses reveal that deforestation in the CDR is related to multiple factors, such as farming population, genders of various ages, migration, elevation, road, distance from road to forest, meandering and erosion of river, and most importantly the conversion of forestland into farmland.     

Municipal wastewater viral pollution in Saudi Arabia: effect of hot climate on COVID-19 disease spreading

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The viral RNA of SARS-Coronavirus-2 is known to be contaminating municipal wastewater. We aimed to assess if COVID-19 disease is spreading through...     

Productivity,exergy, exergoeconomic,and enviroeconomic assessment of hybrid solar distiller using direct salty water heating

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this work, experimental work is presented on the performance of a hybrid solar distiller comprising solar still (SS) combined with parabolic trough...     

Application of geoaccumulation index and enrichment factor for assessing metal contamination in the sediments of Kafrain Dam, Jordan

An investigation is reported of the degree of metal pollution in the sediments of Kafrain Dam and the origin of these metals. Fourteen sampling sites located at Kafrain Dam were chosen for collecting the surface, cutbank, and dam bank sediment samples. The sediment samples have been subjected to a total digestion technique and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometer for metals including Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Fe. XRD analyses indicate that the sediments of Kafrain Dam are mainly composed of calcite, dolomite, quartz, orthoclase, microcline, kaolinite, and illite reflecting the geology of the study area. The enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I _geo) have been calculated and the relative contamination levels assessed in the study area. The calculations of I _geo are found to be more reliable than of those of EF. The enrichment of metals in the study area has been observed to be relatively high. I _geo results reveal that the study area is not contaminated with respect to Ni, Co, Cr, Cu, and Mn; moderately to strongly contaminated with Pb; and strongly to extremely contaminated with Cd and Zn. The high contents of Pb, Cd, and Zn in the study area result from anthropogenic activities in the catchment area of the dam site. These sources mainly include the agricultural activities, sewage discharging from various sources within the study area (effluent of wastewater treatment plants, treated and untreated wastewaters, and irrigation return water), and the several industries located in the area. Degrees of correlations among the various metals in the study area are suggested by the results and the intermetallic relationship.     

草甘膦和铅联合暴露对入侵蓝藻—拟柱孢藻（Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii）联合毒性评价

为探究农药和重金属对拟柱孢藻（Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii）的联合毒性效应, 本试验研究了草甘膦和铅单一及联合暴露对其生长、叶绿素含量、光合系统和抗氧化酶的影响. 结果表明：和对照相比,拟柱孢藻的生长率在低浓度草甘膦（0.7 mg·L^-1）和铅（0.1和10 mg·L^-1）单一暴露时显著升高, 而在高浓度草甘膦（17.1 mg·L^-1）暴露时明显降低. 同时, 草甘膦和铅联合暴露与单一暴露相比生长率也显著下降, 表明联合暴露后对拟柱胞藻毒性增强. 联合暴露后荧光诱导曲线初始斜率（M₀）、相对可变荧光（V_J）、单位反应中心天线色素吸收的光能（ABS/RC）、反应中心的热耗散能量（DI₀/RC）、用于还原Q_A的能量（TR₀/RC）和能量耗散量子比率（φ_D0）和草甘膦或铅单一暴露相比均显著升高;以吸收光能为基础的性能指数（PI_ABS）、PSII 潜在活性（F_V/F₀）、最大光化学效率φ_P0、t = 0时传递链中超过Q_A的其他电子受体的概率ψ₀和用于热耗散的量子比率φ_E0则显著降低,说明联合暴露能减少有活性的光合反应中心, 减缓电子传递速率, 造成Q_A^-大量累积. 低浓度的草甘膦和铅单一暴露后和对照组相比叶绿素a含量、PI_ABS和φ_E0升高而ABS/RC和DI₀/RC降低,表明拟柱孢藻整体光合活性增加. 同时, 草甘膦和铅单一或联合暴露均影响了SOD和CAT活性. 因此,草甘膦与铅联合暴露和单一暴露相比PSII反应中心损伤和电子传递速率抑制加大, 光合效率下降更加明显, 最终影响拟柱孢藻生长.