International Journal of Environmental Science and Toxicology Research

144-153

Authors: Mohamed A. El-Sadek

The present work deals with the measurement of concentrations and distributions of natural radionuclide γ-ray activities, produced by 40K, 226Ra, 238U and 232Th, in coastal soils of Koam Mashaal area, Northern Egypt. Besides, the radiation doses that would be delivered to living beings from such soils were calculated. Moreover, external and internal hazard indices, radium equivalents, and annual activities were computed. For this purpose, a total of 57 field samples were collected from the surface till a depth of 50 cm. These samples were analysed using high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The concentrations were determined for 40K (range from 114 to 313 Bqkg-1), 226Ra (range from 12 to 234.7 Bqkg-1), 238U (range from 5.5 to 211 Bqkg-1) and 232Th (range from 12.7 to 149.7 Bqkg-1), with their mean values reaching 200.68±4.68Bq/kg, 74.18±6.17Bq/kg, 94.25±6.01Bq/kg and 78.12±4.65Bq/kg respectively. Moreover, gamma–absorbed dose rates and radium equivalent activities were calculated for the analyzed samples to assess their radiation hazards arising from them. The annual effective dose equivalent rates in mSv/y due to natural radioactivity was found to be in the range of 0.03 to 0.21 mSv/y with mean 0.12±0.01 mSv/y. The results of the present work were discussed and compared with international recommended values.

165-172

Authors: Gihan Hosny, Samah Mohamed and Hanan Tayel

Dimethyl nitrosamine (DMN) is a very potent chemical carcinogen which occurs naturally in the environment and in a wide variety of food stuffs, and can be formed in the body by nitrosation of secondary or tertiary amines in the presence of nitrite, nitrate or nitrogen oxides. Soybeans is a powerful antioxidant and has a potent free radical scavenging activity, said to protect cells of breast, liver, brain and other cells in the body from toxins. The objective of this study is to examine the in vivo protective effects of soybeans on the induced oxidative damage in livers of DMN-intoxicated rats histologically and immunohistochemically. The ability of soybeans to protect and detoxify DMN toxicity was examined in rat livers. Dietary pretreatment of rats (body weight 125-135 g) with soybeans for two weeks prior to the intraperitoneal injection of DMN, reversed the hepatotoxic effects of DMN, as examined histologically. DMN in two doses of 15 or 25g/kg were injected. After DMN treatment, the animals were fed with diet with soybeans or without for 72 hours. Rats were sacrificed 72 hours after DMN injection. The immunoreactivity of cells of rats' livers was examined for antibodies of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) (HSPs are a family of proteins that are triggered to be induced when a cell undergoes environmental stresses including oxidative stress, pathogenic conditions...etc). The histological evaluation revealed prominent changes in groups received DMN in high dose more than low dose. Treatment with soybeans reversed this effect. The immunohistochemical assay for the stress-protective proteins "HSP70" showed that treatment with soybeans triggered more expression of this protein. Soybeans can provide substantial protective effect against DMN-induced hepatic oxidative damage with favorable potential to be enhanced in use in human diet.

122-133

Authors: Ismail, M.T. 1*, El Nadi, M.H.A. 2, Nasr, N.A.H. 3, Wahb, E.S.A.3

Water desalination processes have contributed to a better standard of living in a number of countries during the second half of the 20th century, following an increase in water demand for drinking purposes as well as industrial and agricultural uses. Desalination process produces two streams of water, one is the product fresh water, and the other is concentrate water containing salts and any un-reacted pre-treatment chemicals (Brine). Brine is considered to be one of the main environmental aspects that affect the surrounding environment during disposal. There are a variety of methods that are used for brine disposal / management. The most common methods include (i) Surface water Discharge, (ii) Ground water Discharge, (iii) Evaporation ponds. The availability of the disposal alternative is mostly site-specific. Therefore, the most suitable disposal methods from an environmental and economic perspective have to be evaluated on a site-specific basis. The aim of this study is to develop a mathematical model, named “Brine disposal decision support system” (BDDSS). The model’s main objective is to assist decision makers (Consultants or Government authorities) in the selection of an optimum brine disposal solution applying applicable, environmentally friendly and cost effective methods, through a user friendly interface. The BDDSS model can be applied to any desalination plant to obtain the optimum brine disposal solution, by providing three scenarios for brine disposal, after performing a compilation of all inputs provided by the user, then start comparison among the three alternatives and select the optimum solution / alternative through an evaluation matrix based on the cost / environmental of each disposal alternative. The optimum solution provided is the one achieving lowest cost and lowest negative environmental impact. In order to observe the benefits of applying the BDDSS model on desalination plants, a live run has been conducted on an existing desalination plant in Kuwait bay. The reason for selecting this case is that there is severe impact on the surrounding environment as a result of extensive brine disposal from Doha desalination plants to Kuwait bay. This case study will show results obtained before and after applying the model.

115-121

Authors: SHAMPA SARKAR and KALPANA SAGAR

Air pollution is a major concern of now days. It is caused by many gaseous as well as particulate pollutants. The ground level O3 and SPM (PM2.5) are the two essential sources which can fluctuates the quality of ambient air in the atmosphere. The diurnal average of O3 and PM2.5 of the year 2014 reflected the annual and seasonal variations throughout the year. The correlation between O3 and PM2.5 shows maximum fluctuating concentration in the month of December with positive correlation (r=0.1886). The seasonal correlation also shows positive correlation in all the seasons with the interrelation of O3 and PM2.5.

85-91

Authors: Purbali Saha, *Divya Singh, S.Venu and B. Santhosh Ram

Tetradotoxin poisoning from Puffer fishes (Family Tetreaodontidae) is very common in coastal regions of Asian countries. In the present study, bioassays were conducted to investigate the toxicity of liver and ovaries of puffer fish Arothron immaculatus on Oreochromis mossambica collected from South Andaman. Various concentrations of tissue extract (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 ml/g body weight) were introduced into the body of the fish by integrating the same in artificial pellet feed as well as through intra-peritoneal injection. The behavioral and morphological changes in fishes were recorded continuously after the introduction of extract till the time of mortality. The tissue extract produced no lethal change on O. mossambica during the feeding experiment with no mortality. The same concentration of toxin when injected intra-peritoneally was proved to be lethal for the experimental organisms triggering a sudden body color change, paralysis followed by death. The introduction of ovary extract was more fatal and the average time for color change was observed at 5.4, 3.1, 1.4 seconds and the average time of death at 93, 72, 70 seconds respectively in three concentrations. Whereas, the intra-peritoneal introduction of liver extract was more lethal as the average time of color change in 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 ml/g was found to be 77, 87 and 59 seconds and average time of death occurred after 10.22, 4.03, 3.18 minutes respectively. The study suggests that puffer fish, Arothron immaculatus collected from the coast of South Andaman is showing more toxicity in the ovary tissue.

66-74

Authors: Rosborg, I

Iron is an important element for animals and humans, especially needed in hemoglobin for oxygen transport to the cells. Iron is mainly lost through cell defoliation and desquamation of skin cells, but in very small amounts. Hundreds of cows and calves died after ample and bloody diarrhea, followed by loss of appetite and weight, apathy and paralysis on a Swedish farm. Water analysis of the drilled well indicated water rich in health bringing minerals such as calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate. However, iron concentration was elevated, 1.3 mg/L. Autopsy of four calves showed inflamed gastrointestinal tract. Men from the same area reported similar symptoms. Hair of the men was high in iron, and the drinking water similarly revealed a high iron concentration > 1mg/L. Problems with especially weight loss and diarrhea in horses were also reported, but from another area in Sweden. People and cattle living on this farm had similar symptoms. Well water iron concentration was 1.0-5.5 mg/L, as tested through the years. Hair of horses showed elevated iron. Microbiologically all these waters were without notes. Iron in drinking water >1 mg/L seems to be a health risk to humans, cattle and horses.