Journal of International Environmental Application and Science 

About: Journal of International Environmental Application and Science is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Adsorption & Water quality. It has an ISSN identifier of 1307-0428. Over the lifetime, 303 publications have been published receiving 874 citations.

Management of Biomedical Waste in India and Other Countries: A Review

Abstract: The objective of this study is (i) to summarize the rules for management and handling of biomedical wastes, (ii) to give the definition, categories of biomedical wastes, suggested storage containers including colour-coding and treatment options, (iii) mainly to highlight the effects of biomedical waste in the environment such as air, land, radioactive pollution and (iv) disposal of wastes, regulation and recommendations. Health-care waste management in several countries including India is receiving greater attention due to stringent regulations. The waste generation rate ranges between 0.5 and 2.0 kg bed -1 day -1 . The solid waste from the hospitals consists of bandages, linen and other infectious waste (30-35%), plastics (7- 10%), disposable syringes (0.3-0.5%), glass (3-5%) and other general wastes including food (40-45%). Several survey works carried out by various research organizations by (Government and Non government and private sectors) have been discussed and reviewed in this paper.

Effect of Meteorology on the Atmospheric Concentrations of Traffic-Related Pollutants in Erzurum, Turkey

Abstract: The studies of the relationship between air pollutants and meteorological factors can provide important information about air pollution. According to proposed statistical model in this study, daily traffic-related pollutant concentrations are not only influenced by daily meteorological parameters but also by the pollutant concentration of previous day. In this study, the relationship between daily CO (carbon monoxide), NOx (nitrogen oxides), O3 (ozone) concentration with the pollutant concentration of previous day and meteorological factors (wind speed, temperature, relative humidity) in 1995-1997 winter seasons was statistically analyzed using the stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. The statistical models of CO, NOx and O3 including meteorological parameters with previous day's pollutant concentration gave R 2 of 0.48, 0.28 and 0.75, respectively. The model was good for O3, but for NOx was weak. According to first equation the level of CO decreases with increasing temperature, but CO increases with increasing relative humidity and CO concentration of previous days. According to second equation the level of NOx decreases with increasing wind velocity and temperature, but NOx increases with increasing NOx concentration of previous days. O3 concentration increased with increasing wind speed, temperature, relative humidity and O3 concentration of previous days.

Coagulation-Flocculation Treatment of a Tropical Surface Water with Alum for Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) Removal: Influence of Alum Dose and pH Adjustment

Abstract: Effective removal of turbidity and soluble dissolved organic matter (DOM) from the Agbo reservoir water was investigated, since DOM can lead to the formation of potential carcinogens compounds during water disinfection. An enhanced coagulation with alum was then conducted by standard jar test to optimize coagulation pH and alum dose. Optimum removal of turbidity (98%) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (70%) was achieved for 100 mg alum L -1 at pH 5. Alum dose and pH control of coagulation were found to be important factors governing DOM removal. It was also showed that humic substances are rather more removed by alum than the other DOC compounds.

Effects of Conservation Reserve Program on Runoff and Lake Water Quality in an Oxbow Lake Watershed

Abstract: A case study of Beasley Lake Watershed, located in the Mississippi Delta region of the U.S., was used to evaluate runoff from edge-of-field sites under either row crop management practices or planted in trees under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Beasley Lake Watershed, with a history of long-term ARS natural resource research, was selected as one of fourteen watersheds for participation in the Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP), a nationwide assessment by USDA-Agriculture Research Service (ARS) and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) regarding the effectiveness of USDA conservation programs. Approximately one-third of the Beasley Lake watershed (ca. 280 ha) was converted from cropped land to CRP beginning in 2003, and the remainder of the cropland is managed for soybean, cotton, or corn production. Sub- drainage areas (1.2 to 6 ha) with similar topography and soil types were either cropped (three reduced tillage sites) or placed in CRP (three CRP sites) and were instrumented in 2005 to collect water samples from field drainage slotted-inlet pipes during all surface runoff events. Runoff samples were analyzed for sediments and nutrients. This paper reports on runoff, sediment, and nutrient losses from each sub-drainage area. Establishing trees within areas adjacent to the oxbow lake reduced the total sediments by 85% and nutrients by greater than 28% leaving the watershed as compared to reduced-till crop management techniques. The impact of converting the cropped area into trees has reduced the sediment load entering the lake by an order of magnitude resulting in improved water quality in Beasley Lake based on reductions in nutrient and sediment losses and increases in water visibility.

Recycling of Agriculture and Animal Farm Wastes into Compost Using Compost Activator in Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Saudi Arabia, as well as other countries in the Near East region, is characterized by erratic weather conditions, limited area of fertile arable lands, and with acute water shortage. Although agricultural residues (AGR) production in the region is huge (more than 440 million tons), most of these residues are either burned in the field or utilized in an inefficient way. Utilization of AGR as compost may contribute to expansion of arable lands through its use for reclamation of soil and reduce irrigation requirements. This study was conducted at Al Khalidiah farm, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to assess compost production at large commercial scale using several types of agricultural and animal by-products with addition of a BZT®Compost Activator (based mainly on microorganism, enzymes and yeast). In this study, two types of compost piles were made at the farm. The first pile of compost was made of different agriculture residues, namely: animal wastes (quail, goat and sheep manure), brownian agricultural wastes (windbreaks residues, date trees, citrus and olive trees pruning) and green landscape grasses (50%, 25% and 25%, respectively) and was treated with a tested compost activator. The same agriculture residues combination was also made for the second pile as traditional compost (control or untreated compost) without the activator. The two piles were turned every 5 days; then moisture, temperature was checked and values were recorded every five days. Composite samples were collected regularly for testing chemical and biological parameters such as: nitrogen, potassium, organic matter, organic carbon, C/N ratio, heavy metals, total viable bacterial counts, yeast and molds, total coliform, fecal coliform and salmonella detection. The results showed a specific decrease in C/N ratio of compost activator treated pile to 15:1, combined with production of compost free of Salmonella, total coliform, fecal coliform, mycotoxins and heavy metals. The tested Compost Activator stimulates the composting process with concentrated bacteria and enzymes, the same bacteria and enzymes that occur in nature. This accelerated method provides good quality compost product in shortest time, as little as 35 days in comparison with 68-180 days for the traditional compost without activator materials (the traditional method).It could be concluded that the commercial compost product made from agriculture residues and treated with the tested compost activator is a safe alternative to chemical fertilizers and the best soil amendment that nature provides. These agricultural residues, when fully exploited could have an important role in bridging the food gap in Saudi Arabia.