A reassessment of energy and GDP relationship: the case of Australia

This paper investigates the long- and short-run relationships between energy consumption and economic growth in Australia using the bound testing and the ARDL approach. The analytical framework utilized in this paper includes both production and demand side models and a unified model comprising both production and demand side variables. The energy–GDP relationships are investigated at aggregate as well as several disaggregated energy categories, such as coal, oil, gas and electricity. The possibilities of one or more structural break(s) in the data series are examined by applying the recent advances in techniques. We find that the results of the cointegration tests could be affected by the structural break(s) in the data. It is, therefore, crucial to incorporate the information on structural break(s) in the subsequent modelling and inferences. Moreover, neither the production side nor the demand side framework alone can provide sufficient information to draw an ultimate conclusion on the cointegration and causal direction between energy and output. When alternative frameworks and structural break(s) in time series are explored properly, strong evidence of a bidirectional relationship between energy and output can be observed. The finding is true at both the aggregate and the disaggregate levels of energy consumption.     

Phosphorus contamination of Al-Khair river,Baghdad

Phosphorus in one of the most important biogenous substances affecting water quality and connected with water pollution from man-associated sources. Concentrations of various phosphorus forms in Al-Khair river, Baghdad, showed that its water contained high levels of phosphorus and these concentrations increased significantly down the stream where the domestic sewage effluents are discharged. Total phosphorus (TP) concentrations reached 2.65 mg L^-1 during October 1984, where total soluble phosphorus (TSP) formed the major constituent of TP at these affected sites. A flooding condition was established to dilute different species of contaminants as an attempt to control the pollution of Al-Khair river. During this stage, phosphorus concentrations decreased although the TP concentrations did not fall below 0.03 mg L^-1 (with few exceptions). Moreover, higher phosphorus concentrations were recorded during summers VS. winter months during both stages of the work. This probably was due to the internal load where TP concentrations in the bottom sediments showed also high levels of phosphorus concentration (maximum 180 g g^-1 dry wt.).     

Occupational ocular health problems among marble workers at Shaq El Tho’ban industrial area in Egypt

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Eye health of the working population is an essential condition for productivity. Marble industry is processed at large scale at Shaq El Tho’ban...