Protective effects of thymoquinone against acrylamide-induced liver,kidney and brain oxidative damage in rats

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Acrylamide (AA), an industrial monomer, may cause multi-organ toxicity through induction of oxidative stress and inflammation. The antioxidant...     

Effects of organic-waste compost addition on sesame growth, yield and chemical composition

The agronomic aspects of some organic waste compost applications to sesame plants grown on sandy soil were investigated. Different rates and combinations from biosolids (BS), municipal solid waste (MSW) and water hyacinth (W) compost, incorporated with or without shale deposits (tafla) at 8%, were used to treat the sandy soil. Dry matter accumulation was used as an indicator of the effectiveness of such treatments on plant growth. In addition, the contents of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium, chlorophyll, total protein, oil and carbohydrates were determined in plant tissue as physiological parameters. Heavy metal contents (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb) in seeds samples were determined. Results indicated that all compost treatments stimulated sesame growth and enhanced its pigment, carbohydrate and mineral contents. While the chemical constituents of sesame seeds (oil, carbohydrate and total protein) showed no variation when expressed as relative data (%), the absolute results expressed as gram per plant exhibited significant increases. The maximum levels (μg g⁻¹) of tested metals in seeds did not exceed 226 Fe, 12.5 Mn, 81. 7 Zn, 23.7 Cu, 3.8 Co, 24.6 Ni, 5.4 Pb and 1.72 Cd, which are below the reported concentrations at which phytotoxicity could occur.     

The optimization of wastewater treatment via combined techniques: Part I: Combined biological — chemical treatment

The optimization of sewage treatment by the combination of high rate biological treatment with chemical coagulation to remove both organic and inorganic pollutants with special reference to phosphorus has been investigated. In an attempt to study the minimum biological treatment which will not adversely affect the efficiency of the combined system, three different organic loads, namely, 9.48, 20.0 and 27.85 BOD₅.m^?2d^?1, were examined. The coagulants used were ferric chloride and alum. Calcium oxide was used as a coagulant aid with ferric chloride. The results obtained showed that the efficiency of the combined system was found to be slightly affected by the organic load. The combined treatment technique used in this investigation proved to be very promising in removing both inorganic and organic pollutants.     

INCREASING WATER SUPPLY BY MIXING OF FRESH AND SALINE GROUND WATERS1

ABSTRACT: The quality of ground water in any aquifer takes its final form due to natural mixture of waters, which may originate from different sources. Water quality varies from one aquifer to another and even within the same aquifer itself. Different ground water quality is obtained from wells and is mixed in a common reservoir prior to any consumption. This artificial mixing enables an increase in available ground water of a desired quality for agricultural or residential purposes. The question remains as to what proportions of water from different wells should be mixed together to achieve a desired water quality for this artificial mixture. Two sets of laboratory experiments were carried out, namely, the addition of saline water to a fixed volume of fresh water. After each addition, the mixture volume and the electric conductivity value of the artificially mixed water were recorded. The experiments were carried out under the same laboratory temperature of 20°C. A standard curve was developed first experimentally and then confirmed theoretically. This curve is useful in determining either the volume or discharge ratio from two wells to achieve a predetermined electrical conductivity value of the artificial mixture. The application of the curve is given for two wells within the Quaternary deposits in the western part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.     

Production of butanol from biomass: recent advances and future prospects

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - At present, diminishing oil resources and increasing environmental concerns have led to a shift toward the production of alternative biofuels. In the...     

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...     

Oxidative stress on land snail Helix aspersa as a sentinel organism for ecotoxicological effects of urban pollution with heavy metals

The oxidative stress in the digestive gland of the land snail Helix aspersa was considered as a bioindicator for atmospheric pollution with heavy metals from several industries and vehicular traffic in Kafr El-Zayat city. Regional means of heavy metals concentration of all sites were 0.71, 7.09, 0.71, 2.68, 41.44 and 18.01 mg kg⁻¹ wet mass for Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cu, respectively. In addition, the highest values of Cd concentrations were found 1.22 and 1.73 mg kg⁻¹ wet mass in S1 (Potato International Center) and S4 (The Nile bank), respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH(and recorded lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were significantly high in S1 and S2 (Traffic station). On the other hand, the highest activity of catalase (CAT) was found in S2 (194.04% of control), while the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GP_x) reached the highest significant value in S1.     

The diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative frozen section biopsy for diagnosis of sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients: a meta-analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Sentinel lymph node (SLN) sampling is important for evaluating the nodal stage of breast cancer when the axillary nodes are clinically free of...     

Treatment of oily refinery wastes using a dissolved air flotation process

Refinery wastewater from Moustorod oil refinery, Cairo, Egypt, was treated by chemical coagulation. This step was followed by rapid solid-liquid separation using flotation under pressure of 4 atm. A flotation tank was designed for this purpose. Gas liquid chromatography was used for determination and identification of hydrocarbon compounds in refinery wastewater. The treatment technique proved to be very promising for reducing the hydrocarbon compounds, as well as other pollutants, to a very low concentration. The results obtained showed that some of the hydrocarbon compounds were completely removed.     

Electrochemical degradation of Acid Blue and Basic Brown dyes on Pb/PbO2 electrode in the presence of different conductive electrolyte and effect of various operating factors

Electrocatalytic degradation of Acid Blue and Basic Brown dyes from simulated wastewater on lead dioxide anode was investigated in different conductive electrolytes. It was shown that complete degradation of these dyes is dependent primarily on type and concentration of the conductive electrolyte. The highest electrocatalytic activity was achieved in the presence of NaCl (2g/l) and could be attributed to indirect oxidation of the investigated dyes by the electrogenerated hypochlorite ions formed from the chloride oxidation. In addition, contribution from direct oxidation could also be possible via reaction of these organic compounds with the electrogenerated hydroxyl radicals adsorbed on the lead dioxide surface. In the presence of NaOH, the electrocatalytic activity of the employed anode was not comparable to that in NaCl due primarily to the absence of chloride. This indicates that dyes degradation in NaOH occurs exclusively via direct electrochemical process. However, in H2SO4, the electrode performance was poor due partially to the absence of chloride from the conductive solution. The possibility of electrode poisoning as a result of growth of adherent film on the anode surface or production of stable intermediates not easily further oxidized by direct electrolysis in H2SO4 might also be accountable for the poor performance observed in this conductive electrolyte. Optimizing the conditions that ensure effective electrochemical degradation of Acid Blue and Basic Brown dyes on lead dioxide electrode necessitates the control of all the operating factors.