Improving rigor in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon source fingerprinting

Source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental samples has advanced greatly in the last 20 years and continues to advance. To realize potential benefits and avoid possible pitfalls, however, great care is needed as one applies published diagnostic tools to data sets. This commentary reflects some recent observations, concerns, and recommendations.     

Biochemical profile of non-enzymatic stress markers in the plant species “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Urginea maritima</Emphasis>” in a Mediterranean natural reserve exposed to oxidative stress

Protected areas decrease degrading natural ecosystems due to pollution such as air pollution. In 1981, the inhabitants founded Bentael natural reserve in Byblos, Lebanon, to secure their region against urbanization projects, like the recently constructed road that threatens the biodiversity of the reserve. This study was conducted to determine the oxidative stress resulting from this pollution and that menaces 360 floral species among them a rare species “Urginea maritima.” In this research, the biomonitoring approach was experienced to assess the oxidative stress. Biomonitoring possesses has the advantage to be low cost and a constructive method to generate valuable data for further examinations. The studied parameters were air pollutants, ascorbic acid, photosynthetic pigments, leave’s pH, relative water content, proline, carbohydrates, and hydrogen peroxide, in three chosen spots, near the pollution source (P1), opposite the latter spot (P2), and in an area relatively far from the source of contamination and which was chosen as the control site (Ctrl). The results showed in P1 detection of air pollutants higher of about 80% than in Ctrl, modifications in stress markers: increased concentration of the reactive oxygen species “hydrogen peroxide,” rise in the concentration of the osmoregulator amino acid “proline,” and depletion in chlorophyll content, in contrast to an increase in pheophytin. All these findings can be exploited as early diagnosis of air pollution and confirmed the ability to use such biomonitor (“Urginea maritima”) as a way to assess the environmental pollution levels and consequently affirm the danger of such landscape activities on natural reserves.     

Metal uptake capability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyperus articulatus</Emphasis> L. and its role in mitigating heavy metals from contaminated wetlands

Wetland plants are biological filters that play an important role in maintaining aquatic ecosystem and can take up toxic metals from sediments and water. The present study investigated the seasonal variation in the accumulation potential of heavy metals by Cyperus articulatus in contaminated watercourses. Forty quadrats, distributed equally in 8 sites (six contaminated sites along Ismailia canal and two uncontaminated sites along the River Nile), were selected seasonally for sediment, water, and plant investigations. Autumn was the flourishing season of C. articulatus with the highest shoot density, length, and diameter as well as aboveground biomass, while summer showed the least growth performance. The photosynthetic pigments were markedly reduced under contamination stress. C. articulatus plants accumulated concentrations of most heavy metals, except Pb, in their roots higher than the shoots. The plant tissues accumulated the highest concentrations of Fe, Cd, Ni, and Zn during autumn, while Cu and Mn during spring, and Cr and Co during winter. It was found that Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Co had seasonal bioaccumulation factor (BF) > 1 with the highest BF for Cd, Ni, and Zn during autumn, Co, Cu, and Pb in winter, spring, and summer, respectively. The translocation factor of most heavy metals, except Pb in spring, was <1 indicating potential phytostabilization of these metals. In conclusion, autumn is an ideal season for harvesting C. articulatus in order to monitor pollution in contaminated wetlands.     

Identification of the processes controlling groundwater quality in shallow aquifers of Moradabad city,west Uttar Pradesh,India

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Present study has been carried out to identify the processes controlling groundwater quality of Moradabad city, Uttar Pradesh. A total 188 groundwater...     

Improving of photocatalytic activity of barium ferrate via bismuth and copper co-doping for degradation of paracetamol under visible light irradiation

Nanosized Ba_{1- x}Bi_xFe_1-xCu_xO₃（12–50 nm） with x values of 0, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 system was prepared using the Pechini method. Structural, morphological, surface and optical characterizations were performed for the prepared samples. Cubic phase was the predominant phase for the undoped BaFeO₃ and Bi and Cu co-doped BaFeO₃ samples. Minor phases of monoclinic Ba₂Fe₂O₅, orthorhombic BaFe     

Graphene Oxide Caged Biopolymer Nanocomposite for Purification of Rare Earth Elements from High Grade Egyptian Monazite Concentrate

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Rare earth elements (REEs) play a critical role in the applications of advanced materials. In this respect, an eco-friendly calcium/alginate-graphene oxide...     

Effects of production conditions on yield and physicochemical properties of biochars produced from rice husk and oil palm empty fruit bunches

Biochar is the bio-solid material produced by pyrolysis. The biochar properties are controlled by feedstock and pyrolysis variables. In this study, the impacts of these production variables on biochar yield and physicochemical properties including pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total organic carbon (TOC) content, surface area, and pore volume and size were investigated. Rice husk (RH) and oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) were used as biomass. The biochars were produced at temperature range of 300 to 700 °C, heating rate of 3 to 10 °C/min and retention time of 1 to 3 h. The pyrolysis conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) technique to maximize the values of the responses. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the results demonstrated that the data fitted well to the linear and quadratic equations. Temperature was found to be the most effective parameter on the responses followed by retention time and heating rate, sequentially. CEC, TOC, surface area, and pore characteristics were evaluated as biochar properties determining their sorption potential. The optimum conditions for the maximum values of the properties were temperatures of 700 and 493.44 °C and time of 3 and 1 h for RH and EFB biochars, respectively. Heating rate at 3 °C/min was found to be the best rate for both biochars. The structure of EFB biomass was more sensitive to heating than rice husk. The biomass type and the production variables were demonstrated as the direct effective factors on biochar yield and physicochemical properties.     

Effects of long-term irrigation with treated wastewater on soil quality,soil-borne pathogens,and living organisms: case study of the vicinity of El Hajeb (Tunisia)

Medium (i.e. 15 years) and long-term (i.e. 20 years) impact of irrigation using secondary-treated municipal wastewater (TWW) was assessed on two agricultural soil samples, denoted by E and G, respectively, in the vicinity of El Hajeb region (Southern Tunisia). Soil pH, electrical conductivity particle size grading, potential risk of salinity, water holding capacity and chemical composition, as well as organic matter content, pathogenic microorganisms and heavy metal concentrations in the TWW-irrigated (E and G) and rainwater-irrigated (T) soils at various depths, were monitored and compared during a 5-year experiment. Our study showed that bacterial abundance is higher in sandy–clayey soil, which has an enhanced ability to retain moisture and nutrients. The high level of bacterial flora in TWW-irrigated soils was significantly (p?<?0.05) correlated (r?=?~0.5) with the high level of OM. Avoidance assays have been used to assess toxic effects generated by hazards in soils. The earthworms gradually avoided the soils from the surface (20 cm) to the depth (60 cm) of the G transect and then the E transect, preferring the T transect. The same behaviour was observed for springtails, but they seem to be less sensitive to the living conditions in transects G and E than the earthworms. The avoidance response test of Eisenia andrei was statistically correlated with soil layers at the sampling sites. However, the avoidance response test of Folsomia candida was positively correlated with silt-clay content (+0.744*) and was negatively correlated with sand content (?0.744*).