Organochlorine Pesticides in Water,Sediment and Fish from the Nile River and Manzala Lake in Egypt

Abstract

To assess the risks of organochlorine pesticides discharged into the hydrospheric environment of Egypt, river and lake water, drinking water, suspended solids, sediments and fish were collected during 1993—1994 from the Nile River and Manzala Lake in Egypt and were transported to Japan for chemical analysis. Among different organochlorine pesticides analyzed, p,p′-DDE was the most predominant in fish (7.6 to 67 ng/g wet wt.), sediments (3.2 to 432 ng/g dry wt.) and suspended solids (5.3 tc 138 pg/L). However, in the dissolved phase of water samples HCH compounds predominated (α-HCH, 71 to 2,815 pg/L). Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides, except chlordane, were higher in Manzala Lake than in the River Nile. Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in fish corresponded with those in sediments from each location. Comparison of organochlorine concentrations in Nile River water with those reported in earlier studies suggested a decrease in concentrations during the last decade. However, concentrations of p,p′-DDE has increased in fish. It appears that the release of this metabolite from contaminated sediment is the major source of p,p′-DDE in fish during recent years.     

Molecular structures of inorganic compounds of low volatility: I. Salts of oxygen acids of the type M2XO4

We report an electron diffraction study of the molecular structure of gaseous cesium and thallium sulphates and cesium molybdate and tungstate. The average structure found for the M₂XO₄ molecules is described by a model (symmetry D_2d) in which the metal atoms bridge two edges of an XO₄ tetrahedron to form two 4-membered mutually perpendicular planar MO₂X rings.The data lead to conclusions on the complex nature of intramolecular motion. This motion may roughly correspond to great displacements of metal atoms on the surface of an imaginary sphere described near the tetrahedral acid residue.     

Radioactive contamination of the atmosphere of Cairo,Egypt, from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant accident

Radioactive contamination in air dust particles of Cairo atmosphere from the Fukushima accident was detected by the gamma-ray spectroscopy technique. Analysis of the spectra obtained by using an High-Purity Germanium detector showed that there were some traces of ¹³¹I and ^{134, 137}Cs. Estimate and study of concentration of those radionuclides were done over a period of about 5 months after the accident. Comparison with corresponding results in different countries all over the world has been performed.     

The role of Al3+ ions in alumino borate glasses as revealed by molar volume,refractive index and microhardness

An attempt has been made determine the types of Al³⁺ structural units in potassium alumino borate glass. Therefore a number of investigations have been carried out on the relation between the composition of the glasses and their properties. The density, refractive index, and hardness of a number of compositions in which Al₂O₃ replaces B₂O₃ at constant K₂O were measured. It appears that the replacement of B₂O₃is not entirely without some consequencies.The concentration of non-bridging oxygen ions increases with the introduction of Al₂O₃.Non bridging oxygen ions start aappearing at alkali concentration of about 0.2 mol K₂O.     

Some intriguing items in the history of scientific balances

The short survey covers the development of the balance since its invention in the Neolithic era. Scales have been used most probably first as tools in trading, but already in Old Egyptian papyrus its use in techniques is documented. Its theory was cleared by Aristotle and Archimedes and at least at that time it was used as a scientific instrument. Today the balance is still the most widely used instrument in science and there are still improvements.     

Joint data treatment for Vis–NIR reflectance imaging spectroscopy and XRF imaging acquired in the Theban Necropolis in Egypt by data fusion and t-SNE

Hyperspectral imaging allows the acquisition of representative information on cultural heritage objects. For a complete identification of the chemical compounds present, one needs instruments employing different forms of radiation, sensitive to different chemical features. Data treatment workflows are commonly developed for a single spectroscopic technique, so that data sets are evaluated separately, and the reduced representations yielded are compared during interpretation. In this publication, we describe how t-stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) allows for the evaluation and interpretation of data acquired in a Ramesside tomb (13th century BC) of the Theban Necropolis in Egypt. By fusing X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) imaging and Reflectance Imaging Spectroscopy (RIS) into a single data set, we exploit the synergies between both methods to support interpretation and presentation of the results yielded.     

Seepage underneath barrages with downstream subsidiary weirs

A subsidiary weir with a sloping middle apron may be constructed downstream from each of the existing barrages on the River Nile in Egypt to secure its stability against the increase in effective heads. The problem is mathematically solved by a conformal mapping technique. Formulas are obtained to calculate the uplift pressures acting on the existing barrage and the subsidiary weir. Also formulas are derived to calculate the exit gradients along the intermediate filter and the downstream bed. We calculate the seepage characteristics for a wide range of boundary conditions, plot the results in the form of curves, and analyze them.     

Cellular and foamed plastics as separation media A new geometrical form of the solid phase in analytical liquid-solid contact

There has been considerable interest during the last few years in using cellular (foamed) plastics (mainly polyurethanes) either unloaded or as a means of immobilizing hydrophobic organic reagents, powdered ion-exchangers or finely divided precipitates, for the collection and separation of inorganic or organic species from aqueous solution. Foamed plastics with anchored (bonded) functional groups have also been used for the same purpose. It has been realized that the application of cellular plastics is often advantageous not only for quantitative work but also for qualitative and semiquantitative analysis. Methods available on the application of cellular and foamed plastics for the collection, separation and recovery of various inorganic and organic components from aqueous solution are reviewed.     

Investigation of the dose-response relationship for road traffic noise in Assiut, Egypt

A field study has been carried out in urban Assiut city, Egypt. The goals of this study are: (1) to carry out measurements to evaluate road traffic noise levels, (2) to determine if these levels exceeds permissible levels, (3) to examine people’s attitudes towards road traffic noise, (4) to ascertain the relationship between road traffic noise levels and degree of annoyance. The measurements indicate that traffic noise noise levels are higher than those set by Egyptian noise standards and policy to protect public health and welfare in residential areas: equivalent continuous A - weighted sound pressure levels (L_A eq) = 80 dB and higher were recorded, while maximum permissible level is 65 dB. There is a strong relationship between road traffic noise levels and percentage of highly annoyed respondents. Higher road traffic noise levels mean that the percentage of respondents who feel highly annoyed is also increased.     

Environmental and radio-ecological studies on shallow marine sediments from harbour areas along the Red Sea coast of Egypt for identification of anthropogenic impacts

Analysis of marine sediments of the studied localities provides investigators with data to characterise the composition of these sediments allowing for the identification of particular pollution sources. A study of texture, geochemistry, X-ray diffraction and natural radionuclide content of shallow marine sediments from Quseir harbour, Safaga harbour and El-Esh area in the Red Sea coast of Egypt was conducted for the purpose of assessing the possible influence of human activities on the composition of the sediments. The activity concentrations of the naturally occurring radionuclides ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were measured by using γ-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in all areas studied were found to be 71±6, 66±5 and 92±7 Bq kg^?1 for ²²⁶Ra, 83±5, 71±7 and 162±23 Bq kg^?1 for ²³²Th and 513±10, 493±20 and 681±28 Bq kg^?1 for ⁴⁰K, respectively. The results of the study presented were compared with corresponding results obtained in other coastal and aquatic environments in the Red Sea.