Ibrahim I. Kutbi

Measurements of hair lead concentrations in children of four cities in Saudi Arabia

Abstract The concentrations of lead in the scalp hair of 800 school children, aged 6–8 years, from four cities: Makkah, Jeddah, Riyadh and Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, were measured by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Mean lead concentrations for these four locations were found to be 17.6 μg Pb/g hair for Makkah, 23.3 μg Pb/g hair for Jeddah, 5.1 μg Pb/g hair for Riyadh and 10.9 μg Pb/g hair for Tabuk. The mean values of Pb concentrations in hair for Jeddah, Makkah and Tabuk cities are on the high side of the acceptable ‘normal range,’ indicating an increasing trend in environmental lead pollution. Riyadh appears to be relatively ‘clean’ in this respect. Rapid modernization with increased use of leaded gasoline for transportation may already be causing a stress on the environment of Saudi Arabia.

Selection for desalination processes for dual-purpose nuclear plants

Abstract The various aspects of combining desalination processes with nuclear heat generation systems are explored with emphasis on MSF and RO technologies. Comparisons between nuclear desalination plants based on each technology are made and analysis of the difficulties which may be encountered are examined. Considering the impact of reliability, availability and safety of the desalination processes on the nuclear steam supply system (NSSS), integration of the power production and the desalination stages is studied and necessary improvements on the desalination processes are sought to assure compatibility of the nuclear energy source and the desalting phase.

Comparative cost analysis of nuclear versus oil-fired dual-purpose desalination plants

Abstract Prospects for the application of nuclear energy to sea water desalination for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been evaluated here based only on economic considerations. Updated capital costs of power plants and current prices of oil and nuclear fuel are used. Information on the Kingdoms water demand and current status of water desalination is provided. A comparison is also made of costs of water production from power-cum-desalination nuclear plants versus oil-fired plants. Only dual-purpose nuclear plants are considered because of their overall economic advantages over single purpose (water only) plants. The scope of available data and information can not be provided in such detail as to allow for system planning or for a site-specific feasibility study. However, the results provide guidelines for more in-depth analysis. The results show that, compared to oil-fired plants, there is a net saving of costs in using nuclear plants for desalination. If interest on capital is disregarded in calculation of total capital costs and also in calculation of annual capital charges, the economic advantages of nuclear power plants improved significantly over the oil-fired power plants.

Reliability analysis of reverse osmosis plant

Abstract The increasing complexity of desalting plants demands consideration of operational and maintenance factors in the design phase. Applications of the fault tree techniques to RO sea water desalination systems are illustrated; critical failure problem areas are identified and methods of improving the performance of the RO desalination plants are recommended. Failure data has been extracted from operation and maintenance reports of the operating RO desalination plants in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. An assessment is also made of the impact of failures and outages on the availability of the plant.

Measurement of blood‐lead levels in school children of Jeddah Saudi Arabia and assessment of sub‐toxic levels of lead on some sensitive hematological parameters

Abstract Blood samples from 200 Saudi Arabian school boys, aged 6–8 years, were analyzed for their Pb concentrations by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, Mean Blood‐Pb concentration was found to be 6.9 (±3.4) ug/dl. The blood samples were also examined for some hematological parameters : total counts of erythrocytes and leucocytes, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and basophilic stippling, using a Coulter Counter. All values obtained were within the ‘normal ranges’. However, the hematological effects of sub‐toxic levels of Pb in blood were assessed by considering the seven cases whose Blood‐Pb values were between 15 ‐ 25 ug/dl. The data indicate that sub‐toxic levels of Pb in blood may be related to early stages of microcytic anemia.

Reliability of MSF processes based on operation history

Abstract Reliability of MSF processes are estimated using time-dependent fault tree analysis of major critical systems. Failure data are obtained from the operation records of Jeddah I since it is one of the oldest plants still in operation in a relatively harsh environment. Industrial failure data are also used to complement historic data. The analysis shows areas where design improvements can be made to enhance MSF processes availability.

Blood-Pb and hair-Pb levels in donor-matched samples

Lead concentrations in blood and scalp hair of 200 school boys, aged 6-8 years, were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean blood-Pb concentration was 6.8 microg dl(-1) and the mean hair-Pb concentration was 9.7 microg g(-1) (dry weight). These values are well within the normal range for the respective tissues, indicating that the children studied are presently at relatively low risk from environmental lead pollution. A correlation analysis carried out on the data failed to show any statistically significant correlation (r = 0.13, p < 0.05) between the blood-Pb and hair-Pb concentrations.

Operational data analysis of MSF desalination plants. A case study of Jeddah I

Abstract Monthly operation and maintenance reports of the oldest large MSF plant in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah I, are analyzed to extract information or generic operation and design problems and to seek means for the mitigation of such problems. The accumulated records are quantified to provide estimates of equipment failure rates. Three systems are found to be the major contributors to plant outage namely, make-up water, brine recycle and sea water intake systems. Root causes of the plant unscheduled shutdowns or reductions in water production are assessed to examine generic reasons for deviations of MSF systems from standard expected performance.

A pragmatic pairwise group-decision method for selection of sites for nuclear power plants

Abstract A pragmatic pairwise group-decision approach is applied to compare two regions in order to select the more suitable one for construction of nuclear power plants in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The selection methodology is based on pairwise comparison by forced choice. The method facilitates rating of the regions or sites using simple calculations. Two regions, one close to Dhahran on the Arabian Gulf and another close to Jeddah on the Red Sea, are evaluated. No specific site in either region is considered at this stage. The comparison is based on a set of selection criteria which include (i) topography, (ii) geology, (iii) seismology, (iv) meteorology, (v) oceanography, (vi) hydrology and (vii) proximetry to oil and gas fields. The comparison shows that the Jeddah region is more suitable than the Dhahran region.

Perspectives of science discipline academics pertaining to attributes of successful universities and future learning environments

Due to rapid changes in requisites, universities face the challenge of being relevant. As such, it is pertinent to identify the attributes of successful universities and future learning environments for universities to steer themselves in achieving success. This study explores the perspectives of respondents pertaining to attributes of successful universities and future learning environments. Data were collected using a specially designed survey during the academic year 2015/2016. The sample size was 64 international science discipline (including computer science and engineering) academics. The results underscore critical attributes, management elements, component measures and dominant pedagogical and technological trends. The outcome of study highlights key perspectives that can be used as a basis for more in-depth research to assist in formulating possible strategies towards achieving successful university status and in equipping universities with learning and teaching environments of the future.