Sustainable Development in Jordan

Sustainable development is a process which aims at establishing a harmonious relationship between man, on the one hand, and environmental and natural resources, on the other, capable of coping with ever-increasing changes and challenges over time. This paper investigates, in a conceptual and qualitative manner, the practices and procedures of sustainable development in Jordan and outlines constraints and difficulties facing Jordan in pursuing such development. The paper concludes with a presentation of some prerequisites for the process in the light of the national objectives and suggests recommendations for future action.     

Application of enrichment factor,geoaccumulation index,and ecological risk index in assessing the elemental pollution status of surface sediments

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Sediment can accumulate trace elements in the environment. This study profiled the magnitude of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn pollution in...     

Arachis hypogaea derived activated carbon steered remediation of Benzimidazole based fungicide adsorbed soils

Sorption characteristics of the Benzimidazole fungicide Carbendazim were assessed in seven different soils using batch equilibrium method and analysed by UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The values of adsorption co-efficient K_d ranged from 14.3 to 39.8?µg/mL depending upon unique physiochemical properties of soils. Negative values for Gibbs free energy (ΔG) proposed an exothermic and low interaction between Carbendazim and soil samples leading to physiosorption. Statistical analysis showed a negative correlation of soil pH and K_d (R²= ?0.80) and a positive correlation with organic matter (R^2?=?0.77). Activated carbon prepared from Arachis hypogaea (peanut shells) by acid activation for Carbendazim removal from soils was characterised by FTIR spectrometry, indicating the change in functional groups. The highest percentage removal observed was 70% in 5?ppm initial Carbendazim concentration while 65% in 7.5?ppm concentration. This method can be implied in agricultural soils as an efficient and cheap technique for removing the hazardous pesticides from the environment.     

Removal of heavy metals by leaves-derived biosorbents

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Among various remediation technologies, biosorption is promising for the removal of heavy metals from water and wastewater, since in many cases, it is fast,...     

High soil and groundwater arsenic levels induce high body arsenic loads,health risk and potential anemia for inhabitants of northeastern Iran

Arsenic bioavailability in rock, soil and water resources is notoriously hazardous. Geogenic arsenic enters the body and adversely affects many biochemical processes in animals and humans, posing risk to public health. Chelpu is located in NE Iran, where realgar, orpiment and pyrite mineralization is the source of arsenic in the macroenvironment. Using cluster random sampling strategy eight rocks, 23 soils, 12 drinking water resources, 36 human urine and hair samples and 15 adult sheep urine and wool samples in several large-scale herds in the area were randomly taken for quantification of arsenic in rock/soil/water, wool/hair/urine. Arsenic levels in rock/soil/water and wool/hair/urine were measured using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, respectively. While arsenic levels in rocks, soils and water resources hazardously ranged 9.40–25,873.3 mg kg^?1, 7.10–1448.80 mg kg^?1 and 12–606 μg L^?1, respectively, arsenic concentrations in humans’ hair and urine and sheep’s wool and urine varied from 0.37–1.37 μg g^?1 and 9–271.4 μg L^?1 and 0.3–3.11 μg g^?1 and 29.1–1015 μg L^?1, respectively. Local sheep and human were widely sick and slightly anemic. Hematological examination of the inhabitants revealed that geogenic arsenic could harm blood cells, potentially resulting in many other hematoimmunological disorders including cancer. The findings warn widespread exposure of animals and human in this agroecologically and geopolitically important region (i.e., its proximity with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan) and give a clue on how arsenic could induce infectious and non-infectious diseases in highly exposed human/animals.     

Ecotypes diversity in autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb): A single plant with multiple micronutrient genes

Elaeagnus umbellata, a member of the Elaeagnaceae family, is native to Pakistan, China, India, Korea, and Japan. It is found commonly at altitudes ranging from 1200 to 2100 m and thrives on eroded and degraded land due to its ability to fix nitrogen. The plant also grows under variable pH (4–8) and drought, and is used locally as fuel wood, fencing, fodder, basket making, and shelterbelts. The fruit of the plant is well known for its essential nutrients and medicinal compounds such as vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, carotenoids (lycopene), soluble solids, and sugars. Medicinally, it is widely believed to protect against myocardial infections, pulmonary infections, and various forms of cancers. Ten ecotypes from variable microclimatic conditions were investigated for their morphological, molecular and biochemical diversity improvement and commercialization purposes. Comparisons and disabilities indicated significant variability in terms of morphological (plant height, number of branches, thorn size and number, leaf area, fruit size, 100 fruit weight, and yield), molecular (SDS-PAGE), and micro- and macronutrient (vitamin C, Fe, mg, P, Na, K, essential oils, and sugar) bases among the ecotypes. This variability will be helpful in developing commercial varieties of the plant utilizing the conventional techniques of selection and hybridization for economic activities. The plant has ample quantities of multiple micronutrients, thus indicating their expression through a powerful promoter at one place (fruit mesocarp). Efforts to identify and isolate the micronutrient genes (vitamin A, C, E, and Fe), the deficiency of which causes malnutrition and disabilities within the population of developing countries. Micronutrient genes have also been initiated for their characterization and future transformation into staple food crops for stable bio-fortification.     

Heavy metal depuration in flat tree oysters isognomon alatus under field and laboratory conditions

Oysters Isognomon alatus containing high concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd were collected from the Sepang Besar River, and transferred to the Sepang Kecil River where the native oysters contain low metal concentrations. Concentrations of heavy metals in oysters were measured monthly over six months. The concentrations of all metals decreased significantly (p<0.05) for Cd 87%, Pb 83%, Cu 78%, and Zn 59%. In addition, metal depuration in oysters was investigated under laboratory conditions. Oysters were exposed to 100?µg?g^?1 of metals for two weeks followed by one week of depuration. Our studies suggest that metals in oysters tend to be lost in the order, Cd>Pb>Cu>Zn. A comparison between laboratory and field data showed that depuration of metals under the laboratory conditions is significantly faster than in the field.     

Quantitative analysis and sorption of cadmium in environmental samples with a functionalized synthetic polymer

Quantitative analysis of cadmium in environmental samples was achieved with a polymeric sorbent synthesized by copolymerization of N,N-dimethylacrylamide and allyl glycidyl ether/iminodiacetic acid as chelating monomers with N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as cross-linker. The polymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The sorption capacity of the functionalized sorbent was 70 mg g^?1. The equilibrium sorption data of Cd(II) on polymeric sorbent were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Redlich–Peterson models. Based on equilibrium adsorption data, the constants at pH 4.2 and 20 °C were determined for the first three as 0.33 (L mg^?1), 17.5 (mg g^?1) (L mg^?1)^1/n, and 12.9 (J mol^?1). Recovery of 94% of the metal ion was obtained with 0.5 mol L^?1 nitric acid as an eluting agent.     

Biosorption of lead and cadmium using marine algae

The use of algae (Ulva fasciata, green and Sargassum sp., brown) to reduce lead and cadmium levels from mono-metal solutions was investigated. The brown algae showed higher efficiency for the accumulation of lead (～1.5 times) and cadmium (～2 times) than green algae. The optimum pH value is found to be between 4 and 5.5. Regarding biomass concentration, an increase in metals percentage removal and a decrease in metal uptake capacity coincided with the increase in biomass concentration. All light metals (Ca, Mg and Na) showed a suppressive effect on biosorption capacity. The enhancement of biosorption in the case of NaOH was obvious. The biosorption process (65–90%) occurred within 3?min. Experimental data were in high agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich model for lead and cadmium biosorption using different biosorbents. In the desorption study, 0.2?mol?L^?1 HCl recorded the best concentration for the elution of metals from the biomass. The biosorption capacity decreased over the four operational cycles for both lead and cadmium. Infrared analysis showed that amino, hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups provide the major biosorption sites for metal binding. Use of the above-mentioned algae for cheap metal absorbance is considered as one water treatment criterion.