Removal of hinosan from underground water using NH4Cl-modified activated carbon from rice husk

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the present study, NH4Cl-modified activated carbon was synthesized from rice husk and used as an adsorbent for removal of hinosan from underground...     

How green our future would be? An investigation of the determinants of green purchasing behavior of young citizens in a developing Country

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Research on green purchasing behavior (GPB) has demonstrated significant progress in the past few years. However, there are still several influential...     

Utilization of Modified Attapulgite for the Removal of Sr(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) Ions from Multicomponent System,Part I: Kinetic Studies

Radionuclide sorption by natural and modified clays is extensively accepted to be an important process from the radioactive waste point of view. This work focused on modification of natural attapulgite with a layered double hydroxide to produce a novel chemisorbent for Sr2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ removal from multicomponent solution. The structural and surface characteristics of both attapulgite (ATP) and modified attapulgite (LDH-ATP) were investigated using XRD, FTIR, SEM, and thermal analysis. Comparison of sorption features of Sr2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ onto ATP and LDH-ATP was achieved; the results indicated that LDH-ATP was the most efficient sorbent for Sr2+, Ni2+, and Co2+. Kinetic studies established that the sorption is fast and reaching >90% within 30 min. The sorption of Sr2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ are well defined by non-linear pseudo-second-order model and controlled by an intra-particle diffusion mechanism. The diffusivity was determined using homogeneous surface diffusion (HSDM) model and found in the order 10−13 m2/min; this confirmed that the sorption of the three ions is chemisorption process. LDH-ATP can be employed as a candidate chemisorbent for the removal of some metal ions from waste solution.     

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in milk and dairy products in Egypt

Abstract

Food contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) represents a hazardous public health problem worldwide. Therefore, the present study was performed to elucidate the virulent and antimicrobial resistance characteristics of STEC isolated from milk and dairy products marketed in Egypt. A total of 125 samples (raw market milk, bulk tank milk, Kareish cheese, white soft cheese, and small scale-produced ice cream, 25 each) were collected for determination the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiling of STEC. Thirty-six STEC isolates were recovered from milk and dairy products. Serological analysis illustrated that three isolates were E. coli O157:H7 and 33 isolates belonged to different serotypes. Molecular examination indicated that all isolates harboured stx1 and/or stx2 genes, 14 isolates expressed eaeA gene and 3 isolates possessed rfbE gene. Antimicrobial resistance profiling of the isolates was both phenotypically and genetically examined. Interestingly, 31 out of 36 (86.11%) isolates were multidrug-resistant and harboured the extended-spectrum β-lactamase encoding genes, namely, bla_CTX-M-15, bla_SHV-12 and bla_CTX-M-14. Moreover, 12 isolates (33.33%) harboured plasmid-mediated quinolone resistant gene, qnrS. The overall conclusion of the current investigation indicated insufficient hygienic measures adopted during milking, handling, and processing leading to development of pathogenic and multidrug-resistant STEC.     

Seasonal ecotoxicological monitoring of freshwater zooplankton in Bir Mcherga dam (Tunisia)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dams represent large semi-closed reservoirs of pesticides and various organic and inorganic pollutants from agricultural and human activities, and...     

Exploitation of new approach to control of environmental pathogenic bacteria causing bovine clinical mastitis using novel anti-biofilm nanocomposite

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - New approaches are required for prevention and control of biofilm-producing bacteria and consequently mitigating the health problems of bovine...     

Mesoporous silica synthesized from natural local kaolin as an effective adsorbent for removing of Acid Red 337 and its application in the treatment of real industrial textile effluent

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This paper presents a synthesis of mesoporous silica (MS) from natural clay as a silica source using Pluronic L35 (EO11PO16EO11) as a...     

Changes in earthworm populations following cultivation of undisturbed and former opencast coal-mining land

Earthworm response to a single cultivation sequence was assessed. Cropping and management of cultivated land was similar to that of non-cultivated areas. Effects were measured in a trial on recently replaced opencast mining land. A subsequent survey investigated responses to cultivation on both replaced and undisturbed land at periods since cultivation ranging from 1.5 to 7.5 years.On undisturbed land, adverse effects of cultivation, if any, were short-lived, with numbers of all species, but particularly deep-burrowing species, having recovered or increased after 3 years. However, on replaced land the initial adverse effect appeared to be larger, and recovery from this effect was delayed until at least 5 years after tillage. Different species present (Lumbricus terrestris/ Aporrectodea longa, Lumbricus rubellus/festivus, Aporrectodea caliginosa/Octalasion tyrtaeum and Allolobophora chlorotica) also varied in the extent of the initial reduction and in their rate of recovery. Reasons for different responses to cultivation and implications for the management of replaced land are considered.     

Metals in a northern Nile Delta lake: water,suspended particulates,sediments, and biota

Lake Edku is one of the important fishing areas in the Nile Delta. It is exposed to different quantities of serious pollutants in particular metals. To overall appraise the risk and status of metals in the lake, a comprehensive study of total concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in sediments and spatial-temporal variations of these metals in the dissolved and suspended particulates, and some tissues of Tilapias niloticus, was conducted from ten sampling sites during 2016. Results showed that none of the investigated metals exceeded the limits considered as hazardous for aquatic life in water. The highest concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn were observed in suspended particulate matter, which may precipitate on the surface of the sediments. Potential ecological risk analysis of the majority of the investigated metals in the sediment indicated that Lake Edku posed a low ecological risk. The estimated values of all metals in tissues of Tilapia niloticus were below the international permissible limits. Moreover, the potential risk of metals to human via the consumption of Tilapia niloticus was estimated using the weekly intake levels, which was lower than the WHO’s safe provisional tolerant weekly intake levels. These results prove the importance of performing measurements of contaminants in various compartments of Lake Ecosystem including sediment, biota, and suspended particulate matter for proper management.     

Relationship between Pb and Cd accumulations in house crow,their habitat,and food content from Klang area,Peninsular Malaysia

Heavy metal pollution has become a global concern due to accumulation in tissue and transferable effects to humans via the food chain. This study focused on monitoring the accumulation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in surface soil and body content: bone, heart, brain, liver, lung, muscle, kidney, feathers, feces, and gizzard contents of house crow Corvus splendens in the Klang region, Malaysia. The results revealed the occurrence of Pb and Cd in all biological samples from house crows, food contents, and surface soil samples. Heart and kidney accrued high amounts of Cd, while high amounts of Pb were found to accumulate in bones and feathers. Major discrepancies were also discovered in the concentrations of metals between juvenile and adults, as well as female and male bird samples. Concentrations of Pb and Cd in house crow internal tissues correlated significantly with that of bird feathers, but none could be established with that of surface soil. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between Pb concentration in the internal tissues to that of the feces, but the same was not the case when compared with the surface soil concentration. Metal accrual in the house crows feathers and feces may be through a long-term transmission via the food chain, which are eliminated from feathers via molting. This may suggest the utility of molted breast feathers of house crow in the bio-monitoring of Cd and Pb contamination, whereas feces of house crow appear only to be suitable for the bio-monitoring of Pb contamination.