21 research outputs found
The Role of Ecological Chemistry in Pollution Research and Sustainable Development
No full textBruce W. Berdanier (with Mufeed I. Batarseh, Anwar G. Jiries, and Anf H. Ziadat) is a contributing author, Lichens (Punctilia rudecta) as Bioindicators for Air Pollution in Ohio, USA , pp. 149-156.
Book description: Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on The Role of Ecological Chemistry in Pollution Research and Sustainable Development, Chisinau, Moldova, 8-11 October 2008. Series: NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security
The papers presented in this book demonstrate clearly the role of the processes defining the natural environment’s composition, structure and chemical properties adequate to the biologic value of habitation, the essential impacts of human activity and other related factors on all the environmental compartments, including water, soil and air. The research in ecological chemistry contribute to elimination of these negative impacts, and promote the rational using of natural resources, their qualified management, broader application of environmentally-friendly production technologies, thus leading to pollution reduction and sustainable development.https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/engineering-books/1003/thumbnail.jp
Aleppo Pine Bark as a Biomonitor of Atmospheric Pollution in the Arid Environment of Jordan
No full textMonitoring of atmospheric pollution using Aleppo bark as a bioindicator was carried
out in the industrial area surrounding the Al-Hussein thermal power station and the
oil refinery at Al-Hashimyeh town, Jordan. The concentrations of heavy metals (copper, lead, cadmium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, zinc, iron, and chromium) were analyzed in bark samples collected from the study area during July 2004. The results
showed that high levels of heavy metals were found in tree bark samples retrieved
from all studied sites compared with the remote reference site. This is, essentially,
due to the fact that the oil refinery and the thermal power plant still use low-quality
fuel oil from the by-products of oil refining. Automobile emissions are another source
of pollution since the study area is located along a major heavy-traffic highway. It was found that the area around the study sites (Al-Hashimyeh town, Zarqa) is polluted with high levels of heavy metals. Pine bark was found to be a suitable bioindicator of aerial fallout of heavy metals in arid regions.Fil: Al-Alawi, Mu'taz M.. Mu; JordaniaFil: Batarseh, Mufeed I.. Mu; JordaniaFil: Carreras, Hebe Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Alawi, Mahmoud. University of Jordan; JordaniaFil: Jiries, Anwar. Mu; JordaniaFil: Charlesworth, Susanne M.. Coventry University; Reino Unid
Sustainable Use of Wastewater and Sludge in Jordan; Residues of Persistent Organic Pollutants, a Review
No full textSustainable Management of Calcareous Saline-Sodic Soil in Arid Environments: The Leaching Process in the Jordan Valley
No full textA leaching experiment of calcareous saline-sodic soil was conducted in Jordan Valley and aimed to reduce the soil salinity ≤ 4.0 dS m−1. The quantification of salt removal from the effective root zone was done using three treatment scenarios. Treatment A contained soil amended with gypsum leaching with fresh water (EC = 1.1 dS m−1). Treatments B and C contained nonamended soil, but B was leached with fresh water only while treatment C’s soil was washed with saline agricultural drainage water (EC = 8 dS m−1) at the start of the experiment and continued with fresh water to reach the desired soil salinity. All treatments were able to reduce the soil salinity to the desired level at the end of the experiment; however, there were clear differences in the salt removal efficiencies among the treatments which were attributed to the presence of direct source of calcium ion. The soil amended with gypsum caused a substantial decline in soil salinity and drainage water’s electrical conductivity and drained the water twice as fast as the nonamended soil. It was found that utilizing agricultural drainage water and gypsum as a soil amendment for calcareous saline-sodic soil reclamation can beneficially contribute to sustainable agricultural management in the Jordan Valley
Residue Analysis of Organic Pollutants in Sediments from the Amman/Zarqa Area in Jordan
No full textThe present work was aimed at investigating the concentration levels and seasonal distribution pattern of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), chlorobenzenes (CB), and organochlorine pesticides (OCP) of Zarqa River sediments in Jordan. Sediment samples were collected along Zarqa River and its two main tributaries namely Seil Zarqa and Wadi Dhuliel in the periods from December 2000 to January 2002. An efficient extraction and clean up procedure was developed and optimised. Organchlorine compounds were quantified using gas chromatography coupled to electron capture detection (GC/ECD) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used for PAH quantification. The concentration levels of PAH for summer sampling period were found higher by a factor 2-3 than for winter one. The distribution of individual PAH in sediments varies widely depending on their structure and molecular weight. PCB have shown similar trends to that of PAH trends along the sampling sites and a significant correlation was observed between their total concentrations. CB were detected in low concentration levels. The hexachlorobenzene (HCBz) is the predominated over the pentachlorobenzene (PCBz). The results have shown that the studied area is contaminated with OCP residues. However, the DDT metabolites were mostly occurred of the OCP. The occurrence of the organochlorine compounds depended on the predominated anthropogenic activities, time of application, rainfall quantities as well as physical and chemical sediment properties. Generally, the concentrations of most target compounds were significantly correlated to the sediment organic matter.Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Untersuchung der Konzentration und der saisonalen Verteilungsmuster von polycyclischen Aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffen (PAH), polychlorierten Biphenylen (PCB) und Chlorbenzolen (CB) sowie Organochlorpestiziden (OCP) in Sedimenten des Zarqa Flusses in Jordanien. Für die umweltanalytischen Untersuchungen und Monitoringstudien wurden entlang des Zarqa Flusses und seiner beiden Hauptzuflüsse Seil Zarqa und Wadi Dhuliel von Dezember 2000 bis Januar 2002 Sedimentproben entnommen. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde eine effiziente Extraktions- und Aufreinigungsmethode entwickelt und optimiert. Die Organochlorverbindungen wurden mittels Gaschromatographie Elektroneneinfangdetektor (GC/ECD) quantifiziert. Für die Analyse der PAH hingegen wurde die gekoppelte Gaschromatographie/Massenspektrometrie (GC/MS) verwendet. So lagen die Konzentrationen der PAHs im Sommer um den Faktor 2 bis 3 höher als in den Wintermonaten. Die PAH-Verteilung in den Sedimentproben war des weiteren abhängig von der Struktur sowie dem Molekulargewicht der einzelnen Substanzen. Die Konzentrationsverläufe für die PCB waren denen der PAH ähnlich und die Gesamtkonzentrationen beider Stoffgruppen zeigten auch untereinander eine Korrelation. Die Chlorbenzole konnten nur in sehr geringen Mengen nachgewiesen werden. Hauptsächlich wurden Hexachlorbenzol (HCBz) und in etwas geringeren Konzentration Pentachlorbenzol (PCBz) gefunden. Aufgrund der Untersuchung konnte eine Kontamination des Gebiets mit Rückständen von OCP festgestellt werden. Vorherrschend waren in diesem Fall Metabolite von DDT. Die Konzentrationen der organischen Verbindungen korrelierten hauptsächlich mit den Gehalten an organischen Bestandteilen im Sediment
Mixing of Dead Sea and Red Sea waters and changes in their physical properties
No full text© 2020 The Author(s) Environmental science, Geochemistry, Earth sciences, Hydrology, Oceanography, Physical, Temperature, pH, Level, Dissolved oxygen, Density, Salinity and viscosity, Dead sea; Red Sea; Mixin
A Review on Formation and Decay Kinetics of Trihalomethanes in Water of Different Qualities
No full textDespite the many disadvantages associated with the use of chlorine for disinfecting drinking water, chlorination is still the main method used for this purpose worldwide. Low chlorine concentrations in water distribution systems increase health risks whereas high chlorine concentrations are associated with the formation of disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes which are suspected carcinogens. Due to their negative health impacts, trihalomethanes occurrence in finished drinking water has received great attention from researchers and scientists worldwide. This manuscript critically reviews and discusses up to date knowledge on the occurrence of trihalomethanes in chlorinated drinking water and their associated health risks and identifies research gaps. The models for trihalomethane formation and decay have been compiled with special emphasis on the impact of the bromide ion on the total trihalomethane levels and speciation. Furthermore, the fate and transport of trihalomethanes in drinking water supplies and in groundwater have been investigated. Finally, management options for the reduction of trihalomethanes in chlorinated drinking water such as the removal of precursors from raw water, the use of alternative disinfectants and the removal of trihalomethanes from finished drinking water have been critically investigated and discussed. Fate and transport of THMs in drinking water supplies and in groundwater have been investigated with possible management options such as the removal of precursors from raw water, the use of alternative disinfectants and the removal of THMs from finished drinking water. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
The attack on the USS Liberty
No full textOver 43 years after the incident, the official stance of the U.S. government on the attack of the USS Liberty on 8 June 1967 is still unsatisfactory, as testimonies from survivors speak of a government cover-up. Being the only major maritime incident not investigated by Congress, this paper presents layers of evidence supporting this claim and questions the openly accepted version that it was an accident. Research for this paper includes various international newspapers, personal files of the Liberty Alliance, including a letter from Senator John McCain, a BBC documentary by Liberty survivors with eyewitness accounts refuting government claims, a report on war crimes from the USS Liberty Veterans Association from 2005, recently published books, internet sources as well as phone interviews by the author. Discrepancies of reporting this attack are significant and bring up a myriad of questions: why did Israel claim it was a case of mistaken identity, why did the Johnson administration control the media reporting of the attack, why would Israel intentionally attack an ally vessel, why are some documents still classified, and most of all, why has every request for a congressional inquiry been denied? The Navy Court of Inquiry's hasty investigation only lasted 5 days, missing vital testimony from survivors whose voices have yet to be heard in the mainstream media. Israel's undocumented claim of a threat contradicts scores of eyewitness accounts, justifying a real and uncensored investigation
Chemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Dry Deposition in the Surrounding of a Cement Factory in Jordan
No full textDry deposition samples were collected from 28 residential rooftops in Fuhais, Jordan, during the dry seasons of the year 2004. The samples were analyzed for trace and heavy metal concentrations to investigate the impact of total suspended particles emitted from the cement industry in the city of Fuhais. The cement factory has been operational for the past 50 years, and the management was evaluating the use of petcoke blending to reduce fuel costs. No baseline data on heavy metals due to the current operations existed prior to this study. The present study showed that lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) concentrations were statistically significant in the northwest sector of the city compared with the other quadrants. This significance was attributed to the heavy traffic of trucks carrying raw materials and cement in and out of the cement factory as the main route of transportation to the factory runs through this quadrant of the city. Cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), and chromium (Cr) concentrations were high in all sampled areas. The overall average concentrations of all elements except Mo were found to be higher on the rooftops of the residential areas in Fuhais City in comparison with a remote reference site near Amman where no anthropogenic activity exists. The trace and heavy metal concentrations and the mineralogical composition of dry deposition samples collected from residential rooftops are representative of the current cement industry operations, which dominate the air quality of Fuhais City
