Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment (IJEE)

81-92

Authors: Md. Ashiqur Rahman, Dhia Al Bakri

The Buriganga river system is located in the southern part of the north central region of Bangladesh, passing through west and south of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The river receives wastewater from numerous numbers of sources along its way, which are discharged as industrial effluents, municipal sewage, household wastes, clinical wastes and oils. The purpose of this study is to investigate into the impact of this wastewater on the river water and thus to provide an updated report on the state of water quality of the river Buriganga. The water samples were collected in year 2008-09 during both dry and wet seasons from different points along the river and analysed for various physiochemical quality parameters, which includes: temperature, pH, EC, DO, BOD , COD, PO -P, NH -N, Pb and Cr. The mean values for the parameters in both dry and wet 5 4 3 seasons were compared with the surface water quality standards as set by the Department of Environment (DOE) in Bangladesh. The water quality test results have also been summarised and presented through box and whisker plots.

100-105

Authors: Mirtaghi Mirmohammadi, M. Hakimi, A. Ahmad, M. Mohammadyan, K. Kamel

Diisocyanates are used as a initial chemical material in different factories such as surface coatings, polyurethane foams, adhesives, resins, elastomers, binders and sealants. In the polyurethane workplace there are aerosols of diisocyanates which has important to effect on workers. They can also be exposed to partial reaction of isocyanate-containing intermediates formed during polyurethane production. The main objective of this study pointed on assessment of exposure risk factors with MDI in the workplace, determination of MDI concentration and biomonitoring of MDA in polyurethane industries. NISOH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) 5522 sampling and analysis method was used by midget impinger contained dimethyl sulfoxide with tryptamine. HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) was employed for air sampling analysis and GC (Gas Chromatography) for urine analysis. Getting personality data was carried out by Health Surveillance Questionnaire and multiple linear regression models with ANOVA test was used for the statistical analysis. The result of study showed that there was a diisocyanate pollution (MDI > 96.6μg/m³) and it have seen in the workers' urine. A new approach to assess isocyanate pollution in the workplace is risk factor assessment simultaneously with indoor air pollution and biological monitoring.

124-131

Authors: R. Adjia1, W.M.L Fezeu, J-B. Tchatchueng, S. Sorho, M.B. Ngassoum

Heavy metal concentrations were estimated in five leafy vegetables (Solanum nigrum, Brassica oleraceae, Lactuca sativa, Amaranthus hybridus and Corchorus olitorius) from urban and periurban sites in Ngaoundere (Cameroon) using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Vegetable samples were collected at the two stages of maturity: stage I (60 days) and stage II (90 days) for analysis. The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals in all vegetables were greater in urban site than in periurban site. The highest concentrations of Fe (673.92 mg/kg DW), Cu (10.42 mg/kg), Cd (1.70 mg/kg DW), and Pb (31.75 mg/kg DW) were recorded in Lactuca sativa, Zn (94.60 mg/kg DW) in Solanum nigrum, and Ni (16.91 mg/kg DW) in Corchorus olitorius. The concentrations of Cu, and Pb were greater in roots than in aerial parts, while Fe, Cd, Ni and Zn concentrations were greater in aerial parts than in roots. Some of the concentrations of Ni, Zn and Pb in crops reached the critical level for plant growth. In general, the results indicated that the consumption of leafy vegetables harvested at the stage II potentially provides the greatest amount of heavy metals. The transportation index (Ti) decreased in vegetables harvested at the stage II for Fe, Cu, Cd and Zn but slightly increased for Ni and Pb, suggesting that heavy metal transportation from roots to aerial parts depends on the plant phenology and metal species. In all farms and at the two stages of maturity, the lead concentrations in all vegetables were more than the FAO/WHO maximum recommended level in leafy vegetable for human consumption. Moreover, all vegetables had some Cd concentrations that were higher than limits set by FAO/WHO. So, they are not suitable for human consumption.

137-143

Authors: G.D. Najafpour, A.A. Ghoeyshi, M. Mohammadi, Sharif Hussein Sharif Zein

Methylene blue (MB) adsorption from aqueous phase was investigated. Pretreated walnut shell, as adsorbent was used. Experiments were conducted in a batch system for determination of sorption equilibria and then the data were incorporated in a packed column for the removal of MB from synthetic wastewater. The generated wastewater was contained 4 mg/l of MB. The wastewater was pumped through the column with flow rate of 18 ml/min and the effluent samples were collected. The effect of influent MB concentration (4 and 8 mg/l) and pH (5, 7 and 9) of wastewater on removal efficiency of dye were investigated. Langmuir adsorption isotherm model was implemented to interpret the experimental data. The obtained results revealed that the sorption data were well described by Langmuir model at pH value of 9. At contact time of 300 min, maximum equilibrium adsorption of MB uptake 6.7mg/g adsorbent was achieved.

160-164

Authors: V. Lalitha, K.A. Raveesha, B. Kiran

Aqueous and Solvent extracts of leaves of S. torvum viz., Petroleum ether, Benzene, Chloroform, Methanol and Ethanol were tested in vitro for antimicrobial activity following the procedures of poisoned food technique and cup diffusion method against some important seed borne pathogens of paddy viz, Pyricularia oryzae, Alternaria alternata, Bipolaris oryzae, Tricoconis padwickii, Dreschlera tetramera, D. halodes, Curvularia lunata, F. oxysporum, F. moniliformae, F. solani and Xanthomonas oryzae. Aqueous extracts of leaves (at 25% concentration) showed 100, 47.44, 60.47, 71.50, 56.11, 63.33, 78.62, 66.66, 47.44 and 46.27% inhibition of the test pathogens respectively. Highly significant antifungal activity was observed in Methanolic and ethanolic extract. The percentage inhibition of the test pathogenic fungi in Methanolic extract was 100% (P.oryzae), 74.42 (A. alternata), 65.68 (B oryzae), 87.62 (C .lunata), 100% (T. padwickii), 63.33 (D.halodes), 60.31 D. (tetramera), 76.01 (F.moniliformae), 59.21 (F. oxysporum), 43.91% (F.solani) and zone of inhibition of Xanthomonas campestris pv oryzae was 18 and 30mm in Methanol and ethanol extract.