International Journal of Environmental Science and Toxicology Research

Number Vol. 3(9), 2015

144-153
Assessment of Radiological Indices of Soil Samples from Northern Egypt through the Measurement of the Activity Concentrations of Natural Radionuclides

Authors: Mohamed A. El-Sadek

Abstract

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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.

154-164
The Potential Environmental Impact of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons emitted from Brick Factories

Authors: Gihan Hosny*, Mohsen Abdelwahab, Mostafa M.S. Abbassy, El-Sayed A. Shalaby

Abstract

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The potential environmental and health impacts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emitted from brick industries of west delta in Egypt are not well-addressed. The current study focuses on characterization of PAHs’ emission and their health risk assessment arising from brick factories, during summer and winter seasons of 2013. Concentrations of different PAHs were measured in air and soil. Air samples of 12h and soil were collected at different sampling sites. PAH compounds were quantified by using GC. The distribution of individual PAH compounds in the air samples were generally decreased with increasing molecular weight and vice versa in soil samples. PAH compounds with two to four aromatic rings were the predominant in the air samples during the period of study. Low dispersive conditions during winter due to the low temperature trap PAHs pollutant over the study area for long periods and consequently increasing the levels of these pollutants during winter. The contribution of B(a)A to the total carcinogenic activity, TCA, was 49.18% showing a higher contribution, during winter season. The TCA was 8.62 ng/m3 with a high contribution to particulate-phase. The higher contribution of the total carcinogenic activity (TCA) was related to HMW more than LMW PAHs, which are the most hazardous substances to human health. The estimated life time lung cancer risk due to exposure to PAHs emitted from brick industries, only, at that region was about 9.64 cases of lung cancer /100000 persons. We therefore conclude that the lung cancer risk due to PAH exposures in that region cannot be neglected and should be considered for any future health protection program.

165-172
The In Vivo Protective Effects of Soybeans on DMN-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Authors: Gihan Hosny, Samah Mohamed and Hanan Tayel

Abstract

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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.

173-181
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Community Disease Control in Cross River State, Nigeria

Authors: Eneji, C.V. O., Eneji, J. E. O., Asuquo, I. and Ubom, Bassey, A.E.

Abstract

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This study was designed to examine how water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs could be used for community diseases control, specifically; this study is initiated to examine the relationship between water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) behavior/practices and the incidence of WASH related health complications in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Two research questions were asked as to how the sampled population perceived their WASH behavior/practices and how can WASH principles help to reduce the incidence of WASH related health complications in the study area, a null hypothesis of no relationship between water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) behaviors/ practices and the incidence of water and sanitation related health complications in the health status of the studied population was formulated to guide the study. Using stage-wise sampling technique, a sample of 638 respondents were sampled from among farmers, traders, artisans, civil servants, CBO/NGO/CSO staff and others. Four instruments were used for data collection, focus group discussion, key informant interview, transect walk and structured questionnaire. Simple percentage and Spearman rho correlation analysis was used for analyzing data generated from the field. The result of the analysis shows that the people have a negative perception of the WASH behavior and practices and its health implication. The Spearman rho correlation analysis shows a correlation value of 0.91 at a 0.05 significance level under 637 degree of freedom. The result shows a very positive correlation between WASH behavior/practices and incidence of WASH related health complications among the studied population. The implication therefore is that negative or poor WASH behaviors/practice increases the incidences of WASH related health complications while positive WASH behaviors/practices reduces WASH related health complications in the rural areas under study. It is recommended that community members should carry out self help construction of improved pit latrine through the use of locally available materials, and awareness creation should further be carried out to create the needed awareness on WASH principles.