Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, toxic compounds widely distributed in the environment by bacteria, is a cheap and safe cleaning up method. The present study attempts to isolate and characterize dioxygenase-producing bacteria which are able to degrade phenanthrene and pyrene from refinery soils. It also aims to assess in vitro biodegradation. To do so, two contaminated soil samples were collected from Isfahan-Iran refinery. The population of phenanthrene and pyrene degrading bacteria were 2.17 × 103 and 1.19 × 103 CFU/g in sample 1 and  21.50 × 103 and 19.40 × 103 CFU/g in sample 2. A sum of 18 phenanthrene and pyrene degrading bacteria were isolated using enrichment culture technique, three of them getting selected which had dioxygenase activity and produced biosurfactant. Identified as Pseudomonas plecoglossicida ATAI18, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATAI19, and Pseudomonas stutzeri ATAI21, they were submitted to GenBank under the accession number of KF113842, KF113843, and KF113845 respectively. The degradation rate of pyrene (50 mg/L) by strains ATAI18 and ATAI19 was 45.32% and 31.23%, respectively. The strain ATAI21 degraded 39.38% of phenanthrene (50 mg/L) after 9 days. These isolated bacteria can be used to improve microbial population of other hydrocarbon-polluted soils for faster bioremediation of such areas.

The present study has been conducted on Caspian Roach (Rutilus rutilus) so that the impact of different concentrations lead on blood hematological, biochemical, and immunological indicators could be investigated. The roach (Rutilus rutilus), used in this study, was 3.3±0.3 g heavy and 4±0.80 cm long in average. The fish were exposed to a low concentration of 10% LC50 and high concentration of 50% LC50 lead for a period of 0, 24, 48, and 96 h. The experiment was done in a static toxicity condition, within tanks of 400L, each including 14 fish. In the 96-hour period (10% LC50 Lead), the parameters of WBC and RBC dropped significantly in comparison to the control group (0 h) (P<0.05). MCV and MCH elevated as the exposure time ascended up to 96 h (P<0.05), but the cortisol decreased in the meantime. In the 96-hour period (50% LC50 Lead) RBC, Hb and Hct parameters plummeted towards the control group (P<0.05). Heavy metals can change physiological and biochemical parameters in fish blood. The results show that lead (10% LC50 and 50% LC50 concentration Lead) may poison the fish, causing their death. The major toxicity belongs to the 50% LC50 concentration Lead.

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.

This study utilizes a decade long (2005-2014) monthly data of Total Column Tropospheric Ozone (TCTO) in Dubson units to evaluate the spatial and temporal trend of LAO over some major cities of West Africa, namely Lagos, Accra, Niamey, Abuja, Bamako, Dakar, Agadez, Conakry, Kano, and Ouagadougou which are either capital cites or major commercial hubs, where the population ranges from 0.09 million (Agadez, Niger) to over 9 million (Kano and Lagos, Nigeria). The mean (long term average) of TCTO in Lagos (Nigeria) was 34.4±0.6 DU (α=5%) for the entire period, being the highest in all major cities of this study. The lowest TCTO, 30.4±0.5 DU (α=5%), occurred in Bamako (Mali). It was also observed that the concentrations of TCTO vary seasonally. The seasonal changes in TCTO was investigated by categorizing months of the year to very dry months of December, January, and February (DJF), onset of rainy season months of March, April, and May (MAM), wet season months of June, July, and August (JJA), and end of rainy season months of September, October, and November (SON). Seasonal mean of TCTO is higher in all cities, close to the coast during DJF, and cities, north of latitude 12o N, during MAM, compared to rest of the seasons. Elevated TCTO concentrations can be attributed to transport mixing, due to the flow direction of well-known wind regime over the study area. This was established from the analysis of correlation coefficient between the mean of zonal, meridional winds, vertical wind speeds and divergence, and TCTO over region.

During the last decade, the expansion of urbanization and industrial activities caused serious environmental problems such as soil pollution. Novel technologies are required to remediate soil contamination with toxic contaminants, including heavy metals and organic pollutants. In recent years, there have been increasing attempts to improve soil remediation efficiency. Electrokinetic (EK) is an emerging remediation technology for mixed contaminants, especially in low hydraulic conductivity soils. During EK remediation process, an electric field is applied to the specimen to remove the contaminants from soil by means of electro-osmotic (EO), electro-migration (EM), and electrophoresis (EP) processes. The usual EK technique may have no suitable removal efficiency or contaminants migration. Thus, enhancement techniques or their combination with other technologies are required to overcome EK limitations, increasing its efficiency. The present study reviews seven main enhancement techniques combined with EK; they include using surfactant, chelants, complexing agents, soil pH control, bioremediation, permeable reactive barriers, and ultrasonication. It should be mentioned that, selecting the suitable combination technique highly depends on the soil type and the kind of contaminant.

The present study has been conducted to determine the surface water quality of urban area in Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh by determining some water quality parameters (Transparency, Temperature, pH, EC, Eh, DO, TSS, TDS, TS, BOD5, COD, TOC, Cl-, Br-, SO4-2, NO3-, NO2-, PO4-3, TP, HCO3- and Total alkalinity) as well as the status of phytoplankton’s community in the water from two lakes (Tiger Lake and AERE Lake) and one canal (Karnapara Canal). It has been shown that, with exception of BOD and COD, all water quality parameters of AERE Lake in the present study are within the acceptable limits, recommended by local and international standards. Among water quality parameters of Tiger Lake and Karnapara Canal, the concentration of transparency, temperature, EC, DO, TSS, TDS, BOD, COD, TOC, NO2-, and TP exceed the acceptable limits. Organic Pollution Index (OPI) demonstrate that the water bodies are severely polluted by organic matters. R mode Cluster Analysis (CA) suggests that common sources of water quality parameters are industrial, agricultural, and natural. The Principle Component Analysis/Factor Analysis (PCA/FA) identifies two dominant factors, responsible for data structure, explaining 100% of total variance in the data set. The PCA agrees with CA, suggesting that multiple anthropogenic and natural sources are responsible for the water quality parameters. The present study reflects the actual scenario of surface water quality of Savar urban area, thus helping the policy planers and makers of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to take proper management and abatement strategies for the management of sustainable water resource in Bangladesh.

Djendjen River is one of the largest rivers in the region of Jijel (Algeria). Human activities such as urban discharges, industrial, agricultural, and livestock have significant effects on the quality of water. The present study attempts to evaluate the quality of water along the banks of the Djendjen River at different sampling sites, using physico-chemical and bacteriological methods. The collected samples are analyzed per standard method parameters and measured in situ. The mean values of the physico-chemical parameters of the river water samples are consistently lower than the levels, certified by the Algerian standard (exept for pH and PO43-). The total and fecal coliform surpasses the Algerian standard limits (0 cfu/ 100 ml) at all sites, signifying that without treatment the water is unsuitable for human consumption. Results reveal that water quality of the Djendjen River is generally affected by the anthropogenic activities, taking place along its banks. The moderate organic pollution (OPI= 2-2.6) and high faecal contamination (MQI=3-3.25) of water in the study area has adverse impacts on the environment and public health, which requires a combined treatment (biological and physicochemical).

With a mean precipitation rate, much lower than that of the world, Iran is among the countries that face severe water challenges. The present study has dealt with the evaluation of hydrochemistry of Faryab spring water in Hormozgan Province, Iran. Four different composite water samples have been analyzed to detect major anions, cations, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, pH, and sodium absorption ratio. The dominant water type was detected as sodium-chloride, with remarkable high concentration of sodium and chloride ions that makes it unfit for drinking purposes. Regarding irrigation use, high values of electrical conductivity (29989 to 31983 µS/cm) and sodium absorption ratio (SAR) (58.1 to 61) indicate a very high risk level for salinity and sodium alkali hazards, respectively. Abundance of secondary minerals such as halite and gypsum is considered to be the main reason for remarkably-high TDS values. Intensity of salt domes within the area would also facilitate solution/dissolution process of Na+ and Cl- into water column.

Dust particles have dangerous impacts on human health, the environment, and the economy. Recently dust storms, originating from Arabian countries, have increased remarkably, affecting western and central parts of Iran.HYSPLIT model and the mean monthly maps of AAI (Absorbing Aerosol Index), surface skin temperature, and top soil layer moisture from OMI (Ozone Measurement Instrument) have been used to study the origins and trajectories of suspended particles of dust storms from wind erosion during the warm period in 2010.According to HYSPLIT Model, during their move from their source areas to the downwind ones, dust particles could arrive at city of Ahvaz in different directions: (a) NW-SE (the dust particles are transported from north western region of Iraq and eastern Syria), (b) W-E (the dust particles are transported from central parts of Iraq to the south western and western parts of Iran). Also, inspecting dust emission potential with the aerosol index data from Ozone Measurement Instrument (OMI) shows a persistent intense dust activity in north western parts of Iraq and eastern Syria, hitting South-West of Iran, especially the city of Ahvaz. As a result, the main origins of dust particles in the city of Ahvaz include north west Iraq as well as east Syria.

The Nematodes are roundworms that are found in every environment of the earth. While some species are harmful parasites, others play a vital role in nutrient cycle and medical research. Nematode infestation in the fields is poly-specific; however, depending on the agro-climatic conditions, one or two species are dominant over the rest. The present studies attempts to observe and control the root knot infestation on spinach (Spinacea oleracea), which belong to Chenopodiaceous family and is extensively cultivated in India for its nutritious leaves. Various organic metabolites have been estimated in root knot nematode infested spinach, including chlorophyll, total carbohydrates, and total free amino acids. Spinach plants, infested with root knot nematode, have been treated with peels of lemon, which proved beneficial in terms of increased chlorophyll content. Altered total carbohydrate and total free amino acid content have been found with S/4 of lemon-peel-treated spinach plants. It has been found that the infested spinach shows 137.5% carbohydrate content over the normal plants. The kaghzi neemboo amended spinach contains lower carbohydrate than normal-control. Rate of carbohydrate contents has been found to be inversely proportional to the rate of extracts concentrations as S/4, S/2, and S show 92.5%, 55%, and 37.5% increase over normal-control spinach. The bio-amendment of citrus aurantifolia, (kaghzi neemboo) helps controlling root knot nematodes, which is more beneficial than using chemicals to control the same, as the chemical fertilizer causes pollution, exerting negative impacts on flora and fauna.