Environmental pollution has posed a major threat to terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems, thereby affecting microflora and micro-fauna populations. This study assessed the growth attributes of maize plants on crude oil-polluted soils amended with agro-wastes. Six kilograms each of composite soil sample was weighed and transferred into one hundred and fifty labeled plastic buckets with drainage holes for soil aeration and spiked with 300mls each of crude oil, allowing for 14 days of soil acclimatization. Soil amendments such as groundnut husks, cassava peels, empty fruit bunch of oil palm, and maize cob powder were applied and allowed for 90 days. Maize seeds were sowed, while periodic data were collected and subjected to a three-way ANOVA. The result obtained revealed that maize seeds grown on agro-wastes treated and pristine control soils show early seed germination than the crude oil-polluted control soil. The plant height obtained for GnH14P + MaC14P at 10% was the highest with a mean (of 152.81cm2), and the leaf area of the maize from soil treated with GnH14P + EFBOP14P at 10% had the highest mean (756cm2), the leaf length of maize from soil treated with GnH14P + CasP14P at 3%, 6%, and 10% was the highest with mean ranging (54-97 cm2) with no significant difference in mean values obtained. The stem girth, number of leaves, and leaf width were generally improved in the bio-remediated soils. The result for the yield performance of maize shows that the days to flowering were shortened in the bio-remediated soil compared to the prolonged flowering days observed in the crude-oil polluted control. The number of seeds per cob was high in the bio-remediated soils while no seed was obtained in the crude-oil-polluted control soils. It can be concluded that the ameliorated treatment with the agro-wastes improves the performance of maize plants in crude oil-polluted soils.

This study investigated the potential impact of a fertilizer factory in Upper Egypt on the surrounding soil's radioactivity levels. Gamma-ray spectrometry was used to measure the concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, and 40K) in soil samples collected near the factory. Additionally, radon gas concentrations were measured, and various radiological hazard indices were calculated. Activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K varied in the soil samples, ranging from 110.63 to 326.12 Bq/kg for 238U, 172.72 to 582.37 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 25.63 to 189.15 Bq/kg for 232Th, and 252.20 to 713.24 Bq/kg for 40K. Radium equivalent activity, absorbed gamma dose, and external and internal hazard indices exceeded permissible levels. Radon gas concentrations varied from 20.89 to 192.30 Bq/m3, with an average of 104.43 Bq/m3. The calculated effective dose from radon inhalation exceeded the recommended limit. The elevated levels of radioactivity in soil and the high radon gas concentrations suggest a potential health risk for farmers and residents near the fertilizer factory. Further investigations and mitigation strategies may be necessary to ensure the safety of the surrounding population.

Human developmental activities always result to waste generation; that invariably pollute the environment, if not properly managed. The aim of this study is to determine soil quality around Odo Iya-Alaro at Ojota, Lagos. A total of 12 soil samples were collected from 0 -15 cm and 15- 30 cm at three different spots of 100 and 500 m (control) away from the bank of the river. Samples were analysed for pH, EC, NO3, TOC; Zn, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb using standard analytical methods. The results were subjected to both differential and inferential statistics using statistical package (SPSS 22.0 version). Subsequently, the data were compared with Earth crust values. The soil pollution was evaluated using pollution, ecological risk, and geo-accumulation index. Cr (50.43), Ni (29.47), and Cu (104.10) mg/kg at 100 m were higher than their controls; (12.09), (8.14), and (86.06) mg/kg respectively, but lower than their respective Earth crusts; (100), (80) except (50) mg/kg. The soil was moderately polluted with pH (1.15), Na (3.00), K (2.11), Mg (1.87), Ca (1.26) and Cu (1.21); considerably polluted with EC (3.82), TOC (3.39), and Ni (3.62); and very highly polluted with Fe (8.26). Fe (711.73) had a very high ecological risk.  The Geo – accumulation index was moderately - strongly polluted with Zn (2.61), and very strongly polluted with pH (5.37), EC (14.90), NO3 (9.66), Na (15.41), K (11.31), Mg (9.51), Ca (17.08), Fe (15.32), Cu (12.54), Cr (8.67), and Ni (7.32). The soil was polluted. and urgently needs reclamation for Garden Park (relaxation).

Kerosene is the colorless liquid and slightly heavier than gasoline thatspecific odor removes after evaporation. Soil and underground water source arecontaminated with different pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons. These pollutantshave various negative environmental effects on soil and surrounding environment. Theaim of this research is to understand the effect of kerosene pollution on two differentsoils. The two different collected soils include Industrial and Forest soil. Six microcosmswere designed. Indeed, each soil has three microcosms: unpolluted microcosm, pollutedmicrocosm, and polluted microcosm with nutrient (Nitrogen and Phosphor). Some factorswere assayed in each microcosm during 120 day of experiment. These factors includetotal heterotrophic bacteria, total kerosene degrading bacteria, dehydrogenase enzyme,and kerosene biodegradation. The results of this study show that the highest quantity ofheterotrophic bacteria is related to forest soil (6×109). The quantities of kerosenedegrading bacteria significantly were lower than heterotrophic bacteria in all soilmicrocosms. The quantity of kerosene degrading bacteria have decrement pattern until60th day of experiment, but, after this day, these bacteria have increment pattern. The bestdehydrogenase activity between different microcosms is related to polluted microcosmwith kerosene except for farmland soil. The highest biodegradation of kerosene in allstudied soil belongs to industrial microcosm (95%). Statistical analysis of the resultsshows that there is a significant correlation between MPN quantity of heterotrophicbacteria and other assayed factrs. Also, forest soil has significant difference with othersoils. It may be possible to propose appropriate strategies for bioremediation of differentstudied soil types using the results obtained in this research.

A study on natural radioactivity in virgin and agricultural soil samples collected from Sungai Petani was conducted using high-purity germanium. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in virgin soils were 51.06±5.83, 78.44±6.42, and 125.66±7.26 Bq kg−1, respectively, while those in agricultural soils were 80.63±5.78, 116.87±7.87, and 200.66±18.24 Bq kg−1, respectively. The corresponding activity concentrations in agricultural soils were higher than those in virgin soils and those reported for other countries of the world. The average values of radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), outdoor annual effective doses (Eout), and indoor annual effective doses (Ein) in agricultural soils were 258.38 Ba kg−1, 0.708, 0.925, 0.162 mSv y−1, and 0.669 mSv y−1, respectively. The average values of outdoor external dose (Dout) and indoor absorbed dose (Din) rate in agricultural soils were 116.04 and 218.46 nGy h−1, respectively, which were higher than the permissible limit. Soil with Hex and Hin less than unity are suitable for use as building materials and in agriculture.

Magnetic properties are used throughout the world to measure the concentration of (ferri) magnetic minerals in soil, sediment and dust. These minerals in soil come from a variety of sources, including air-borne particulate pollution, parent rock and paedogenesis. Changes in the content of magnetic minerals, as well as their spatial and vertical distribution in soil profiles are caused by human activity. Magnetic minerals are distinguished by their affinity for other elements found in soil, such as heavy metal. As a result, magnetic susceptibility has been widely used as an approximation of heavy metal contamination in soil. The current study was conducted in a tropical deciduous forest in Central Uttar Pradesh, namely the kukrail reserve forest in Lucknow to assess heavy metal contamination levels caused by various anthropogenic activities and to confirm the utility of using MS surveying in these types of studies. The current study was conducted at two sites viz. agricultural area and forest area because these sites are the most contaminated ones. Significant correlation between heavy metal concentration and magnetic susceptibility with p<0.005 is noticed for Co, Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu and Fe of agricultural area. Similarly in forest area significant correlation exists between Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn.  The χLF values show a significant correlation with the concentration of heavy metals except for Cu and Cr in forest area and Pb and Zn in agricultural area. In comparison to the methodologies of chemical analysis, the χLF measurement techniques provide us with lower cost and less time consuming method for identification of possible soil pollution.

Constructed wetland systems (CWs) are low-cost natural treatment systems for various types of influents. Although mainly the natural wetlands are soil-based, the constructed wetlands have been traditionally built using aggregate media. The performance of four types of available soils in Chhattisgarh was studied as the filter media in the horizontal subsurface flow-constructed wetland (HSFCW). Fourteen pilot-scale CW units with different soil types (entisol, vertisol, alfisol, inceptisol, and stone aggregate) and plant types (Canna indica and Typha latifolia) were used to treat domestic wastewater (WW). One set of each soil base reactor was planted with Canna indica and Typha latifolia, and one was kept blank (unplanted). All soils and plants are easily available.The reactors received primary wastewater in batch loads with WW loading for six hours to maintain aerobic conditions. The residence time of WW was 48 hours, and the applied hydraulic loading rate (HLR) was based on soil and aggregate. According to the findings, the planted HSFCW was more effective than the unplanted system. The results show that the wetland constructed on the treatment efficiency of the soil base has excellent potential to treat WW, with both plants.

Radioactive contamination of the earth’s biosphere has always been a source of concern. From the health point of view, radiation exposure and dose delivered to human beings are of prime importance. Certain parts of coastal southwest districts of the state of Kerala in India namely Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kollam (Quilon) and Alappuzha (Alleppey) are known high background radiation areas (HBRA) owing to the presence of rich quantities of thorium and uranium. Surface soil samples from these districts' HBRAs and adjoining regions were studied for their primordial radionuclide levels using NaI(Tl) based gamma-ray spectrometry. Specific activities of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K nuclides in soil samples from the whole study area were between 4.7 Bq/kg to 130 Bq/kg, 6.5 Bq/kg to 611 Bq/kg and 101 Bq/kg to 1852 Bq/kg, respectively. Important dosimetric parameters namely radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed gamma dose (D), Indoor and outdoor Annual Effective Dose equivalents (AEDin &amp; AEDout), internal and external hazard indices (Hin &amp; Hex) for gamma exposure, and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) were also determined to assess probable health effects on human beings residing in these regions. A comparison of average specific radioactivities and average indoor annual effective doses between the HBRA and Normal background Radiation Area (NBRA) is presented. Results show that the neighbouring regions have considerably lower radiation dosimetric parameters.

A pot experiment was carried out in the green house of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI), Dhaka to study the response of jute (Corchorus capsularies and Corchorus olitorius) to the accumulation of As from soil to plants when various rates of As were applied. In the experiment, four treatments of arsenic (control, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) were applied. The salt sodium meta-arsenite (NaAsO2) was used as a source of As. Three jute varieties of CVL-1, 0-9897 and OM-1 were used.  CVL-1 variety is As sensitive whereas the 0-9897 and OM-1 varieties appeared to be As tolerant and OM-1 takes up the highest amount of As. Arsenic will be ingested into the body exceeding the maximum allowable daily limit (0.22mg/kg per day) through the consumption of 100g of jute leaves of these three varieties per day. Accumulation of As at 10 and 40 mg/kg treatment, the maximum was observed at 52 days harvest for CVL-1 while for the other two treatments, the maximum was observed at 42 days of growth. In the case of 0-9897 and OM-1 varieties, overall the maximum accumulation of As was observed at 42 days of growth at 40 mg/kg treatment.

The present paper measures natural radioactivity in different areas of Wassit governorate, using (HPGe) detector. Gamma spectrum analysis for each sample along with caululated specific activity show that the average concentrations of U-238, Th-232, and K-40 have been 19.420±4.7 Bq/kg, 18.487±5.05 Bq/kg, and 204.266±46.9 Bq/kg respectively, which is lower than the worldwide average value. While the average value of Radium equivalent, absorbed dose, indoor and outdoor annual effective dose, activity index, and internal and external hazard index for each sample have been found to be 85.182 Bq/kg, 39.962 nGy/h, 0.196 mSv/y, 0.049 mSv/y, 0.374, 0.313, 0.309, and 0.230 respectively, all of them are lower than the permissibility limit value.