Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles regulate the iron status in the spleen of Plasmodium chabaudi–infected mice

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Malaria is a dangerous disease affecting millions around the globe. Biosynthesized nanoparticles are used against a variety of diseases including...     

Evaluation of hydroxyapatite/poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid) for sorptive removal of strontium ions from aqueous solution

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A composite polymer, hydroxyapatite/poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid), was synthesized by gamma-induced polymerization. The factors affecting the sorption...     

Investigation of PM2.5 and carbon dioxide levels in urban homes

PM_2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm) samples were collected in the indoor environments of 15 urban homes and their adjacent outdoor environments in Alexandria, Egypt, during the spring time. Indoor and outdoor carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels were also measured concurrently. The results showed that indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations in the 15 sites, with daily averages of 45.5 ± 11.1 and 47.3 ± 12.9 µg/m³, respectively, were significantly higher than the ambient 24-hr PM_2.5 standard of 35 µg/m³ recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The indoor PM_2.5 and CO₂ levels were correlated with the corresponding outdoor levels, demonstrating that outdoor convection and infiltration could lead to direct transportation indoors. Ventilation rates were also measured in the selected residences and ranged from 1.6 to 4.5 hr^?1 with median value of 3.3 hr^?1. The indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios of the monitored homes varied from 0.73 to 1.65 with average value of 0.99 ± 0.26 for PM_2.5, whereas those for CO₂ ranged from 1.13 to 1.66 with average value of 1.41 ± 0.15. Indoor sources and personal activities, including smoking and cooking, were found to significantly influence indoor levels.

Implications: Few studies on indoor air quality were carried out in Egypt, and the scarce data resulted from such studies do not allow accurate assessment of the current situation to take necessary preventive actions. The current research investigates indoor levels of PM_2.5 and CO₂ in a number of homes located in the city of Alexandria as well as the potential contribution from both indoor and outdoor sources. The study draws attention of policymakers to the importance of the establishment of national indoor air quality standards to protect human health and control air pollution in different indoor environments.     

Halogen content relative to the chemical and biochemical composition of fifteen marine macro and micro algae: nutritional value,energy supply,antioxidant potency,and health risk assessment

Marine algae have made a strong contribution to global food security in the future. This study is the first report describing the concentration, pathways, and interactions of halogens in 15 species of marine algae collected from the Eastern Harbor in Alexandria, Egypt, relative to 22 key variables. The relationship between halogen content and chemical and biochemical parameters was studied through multivariate analysis. Among all the tested algae, the iodine content was the lowest (2.53–3.00 μg/g). The range of fluoride and chloride in macroalgae (1.12–1.70 and 0.10–0.46 mg/g) was smaller than that of microalgae (0.10–0.46 and 1.48–3.17 mg/g). The bromide content in macroalgae (0.36–5.45 mg/g) was higher than that in microalgae (0.40–0.76 mg/g). The halogen content in macroalgae was arranged in the order of Br > F > Cl > I. In addition, the biochemical parameters such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and certain heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ni, Co, Cd, and Cr) were determined. Calories, energy, total antioxidant activity (TAC), K/Na, and ion quotient amounts were estimated. The results showed that the green seaweed species had the highest TAC content. In most of the studied algal species, the calculated ion quotient referred to their likelihood of overcoming high blood pressure. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of algae showed no adverse effects on human health. Most of the research variables are below the acceptable WHO/FAO level. Generally, the calorie content of the selected algae is less than 2 kcal, which makes the algae considered an alternative source of healthy food to reduce obesity.

Graphical abstract

     

Chemical composition of some seaweed from Mediterranean Sea coast, Egypt

This study pointed to the assessment of the chemical composition (F, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Cd, and carbohydrate) of different marine seaweeds (red, green, and brown) from the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast. The results showed that green seaweeds supplied better calcium sources than the red and brown ones. Also, red and brown seaweeds showed higher averages of Na and K than that in green species and these seaweeds could play an important role in the electrolyte balance in humans. On the other hand, green seaweeds gave the highest average carbohydrate concentration; thus, these green species could be used as a source of polysaccharides. Ion quotient values for almost seaweed species were between 1.4 and 4.0, so they can reduce hypertension, preeclampsia, and heart disease in human beings. Interestingly, the calculated hazard quotient of elements was below 1. Accordingly, these seaweed species were of high quality and safety and might be used in the field of nutrition.     

EFA-CFA integrated approach for groundwater resources sustainability in agricultural areas under data scarcity challenge: case study of the Souassi aquifer,Central-eastern Tunisia

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Water resources become more and more threatened by the increasing request related to the population growth, especially in agricultural regions. This...     

Assessment of some heavy metals in surface sediments of the Aqaba Gulf, Egypt

Aqaba Gulf is an economically important marine environment in Egypt. Its coastal area was subjected to anthropogenic impact of urbanization and economic development during the last decades. The study was oriented to investigate the distribution as well as assess the heavy metal pollution status (Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Cu, and Cd) in its surface sediment. Large heavy metals fluctuations were detected along the studied area. The results pointed out to the highly significant correlations among Fe, Cu, Ni, and Co heavy metals and their similar lithogenic origin beside their input sources. The sediment quality was performed by using the geo-accumulation index (I (geo)) and different sediment criteria guidelines; China State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision (CSBTS), and Canadian guidelines. Among the studied heavy metals, Cd was the only metal that showed moderate pollution for I (geo) as well as it exceeded the primary and the secondary criteria of CSBTS and the threshold effect level of the Canadian guidelines (TEL). On the other hand, the other heavy metals were within the natural background levels.