Ecological risk assessment of metal pollution in the surface sediments of delta region, Egypt.

The surface sediments from eleven sectors perpendicular to the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast, along the delta region, have been assessed. These sectors cover areas of Eastern Harbour, Abu Qir Bay, Rosetta, Abo Khashaba, Burullus, Baltim, Damietta, and Manzala. The assessment process is based on determining the eight metals' (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Co, Pb, and Cd) content, followed by applying different pollution and ecological risk indices such as enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation factor (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), Pollution Load Index (PLI), degree of contamination (Cdeg.), Nemerow Integrated Pollution Index (NIPI), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). The results indicate the average concentrations of metals (µg/g) were Fe (18,000), Mn (213), Zn (120), Ni (26), Co (13), Cu (12), Pb (10), and Cd (2). The single-pollution indices reveal that most metals were depleted to metal levels, the sediments were moderately polluted with Cd and unpolluted with other metals, and the CF values confirmed that the sediments were highly polluted with Cd and low contaminated with the rest of the metals. According to the integrated pollution indices, the Eastern Harbour, Damietta, Manzalah, and Bardawil (eastern Inlet) are the most polluted sectors relative to the rest, subjected to various point sources of pollution. Drainage management system is recommended to enhance water conservation and improve fish stocks.

Quercetin mitigates doxorubicin-induced neurodegenerative changes in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats; insights to DNA damage, inflammation, synaptic plasticity.

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most effective anti-neoplastic agents. Quercetin (QE) exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. AIM: To detect neuroprotective properties of quercetin in rats exposed to doxorubicin-induced brain injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 48 rats were allocated equally into four groups: control group: (given normal saline), QE group: (given 80 mg/kg of QE orally daily for 2 weeks), Dox group: (received 2.5 mg/kg of Dox every other day for a total of seven intraperitoneal injections), and Dox+QE group: (received 2.5 mg/kg of Dox every other day for a total of seven intraperitoneal injections and 80 mg/kg of QE orally daily for 2 weeks). Subsequently, biochemical analyses were carried out along with histopathological (light and electron microscopic) and immunohistochemical examinations of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. RESULTS: The Dox group revealed a decline in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, along with an increase in malondialdehyde and an increase in DNA damage. Furthermore, sections of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus revealed neurodegenerative changes, decreased synaptophysin, and increased Interleukin-1 beta expressions. Biochemical and histopathological results were markedly improved by QE administration. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that QE induces protective effects against Dox-induced neurotoxicity.

Interleukin-37 has A Promising Cardioprotective Effect on Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Infarction / La Interleucina-37 tiene un Efecto Cardioprotector Prometedor sobre el Infarto de Miocardio Inducido por Isoproterenol

SUMMARY: The main cause of mortality and disability globally is myocardial infarction (MI). Isoproterenol (ISO), a β-adrenoceptor agonist, has been used to induce rat myocardial necrosis. Whereas interleukin-37 (IL-37) has anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties. The study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of IL-37 administration on cardiac architecture, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers during ISO-induced MI in rats. Three groups of adult male rats were used in this study, the normal control group (n=8), ISO-induced MI group (n=8) that received isoproterenol hydrochloride (ISO) (100 mg/kg/day, SC, for the first 2 consecutive days), and IL-37-treated group (ISO+IL-37) (n=8) that received recombinant human IL-37 (40 µg/kg /day, intraperitoneally, for 2 weeks during and after ISO injections. Heart rate (HR.) and ECG changes were monitored. Some oxidative stress markers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NOx), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) tissue levels in the tissue homogenate were assayed. Interleukin- 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), caspase-8, P53, and C- reactive protein (CRP) were among the inflammatory markers examined. In addition, serum levels of creatinine kinase (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were analyzed to evaluate the myocardial injury. For histological analysis, tissues were sectioned, fixed in paraffin, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson Trichrome and, immunohistochemical against NF-kB, TNF-α, and Caspase-9. IL-37 improved ECG changes, cardiac enzyme markers, and some inflammatory markers of oxidative stress in ISO-induced MI. It also improved the histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in MI. In conclusion: IL-37 might be a promising therapeutic modality in myocardial infarction.

La principal causa de mortalidad y discapacidad a nivel mundial es el infarto de miocardio (IM). El isoproterenol (ISO), un agonista de los receptores adrenérgicos β, se ha utilizado para inducir necrosis miocárdica en ratas. Mientras que la interleucina-37 (IL-37) tiene propiedades antiinflamatorias y citoprotectoras. El estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar los posibles efectos protectores de la administración de IL-37 en la arquitectura cardíaca, el estrés oxidativo y los marcadores inflamatorios durante el infarto de miocardio inducido por ISO en ratas. En este estudio se utilizaron tres grupos de ratas macho adultas, el grupo control normal (n=8), el grupo con IM inducido por ISO (n=8) que recibió clorhidrato de isoproterenol (ISO) (100 mg/kg/día, SC, durante los primeros 2 días consecutivos) y el grupo tratado con IL-37 (ISO+IL- 37) (n=8) que recibió IL-37 humana recombinante (40 µg/kg/día, por vía intraperitoneal, durante 2 semanas durante y después de las inyecciones de ISO. Se monitorearon la frecuencia cardíaca (FC) y los cambios en el ECG. Se analizaron algunos marcadores de estrés oxidativo como la superóxido dismutasa (SOD), el óxido nítrico (NOx), el malondialdehído (MDA) y los niveles tisulares de glutatión (GSH) en el homogeneizado de tejido. La interleucina-6 (IL-6), el factor de necrosis tumoral-α (TNF-α), la caspasa-8, la P53 y la proteína C reactiva (CRP) se encontraban entre los marcadores inflamatorios examinados. Se analizaron los niveles de creatinoquinasa (CK-MB) y lactato deshidrogenasa (LDH) para evaluar la lesión miocárdica; para el análisis histológico se seccionaron los tejidos, se fijaron en parafina y se tiñeron con hematoxilina y eosina (H&E), Tricromo de Masson e inmunohistoquímica contra NF-kB, TNF-α y Caspasa-9. IL-37 mejoró los cambios de ECG, los marcadores de enzimas cardíacas y algunos marcadores inflamatorios de estrés oxidativo en el IM inducido por ISO. Además mejoró los cambios histopatológicos e inmunohistoquímicos en MI. En conclusión: la IL-37 podría ser una modalidad terapéutica prometedora en el infarto de miocardio.

Preparation and characterization of N-doped ZnO and N-doped TiO2 beads for photocatalytic degradation of phenol and ammonia.

N-doped ZnO beads (NZB) and N-doped TiO2 beads (NTB) were synthesized via a modified sol-gel technique utilizing chitosan (CS)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel beads as basic support for photocatalyst. Urea was used as a source of nitrogen in the preparation of N-doped ZnO beads, while ammonium acetate, CH3COONH4, was used as a nitrogen source in the production of N-doped TiO2 beads. The characteristics of synthesized beads were identified by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, BET surface area, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) measurements, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) studies. The use of the nitrogen doping method for photocatalyst was performed to adjust the bandgap and electrical properties of ZnO and TiO2 by establishing acceptor defects. NZB and NTB with the intrinsic donor defect of oxygen vacancy and the nitrogen-to-oxygen acceptor defect could be activated by a less-energy UV consumption for efficient pollutant degradation. The results indicated that the as-synthesized NZB achieved much higher degradation activity than NTB, commercial ZnO, and TiO2 in the decomposition of a binary mixture composed of ammonia and phenol under UV light irradiation.

A pilot system integrating a settling technique and a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland for the treatment of polluted lake water.

An integrated system was tested at pilot-scale for treating polluted water from the Marriot Lake in Egypt, comprising a settling technique followed by three parallel horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HFCWs) units operating under a continuous flow mode; one HFCW unit was planted with Typha angustifolia and contained a perforated pipes network for enhanced passive aeration (CWA), one unit was planted without the perforated pipe network (CWR) and one served as a Control unit (unplanted and without perforated pipes). Changes in physicochemical parameters, BOD5, nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus), microbial community, and trace metals at different hydraulic retention times (HRT; 0.5-6 h) and hydraulic loading rates (HLR; 750, 1000, 1250, and 2000 L/m2/d) were monitored. The CWA unit had an overall better performance than the CWR unit, while both planted units outperformed the Control unit. CWA showed the highest performance at HLR of 1000 L/m2/d and 4-6 h-HRT with 95.3% removal for turbidity, 83% for BOD5, 99.3% for ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N), 70.8% for Total Nitrogen (TN), and 66.7% for Total Phosphorus (TP), while higher NO3-N and NO2-N effluent concentrations were observed. Trace metals levels were significantly reduced and accumulated in plant tissues. Microbial communities' densities fluctuated in the CWA unit. The integrated system with the settling stage and the planted CWA unit was proved to achieve a high removal efficiency and reached the national discharge limits, thus representing a novel nature-based solution for the sustainable remediation of polluted lake water.

A novel horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland planted with Typha angustifolia for treatment of polluted water.

Rapid population growth and urbanization has put a lot of stress on existing water bodies in most developing countries such as the Marriott Lake of Egypt. Three constructed wetland configurations including Typha angustifolia planted with enhanced atmospheric aeration by using perforated pipes networks (CWA), planted without perforated pipe network (CWR), and a control non-planted and without perforated pipes wetland (Control) were used in the study. Changes in physicochemical properties and microbial community over four seasons and hydraulic loading rate (HLR) (50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 L day-1 m-1) were monitored using influent from Marriott Lake in Egypt. Overall, the removal performance followed the sequence CWA>CWR>control. Turbidity removal of 98.4%; biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) removal of 83.3%; chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 95.8%; NH3-N removal of 99.9%; total nitrogen (TN) removal of 94.7%; NO3--N and NO2--N increased; total P (TP) removal of 99.7%, Vibrio sp. of 100%, Escherichia coli 100%; total bacterial count of 92.3%; and anaerobic bacteria reduction of 97.5% were achieved by using CWA. Seasonal variation and variation in HLRs had significant effect on performance. The modified planted CWA system enhances the removal of pollutants and could present a novel route for reducing the cost associated with integrating artificial aeration into wetlands.

Removal of direct blue-86 from aqueous solution by new activated carbon developed from orange peel.

The use of low-cost, easy obtained, high efficiency and eco-friendly adsorbents has been investigated as an ideal alternative to the current expensive methods of removing dyes from wastewater. This study investigates the potential use of activated carbon prepared from orange peel for the removal of direct blue-86 (DB-86) (Direct Fast Turquoise Blue GL) dye from simulated wastewater. The effects of different system variables, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, pH and contact time were studied. The results showed that as the amount of the adsorbent increased, the percentage of dye removal increased accordingly. Optimum pH value for dye adsorption was determined as approximately 2.0. Maximum dye was sequestered within 30min after the beginning for every experiment. The adsorption of direct blue-86 followed a pseudo-second-order rate equation and fit well Langmuir, Tempkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) equations better than Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson equations. The maximum removal of direct blue-86 was obtained at pH 2 as 92% for adsorbent dose of 6gL(-1) and 100mgL(-1) initial dye concentration at room temperature. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir equation was 33.78mgg(-1). Furthermore, adsorption kinetics of DB-86 was studied and the rate of adsorption was found to conform to pseudo-second-order kinetics with a good correlation (R2>0.99) with intraparticle diffusion as one of the rate determining steps. Activated carbon developed from orange peel can be attractive options for dye removal from diluted industrial effluents since test reaction made on simulated dyeing wastewater show better removal percentage of DB-86.

Removal of Direct N Blue-106 from artificial textile dye effluent using activated carbon from orange peel: adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies.

The purpose of this study is to suggest an efficient process, which does not require a huge investment for the removal of direct dye from wastewater. Activated carbon developed from agricultural waste material was characterized and utilized for the removal of Direct Navy Blue 106 (DNB-106) from wastewater. Systematic studies on DNB-106 adsorption equilibrium and kinetics by low-cost activated carbons were carried out. Adsorption studies were carried out at different initial concentrations of DNB-106 (50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mg l(-1)), contact time (5-180 min), pH (2.0, 3.0, 4.7, 6.3, 7.2, 8.0, 10.3 and 12.7) and sorbent doses (2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 g l(-1)). Both Langmuir and Freundlich models fitted the adsorption data quite reasonably (R(2)>97). The maximum adsorption capacity was 107.53 mg g(-1) for 150 mg l(-1) of DNB-106 concentration and 2 g l(-1) carbon concentration. Various mechanisms were established for DNB-106 adsorption on developed adsorbents. The kinetic studies were conducted to delineate the effect of initial dye concentration, contact time and solid to liquid concentration. The developed carbon might be successfully used for the removal of DNB-106 from liquid industrial wastes.

Treatment of wastewater containing toxic chromium using new activated carbon developed from date palm seed.

The use of a new activated carbon developed from date palm seed wastes, generated in the jam industry, for removing toxic chromium from aqueous solution has been investigated. The activated carbon has been achieved from date palm seed by dehydrating methods using concentrated sulfuric acid. The batch experiments were conducted to determine the adsorption capacity of the biomass. The effect of initial metal concentration (25-125mgl(-1)), pH, contact time, and concentration of date palm seed carbon have been studied at room temperature. A strong dependence of the adsorption capacity on pH was observed, the capacity increase as pH value decrease and the optimum pH value is pH 1.0. Kinetics and adsorption equilibrium were studied at different sorbent doses. The adsorption process was fast and the equilibrium was reached within 180min. The maximum removal was 100% for 75mgl(-1) of Cr(+ concentration on 4gl(-1) carbon concentration and the maximum adsorption capacity was 120.48mgg(-1). The kinetic data were analyzed using various kinetic models - pseudo-first order equation, pseudo-second order equation, Elovich equation and intraparticle diffusion equation - and the equilibrium data were tested using several isotherm models, Langmuir, Freundlich, Koble-Corrigan, Redlich-Peterson, Tempkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Generalized isotherm equations. The Elovich equation and pseudo-second order equation provide the greatest accuracy for the kinetic data and Koble-Corrigan and Langmuir models the closest fit for the equilibrium data. Activation energy of sorption has also been evaluated as 0.115 and 0.229kJmol(-1).