Vol.5 No.2 – 4 : Suitability Assessment of Groundwater for Irrigation in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia: A Case Study of Combined Influence of Landfills and Saltwater Intrusion

/0 Comments/in , , /by

By: Najla Mohsen Ali Al Ahmadi1,2, Furat Ahmed Mahmood Al-Faraj2,3, Nassir S. Alamri1,4,5

1General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection

2School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, University of Bolton, United Kingdom

3School of Computing, Science and Engineering, Civil Engineering Research Group, The University of Salford, Newton Building, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, United Kingdom

4Hydrology and Water Resources Management, King Abdulaziz University-Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

5Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This research assessed the combined influence of permitted landfills and unlicensed dumps coupled with salt water intrusion on the suitability of groundwater in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia for irrigation purposes. Fourteen water samples were analyzed for physiochemical parameters, major ions and heavy metals. Quality assessment of groundwater for irrigation purposes was conducted on basis of sodium percentage (Na %), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), magnesium hazard (MH), permeability index (PI), total hardness (TH), Kelley’s ratio (KR), and soluble sodium percentage (SSP), Wilcox and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) standard limits. Results showed that the domination of ions is in the order Na>Ca>Mg>K and Cl>SO4>HCO3 for cations and anions, respectively. Elevated concentration of Na and Cl coupled with very strong relationships between Na and Cl (r = 0.994), Na and EC (r = 0.995) and between Cl and EC (r = 0.999) indicates a strong influence of Red Sea saltwater intrusion. According to Wilcox and the FAO classifications of salinity (Electrical conductivity (EC)) in irrigation water, it can be concluded that the groundwater in the investigated area of Rabigh is undesirable for irrigation purposes. Based on Freeze and Cherry classification of total dissolved solids (TDS), the groundwater samples fall in the brackish to saline categories. However, saline water was recognized in the majority of the samples (64%). Concerning the FAO classification, 86% of the samples can be classified in the severe restriction category. According to the categorization of irrigation water based on sodium percentage, two-thirds of the water samples can be classified in the doubtful to unsuitable categories. The very high electrical conductivity values obtained in the groundwater samples near the landfill sites are an indication of the combined effect of leachate and Red Sea saltwater intrusion. Severe restriction is associated to 65% of groundwater samples according to the FAO classification of SAR. Nearly two-thirds of the groundwater samples fall in the medium to high sodium hazard categories. According to Kelley’s ratio and soluble sodium percent, the majority of the groundwater samples (86%) show that the groundwater is undesirable for irrigation purposes. The analytical results of SSP conclude that the majority of groundwater samples (86%) are undesirable for irrigated agriculture. Samples of some groundwater wells show that the concentration of some heavy metals such as Aluminum (Al), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Vanadium (V), and Zinc (Zn), are higher than the corresponding FAO permissible limits.

Suitability Assessment of Groundwater for Irrigation in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia A Case Study of Combined Influence of Landfills and Saltwater Intrusion

Download PDF

Vol.5 No.2 – 3 : Efficiency of collagen III, metalloproteinase 1, carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19.9 for colon cancer diagnosis

/0 Comments/in , , /by

By; Abdelfattah M. Attallah1, Mohamed A. El-Far2, Mohamed M. Omran3, Mohamed A. Abdelrazek 1, Kareem  A. Attallah1, Mohamed S. Elbendary1, Sara A. Soliman1, Rehab A. Atwa1

1Research & Development Department, Biotechnology Research Center, New Damietta City, Egypt

2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Currently, blood markers are noninvasive methods for diagnosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). We evaluated four biomarkers (Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA19.9), collagen III and metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1)) and their combination as substitute method to enhance diagnosis of CRC. Subjects and methods: one hundred ninety five patients had undergone colonoscopy examination were inclusive in the study (135 CRC and 60 benign growths). In addition, 45 healthy individuals were included.  Multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were applied for evaluation the diagnostic power of single and their combination. Results:  levels of collagen III, CEA and CA 19.9 increased while MMP-1 decreased with  progression of CRC  (stages, positive lymph node invasion, distant organ metastasis and high grades)  with a significant difference (P <0.01- P < 0.0001). Combination of MMP-1, CEA, CA 19-9 and Collagen III yielded MC3 index had diagnostic power greater than each single marker could achieve alone. When differentiate colon cancer from benign growth, AUC of MC3 index was 0.91 yielded 85.2% sensitivity and 86.7% specificity. Moreover, MC3 index for patients with late stages, lymph node invasion, organ metastasis and high-grade had AUC = 0.81, 0.82, 0.80 and 0.80 higher than CEA and CA19.9.Conclusion:  MC3 index is a can be used as an effective index for early detection of CRC.

Efficiency of collagen III, metalloproteinase 1, carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19.9 for colon cancer diagnosis

Download PDF

Vol.5 No.2 – 2 : Using starchy waste as a promising raw material for bioethanol production with consequence purification using chitosan / sodium alginate polymeric membrane

/0 Comments/in , , /by

By: Tarek H. Taha1*, M. A. Abu-Saied2*, Elsayed M. Elnaggar3, Ranya A. Amer4, Ahmed E. Mansy4, Gamal M. Elkady3

1Environmental Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt.

2Polymer Materials Research Department, Advanced Technology and New Materials Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt.

3Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, 11884.

4Environment and Natural Materials Research Institute (ENMRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

Current study is concerned by using environmental wastes as raw materials for bio-ethanol production. Alpha amylase enzyme has been used to convert the starch molecules of kitchen waste into simple units of glucose which subsequently fermented into bioethanol. The obtained results showed that 40% substrate and 100 µl of α-amylase were the optimum concentration to produce the highest glucose units at 417.9 and 482.5 milligram/deciliter (mg/dl), respectively. The highest bioethanol production of 423.5 mg/dl was obtained after anaerobic fermentation of free yeast cells at 30oC without shaking. Both of bio-ethanol and 25% ethanol were separated by using amicon cell ultra-filtration system integrated with chitosan or sodium alginate membranes under nitrogen pressure. Each membrane was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Ion Exchange Capacity (IEC); while, the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity was investigated using contact angle. The whole system succeeded to elevate the ethanol concentration in a range of 47-50%, which could be increased with more polymeric modifications.

Using starchy waste as a promising raw material for bioethanol production with consequence purification using chitosan sodium alginate polymeric membrane

Download PDF

Vol.5 No.2 – 1 : A Heavy Metal Exposure Risk assessment Model to Migratory Birds and Human in Burullus Lake, Egypt

/0 Comments/in , , /by

By: Basma M. Sheta1, Muhammad A. El-Alfy2 and Hazem T. Abd El-Hamid2

1 Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, PO Box 819, 34517 New Damietta, Damietta, Egypt.

2 Marine pollution Department, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

Studying migratory birds wintering stopover areas has a global concern. The contamination with heavy metals is one of the serious threats to birds in wetland ecosystem. In the present study, heavy metal exposure risk to birds in Burullus Lake was assessed. The concentrations of Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Co in water, plant and fish were determined in 10 bird habitats. A heavy metals’ exposure risk assessment model to migratory birds in Burullus Lake had been done. It showed that small waders, represented by dunlin, are exposed to higher doses and risk than the waterfowls, represented by mallard. Evaluation of this risk to migratory birds could not be done using water exposure doses only, but food exposure including plant and fish must be included. It is a priority to perform more efforts to reduce the serious contamination with Co and Ni. The risk for fish feeders can be summarized according to the following order: Co > Ni > Cd > Pb > Cr, while the risk for plant feeders is: Co > Ni > Cr > Cd > Pb. Health risk of heavy metal exposures was calculated using Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Hazard index (HI). Results showed that THQs for all metals were below the standard (<1), while HI values were lower than one except for Co and Cd. HI for these two metals are considered an appreciable hazard risk to human health. Therefore, it is recommended to analyze the heavy metal risk on a temporal basis.

A Heavy Metal Exposure Risk assessment Model to Migratory Birds and Human in Burullus Lake, Egypt

Download PDF