[Quality zoning of seasonal changes in nitrate and ammonia in drinking water wells of Babol city using GIS system]

Background: Underground water resources constitute an important part of urban water resources. One of the serious challenges in ensuring and promoting community health is gradual increase in nitrate levels of drinking water of communities across the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seasonal variation of nitrate and ammonia levels in drinking water wells of Babol city using GIS software, in 2010-11.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was performed on drinking water wells of Babol city in 2010-11. Sampling was done according to a standard method from 20 drinking water wells, in different seasons; and in final, 80 water samples were analyzed. Nitrate and ammonia concentration of samples was measured using Spectrophotometer DR2000 [Hach company] in 500 and 425 nm, respectively. For qualitative analysis and seasonal fluctuation of nitrate and ammonia concentration of different areas, Geographic information systems, ArcGIS, was used.

Results: The results showed that the highest amount of nitrate was in summer [23.68 mg/l], and the lowest was in winter [14 mg/l]. While the highest and the lowest amount of ammonia was in spring [0.43 mg/l] and summer [0.06 mg/l], respectively. Also, the results showed that only in well number 5 located in Kate Sofla village, nitrate concentration had increasing trend, and in the remaining wells, nitrate and ammonia concentration, had an increasing and a decreasing trend, respectively.

Conclusion: The results indicate that nitrate and ammonia levels in all samples were lower than the WHO recommendations. To avoid increasing in the ammonia and nitrate concentrations in the underground waters, ongoing training to farmers on the proper use of chemical fertilizers, as well as the construction and operation of wastewater collection systems are recommended.

Removal of Azo dyes from aqueous solutions by biomass of brown algae Cystoseira indica

Background: The effluent of textile industries is high dyefully and this is one of most problems for environmental health engineers. Two Azo dyes biosorption, direct black 19 and direct red 23, on Cystoseira indica, an invasive macroalga in Iran, has been investigated using visible absorption spectroscopy

Material and methods: Pre-treatment and chemical cross-linking with CaCl2, have been conducted in order to improve the stability as well as the biosorption capacity of the algal biomass. All measurements were conducted by UV-Visible Spectrophotometer. The effects of operating parameters such as contact time, pH, initial dye concentration and amount of biosorbent on the dye removal efficiency were investigated. The biosorption has been described in terms of isotherm and kinetic models; from the maximum adsorption capacity values, an estimation of the algal specific surface area was made

Results: It has been found that biosorption kinetics can be described according to the pseudo second order model and biosorption equilibrated for 120 min [89.3% of direct red 23 and 69.02% of direct black 19 removed]. Maximum biosorption found at pH 5 [2.4mg/g]. It also observed increasing initial dye concentration and decreasing biomass dosage would reduce dye removal. Isotherm studies also revealed the dye biosorption on algal biomass followed from Freundlich model

Conclusion: Biosorption of selected Azo dyes onto algal biomass, Cystoseira indica was fast and more dye is eliminated in the first hour. So, by determining the optimum conditions of contact time, pH, initial dye concentration and biosorbent dosage, Cystoseira indica can be used as an inexpensive sorbent for removal of Azo dyes from aqueous solutions

[ effect of solid waste compost on leaching and adsorption of heavy metals from silt-loamy soils]

Leaching of nutrients and heavy metals from municipal solid waste compost leads to accumulation of certain elements in soil layers, causing underground water pollution. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of compost on leaching and adsorption of heavy metals and nutrients [sodium, potassium, and sulfate] from silt-loamy soils. In this empirical, applied study, three polyethylene columns [height 50 cm, inner diameter 10 cm], filled with sandy clay loam soil, were randomly selected. Then, 10 kg of compost per square meter were sprayed onto the columns, and leachates exiting the columns were routinely analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, sulfate, sodium, potassium, lead, chromium, and cadmium. Data analysis was performed with Excel and SPSS software using Kruskall-Wallis test. The data showed that the use of enriched and unenriched compost leachate decreased pH [from 7.43 +/- 17.0 to 6.7 +/- 0.25 and 7.07 +/- 0.11, respectively] and increased the electrical conductivity [EC] [from 1.8 +/- 0.3 mSiemens/m to 3.7 +/- 0.12 and 12.87 +/- 0.41 mSiemens/m respectively]. Leakage of metals in the unenriched treatments was not significantly different from the control [p > 0.78], but leakage with three metal-enriched compost applications was significant compared with control [p < 0.001]. Application of composts containing heavy metals onto loamy soils increases leaching of heavy metals from the compost into groundwater. Therefore, frequent use of compost endangers groundwater quality

Effects of ginger on spermatogenesis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat

Ginger rhizome [Zingiber officinale R., family: Zingiberaceae] is used medicinally and as a culinary spice. The medicinal use of ginger dates back to ancient China and India. Ginger and its constituents are stated to have antiemetic, antithrombotic antihepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory, stimulant, cholagogue and antioxidant. Enhanced oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant capacity are considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic diabetes mellitus. Wistar male rat [n=40] were allocated into three groups control group [n=10] and ginger [G] group that received l00mg/kg-perday [oral], [n=10], and Diabetic group that received 55 mg/kg [IP] streptozotocin [STZ] [n=20] which was subdivided to two groups of 10; STZ group and treatment group. Treatment group received 55mg/kg [IP] STZ plus ginger l00mg/kg-perday [G], daily for, 4 weeks, respectiveiy; however, the control group just received an equal volume of distilled water daily[IP]. Diabetes was induced by a single [IP] injection of streptozotocin C55 mg/kg]. Animals were kept in standard condition. In 28 day after inducing diabetic 5cc blood were collected for TAC, MDA and sperm parameters and testis tissues of Rat in whole groups were removed then prepared for analyzes. TAC, MDA and sperm parameters significantly decreased in diabetic group.treatment groub that has received Ginger 100 mg/kg [oral] show increasing in TAC and sperm parameters [p<0.05] in comparison to experimental groups [p<0.05]. Since in our study 100 mg/kg [oral] ginger have significantly Preventive effect on sperm parameters, so it seems that using it can be effective for treatment in Diabetic Rat

[Evaluation of diurnal variations of intraocular pressure in a normal Iranian population]

To evaluate diurnal variations in intraocular pressure [IOP] in normal adult residents of Yazd city. This cross-sectional study was performed on 800 eyes of 400 subjects aged between 20-80 years selected by cluster random sampling from residents of Yazd city during 2004-2005. IOP was measured by Goldman applanation tonometer in the morning [8-9 AM] and evening [8-9 PM]. The difference between the two measurements was considered as diurnal variation of IOP. Mean IOP was 14.80 +/- 1.83 mmHg in the morning and 11.58 +/- 2.0 mmHg in the evening in right eyes and 14.79 +/- 1.89 mmHg in the morning and 11.33 +/- 2.0 mmHg in the evening in left eyes [P< 0.001]. Mean diurnal variation of IOP was 3.23 +/- 1.23 mmHg in females, 3.46 +/- 1.23 mmHg in males and 3.34 +/- 1.05 mmHg, overall [P< 0.001]. Morning IOP was higher in 84%, the same in 13.6% and lower in 2.4% compared to evening values. IOP increased with aging. There was no significant difference in mean IOP between males and females. This study revealed that IOP is usually higher in the morning in both eyes and increases with ageing in both sexes