This study investigated the evolutionary history of the Late glacial in number of wetlands in south part of Lake Urmia. Twenty-six cores with a maximum depth of 12 m, average 8 m and total depth of about 190 m were collected from sediments under the southern and southwestern wetlands using a handi auger. Sedimentary facies were identified and separated based on sediments texture and structure, composition of evaporite minerals and organic materials, also color and other macroscopic elements. The results indicated the presence of eight distinct sedimentary facies belonging to the lacustrine, wetland and fluvial (river) sedimentary environments. In the last 20 cal ka BP, the two dominant dry periods, about 4 cal ka BP and 13 cal ka BP, have been associated with the transgression of dry (alluvial) facies towards the lake and the regression of Lake facies. The dry period 4 cal ka BP affected the southern part of Lake Urmia and marginal wetlands, while the dry period 13000 years ago was more intense and longer and lasted at least 3 cal ka BP.In the last 2cal ka BP, the two dominant dry periods, about 4 cal ka BP and 13 cal ka BP, have been associated with the transgression of dry (alluvial) facies towards the lake and the regression of Lake facies. The dry period 4 cal ka BP affected the southern part of Lake Urmia and marginal wetlands, while the dry period 13000 years ago was more intense and longer and lasted at least 3 cal ka BP.

Manufactured nanoparticles (NP) have caused extreme concern about their ecotoxicological effects on the marine systems. In this study, we investigated the biological effects (oxidative stress and genotoxic response) of TiO2-NP at predicted environmental relevant concentrations (0.2 mg/l and 1 mg/l) on marine mussel Mytilus trossulus a dominant member of the far eastern coastal community. The results of the experiment revealed that TiO2-NP when suspended in seawater, formed agglomerates ranging from 400 nm to several μm in diameter. However, TiO2-NP caused obviously oxidative damage on the mussel as evidenced by the significant elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the gill and digestive gland. The genotoxic potential of TiO2-NP was assessed by comet assay, which detect primary DNA damage. The gill and digestive gland cells showed significantly enhanced DNA damage for both concentrations of TiO2-NP compared to the control group. These results propose that the TiO2-NP are entering the marine coastal waters can cause genotoxic effect on mollusks and comet assay can be successfully applied as an effective tool for risk assessment of NP on the marine invertebrates. The findings of this study demonstrate that the aggregation of TiO2-NP does not reduced of NP ecotoxicity, but only changes the biological responses.

The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of a hospital is very important to properly protect both patients and the staff against hospital infections. The present study aims at evaluating the efficiency of photocatalytic filters as well as the impact of important factors such as the type of UV wavelength (UVC, UVA) with different intensities and loading rates of TiO2 in HEPA Filters on reducing airborne microorganisms. For so doing, it has prepared photocatalytic filters by dipping them into 2% and 4% titanium dioxide suspensions as low and high loading, respectively. The experiments have been carried out on four species’ microorganisms, namely Epidermidis, Subtilis, Niger, and Penicillium. Fungi and bacteria suspensions have been prepared with concentrations of 106, 107 CFU/m3, respectively. In terms of microorganism removal, the efficiency of HEPA filters in both types of TiO2 loading and UVC and UVA radiations with two intensities at three times intervals (60, 90, and 120 min) have been investigated. Results show that lower penetration microorganism belong to PCO (TiO2 + UV), compared to photolysis (UV alone) at all intervals of UV radiation. TiO2 loading has no significant effect on percentage removal in all microorganisms. The percentage penetration of microorganisms under UVC radiation is lower than UVA radiation. Also, increasing the radiation intensity in both types of UV shows that it has higher effectiveness for removing bacteria and fungi. Therefore, the use of photocatalytic HEPA filters with UVC radiation can play an influential role in reduction of the microorganisms in different places such as hospitals, cleanrooms, etc.

In this paper, human hair, as a waste material, was utilized in order to prepare keratin nanoparticles. The characterization of keratin nanoparticles was performed applying Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). The average diameter of keratin nanoparticles was found to be 63.7 nm, using particle size analyzer. Subsequently, the keratin nanoparticles were employed for Cr (VI) ions adsorption. The batch experiment was carried out to find the optimum conditions; i.e. contact time, pH, adsorbent dose and initial concentration of Cr (VI) ions. The adsorption capacity was extremely pH-dependent, and the maximum adsorption of Cr (VI) happened in the acidic pH range. The results demonstrated that the maximum adsorption capacity, obtained in acidic pH, was 161.29 mg/g. The equilibrium data were well fitted by Freundlich isotherm. The kinetic studies were performed with the Lagergren’s first-order, Pseudo-second order, Elovich, and Intra-particle diffusion models. In this sense, in order to describe kinetic data, we came to this understanding that Pseudo-second order model was the best choice. The thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption process indicated that the Cr (VI) adsorption on keratin nanoparticles is endothermic and spontaneous.

This work aims to assess the Water Quality Index (WQI) of the groundwater-based public drinking water supply system of Kamrup District (Rural) of Assam, India. For assessing WQI, water samples have been collected, both raw water and treated water, from seventy-eight public drinking water supply projects over the district for comprehensive physicochemical analysis. The WQI was calculated based on the weightage derived from the literature survey and based on the doctors’ weightage. The derived WQI showed that the water quality falls from poor to very poor quality. However, the concentration of the water quality parameters except Iron, Fluoride, and Manganese are within the permissible limit in all the water supply projects. It shows that the WQI calculated based on the weightage derived, as stated above, is not displaying the actual water quality of the supplied water. As such, a modified method is proposed to calculate the WQI of the supplied water considering the permissible limit of the parameters in deriving the weightage for the parameters. The WQI values calculated using the modified method falls in the range of good water quality to poor water quality and shows the true water quality of the supplied water. The statistical analysis of the water quality parameters and WQI shows that the WQI has a very high correlation with Manganese with a coefficient of correlation value of 0.86, followed by 0.4 with Chloride and 0.34 with Fluoride.

In order to assess the environmental impact of soil polluted with trace metals, representative soils were collected surrounding the abandoned Pb–Zn mine mill (SM soils), and the new temporary ore storage site (SS soils), which are located in the vicinity of Medina (Aures), North-east of Algeria. Total digestion has been used to determine the total content of Zinc, Copper, Lead, Cadmium, and Arsenic, then it was analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The sequential extraction Tessier scheme was also used to extract the chemical forms of Zn, Cu, and Pb, and their concentrations in each fraction were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Lead was the most abundant trace metals, its concentration in mg.kg-1 ranged between (67.20 – 46000), followed by Zinc (26 - 1853), Copper (32 – 495), Arsenic (8 – 116), and Cadmium (0.3 - 7.30). Sequential extraction shows that Zinc was mainly associated with reducible and residual fractions. Copper was bound predominantly with the minerals in the residual fraction, followed by the organic matter. Lead was bound mainly with carbonate fraction in SM soils, while Pb in the SM soils was mainly associated with the reducible fraction. The Pb, Zn, Cu mobility factor was significantly higher in SM soils than in SS soils. These results indicate that anthropic activities related to ore concentration and mining process lead to increased concentration of trace metals in surrounding soils, hence their mobility and bioavailability, this consists a potential risk to the environment and biota.

Water resource management requires simple tools to enable managers to make decisions. This is the case for water quality indices that provide access to clear, synthetic and well-targeted information. In this study, we have chosen two indices based on two different approaches, the Microbiological Quality Index (MQI), which is determined from bacteriological analyses of water, and the Water Quality Index (WQI), which is based on physicochemical parameters. The Water Quality Index (WQI) shows a longitudinal upstream-downstream variation and ranges from is between five (5) (Null Faecal Contamination) at sampling point P1 and 3.4 (Moderate Fecal Contamination) at P2. The Water Quality Index (WQI) ranges from a low of 14.08 (excellent water quality) at the P1 level to a high of 93.05 at the P2 level (poor water quality) receiving wastewater discharges. The WQI results for P3 and P4, show that the water is of good quality (downstream of P2), which shows the degree of self-purification of the Oum Er Rabia River, regardless of the sampling period. Finally, the results of the MQI corroborate those obtained with the WQI for the water quality of the different sampling points.

To support the fulfillment of Sweden’s targets in term of climate change and economic growth, we need to do a distinct study to show the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) pattern in different sector of the economy, as the GDP allocation, energy intensities, GHG emission, and technological development are different between sectors. This kind of study helps to figure out how the different sectors contribute to climate change and could appoint more particular and effective environment-energy policies. For this aim, we analyzed the existence of the EKC by implementing the ARDL Bound test approach in the whole and individual sectors of Sweden’s economy throughout 1990-2019. Our results indicated the contribution of a particular sector on total GHG emissions per capita. Results of the whole economy confirmed the EEKC hypothesis with a turning point in 1996, in which the AFF sector, unlike industry and service, had increased GHG emissions. Disaggregated sectoral analysis showed various results. The industry sector had efficient energy improvement. Policymakers should pay attention to AFF’s GHG emissions, as different sources of energy consumption had not impressive impact in both the short and long term. Also, effective fossil-related policies are necessary for the service sector due to the main contribution to transportation.

In Mirzapur (U.P.), a power-starved district, the UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) technique was adopted. Almost all of the available technologies do not treat heavy metals, so, is the case with the UASB also. The present study is to assess how much heavy metal can get accumulated in plant tissues in different species. The result of the present study was that the concentration of Pb(1106.31)>Zn(221.45)>Cd(49.26)>Hg(23.37) mg/Kg in the sludge while the concentration of Zn(93.35)>Pb(52.00)>Hg(16.93)>Cd(1.53) mg/Kg in the soil. When the sludge was mixed with the soil the trend got changed and the trend was Pb(596.36)>Zn(219.86)>Cd(24.70)>Hg(22.63) mg/Kg. Three different species that were chosen for the study were Basella Alba (Spinach), Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) & Brassica Juncea (Mustard). The trend of accumulation of studied heavy metals in the Brassica Juncea (Mustard) was Zn(85.33)>Pb(25.88)>Hg(11.23)>Cd(0.99) mg/Kg. In Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato) the trend was Pb(231.11)>Zn(108.72)>Hg(12.43)>Cd(9.41) mg/Kg  and in Basella alba (Spinach) was Zn(103.81)>Pb(83.90)>Hg(10.78)>Cd(4.18) mg/Kg. Overall the study reveals that the accumulation of heavy metals takes place in plants grown in soil mixed with sewage sludge. The reduction in the concentration of Pb, Cd, Hg and Zn in sludge mixed with soil after the harvesting of plant in case of Solanum lycopersicum were 39.38%, 47.93%, 6.18% and 49.89% respectively; while in case of Basella alba these were 25.23%, 57.53%, 71.58% and 49.16% respectively; and in case of Brassica Juncea these reduction were 25.86%, 60.80%, 70.96% and 49.04% respectively.

The removal of toxic textile dye, Congo red (CR) an azo based textile dye, was investigated from aqueous solution by low cost, eco-friendly available adsorbents such as petiole part (stem) of water lily (Nymphaea alba) under various experimental conditions.Batch experiment was carried out at varying pH, dye concentration, contact time and particle size as well as doses of the adsorbent. CR was analyzed by a UV-visible spectrophotometer. Optimum pH was found at pH 2 and 6. A relative study was done using sodium chlorite and formaldehyde treated water lily. The maximum removal of CR was obtained 94.68% using untreated water lily (UT-WL). Adsorption increased with the increase of the particle size of the adsorbent. The highest removal of CR was found at a lower dose (62.5 g/g) of the adsorbent. The Freundlich isotherm model was best fitted to equilibrium data obtained from the experiment. The adsorption kinetics successfully fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.