Anf H. Ziadat

The distribution of heavy metals in urban street dusts of Karak City, Jordan

Street dust samples from urban and suburban areas were collected from the city of Karak, Jordan, during the summer season of 2004. Samples were analyzed for their heavy metal concentrations (Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, Cr, Cd, and Mn). The results showed that all heavy metals are higher in city urban areas than the surrounding suburbs. The distribution and concentrations of heavy metals in all areas show automobile originated sources such as emissions and wear and tear of automobiles were the main source of pollution. Despite the fact that the city of Karak and the capital Amman are under the same climatic conditions and same type of fuel used in both cities, the heavy metal concentrations of street dust samples were lower in Karak than Amman due to the lower traffic density.

Assessing solid waste recycling opportunities for closed campuses

Purpose – The commercial and residential refuse generated by Ellsworth Air Force Base, USA was characterized and analyzed for collection procedures, and the opportunities for increasing the amount of solid waste that could be recycled were evaluated.Design/methodology/approach – Random loads of hauled solid waste (an average 3.0 US tons/load) from different waste streams of Ellsworth Air Force Base were sorted. The weight fraction of each category of recyclable material derived from the hand sorting operations was applied to the three years of mixed waste tonnage in order to estimate the tonnage of each recyclable category disposed of as refuse during each year. The assessment of the data obtained from three full calendar years focused on the mixed solid waste generated from commercial and residential areas such as offices, childcare, lodging, supermarkets, food service facilities, and others.Findings – Over 2,500 tones of recycling opportunities were missed during the 1999‐2001 calendar years. The charac...

Chemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Dry Deposition in the Surrounding of a Cement Factory in Jordan

Dry deposition samples were collected from 28 residential rooftops in Fuhais, Jordan, during the dry seasons of the year 2004. The samples were analyzed for trace and heavy metal concentrations to investigate the impact of total suspended particles emitted from the cement industry in the city of Fuhais. The cement factory has been operational for the past 50 years, and the management was evaluating the use of petcoke blending to reduce fuel costs. No baseline data on heavy metals due to the current operations existed prior to this study. The present study showed that lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) concentrations were statistically significant in the northwest sector of the city compared with the other quadrants. This significance was attributed to the heavy traffic of trucks carrying raw materials and cement in and out of the cement factory as the main route of transportation to the factory runs through this quadrant of the city. Cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), and chromium (Cr) concentrations were high in all sampled areas. The overall average concentrations of all elements except Mo were found to be higher on the rooftops of the residential areas in Fuhais City in comparison with a remote reference site near Amman where no anthropogenic activity exists. The trace and heavy metal concentrations and the mineralogical composition of dry deposition samples collected from residential rooftops are representative of the current cement industry operations, which dominate the air quality of Fuhais City.

The use of cypress tree bark as an environmental indicator of heavy metals deposition in Fuheis City, Jordan

The present study focused on the use of cypress tree bark as an environmental indicator of heavy metal deposition in Fuheis City, Jordan, and the evaluation of the impact of emissions from the cement industry in the adjacent environment. Tree bark samples were collected from four directions (north, south, east and west) in the vicinity of the cement factory. The samples were analysed for heavy metal content: Mn, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Cd, Zn, Cr, and Fe. The results showed variations in heavy metal concentrations between sites. The levels of heavy metal were divided into three groups: mean concentrations of Co and Cd ranged from 1 to 4 mg/kg; Mn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cr ranged from 9 to 109 mg/kg; and finally, Fe ranged from 2238 to 3393 mg/kg.

The Quality of Drinking Water at Source of West Amman, Jordan

Abstract In the summer of 2002, a detailed survey of water samples collected from King Abdullah Canal (KAC), which is the major source of drinking water in Amman, Jordan, was analyzed for its major ionic composition, five heavy metals, 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and chlorinated pesticides residues in order to evaluate its suitability for drinking purposes. The results showed that the major source of chemical constituents and micropollutants such as heavy metals, PAH, and organochlorinated pesticides in the canal water samples originated from Syria and Israel since the canal water supply initially originate from these countries. The pH values of all analyzed water samples obtained were relatively high due to the buffering effect of carbonate rocks at the source. The major chemical composition indicated that the canal water was weak to moderate salinity dominated by Ca, Mg, and HCO3 ions, which is due to the dolomite lithology at source. Despite the fact that the canal water runs in an intensive agricultural area, the analysis of this study concludes that the water of the canal is acceptable in terms of its organic and inorganic constituents. All samples showed low concentrations and were within their guidelines. Nitrate values ranged from 2.2 ppm to 13.2 ppm, organochlorinated pesticides ranged from 0.11 ppm to 0.82 ppm for individual pesticides, and the sum did not exceed the European guideline of 0.5 ppm. Ten PAHs were detected in the analyzed samples ranging from 24.45 ng/l to 35.4 ng/l and in all samples; no concentration reached the maximum level permitted by the EPA for drinking water. All samples showed a slight increase in concentration along the canal flow.

Animal Manure Impact on the Quality of Percolated Water in a Semi-Arid Region-Jordan

The aim of this research was to evaluate the impact of different types of animal manure applied to calcareous soil on percolated water quality. Thirty-six soil columns were used to collect the leached water. Three rates (2%, 5%, and 10%) from four sources of animal manure (cow, chicken, sheep, and camel) were applied to determine the effect of types, and rates of applied manure on groundwater quality in terms of major ionic composition (HCO3, Br-, F-, Cl-, NO3- NH4+, SO4-2, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, K+, and PO4+4) and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn) in addition to total organic carbon (TOC) through the different intervals of irrigation. The results showed significant variation in ionic compositions and heavy metals of the percolated water with the different types and amount of animal manure applied. For ammonium, nitrate, and P the highest concentrations were found when chicken manure was applied and the minimum when camel manure was applied. This finding can be attributed to the rate of degradation of different types of manure. Organic content of the drained water was independent of the type of manure but it was proportional to the amount of manure applied. Only a small portion of organic matter was drained from the different manures indicating that a high portion of organic matter was held in the soil.

Lichens ( Punctilia rudecta ) As Bioindicators for Air Pollution in Ohio, USA

Lichens were used as bioindicators for the assessment of atmospheric pollution with trace metals in Ohio, USA. The concentration of Iron, Copper, Cadmium, Manganese, Nickel, Lead, Zinc, and Cobalt were determined in lichen samples collected from the vicinity of Shelby town, Ohio. The hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the investigated sites are classified into three main groups. The first group included eight sites that might be affected by similar anthropogenic activities due to similar heavy metals distribution profiles, while the other groups that consisted of only two sites are separated from the first group. That means that other types of anthropogenic activities might have affected them. These findings were confirmed using two-principle components analysis.

The CRCC Native American Natural Resource Management Initiative

The CRCC Native American natural Resource Management Initiative is the brain child of Si Tanka College faculty member Mark Peacock. Peacock wrote a proposal for the combined classroom and field camp experience to the David and Lucille Packard Foundation in June 1998 when the college was still known as Cheyenne River Community College (CRCC). In 1999 the college adopted the name Si Tanka College in honor of the Lakota Chief Big Foot. The Packard Foundation funded the program for a one-year period for

Lower Rapid Creek Watershed Assessment and TMDL Development

100,000. The students participating in the program would begin the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process for the Moreau River.

Major factors contributing to environmental awareness among people in a third world country/Jordan

A team from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is in the process of obtaining samples from the Lower Rapid Creek near Rapid City, South Dakota. The purpose of this study is to conduct a watershed assessment along the lower Rapid Creek, which will identify point and nonpoint source pollution. Eight stations on the lower Rapid Creek were chosen for sampling. The main purpose of such sampling is to provide information for quantification of present loads and calibration of future modeling efforts. The obtained data will be used to provide information to support evaluation of watershed management alternatives and development of the total maximum daily load (TMDL) for lower Rapid Creek. Further analysis using the QUAL2E model in conjunction with the Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) will be used to model the response of the stream. Sampling sites will be determined based on existing USGS and state Department of Environment and Natural Resources gauging stations. Samples will all be collected employing methods described in the Standard Operating Procedures for Field Samplers by the State of South Dakota Clean Lakes Program. The proposed frequency of sampling at the Rapid Creek sites will result in approximately 200 samples. The approximately 330 square mile study area is subject to wastewater treatment discharge, urban stormwater runoff, irrigation withdrawls and return flows, and runoff from agricultural areas. The sampling period in the study will include snowmelt runoff, the irrigation season, and low flow conditions. Preliminary sampling and analysis results for chemical loadings and Sediment Oxygen Demand will be presented.