International Journal Of Environmental Research
Volume:2 Issue: 3, Summer 2008

The effects of pesticide endosulfan (an organochlorine compound), on the ovaries of bluegill fish (Lepomis macrochirus) were studied. Exposures for 24 hs with histological preparations at 25% (0.25 μg/L), 75 % (0.75 μg/L), and 100 % (1 μg/L) sub lethal concentrations were examined. The control contained an abundance of the different stages of oocytes (Oocytes I, II, III, and IV) and had an intact ovigerous lamellae and follicular lining. The control also contained a thick and complete ovarian wall with evident provitelline and euvitelline nucleoli. After 24 hr exposure to a 25% concentration, many Oocyte II and III cells had damaged stroma and cytoplasmic and nuclear retraction. Adhesion is pronounced at the 25% concentration, but is even more profound at the 75% concentration. Empty follicles and a unique cytoplasmic clumping can be observed in Oocyte III and IV cells in the 75% concentration. The ovaries of fish exposed to a 100% concentration display an immense amount of empty follicles along with necrosis of nuclei and expelled nuclei. As the concentration increased, the amount of atretic cells increased, and the ovarian wall became more thinned and lifted. Macrophages were more evident as the concentration increased and the sizes of the different stages of oocytes, exposed to the different concentrations became smaller as well. This study showed that there is a clear correlation between the amount of damage seen and the amount of endosulfan.

A study was carried out in a strip of a river and in a nearby well in the rainy and dry seasons to assess the impact of tobacco waste disposal on the roadsides. There were significant seasonal variations in the concentration of nicotine being higher (p<0.05) in the dry season than in the wet season. Regardless of season however, nicotine was observed in highest amounts close to the dumpsite and none or just trace amounts were obtained upstream and in the well water. There were seasonal differences in the concentration of phosphate, sulphate and turbidity, being higher (p<0.05) in the dry season than in the rainy season. However, the concentration of sulphate followed an opposite seasonal trend to that of phosphate, being higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. In the rainy season, the concentrations varied significantly (p<0.05) across the sample points, being highest at point close to the dumpsite followed by the value upstream and the least was obtained downstream. The authorities must enforce the legislation of controlled tobacco waste disposal to avoid harmful environment effects.

In order to establish the appropriate methane fermentation technology for low strength wastewater, a 2.0 L EGSB reactor was operated at 20°C with 0.3 - 0.4 g COD/L of sucrose-based synthetic wastewater for 500 days. At the start up period, the reactor was operated in EGSB mode with a 5 m/h up flow velocity by continuous effluent recirculation. However, the EGSB reactor exhibited insufficient COD removal (50-60%) at COD loading of 7.2 - 9.6 kg COD/m3⋅day due to the low COD concentration in the sludge bed. Therefore, we proposed the new operation mode by switching to UASB mode (without recirculation, 0.7 m/h up flow velocity) for 30 minutes and EGSB mode for 10 minutes in 40 minutes cycle. Moreover we added sodium sulfide to make the low ORP condition. In this operation, COD removal increased dramatically, from 65% to 91%. Additionally, physical properties of the retained sludge were well maintained in this operation mode. Furthermore, the retained sludge possessed appropriate levels of methanogenic activity (0.2-0.4 g COD/g VSS/day) at 20°C.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of adsorption process by Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) compared with a novel formulation of coagulation - flocculation process for dye removal from textile wastewater. In this regard, acidic, reactive, disperse and direct red dye are used to prepare the synthetic dye. Dominant wave length for each dye is determined by spectrophotometeric method. Using GAC as adsorbent, equilibrium time and adsorption isotherm of each dye are determined with aid of spectrophotometric method. The results show that GAC can not remove dispersed red dye. Acidic red, direct red and reactive red of 5 mg/L concentration are removed by GAC up to %90, %88 and %43 in 30, 60 and 120 min. (equilibrium time) respectively. Dyes of 50 mg/L concentration are removed up to %93, %30 and %51 in 15, 90 and 150 min. respectively. Adsorption obeys Freundlich isotherm for acidic red, BET isotherm for direct red and Langmuir isotherm for reactive red. This investigation presents a novel formulation of coagulation - flocculation for color removal from textile dye solutions and illustrates its efficiency. Novel formulation of coagulation - flocculation remove direct red, reactive red and disperse red of 5 mg/L concentration respectively up to %93, %91.3 and %57.1. Also the mentioned dyes of 50 mg/L are removed respectively up to %90.8, %91.9 and %70.1.

Rapid industrialization, installation of mega-desalination plants and suspected trace metals discharges in the Kuwait marine environment instigated us to determine the trace metals toxicity on the body structures (first dorsal fin, otolith and scales) of the commercially relished mullet fish, Liza klunzingeri. 96 h toxicity test with Fe, Cd, Ni, As, showed the body structure of L. klunzingeri to attain LOEC (lowest observed effective concentration) at test concentrations of 10μg/L, 4.0μgL, 8.0μg/L and 2.0μg/L, respectively. Observation revealed high metal concentrations in scales followed by first dorsal fin and otolith irrespective of the sampling sites. Mean bioaccumulation factor (BAF) in body structures was high in the sequence of Ni> Fe > As >Cd. Trace metals bioaccumulation was high in samples reared in Kuwait Bay than in the Kuwait coastal waters. These findings supported evidences to body structures of L. klunzingeri as an indicator to trace metal pollution besides its use for species aging.

Present survey synthesized information on fish biodiversity in the perennial freshwater body of Ramnagar, East Midnapore district of West Bengal, India. We documented 45 fish species under 29 genera, 18 families and 8 orders during the periods from1990 to 1995, whereas, 34 species from 21 genera and 12 families under 7 orders were recorded presently from freshwater body of different perennial pond. This present database of ichthyofauna clearly indicated that 11 fish species, 8 genera, 6 families and 1 order have lost from this investigated area. Basically, this agricultural based area associated with profuse application of various chemicals, poisons and drugs in agricultural field that largely pollute perennial water body and ultimately exerting growing pressure on living aquatic resources and driven significant fish biodiversity decline. However, over fishing, chemicals, agricultural runoff and other forms of pollution are most important factors which should be restricted for the conservation of freshwater fish biodiversity. Therefore, it may be concluded that preparation of zone wise database of these information and their implementation through Government and various Non-Government Organizations would be the key tools for conservation of freshwater fish biodiversity.

The construction industry is a major consumer of new materials. Given that material production for construction work accounts for a significant percentage of all energy consumed nationally in newly developing countries, it becomes vital that the construction industry strives to reduce waste at all stages of construction. However, the importance of these construction wastes in terms of types and sources have yet to be identified. Established systems to record quantitative data for the generation of construction waste have yet to be formally standardised and are still lacking across much of Europe and developing countries. Although categorisation of waste assists segregation of construction waste and increases the potential for reuse and recycling, little progress has been made in Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia. To address this need, this pilot study is carried out as the logical first step towards construction waste management in Sarawak by categorisation of construction waste at residential construction projects. Through this study, useful information concerning waste assessment data necessary to achieve a better understanding of construction waste is obtained. Case studies involving quantification and classification of construction waste for several on-going residential construction projects in Miri City, Sarawak, Malaysia are presented. A database of information concerning the quantification of local construction waste was developed, in addition to current construction waste management practices.

In this study, NF membrane was used for surface water treatment. The rejection of organic material, measured as Total organic carbon (TOC), by Nanofiltration was examined. The effects of application of pre-ozonation and pre-chlorination on TOC removal are discussed and their performances are compared with the performances of Nanofiltraion system without pretreatment process. In NF, natural organic rejection is high and no pre-treatment are required. Coagulation targets large hydrophobic organics which foul NF membranes by precipitation and gel layer formation. The results showed that TOC removal in Preozonation-coagulation was higher than prechlorination-Coagulation. In addition pretreatment increases Nanofiltration efficiency.

Mercury is one of the most toxic heavy metals present in aquatic systems, exhibiting a complex behaviour in the environment, where it may persist for decades after the source of pollution is stopped. Hence, it is important develop new techniques for its removal from the aquatic systems. In this context, a particularly promising line of research is the use of new materials capable of up taking mercury from aqueous systems. A new sorbent system for removing mercury (II) in presence of oleic acid, from aqueous solutions has been investigated. This new sorbent is waste crushed brick, obtained from local industries. Variables of the system include solution pH, sorbent dose and contact time. The adsorption isotherm data follow the Langmuir equation in which characteristic parameters was calculated. Waste crushed brick has a maximum mercury (II) removal capacity (87mg/g).

Since 1994 the lagoon of Boughrara located in the south western coast of Tunisia was a seat of repeated episodes of harmful algal proliferation. Due to intoxications by shellfish harvested in this region the area was banned. In order to estimate the metal contribution to this phenomenon, seawater and bivalves collected from Boughrara during the algal bloom period were analysed for Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Cu and Al content using the atomic absorption spectrometry.The average of the metals and heavy metals concentrations in clams flesh and shells were lower or in the range of the European Union regularity limits and exhibited the following decreasing order: Al>Cu>Cd>Cr>Pb>Hg. Levels were ranging between 11.541 mg/kg and 0.025 mg/kg wet weights. For seawater and inter-shell water the order was approximately the same. The lagoon of Boughrara might be considered relatively unpolluted with metals and repeated toxic algal proliferations remained unexplained.

The quality of wastewater generated in any process industry is generally indicated by performance iTrace metals in the aquatic environment have to date come essentially from naturally occurring geochemical resources. However, this has been enhanced by anthropogenic activities resulting in pollution. Consequently, correlations and partitioning of trace metals in the dissolved phase, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments were investigated in five selected sites along the Taylor Creek, southern Nigeria. The degree of correlations between the various metals was different in each of the investigated matrices. In the matrices studied, not many significant correlations (P<0.05) were recognized. Only Ni-Cd (r=0.95), Mn-Cd (r=0.63), Mn-Ni (r=0.64) are correlated in the sediments and in SPM, Fe-Cr (r=0.54) and Zn-Ni (r=0.72), which suggests that the sources are not common for both matrices. In the dissolved phase, no strong correlations (P<0.05) between the trace metals are obvious. The best correlations are observed for Ni-Zn (r=0.72) and Cd-Pb (r=0.65). Partitioning coefficients (Kd) of trace metals between dissolved phase and SPM are generally low, which is typical for fresh water ecosystems and fairly stable over the creek all through the seasons. Thus, the state of the aquatic ecosystem indicates that the trace metals, which are bio-accumulatable, could contribute to inferior biodiversity and shifts in community composition from sensitive to tolerant taxa.

Ground water samples from different Upazilas of Sunamganj District have been analyzed for drinking and irrigation purposes. Correlation coefficients among different parameters were determined. An attempt has been made to develop linear regression equations to predict the concentration of water quality constituents having significant correlation coefficients with electrical conductivity (EC). Calcium and EC; Bicarbonate and EC are highly correlated but not perfect. Our findings show that calcium, nitrate, and bicarbonate are significantly related with electrical conductivity at 1% level of significance. Except for the total dissolved solid, all other variables are significant at a conventional level (i.e. 5 %) with expected sign. The usefulness of these linear regression equations in predicting the ground water quality is an approach, which can be applied in any other locations.

In the present investigation, for the first time in Iran, dewatered sludge waste from air heater washing wastewater treatment of a thermal power plant was subjected to investigation of the cement base stabilization and solidification experiments in order to reduce the mobility of heavy and other hazardous metals as well as increasing the compressive strength of the solidified product for possible reuse of the waste. The solidification was done with two cement based mix designs with different waste/cement ratio is different samples. The results of leaching test on the solidified samples revealed that regarding the sand-cement mixture even with 25% waste/cement ratio, the leaching of heavy metals has completely been controlled up to 95%. In cement stabilization process the leaching of V, Ni, Zn and Cr could be decreased from 314.1, 209.1, 24.8 and 5.5 mg/L respectively in the raw waste to 6, 32.1, 3.6 and 3.6 mg/L in a mixture with 20% waste/cement ratio. During stabilization with cement-sand, the TCLP leachate contents of mentioned metals have been decreased to 4.2, 16.2, 2.5 and 2.2 mg/L with waste/cement ratio of 20%. X-ray diffraction studies showed that portlandite, calcite, lime, larnite and quartz have been shaped during the stabilization process. The compressive strength test results revealed that in both mixture samples, decreasing the compressive strength with increasing the amount of waste content in the mixture occurs. In sand-cement solidified samples with waste/cement ratio 25% and in cement solidified samples with waste/cement ratio 20%, a 40% decrease occurs in the compressive strength in comparison with the waste free mixtures.

Spirulina platensis, a cyanobacterium of economic important was studied for the tolerance to cadmium. The bioassay studies showed the EC50 value to be 1.53 mg/g. The cyanobacterium was very sensitive to low metal concentration and the productivity was also reduced. The chlorophyll pigments reduced with decreasing the algal biomass. The algal survival rate showed a marked reduction in their survival rate from 98% in the control medium to >50% at 1.6 mg/L cadmium and no growth in the culture exposed to cadmium concentration of 1.9 mg/L. The Biosorption studies showed that the algae had a great potential for adsorbing the heavy metal on to the cell. A maximum uptake of 44.56 mg/g was obtained in living cells of Spirulina platensis suggesting the possibility of the algae to be a good biosorbent. Culturing the algae in low metal concentrations can be utilized as potential tertiary treatment for metal containing effluent. The immobilized cell of Spirulina platensis was able to be more effective in absorbing the metal 47.89 mg/g to the cell. The results of the study indicate the potentiality of the algae to be a possible agent for removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions.

Swelling urban populations and increasing number of industry and especially automobiles in and around cities have resulted in adverse effect on human health. One of the most important things regarding air pollution in these days is that the number of motor vehicles has increased, and the resulting problems of new types of air pollution on large scale need to be emphasized in large cities.The groundwork for this study is based on collecte d data, specific studies regarding to use passive tube sampling techniques and geo-statistic mapping tools. The low cost and easy operation of the diffusive sampling technique makes it an ideal tool for large scale air pollution surveys with a high spatial resolution. Finally, we used Kriging method to draw air pollutions maps related to NO2 and SO2 measurements in Shiraz city. These maps conducted us to find number of air pollution monitoring stations. Results show that we need 2 traffic, 3 urban, 1 suburban and 1 industrial station in Shiraz area.In fact, the proposed method in this study provides a useful tool that can be easily applied to other polluted cities. Meanwhile, it would become effective as well as the actual time required to implement them.