The present study attempts to investigate some blood parameters of Otolithes ruber during different seasons in terms of both temperature and pollution. For so doing it uses 10 specimens, for each station and season, collected from 5 polluted stations, including Petrochemical, Ghanam, Zangi, Douragh, Patil, and Sajafi as the control group, away from pollution in Musa Creek. The fish are anesthetized with 1ml of clove extract per liter. Their blood samples are taken immediately from the caudal vein, using a heparinized syringe. Afterwards, the serum is separated in a centrifuge with a speed of 6000 rpm for 2 minutes. The desired factors are measured by the Mindray BS200 auto-analyzer and the total protein level, by Bradford's usual laboratory methods. Results show that AST, ALT, ALP, Glucose, and Triglycerides have increased in more polluted stations (P≤0.05). In sheer contrast, total protein and Albumin have decreased as pollution grows (P≥0.05). According to this study, environmental water pollution of the fish has a large impact on the concentration of measured blood parameters, whereas the influence of seasonal changes on most of them is low.

The production rate of industrial and agricultural waste is increasing due to population growth. Soil is the most important receiver of industrial and agricultural waste. Contaminants such as heavy metals in various waste after reception by the soil, immediately become part of the cycle that has different impacts on the environment. Geopolymer, as a chemical stabilizer has the potential to stabilize heavy metals in the soil. In this research, several geopolymers for the stabilization of heavy metals in soil were synthesized. Silicon dioxide (SiO2) and aluminosilicate (Al2SiO4) must be used to produce the geopolymers. Rice husk ash was used as the SiO2 source. Also, Iranian zeolite and sepiolite, and red clay soil were utilized as the source of Al2SiO4. The synthesized geopolymers were investigated for the adsorption of nickel and cadmium. Also, batch and column studies of using geopolymers for the chemical stabilization of heavy metals in soil were conducted. The results revealed a high adsorption capacity of the geopolymers. The zeolite, sepiolite, and red clay geopolymer-soil samples adsorbed 100% of the heavy metals (i.e., Ni and Cd) at a concentration of 100 ppm. The zeolite geopolymer adsorbent adsorbed 57% and 96% of Ni and Cd at a concentration of 1000 ppm, respectively. In general, it was concluded that the use of geopolymer compounds in soils with high heavy metal adsorption capacity could be an efficient approach to prevent groundwater resource pollution.

In this study, water from three urban wetlands of Gurugram – Sultanpur (WS), Damdama (WD), and Basai (WB), was studied for various physicochemical parameters to assess their suitability for the healthy survival of fishes and the results were compared with the limits of these parameters for fish farming. The parameters studied were colour, temperature, pH, alkalinity, hardness, Ca2+- Mg2+ ratio, NO3-, Cl-, SO42-, PO43-, and heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni and Pb). The results of the study indicate the majority of studied parameters are beyond the desirable limits in WB; thus, water is most unsuitable for fishes in WB. WB is unsuitable for parameters: colour, alkalinity, hardness, Ca -Mg ratio, NO3-, Cl-, SO42-, PO43-, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn. WS needs consideration for temperature, NO3-, Cu, Ni and Zn, whereas WD needs improvement in temperature, TDS, NO3-, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn concentration for better fish growth. Most of the parameters are high in summer as compared to winter, which is due to the dilution after rainfall. Hence, we recommend timely action for effective measures to improve the water quality of wetlands and their regular monitoring for improved fish habitat.

In current study, the enhanced efficiency of copper (Cu) phytoremediation potential of Calendula officinalis L. was investigated in a Cu-spiked calcareous soil, using foliar and soil application of humic acid. For this purpose, in a greenhouse experiment, seedlings of C. officinalis were transferred to Cu-spiked soils (0, 250 and 500 mg/kg) and treated separately with soil (soil drench) and foliar (spraying plant leaves) humic acid applications at different levels (0, 10, 20 μM). The humic acid treatments were applied 2 weeks after transferring plant, and eventually the various biochemical-physiological traits and phytoremediation indices of Cu in C. officinalis were measured at (specific) time points. According to the results, C. officinalis grew normally without any toxicity signs in Cu-spiked soils, however with increasing the Cu levels, the dry weight biomass decreased and antioxidant enzymes activities increased. Both foliar and soil humic acid application in Cu-spiked soils increased dry weight biomass, photosynthetic pigment contents, Cu concentration, and bioconcentration factor (BCF). Furthermore, the application of this organic substance, obviously moderated the Cu stress since the antioxidant enzymes activities reduced compared to the control. Based on the results, the obtained translocation factor (TF) and BCF values of Cu, which were >1, indicated that this plant is a Cu-hyperaccumulator, which could extract Cu via phytoextraction mechanism. Generally, the results of this study showed that, among the humic acid treatments, application of 20 μM (especially soil drench application) had the best effect on increasing Cu phytoremediation efficiency in the studied soil and it recommended to enhance the efficiency of Cu phytoremediation in calcareous soils.