The aim of this study is to determine the level of pollution with heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and their potential sources in dust samples collected from schools in Ramadi City, Iraq. The dust samples were collected from 40 primary schools and two kindergartens and analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The heavy metal concentrations were found to follow the order Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cd. The results indicated that the concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Pb exceeded the permitted background values. The pollution level was assessed using the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and pollution load index (PLI). The classification of dust samples according to Igeo values showed that they ranged from unpolluted for Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn, to moderately polluted for Pb, and heavily polluted for Cd. The PLI values indicated no to moderate pollution load. The results of the comparisons of heavy metal concentrations with the background values, as well as the multivariate statistical analysis, indicated three groups of heavy metals with different sources or origins: (1) Cd and Cu (anthropogenic source: vehicle emissions); (2) Pb (mixed source); and (3) Cr, Ni, and Zn (Geogenic source). This study is the first attempt in Iraq to investigate the concentrations of heavy metals in the dust of indoor environments. This study provides the environmental protection managers and decision-makers with important information about the concentrations of heavy metals and their sources in indoor environments.
Staphylococcus aureus, which includes the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is a significant human pathogen producing different toxins and results in many different infection types, which include bacteremia, soft-tissue infections, as well as staphylococcal food poisoning. S. aureus is an important food-borne pathogen of humans due to ingestion of food containing enterotoxigenic strains. Detecting S. aureus femA and mecA genes was evaluated with the use of a Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Method (LAMP). The accuracy of this approach was similar to that attained using the approach of the conventional polymerase chain (PCR). Those two methods characterized 43 isolates of MRSA which
... Show MoreCombining different treatment strategies successively or simultaneously has become recommended to achieve high purification standards for the treated discharged water. The current work focused on combining electrocoagulation, ion-exchange, and ultrasonication treatment approaches for the simultaneous removal of copper, nickel, and zinc ions from water. The removal of the three studied ions was significantly enhanced by increasing the power density (4–10 mA/cm2) and NaCl salt concentration (0.5–1.5 g/L) at a natural solution pH. The simultaneous removal of these metal ions at 4 mA/cm2 and 1 g NaCl/L was highly improved by introducing 1 g/L of mordenite zeolite as an ion-exchanger. A remarkable removal of heavy metals was reported
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Measurement of radon concentration level was carried out in 40 houses in Al – Najaf city during summer season of 2012. Long term measurement of indoor of old building radon concentrations have been taken, using a previously calibrated passive diffusion dosimeters containing CR – 39 solid state nuclear track detectors which are very sensitive for alpha particles. The measurement of the indoor radon concentration obtained in summer in these regions ranged from 11.654±4.216 Bq.m-3 to 53.610±8.777 Bq.m-3. The results were within universally permitted levels. |
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of discharge of water purification plants ,on the purity of Tigris River water in Baghdad city. The two studied plants were involved in the study : Sharq –Dijla and Al-Karama water purification plants. The study was attempted to focus on probable pollutants. Chemical, physical tests were accomplished on water samples collected from four sites with fact of three replicates for each sample of each site of the river and the plant : before, after, inside the plants and at the pipe. This study started from October 2012 to September 2013. In case of heavy metals Results showed that the highest level of aluminum was 1.08 ppm during (December-January) at Sharq-Dijla plants, while the lowest level
... Show MorePolymer metal complexes of poly ethylene glycol acetal and Ag (I), Cu (II), Ni (II), Mn (II), Co (III) and Hg (II) were prepared from the reaction of PEG with aldehyde derived fromErythro-ascorbic acid (pentulosono-ɣ-lactone-2, 3- enedianisoate). All these compounds were characterized by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and FTIR spectra and aldehyde was also characterized by (U.V-Vis), 1HNMR,13CNMR, and mass spectra. It has been established that, the polymer and its metal complexes showedgood activities against four pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli , Klebsiellapneumonae,Staphylococcusaureus, Staphylococcus Albus) and two fungal (Aspergillus Niger,Yeast). The polymer metal complexes showed higher activity than the free polymer.Theorder
... Show MorePolymer metal complexes of poly ethylene glycol acetal and Ag (I), Cu (II), Ni (II), Mn (II), Co (III) and Hg (II) were prepared from the reaction of PEG with aldehyde derived from Erythro-ascorbic acid (pentulosono-ɣ-lactone-2, 3- enedianisoate). All these compounds were characterized by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and FTIR spectra and aldehyde was also characterized by (U.V-Vis), 1HNMR,13CNMR, and mass spectra. It has been established that, the polymer and its metal complexes showed good activities against four pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli ,Klebsiellapneumonae, Staphylococcusaureus, Staphylococcus Albus) and two fungal (Aspergillus Niger,Yeast). The polymer metal complexes showed higher activity than the free polymer. The
... Show MoreThe ability of A.hydrophila isolates (63 isolates) to form biofilm, was studied and the results showed that fifty six isolates (88.8%) gave positive results in Congo red agar, while 51 isolates ( 80.7%) gave positive results in Christensen method, sixty isolates( 95.2%) produced biofilm on Polystyrene microtiter plates. Results revealed that all drinking water isolates produced biofilm (18 isolates )and 42 raw water isolates produced biofilm (depending on Polystyrene microtiter plates test). The more two efficient isolates(one isolated from drinking water DW, and other isolated from raw watervRW) which produced biofilm was chosen to study the effect of different values of temperature and disinfectants on the ability of A.hydrophila to ad
... Show MoreArtichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a nutritious vegetable that grown all over the world. It is a promising herbal plant, rich in bioactive components. It is considered as medicinal plant due to its nutritional and phytochemical composition, especially high proportion of phenolic compounds. The primary aim of this study was to achieve chemical profile analyses of artichoke for different phytochemcials, especially Scolymoside and Cynaroside. Methanolic crude was extracted from Artichoke leaves by rotary evaporator and separated by column chromatography. The fractions monitored by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), and identified in High-Pressure Liquid Chroma
... Show MoreMammary tumors (CMT) in dogs in Iraq may be induced by carcinogenic war ordnance. In our study, 10 virgin un- spayed military/pet bitches aged 5-15 years presented with abnormal masses in the abdomen with painful oedema, swelling, anorexia, weight loss, weakness and mild fever. Examination of regional lymph nodes and thoracic radiography confirmed metastasis. Tumors were excised and determined to be mostly adenocarcinomas involving multiple glands, solid in texture, 5-15 cm in size, mostly in the inguinal mammary glands at stage T3: >5 cm. Microscopy confirmed presence of adenocarcinoma in 8 dogs and solid carcinoma in 2 with half of tumors being grade III. Tumors had pleomorphic hyperchromatic cell nuclei in stroma, epithelial cells of duc
... Show MoreShisha smoke represents one of the causes of indoor air pollution. Heavy metals represent the main components in shisha smoke. In this research study, the indoor concentrations of heavy metals in shisha smoke café sites was investigated, samples were taken from two café sites (site1, site 2) which differ in their volume. Site1 volume was 77m3, while site 2 was 437.5m3. Sample were taken by using a low volume sampler (sniffer), and then examined by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The results showed that indoor air shisha smoke samples for both experimental sites have shown a significant amount of heavy metals as compared with control sampling values. The mean concentration values of (Pb, Zn, Co, Ni, Cr) in site 1 were (11.004,
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