Determining distribution of heavy metal pollution in terms of ecological risk levels in soil of industrially intensive areas around Istanbul

The aims of the present study were to measure the concentrations of As, Cr, Co, Fe, and Zn in soils from two heavily industrialized areas and to assess the degree of heavy metal pollution by using the indices enrichment factor and the geo-accumulation index, as well as assessing the potential ecological risk. The concentrations of the selected elements in the environmental samples were determined by the neutron activation analysis. The pollutant concentrations in the studied areas showed that the soils were characterized by a high pollution from As and Cr due to the industrial facilities in the area. The concentrations in the Tuzla industrial area were 79–1215 mg/kg of Cr, 17–84 mg/kg of As, 22,000–54,000 mg/kg of Fe, 101–258 mg/kg of Zn, and 8–23 mg/kg of Co. The results for the Cerkezkoy industrial area were found to be 46–196 mg/kg of Cr, 6–24 mg/kg of As, 17,000–25,000 mg/kg of Fe, 67–136 mg/kg of Zn, and 7–10 mg/kg of Co. The contamination in the soils from heavy metals was assessed based on enrichment factor, geo-accumulation factors, and ecological risk indices. The results were compared with the data from other industrial areas in Turkey. It was found that the metals As and Cr showed higher concentrations in Tuzla than in other examined industrial areas. The results for Cerkezkoy industrial area indicate that the area is not as contaminated as the other industrial areas in Turkey.     

Automated Calibration of the METRIC‐Landsat Evapotranspiration Process

A remaining challenge to applying satellite‐based energy‐balance algorithms for operational estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is the calibration of the energy‐balance model. Customized calibration for each image date is generally required to overcome biases associated with radiometric accuracy of the image, uncertainties in aerodynamic features of the landscape, background thermal conditions, and model assumptions. The CIMEC process (calibration using inverse modeling at extreme conditions) is an endpoint calibration procedure where near extreme conditions in the image are identified where the ET can be estimated and assigned. In the Mapping EvapoTranspiration at high Resolution with Internalized Calibration (METRIC?) energy‐balance model, two endpoints represent the dry and wet ends of the ET spectrum. Generally, user‐intervention is required to select locations in the image to produce best accuracy. To bring the METRIC and similar processes into the domain of less experienced operators, a consistent, reproducible, and dependable statistics‐based procedure is introduced where relationships between vegetation amount and surface temperature are used to identify a subpopulation of locations (pixels) in an image that may best represent the calibration endpoints. This article describes the background and logic for the statistical approach, how the statistics were developed, area of interest requirements and assumptions, adjustment for dry conditions in desert climates, and implementation in a common image processing environment (ERDAS Imagine).     

Performance of duckweed (Lemna minor L.) on different types of wastewater treatment

Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) has a wide application in Turkey having suitable climatic conditions. In this study, the growth of duckweed was assessed in laboratory scale experiments. They were fed with municipal and industrial wastewater at constant temprature. COD, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and ortho-phosphate (OP) removal efficiencies of the reactors were monitored by sampling influent and effluent of the system. Removal efficiency in this study reflects optimal results: 73-84% COD removal, 83-87% TN removal, 70-85% TP removal and 83-95% OP removal. The results show that the duckweed-based wastewater treatment is capable of treating the laboratory wastewater.     

Assessment of imidacloprid toxicity on reproductive organ system of adult male rats

In the current study it was aimed to investigate the toxicity of low doses of imidacloprid (IMI) on the reproductive organ systems of adult male rats. The treatment groups received 0.5 (IMI-0.5), 2 (IMI-2) or 8 mg IMI/kg body weight by oral gavage (IMI-8) for three months. The deterioration in sperm motility in IMI-8 group and epidydimal sperm concentration in IMI-2 and IMI-8 groups and abnormality in sperm morphology in IMI-8 were significant. The levels of testosterone (T) and GSH decreased significantly in group IMI-8 compared to the control group. Upon treatment with IMI, apoptotic index increased significantly only in germ cells of the seminiferous tubules of IMI-8 group when compared to control. Fragmentation was striking in the seminal DNA from the IMI-8 group, but it was much less obvious in the IMI-2 one. IMI exposure resulted in elevation of all fatty acids analyzed, but the increases were significant only in stearic, oleic, linoleic and arachidonic acids. The ratios of 20:4/20:3 and 20:4/18:2 were decreased and 16:1n-9/16:0 ratio was increased. In conclusion, the present animal experiments revealed that the treatment with IMI at NOAEL dose-levels caused deterioration in sperm parameters, decreased T level, increased apoptosis of germ cells, seminal DNA fragmentation, the depletion of antioxidants and change in disturbance of fatty acid composition. All these changes indicate the suppression of testicular function.     

Dry deposition and soil-air gas exchange of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in an industrial area

Ambient air and dry deposition, and soil samples were collected at the Aliaga industrial site in Izmir, Turkey. Atmospheric total (particle + gas) ∑₄₁-PCB concentrations were higher in summer (3370 ± 1617 pg m⁻³, average + SD) than in winter (1164 ± 618 pg m⁻³), probably due to increased volatilization with temperature. Average particulate ∑₄₁-PCBs dry deposition fluxes were 349 ± 183 and 469 ± 328 ng m⁻² day⁻¹ in summer and winter, respectively. Overall average particulate deposition velocity was 5.5 ± 3.5 cm s⁻¹. The spatial distribution of ∑₄₁-PCB soil concentrations (n = 48) showed that the iron-steel plants, ship dismantling facilities, refinery and petrochemicals complex are the major sources in the area. Calculated air-soil exchange fluxes indicated that the contaminated soil is a secondary source to the atmosphere for lighter PCBs and as a sink for heavier ones. Comparable magnitude of gas exchange and dry particle deposition fluxes indicated that both mechanisms are equally important for PCB movement between air and soil in Aliaga.     

Solidification of tannery wastes

The high chromium concentrations in tannery-wastewater treatment-plant sludges, render them unsuitable for direct disposal. Therefore, one aims to fix the chromium of the tannery waste by adding different additive materials to cause solidification. The properties of the raw sludge were determined and subsequently, the sludge was mixed with cement and additives and left to solidify for 28 days. During the study, 28 different mixtures were prepared and their compressive strengths were determined. Standard elutriation tests were carried out with each solidified sample. Compressive strengths were obtained below the desired concrete strengths. Most of the pollutant parameters in eluate were under the required values.     

Biochemical response to exposure to six textile dyes in early developmental stages of Xenopus laevis

The present study was undertaken to determine the toxic effect of a lethal concentration of six different commercially used textile dyes on the 46th stage of Xenopus laevis tadpoles. The tadpoles were exposed to Astrazon Red FBL, Astrazon Blue FGRL, Remazol Red RR, Remazol Turquoise Blue G-A, Cibacron Red FN-3G, and Cibacron Blue FN-R for 168 h in static test conditions, and thus, 168-h median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀s) of each dye were determined to be 0.35, 0.13, 112, 7, 359, and 15.8 mg/L, respectively. Also, to evaluate the sublethal effects of each dye, tadpoles were exposed to different concentrations of dyes (with respect to 168-h LC₅₀s) for 24 h. The alteration of selected enzyme activities was tested. For this aim, glutathione S-transferase (GST), carboxylesterase, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assayed. After dye exposure, the GST induction or inhibition and LDH induction indicated some possible mechanisms of oxidative stress and deterioration in aerobic respiration processes induced by the tested dyes. Findings of the study suggest that selected biomarker enzymes are useful in understanding the toxic mechanisms of these dyes in X. laevis tadpoles as early warning indicators. Therefore, these selected biomarkers may evaluate the effect of environmental factors, such as textile dye effluents and other industrial pollutants, on amphibians in biomonitoring studies.     

The Evaluation of Mesoporous Materials as Catalyst in Fast Pyrolysis of Wheat Straw

In this study, wheat straw was chosen as a biomass sample and the fast pyrolysis of this sample was carried out with or without catalyst at different conditions in a well-swept fixed-bed reactor. Experiments were carried out in a well-swept tubular fixed-bed reactor with a heating rate of 300°C/min, between pyrolysis temperature ranges 300–800°C in the nitrogen atmosphere. The results indicated that a maximum oil yield of 31.9% was obtained at a pyrolysis temperature of 500°C in non-catalytic procedure. Siliceous and Al-MCM-41 materials were evaluated as potential catalysts in the pyrolysis experiments. Mesoporous materials have large pore dimensions with strong acid sites. These acidic sites catalyze some reactions in pyrolysis. The product yields and the quality of bio-oil were influenced with using MCM-41 materials. The bio-oil yield was reduced, whereas the gas yield increased with using a catalyst in the experiments. An increase in the fractions of pure phenol, alkyl phenols, alkenes+alkanes, carbonyls, aromatic, and cyclic compounds and a decrease in the fractions of methoxy phenols, acids+esters, furans, and alcohols were observed in the presence of Al-MCM-41 material. According to all results, the use of Al-MCM-41 materials as catalyst in the pyrolysis can be suggested to obtain both quality fuels and valuable chemicals.