Survey of pesticides used in Qat cultivation in Dhale' and Yafe' and their adverse effects

A survey and questionnaire consisting of interviews with 100 Qat-farmers who used and applied different kinds of pesticides in Dhale' and Yafe' districts, where Qat is cultivated widely. Seven of the pesticides used in Yemen are either omitted or banned by the World Health Organization. Survey report shows six pesticides used most frequently by Qat farmers in the two districts. The result obtained revealed the selection of pesticides based on the farmers' experience, the irrational use of pesticides, [they used different concentrations of pesticides], the ignorance of Qat-farmers of importance of wearing protective clothes, the properties and adverse effect of pesticides. The irrational use of pesticide causes environmental pollution and endanger the health of the people. 40% of farmers interviewed recognized beneficial organisms in the soil, 10% said that there is no beneficial organism in the soil, 50% of farmers don't know. The goal of this study survey is to know the kinds of pesticides, which used by Qat farmers, and to reveal partly the healthy and environmental problems resulting from the misuse of pesticides by the Qat farmers

Risk reduction of sewage disposal via treatment in oxidation ponds in Aden, Yemen

Sewage water of Aden city is collected and treated in two sewage treatment plants; one at Sheikh Othman [Al-Hiswah] and the other is at Rhor Maksar [Al-Arish]. The plants consist mainly of oxidation ponds. The schematic treatment consists of screening, anaerobic ponds, facultative ponds then followed by polishing ponds. Part of the treated sewage water is used for irrigating trees as green belt at Al-Hiswah district, as well as a limited area of farm field for raising cattle. The rest is drained and wasted to the sea without any use. Improvement in the quality of the sewage effluent from Al-Hiswah and Al-Arish plant is achieved. The chemical composition of the produced treated water and sludge is discussed, including the concentrations of heavy metals in correlation with the WHO Guidelines. The performance of treatment can be enhanced remarkably through a strict program for continuous removing of the formed sludge in the ponds and determining the actual detention time of each pond system. It is recommended that the produced sludge can be mixed with dried leaves of the local water-plant weeds to reduce the level of heavy metals. Further recommendation is to treat the sludge anaerobically for the production of biogas and digested biomass for land reclamation of the sandy soil in Aden