Quality of wastewater reuse in agricultural irrigation and its impact on public health

This study is planned to perform a sanitary survey of the largest sewage treatment plant in Riyadh, KSA, fortnightly for 6 months to examine its effluent quality as an example for the growing dependence on reuse of treated municipal wastewater in agricultural irrigation purposes to cope with increasing water shortage. The biological and physico-chemical parameters of 12 wastewater samples from the plant were examined using standard methods. The physico-chemical analysis indicated that the surveyed municipal wastewater treatment plant contained some of the studied parameters, such as turbidity, total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and residual chlorine above the maximum permissible wastewater limits set by the Saudi Standards. However, heavy metal concentrations in all samples were lower than the recommended standards. Total and faecal coliform counts were above the permissible limits indicating poor sanitation level. Fifty percent of all wastewater samples were contaminated with faecal coliforms but, surprisingly, Escherichia coli were only detected in 8.3 % of the samples. Regular monitoring and enhancement of microbial and physico-chemical parameters of the wastewater quality served by different wastewater treatment plants for reuse in agricultural irrigation is recommended to preserve the environment and public health.     

Levels of heavy metals in tissues of shingi fish (Heteropneustes fossilis) from Buriganga River, Bangladesh

Heavy metal pollution was reported in commercially valuable freshwater edible fish in the Buriganga River, Bangladesh. The concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, and Cu were investigated in the muscle, gill, stomach, intestine, and liver of Heteropneustes fossilis caught at three stations to assess the degree of fish pollution by heavy metals. Significant differences in concentrations of analyzed elements were observed among different tissues, but not among the stations. The ranges of the measured concentrations (μg/g dry weight) in the tissues of H. fossilis were as follows: arsenic concentration was (0.2–0.4), (0.82–0.90), (3.29–3.99), (2.20–2.80), and (2.41–2.90), that of lead was (1.79–2.20), (4.95–6.55), (10.36–13.38), (5.74–9.70), and (18.20–18.79), that of cadmium was (0.3–0.4), (2.87–4.27), (1.03–1.63), (1.55–4.59), and (2.25–5.50), that of chromium was (1.40–1.70), (3.52–3.72), (2.28–5.29), (2.77–3.79), and (4.25–8.65), that of zinc was (24.47–28.82), (16.82–18.80), (20.22–22.20), (22.86–26.68), and (60.82–67.80), and that of copper was (7.80–8.50), (6.22–6.81), (38.21–44.25), (17.07–21.03), and (43.24–47.30) in the muscle, gill, stomach, intestine, and liver, respectively. This research showed that the liver appeared to be the main heavy metal storage tissue, while the muscle had the lowest levels of analyzed metals. The concentrations of metal in the muscles not exceeded the acceptable levels for a food source for human consumption.     

Monsoonal differences and probability distribution of PM10 concentration

There are many factors that influence PM₁₀ concentration in the atmosphere. This paper will look at the PM₁₀ concentration in relation with the wet season (north east monsoon) and dry season (south west monsoon) in Seberang Perai, Malaysia from the year 2000 to 2004. It is expected that PM₁₀ will reach the peak during south west monsoon as the weather during this season becomes dry and this study has proved that the highest PM₁₀ concentrations in 2000 to 2004 were recorded in this monsoon. Two probability distributions using Weibull and lognormal were used to model the PM₁₀ concentration. The best model used for prediction was selected based on performance indicators. Lognormal distribution represents the data better than Weibull distribution model for 2000, 2001, and 2002. However, for 2003 and 2004, Weibull distribution represents better than the lognormal distribution. The proposed distributions were successfully used for estimation of exceedences and predicting the return periods of the sequence year.     

Presence of pesticide residues on produce cultivated in Suriname

Agricultural pesticides are widely used in Suriname, an upper middle-income Caribbean country located in South America. Suriname imported 1.8 million kg of agricultural pesticides in 2015. So far, however, national monitoring of pesticides in crops is absent. Reports from the Netherlands on imported Surinamese produce from 2010 to 2015 consistently showed that samples exceeded plant-specific pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs) of the European Union (EU). Consumption of produce containing unsafe levels of pesticide residues can cause neurological disorders, and particularly, pregnant women and children may be vulnerable. This pilot study assessed the presence of pesticide residues in commonly consumed produce items cultivated in Suriname. Thirty-two insecticides (organophosphates, organochlorines, carbamates, and pyrethroids) and 12 fungicides were evaluated for their levels in nine types of produce. Pesticide residue levels exceeding MRLs in this study regarded cypermethrin (0.32 μg/g) in tomatoes (USA MRL 0.20 μg/g), lambda-cyhalothrin (1.08 μg/g) in Chinese cabbage (USA MRL 0.40 μg/g), endosulfan (0.07 μg/g) in tannia (EU MRL 0.05 μg/g), and lindane (0.02 and 0.03 μg/g, respectively) in tannia (EU MRL 0.01 μg/g). While only a few pesticide residues were detected in this small pilot study, these residues included two widely banned pesticides (endosulfan and lindane). There is a need to address environmental policy gaps. A more comprehensive sampling and analysis of produce from Suriname is warranted to better understand the scope of the problem. Preliminary assessments, using intake rate, hazard quotient, and level of concern showed that it is unlikely that daily consumption of tannia leads to adverse health effects.     

Natural radionuclides distribution and environmental impacts of ferruginous sand-siltstone (raw material) and their manufactured Ahmer oxide used as wall paints

Commercially known Ahmer oxide paints are prepared from raw material mainly composed of red iron oxides (hematite) and iron oxyhydroxides. The raw material used in manufacturing of Ahmer oxide comes from some localities in southwest Sinai such as Abu Thor, Allouga, and El lehian. The adsorption of uranium and other radioelements on iron oxides could make the raw material (red iron oxides) and their products environmentally hazardous. The studied samples were subjected to radiometric analysis using NaI (Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. The average activity concentration of U, Th, Ra, and K are 108.7, 458.8, 88.8, and 627.5?Bq?kg^?1, respectively in raw material and 136.4, 14.6, 58.3, and 95.9?Bq?kg^?1 in Ahmer oxide. High values of activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K were recorded in Allouga and El lehian raw material. High radioactivities of Allouga and El lehian raw material are mainly attributed to the presence of torbernite, zircon, and monazite, in addition to adsorbed elemental uranium in Ahmer oxide. absorbed dose rate (D), annual effective dose equivalent, radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), external hazard index (H_ex), and internal hazard index (H_in), as well as representative gamma index (Iγ) were determined from the activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K. Some of the studied samples do not satisfy the universal standards.     

Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using Garcinia extracts: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The demand for nanoparticles has been increasing rapidly in recent years due to their unique properties of interest for a wide range of applications. Several...     

Constant light exposure and/or pinealectomy increases susceptibility to trichloroethylene-induced hepatotoxicity and liver cancer in male mice

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Exposure to light at night, pineal gland impairment, and the environmental pollutant trichloroethylene (TCE) have serious implications for health and...     

Histopathological alterations induced by marine environmental pollutants on the bivalve Cerastoderma glaucum (Bruguière 1789) from Temsah Lake,Suez Canal,Egypt

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Bivalves are considered a main consumed matrix for coastal communities worldwide and classified as hyperaccumulators of pollutants. The present study...     

Exergy and energy analysis of a tubular solar still with and without fins: a comparative theoretical and experimental approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - One of the major challenges faced by human society is the freshwater crisis and shortage of conventional energy. Solar still is considered as one of...