PCDD/PCDFs and PCBs in the irrigation water in Egypt: levels, patterns, and potential sources.

The contamination levels of PCDD/PCDFs in irrigation water are the most rarely studied throughout the world. The major problem in Egypt is the lack of studies and statistics about these contaminants of POPs in irrigation water. Therefore, this study is the first comprehensive report to elucidate the estimation and sources of PCDD/PCDFs and PCBs in irrigation water from Egypt and rare for worldwide may provide a reference to future studies of POPs compounds in irrigation water of Egypt. A total of 24 irrigated water samples were collected from different irrigation canals which are adjacent to industrial areas from six Egyptian governorates (Bani Swef, El-Giza, El-Sharkeya, El-Menoufeya, El-Gharbeya, and Alexandria). The study shows that irrigation water canals were contaminated with low levels of PCDDs/PCDFs, which were 0.95 pgWHO-TEQ/l, and the total of PCDD/PCDFs and dl-PCBs were 2.06 pgWHO-TEQ/l with contamination ranging between 0.88 to 2.97 pgWHO-TEQ/l while the levels of indicator PCBs were 18.52 ng/l and ranged between 0.39 to 165.6 ng/l. The most predominant dioxins congeners were HpCDD, OCDD, HpCDF, and OCDF while for dl-PCBs were PCB105 and PCB118, and for ndl-PCBs was PCB138. The areas with recent urbanization and industrialization were more contaminated with PCBs than the unindustrialized area. Lightly to moderately chlorinated congeners dominated the PCB profiles. The major sources for these contaminants were fire bricks followed by textile industries closer to the located sampling sites. The detected pattern was found to be similar to the patterns reported in the air by other studies. Although the concentrations of the studied POPs are found to be low in irrigated water, it may be considered as a potential source of soil pollution due to their accumulation process in the agricultural land and may lead to risk on human health by consuming the agricultural products irrigated by contaminated water.

Production of eco composites based on natural rubber and recycled sugarcane bagasse waste to be utilised as a type of food contact.

Natural fibres are abundant, renewable, and biodegradable, which has inspired numerous academics worldwide to investigate their possible applications in various industrial fields. The food packaging sector is seeking bio-based and biodegradable substitutes to increase sustainability. In this study, new composites were prepared from natural rubber (NR) and sugarcane bagasse fibres (SCB) with different concentrations of SCB (0, 2.5, 5, 10 &20 phr). The effect of SCB on the properties of natural rubber was studied before and after the alkaline treatment of the fibres. The biocomposites are characterized using Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and dielectric measurements in addition to rheological and mechanical analysis. The overall migration test for biocomposites loaded with 20phr SCB was performed to assess the biocomposite's safety as food contact materials. The study's results indicated that, adding SCB improved the conductivity, tensile strength, and elongation at break of natural rubber. Alkaline treatment strengthened the bonding between the filler and matrix and improved biocomposites' thermal dielectric and mechanical properties. The overall migration test indicated that the alkaline treatment increased the overall migration to simulants. Accordingly, alkaline-treated NR-SCB biocomposites are effective eco-friendly food packaging candidates for certain types of food such as aqueous non-acidic products.

Monitoring of pesticide residues in Egyptian fruits and vegetables during 1997.

A total of 2318 domestic samples of different types of fruits and vegetables were collected from eight Egyptian local markets in six different regions of the country. All samples were examined for residues of 54 pesticides, including organophosphorus, organonitrogen, organohalogen and certain pyrethroides. However, dithiocarbamates were analysed in only 318 samples. Overall, 81.5% of the samples had no detectable pesticide residues. Of the contaminated samples, 18.5% contained detectable residues and 1.9% exceeded their maximum residue limits (MRLs). Root and leafy vegetables showed the lowest contamination rates (1.9 and 4.7%, respectively), slightly exceeding the MRLs in leafy vegetables. However, fruit samples showed a slightly higher proportion of contamination than vegetables (29 and 14.3%, respectively). Fruit also exhibited a higher level of violation than vegetables (2.3 and 1.9%, respectively). The contamination and violation rates were lower than the percentages recorded in previous years' monitoring studies. Dicofol and dimethoate were the most frequently occurring pesticide residues at 5.1 and 5.0%, respectively. Dimethoate showed higher violation levels (0.69%). However, dicofol showed a slight violation rate (0.09%) which indicates good agricultural practices for dicofol use. Dithiocarbamates residues were found in 21 of the 318 samples analysed, which when expressed as a percentage contamination was 6.6%, and only one sample exceeded the MRL.