Vulnerability risk assessment and adaptation to climate change induced sea level rise along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt

Consequence of the sea level rise (SLR) on the Mediterranean coastal areas in Egypt, particularly the Nile River Delta, has become an issue of major concern to Egypt’s population and the government. Previous publications disregard the entire Mediterranean coast of Egypt as an integral unit subject to the impacts of the SLR. This study aims to analyzing the risks, ranking the vulnerability and suggesting adaptation measures to mitigate the impact of the SLR along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Although the prominent features of Egypt’s Mediterranean coastal zone are the low lying coast of the Nile Delta, associated with land subsidence, tectonic activities and erosion; the contiguous coastal sectors are backed by shore-parallel carbonate ridges and Plateau (the western coast) and sand dune belts (Sinai coast). The coastal zone is ranked as high, moderate, and low vulnerable to the SLR. The social and biophysical vulnerabilities demonstrate the asymmetrical impacts of the SLR on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Areas at risk in the Alexandria region are Mandara and El Tarh whereas in the Nile Delta region, they are the Manzala Lagoon barrier, east and west of the Rosetta City, Gamil, and the Tineh plain. Risk associated with these impacts may be reduced provided the consideration of immediate and adequate adaptation measures.     

The impacts of the waterfront development in Iskandar Malaysia

The increasing number of waterfront projects shows that the concept of waterfront development has contributed to the advancement of the Malaysian construction industry. This study seeks to assess the impacts of the implementation of waterfront development in Iskandar Malaysia eliciting the perceived relative importance of these impacts. A comprehensive literature review has been conducted to collate the potential impacts of the waterfront development. A total of 363 sets of questionnaires were distributed to the contractors and developers registered under G7 category of the Construction Industry Development Board in Malaysia. Results show that the most significant influence of the waterfront development is related to economic benefits, while environmental impacts are not considered as a priority for this category of stakeholders. In addition, this study also indicates that the implementation of the waterfront projects has generated numerous job opportunities within the developed region. Moreover, exchanging knowledge in the planning and managing of the waterfront development is imperative to the development of the waterfront projects. Nevertheless, the shortcomings of these developments, such as the negative environmental impact on natural beaches and the coastline (i.e. pollution) as well as human-related issues (i.e. excessive human settlement), should not be taken lightly. This research confirms that the reclamation of land for waterfront development is closely correlated with the destruction of these natural structures.     

The effect of biochar on severity of soil water repellency of crude oil-contaminated soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Crude oil contamination adversely affects soil water repellency. In this study the effect of biochar on this soil characteristic has been investigated...     

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...     

Validity and consistency assessment of accident analysis methods in the petroleum industry

Background. Accident analysis is the main aspect of accident investigation. It includes the method of connecting different causes in a procedural way. Therefore, it is important to use valid and reliable methods for the investigation of different causal factors of accidents, especially the noteworthy ones. Objective. This study aimed to prominently assess the accuracy (sensitivity index [SI]) and consistency of the six most commonly used accident analysis methods in the petroleum industry. Methods. In order to evaluate the methods of accident analysis, two real case studies (process safety and personal accident) from the petroleum industry were analyzed by 10 assessors. The accuracy and consistency of these methods were then evaluated. The assessors were trained in the workshop of accident analysis methods. Results. The systematic cause analysis technique and bowtie methods gained the greatest SI scores for both personal and process safety accidents, respectively. The best average results of the consistency in a single method (based on 10 independent assessors) were in the region of 70%. Conclusion. This study confirmed that the application of methods with pre-defined causes and a logic tree could enhance the sensitivity and consistency of accident analysis.     

Protective effects of quercetin against sodium fluoride-induced oxidative stress in rat erythrocytes

Protective effects of quercetin against oxidative stress induced by sodium fluoride intoxication in rat erythrocytes were evaluated. Rats were divided into five groups consisting of 10 in each for this experiment. The animals of group I received water and standard diet to serve as control group, the animals of groups II and III were treated with quercetin (10 and 20?mg?kg^?1 body weight), administrated intraperitoneally for 7 days followed by sodium fluoride (600?ppm) in drinking water for the next 7 days. The animals of group IV were treated with vitamin C (10?mg?kg^?1) intraperitoneally for 7 days followed by sodium fluoride treatment for next 7 days serving as positive control group. The animals of group V were treated only with sodium fluoride (600?ppm) for the same time and were used as control group. Blood sample were collected via retro-orbital puncture. The antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, as well as the levels of reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation end products were measured in erythrocytes. There was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation along with a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity in the erythrocytes of sodium fluoride-treated animals. Quercetin treatment prior to fluoride administration normalized the levels of all parameters measured in the rat erythrocytes.     

Characterization of DNAPL from the U.S. DOE Savannah River Site

The composition of chlorinated hydrocarbon DNAPLs (dense non-aqueous phase liquids) from field sites can be substantially different than the material originally purchased for use as a solvent. Waste management practices at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) included co-disposal of a wide range of organic and inorganic wastes. In 1991, a clear, orange-colored DNAPL was found in two wells near the SRS M-area settling basin. Waste effluent from the fuel and target fabrication facilities that were discharged to this settling basin included acids, caustics, metals and chlorinated solvents. The characterization of the SRS DNAPL suggests that numerous constituents partitioned into the DNAPL during its use as a solvent, co-disposal and ultimate migration through the subsurface. Trace constituents in the DNAPL include metals, from processing operations or co-disposal practices and subsurface minerals, high molecular weight hydrocarbons and alkyl esters, and acids. This complex mixture results in DNAPL-water interfacial properties that are substantially different than would be expected from a simple mixture of PCE and TCE. Under conditions when there is a high DNAPL to water volume ratio, a semi-rigid film accumulates on water droplets suspended in the DNAPL. It is concluded that the array of precipitated metal species comprising this film contributes to the interfacial tension that is over an order of magnitude lower than expected for a "clean" PCE/TCE mixture.     

Beach impacts of shore-parallel breakwaters backing offshore submerged ridges, Western Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

Seven breakwaters were constructed behind offshore submerged ridges to create a safe area for swimming and recreational activities west of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. Morphodynamic evaluation was based on the modified Perlin and Dean numerical model (ImSedTran-2D) combined with successive shoreline and beach profile surveys conducted periodically between April 2001 and May 2005. Results reveal insignificant morphologic changes behind the detached breakwaters with slight coastline changes at the down and up-drift beaches of the examined breakwaters (+/-10 m). These changes are associated with salient accretion (20-7 0m) in the low-energy leeside of such structures. Concurrent with this sand accretion is the accumulation of a large amount of benthic algae (Sargassum) in the coastal water of the shadow area of these structures, which in turn have adverse effects on swimmers. Practical measures proposed in this study have successfully helped in mitigating such accumulation of algae in the recreation leeside of the breakwaters. The accumulation of Sargassum, together with the virtual insignificant changes in the up-drift and down-drifts of these structures, is a direct response to both coastal processes and the submerged carbonate ridges. Coastal processes encompass reversal of the directions of long-shore sand transport versus shoreline orientation, the small littoral drift rate and sand deficiency of the littoral zone. The beach response to the breakwaters together with the submerged ridges has also been confirmed by applying the ImSedTran-2D model. Results indicate that submerged ridges play a principal role in the evolution of beach morphology along the west coast of Alexandria. Although the study area is exposed to more than 70% wave exposures, the morphodynamic behavior of the beaches indicates that the submerged ridges act in a similar way as an additional natural barrier together with the artificial detached structures.     

Microwave-enhanced reduction of manganese from a low-grade pyrolusite ore using pyrite: process optimization and kinetic studies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The inefficient leaching of manganese is the main factor hindering the commercialization of the reduction process during manganese recovery using...