Physiochemical Parameters Research Articles

Characterization of physiochemical parameters & their effect on microbial content of smokeless tobacco products marketed in north India.

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) product consumption has profound public health implications for its users. The p H and moisture of SLTs determine the bioavailability of nicotine, the microbial structure dynamics and the amount of microbial conversion of tobacco alkaloids to carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines. This study aimed to characterize and compare the p H, moisture and alkaloid content of various SLT products. Thirty-seven SLT samples including khaini , snus, moist snuff, gul , pan masala , zarda , Mainpuri kapoori and qiwam were collected from the retail market around the National Capital Region in north India and their p H, moisture, nicotine and alkaloid content were measured. The p H and total nicotine were used to calculate the amount of free nicotine, the readily absorbed form, for each product by applying the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. The investigation showed that the SLTs varied drastically in their p H (5.36 to 10.27), moisture content (4.7 to 51.7%) and alkaloid content (0.82 to 35.87 mg/g). The p H and free nicotine levels of a product were found to be positively correlated, and the highest free nicotine content was reported in snus samples. Further, the moisture content was seen to impact the bacterial and fungal diversity in these samples. Studies to detect the presence of pathogenic microbiological genera as well as potentially toxic constituents are warranted. The use of SLTs as an alternative to cigarette smoking should be discouraged, and cessation programmes must call attention to their detrimental effects and emphasize on benefits of quitting SLT consumption.

Experimental Studies on Water Quality Analysis Integrating GIS Mapping at Aarang

Abstract: Groundwater is a primary source of drinking water in our country but day by day increment of groundwater contamination due to various anthropogenic activities and anthropogenic activities makes the life difficult especially for the rural people. Groundwater is getting contamination rapidly due to various anthropogenic activities as well as some natural sources. In the direction, assessment of water quality analysis is the basic requirement for nurturing human being and its evolution. Water Quality Index (WQI) parameter has been widely used in determining water quality globally. Conventional method used for computing WQI is tedious and takes longer time because it involved processing for larger datasets. The present investigation aims to provide the suitability of groundwater in the specified region using GIS (Geographic Information System) of physiochemical parameters, that are used in drinking purpose, domestic works and household chores. Locations are marked using GPS and the parameters are also used to find out about the WQI (Water Quality Index). The parameters are compared with the BIS (Bureau of India Standards) for checking the suitability of groundwater. The present approach output can be beneficial to the administrators in making decisions on groundwater quality but also gaining inside into the trade of between system benefit and environment requirement.

First report on Bacillus subtilis EU-WG-01 endophytic bacterium from wheat grass and development of probiotic formulation

Wheat grass, one of the members of Poaceae family, has been examined for therapeutic drugs efficiently. Wheat grass juice has become a popular beverage in various countries. Wheat grass is low in calories but high in nutrients, including antioxidants such as glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E. The juice is extracted from shoots of tender wheat grass and is an intensive source of minerals, vitamins, chlorophylls, antioxidants, polyphenols and active enzymes. The present investigation deals with the isolation of endophytic bacteria from wheat grass and development of probiotic formulation. A total of 25 endophytic bacteria were isolated from wheat grass and screened for pigment and hydrolytic enzyme production. The selected bacterial strains were screened for antimicrobial activity against pathogenic organisms Bacillus cereus (MTCC-430), E. coli (MTCC-1687) and Yersinia sp. (MTCC-4912). The efficient bacterial strain EU-WG-01 was identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Bacillus subtilis. Bacillus subtilis EU-WG-01 was inoculated into mango juice to prepare a probiotic formulation. Bacillus subtilis EU-WG-01 at concentration of 15% was used to ferment the probiotic drink. The physiochemical (Total soluble sugars, reducing/non-reducing sugars, titratable acidity, antioxidant activity, protein content, color attributes and ascorbic acid), biomass and cell viable count were analysed. Among the physiochemical parameters a significant decrease was observed in total soluble sugar from 15.68°brix to 16.51°brix, total sugars from 13.30% to 7.50%, non-reducing sugars reduced from 10.20% to 1.30%, ascorbic acid from 21.60/100 mg mL−1 to 14.90/100 mg mL−1. The antioxidant activity from 6.55% to 3.56% except for titratable acidity and reducing sugars increased significantly during 30 days storage under refrigeration. Bacillus subtilis EU-WG-01 viability was found to remain well above 2 log CFU/mL−1 for 30 days. Bacillus subtilis EU-WG-01 could be used for probiotic formulation for human health.

Optimization of biomethane production from sweet sorghum bagasse using artificial neural networks combined with particle swarm algorithm.

In the face of international movement away from fossil fuels caused pollution menace, many research labs are rushing towards next big breakthrough via effective biorefinery development employing non-edible agro-residues as feedstock. This work aims to evaluate and optimize the methane potential of underutilized full strength sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) via anaerobic digestion (AD). Biochemical methane potential assays are set up for SSB AD under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions at four substrate-o-inoculum ratios (SIR) 3, 5, 7, and 9 with pH 6.5, 7.5, and 8.5 and with 80, 90, and 100 rpm mixing speed over 50 days. SIR 5 produced the highest cumulative biomethane yield of 4.25 L methane g-1 VS with a shorter lag time of 7.5 days and technical digestion time of 24 days. The influence of physio-chemical parameters on AD process dynamics is supported with 16s rRNA metagenomic sequencing. Based on complete experimental data sets, two artificial neural network (ANN) models are developed to identify the relevant significance of process parameters and to predict bagasse methane potential. Further, the developed ANN model is integrated with particle swarm optimization algorithm to create ideal AD process operating conditions which maximize the target variable, biomethane. The trained and cross-validated ANN-PSO model showed good-fit-accuracy with R2 > 0.995 and demonstrated satisfactory performance in the biomethane yield prediction from AD of non-edible agri-residues.

Bacteriological Analysis of Well Water Obtained from Onueke Metropolis, Ezza South Local Government Arae, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Many households in Nigeria are dependent on alternative sources of water supply and are exposed to preventable water-borne diseases. This study was carried out to examine the bacterial quality of well water obtained from Onueke metropolis in Ebonyi State. The physicochemical parameters of water samples collected from 25 closed and 25 opened wells were analyzed following standard procedures while bacteriological quality of the water samples including coliform count and bacterial isolate identification were determined using serial dilution and multiple fermentation techniques. Results of the physiochemical parameters showed that pH, Electrical Conductivity, Total Hardness, Turbidity and nitrite were within the WHO standard limit for drinking water. The bacterial count ranged from 0.8 – 3.1 x 104 CFU /100ml involving E. coli (25%), Shigella spp (12.5%), Citrobacter spp (4.2%), Klebsiella spp (29.2%), Enterobacter spp (12.5%) and Salmonella spp (16.7%) as the dominant isolates and exceeded the WHO guidelines limit of 0 cfu/100ml for drinking water. Generally, the uncovered wells were more highly contaminated with bacteria pathogens than the covered wells. All samples were above the most probable number (MPN) per 100 ml permissible limit of WHO guidelines for untreated drinking water. In conclusion sampled well water from Onueke metropolis contained bacterial contaminants making the water not safe for drinking devoid of any further water treatment process.

Effect of crude oil spillage on some soil physical properties within Ovia North East Local Government in Edo State.

The release of crude oil into the environment by oil spill is currently receiving a worldwide attention due to the high risk it portends to the health of the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of crude oil spillage on some soil physical properties. Eight (8) soil samples were collected from eight sampling locations around the flow station at Gelegele River, Edo State. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) recorded were above the 1,000 mg/kg permissible limit by World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for hydrocarbon contaminated soil. The physiochemical studies were carried out according to the methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemist (A.O.A.C) for the determination of the soil physicochemical parameters. The physiochemical parameters obtained were pH (6.01 ± 0.02 – 6.49 ± 0.07), Electrical Conductivity (EC) (416.00 ± 10.70 – 656.45 ± 11.65) mS/m, Carbon (2.13 ± 0.03 – 3.70 ± 0.01a) %, Nitrogen (0.04 ± 0.01 – 1.67 ± 0.02ab) %, Phosphorus (1.33 ± 0.06 – 2.91 ± 0.04ab)%, Water holding capacity (WHC) (82.48 ± 0.82 – 92.48 ± 0.82) %, Bulk density (0.70 ± 0.02ab – 2.79 ± 0.05) %. There is a current concern of environmental pollution and this study showed that the area of study currently of concern that needs to be monitored.

The effect of alternate partial root-zone drying and deficit irrigation on the yield, quality, and physiochemical parameters of milled rice

While paddy fields produce a high yield, they also require a large amount of water and produce a significant amount of methane. Therefore, the adoption of water-saving irrigation techniques for rice cultivation is critical. Furrowed rice farming may be a viable alternative to paddy rice cultivation. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of alternate partial root-zone drying irrigation on rice yield, milled rice quality, and cooking quality under furrow rice cultivation. A two-year field trial was conducted on a local rice cultivar, Tarom Hashemi, in 2015 and 2016. Seven water regimes, including three levels of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), three levels of alternate partial root-zone drying irrigation (APRDI), and conventional flooding irrigation (CFI), were used in this study. In RDI and APRDI treatments, plots were irrigated when soil matric potential had reached −0.1 (RDI1 and APRDI1), −0.3 (RDI3 and APRDI3), and −0.6 bar (RDI6 and APRDI6). RDI1 and APRDI1 treatments produced milled rice yield similar to the CFI, while irrigation water productivity (IWP) was significantly higher by 22.9% and 45.7%, respectively. Regardless of the soil water potential, the IWP in APRDI treatments was 16% higher than that of RDI treatments. Severe water stress (RDI6 and APRDI6) caused a marked increase in amylose content and alkali spreading value of milled rice resulting in improved cooking quality. Nitrogen uptake in APRDI treatments was 2% higher than that of RDI treatments. On average, methane emission per milled grain yield declined by 77.9% and 78.7% in RDI and APRDI treatments, respectively. Our data indicate that the expensive and laborious practice of puddling can be avoided to increase water productivity and improve rice quality without sacrificing yield. The results also show that furrow rice cultivation could significantly reduce the methane emission contribution of rice production.

Evaluation of Water and Sediment Quality by Bacteriological Diversity Studies on Certain Locations of the Diyala River, Baghdad

With a focus on the impact of the Rustumiya sewage treatment facility, the physio-chemical and indicator bacterial contamination pollution of the Diyala River (Iraq) was examined. The Diyala River in Baghdad was sampled on a monthly basis from March 2022 to February 2023 for surface water and sediment. The findings demonstrated seasonal and geographical variation in physio-chemical parameters (pH, EC, salinity, and TDS) and bacteriological markers (TC, FC, E. coli, and FS). The research procedures and methods showed that some physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, TDS) in sediment exceeded their standard limits concerning aquatic life protection in spring and summer. The level of bacteriological pollution in the water and sediments, evaluated by tracking of faecal indicator bacteria (E. coli and Enterococci), during the autumn and winter seasons had the largest concentration of bacterial contaminants. In this study, the main finding was the majority of the studied stations had water classified as not recommended or unacceptable and sediment classified as acceptable or conservatively accepted. The source of contamination, determined by the ratio value of faecal coliform bacteria to faecal Streptococcus, was from human origin in the majority of studied stations, and from mixed origin during the spring and summer. Bacterial indicators in this research exhibited both quantitative and qualitative fluctuation, suggesting their potential utility as a bio-indicator for contamination of water and sediment in the Diyala River.

Evaluating the Shelf Life of APIS MELLIFERA Honey Collected in South Punjab, Pakistan

The study aimed to assess the shelf life of multi-floral honey collected from the southern region of Punjab Province, Pakistan, over 12 months. Fifty honey samples were analyzed for various physiochemical parameters every four months at room temperature. Initial values included pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, diastase number, invertase number, HMF, proline content, fructose, glucose, and sucrose percentages. After 12 months, the pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, diastase, invertase, glucose, and fructose values decreased, while HMF content, proline content, and sucrose percentage increased. These findings suggest that honey composition changes during storage, shortening its shelf life. Fresh A. mellifera honey is recommended for consumption within 6 to 8 months to maintain its quality.

Valorization of Spirodela polyrrhiza biomass for the production of biofuels for distributed energy

Considering the main objectives of a circular economy, Lemnaceae plants have great potential for different types of techniques to valorize their biomass for use in biofuel production. For this reason, scientific interest in this group of plants has increased in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of salt stress on the growth and development of S. polyrrhiza and the valorization of biomass for biofuel and energy production in a circular economy. Plants were grown in a variety of culture media, including standard 'Z' medium, tap water, 1% digestate from a biogas plant in Piaszczyna (54° 01′ 21″ N, 17° 10′ 19″ E), Poland) and supplemented with different concentrations of NaCl (from 25 to 100 mM). Plants were cultured under phytotron conditions at 24 °C. After 10 days of culture, plant growth, fresh and dry biomass, as well as physio-chemical parameters such as chlorophyll content index, gas exchange parameters (net photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration), chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were analyzed. After 10 days of the experiment, the percentage starch content of Spirodela shoot segments was determined. S. polyrrhiza was shown to have a high starch storage capacity under certain unfavorable growth conditions, such as salt stress and nutrient deficiency. In the W2 (50 mM NaCl) series, compared to the control (Control2), starch levels were 76% higher in shoots and 30% lower in roots. The analysis of the individual growth and development parameters of S. polyrrhiza plants in the experiment carried out indicates new possibilities for the use of this group of plants in biofuel and bioethanol production.

Impact of Automobile Workshop Activities on Groundwater in Aule, Ondo State, Nigeria

In many parts of Nigeria, groundwater is one of the most essential sources of water. Pollution brought on by petroleum products (a complete mixture of hydrocarbons) has been acknowledged as a severe environmental issue. This research is aimed at examining the impact of automobile repair activities on well water quality in Aule, Ondo state, Nigeria. Physio-chemical parameters such as temperature, turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, acidity, total hardness, chloride, nitrate, sulphate, phosphate, total suspended solids, magnesium, calcium and bacteriological parameters from 5 wells in different automobile workshops and a control well in Aule were analyzed in this research. The results were compared with the WHO standards. The analysis revealed that the mean values of NO3, SO4, Mg, Ca, and pH were within the WHO permissible limit, while the mean value of the other water parameters exceeded the WHO permissible limit. Also, NO3 negatively correlated pH, and positively with Ca (r=0.873, p<0.05). PO4 correlated positively with Ca (r=0.903, p<0.05). TDS correlated negatively with Temp, and pH and positively with TSS (r=0.879, p<0.05). pH correlated negatively with EC, pH, and TVBC. This study also revealed that poor waste disposal practices by automobile repairers, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and a lack of awareness among community members on the dangers of groundwater pollution are contributing factors to the problem.

Robust NIRS Models for Non-Destructive Prediction of Physicochemical Properties and ageing of Basmati Rice

Aim: To determine physicochemical properties and age of rice by non-destructive technique.
 Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted at Division of Food Science and Postharvest Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2020 to 2021. 
 Methodology: Rice were kept for accelerated aging at 42.6°C temperature & 71% RH for a duration of 30 days. Changes in four physicochemical properties namely amylose content, volume expansion ratio (VER), water absorption ratio (WAR), and kernel elongation ratio (KER) were evaluated destructively (by spectrophotometer and cooking method) and non-destructively (by spectroradiometer) at every alternate day, during 30 days storage.
 Results: The physicochemical parameters of rice showed a good correlation with spectral signatures. Subsequently, Principal component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR), and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) were used to model the physicochemical changes occurring during the process of accelerated aging using spectral reflectance values. Based on values of Coefficient of determination (R²) and Root mean square error (RMSE) accuracy of models was determined. Predictions with the MLR model resulted in a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.82, 0.87, 0.9,7, 0.83 and 0.82 with root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.18, 0.13, 0.21, 0.124 and 4.2 for amylose content, VER, WAR, KER, and ageing process respectively for calibration.
 Conclusion: The study demonstrated the potential of NIRS in non-destructively predicting the physiochemical parameters of rice.

Combining in vitro and in silico studies to unravel the antifungal potential of chitinase from a marine bacterial isolate Cellulosimicrobium cellulans RS7

The main aim of this research is to identify, screen and optimize physio-chemical characteristics for the production of extracellular chitinase from a marine bacterial isolate RS7. The bacterium isolated from Pamban Island, Rameshwaram was characterized as Gram-positive, pleomorphic and was identified as Cellulosimicrobium cellulans RS7 based on 16S rRNA profiling. The growth profile analysis showed maximum chitinase activity at 48 h of inoculum age. The optimization of physio-chemical parameters was performed using OFAT and statistical approach via RSM which resulted in 3.23-fold increase in chitinase activity from 20.89 to 67.6 U/ml. This study investigates the anti-fungal activity of chitinase against pathogenic fungus Mucor sp. where 80 μl (5 U) of enzyme resulted in a 22 mm zone of inhibition. Furthermore, molecular docking studies were done to understand the active properties of chitinase against fungal pathogens. The Molecular Operating Environment module was utilized and the docking poses were visually examined for interaction. The results indicated that chitinase exhibited high affinity towards selected ligand/protein (N-acetylglucosamine, β-1, 3 glucanase and β-1, 3 glucan) which participate in synthesis of fungal cell wall. The docking scores and root mean square deviation values for the selected target molecules were determined and specific interactions and residues were identified.

Hydrogeochemical and water quality index (WQI) evaluated in Beedanahalli watershed T narasipura taluk mysore district, Karnataka, India


 
 
 Beedanahalli Watershed, hydrogeochemical experiments were conducted to evalu- ate the quality and suitability of groundwater for drinking. Thirty-one groundwater samples were taken in 2022’s pre and post-monsoon seasons. Groundwater’s physiochemical characteristics, including pH, EC, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3-, Cl-, SO42-, and NO3-, were measured. The overall hydrochemistry of the groundwater samples in both seasons is shown in Gibb’s (1970) diagrams as occurring in the rock dominance field. Assessment of groundwater quality is important in the current situation. The primary goals of the current study are to evaluate and classify the groundwater quality for drinking. To evaluate the subsurface water in the study area, 14 distinct physiochemical parameters were examined. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was attracted to make a comparative analysis of the values. The water quality index is one of the finest ways to determine whether groundwater is safe to drink (WQI). The extracted components show that topography, agronomic, rainfall, domestic sewerage, and production drain water were among the factors that caused the sources to exceed the allowable limit. The recent study indicated that some groundwater samples had extremely poor water quality, showing that the region is mostly affected by rock weathering and salt evaporating from the bedrock into the water supplies, posing a major threat to the natural ecosystem.58% and 51% of groundwater samples taken before and after the monsoon, respectively, were determined by the WQI index to be appropriate for drinking.
 
 

Antibiotics inhibit methanogenesis during municipal solid waste decomposition

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are significant sources of antibiotics. However, the effects of antibiotics on MSW decomposition process and methanogenesis during solid waste decomposition remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigated the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations (ERCs) of antibiotics (200 μg/kg for each antibiotic) on MSW decomposition and methanogenesis in bioreactors treated with and without eight antibiotics (three tetracyclines, three sulfonamides, and two macrolides). The key phases of MSW decomposition, namely the aerobic, anaerobic acid, and methanogenic phases, were determined by analyzing the key physiochemical parameters of the leachate, including pH, chemical oxygen demand, and biochemical oxygen demand. We assessed the bacterial and archaeal compositions, along with the abundance of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of methyl-coenzyme M reductase (mcrA), during MSW decomposition using high throughput 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reactions, respectively. Our results revealed that antibiotics significantly altered the compositions of bacteria and methanogens, leading to decreased mcrA abundance and methanogenesis. Specifically, antibiotics inhibited cellulose-degrading bacteria (Firmicutes) and archaea (E2) in the anaerobic acid phase and hydrolytic bacteria (Proteobacteria) in the methanogenic phase, resulting in lower degradation of biodegradable matter than that of the biodegradation without antibiotics treatment. However, the typical MSW decomposition process indicated by the key decomposition phases was successfully separated in both bioreactors, suggesting that antibiotics did not affect overall MSW decomposition process development or the associated individual decomposition phases establishment. These findings suggest that antibiotics at ERCs may inhibit methanogenesis during MSW decomposition, thereby providing fundamental information for methane management and climate change studies.

Presence of Toxic Heavy Metals in Hill Water Bodies of Arunachal Pradesh, India – A Health Implication to the Indigenous Population

Water bodies in hilly areas are considered the cleanest in India. They are also sites for household and recreation activities. On the contrary, they are disposal sites for household and toxic industrial wastes. This study evaluates the physio-chemical parameters and the toxic heavy metal content in two water bodies of Itanagar, the capital city of the Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh. Physiochemical parameters were evaluated using standard procedures and toxic heavy metal contents were analyzed using Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The study revealed high dissolved oxygen contents in both water bodies. Other parameters such as alkalinity, carbon dioxide, phosphate, chloride, and nitrate contents were found to be within the permissible limits. However, lead and arsenic were found in trace amounts but below the permissible limits in both water bodies. Cadmium was exactly within the permissible limit whereas, antimony was found to exceed the permissible limit (0.010ppm). Also, chromium (0.070±0.002 ppm) in Ganga Lake and nickel (0.086±0.011 ppm) in Poma River were found to be above the permissible limits. The presence of toxic metals in these natural hilly areas is alarming and can be attributed to increasing anthropogenic activities. Adequate measures and precautions to prevent such contamination activities should be undertaken.

Assessment of Stormwater Quality in the Context of Traffic Congestion: A Case Study in Egypt

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of traffic congestion in urbanized areas (parking lots and highways) on stormwater quality. Three separate locations in Egypt’s heavily urbanized and populous Giza Governorate were picked for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the stormwater quality: Faisal (A), El Dokki (B), and Hadayek El-Ahram (C), with catchment areas of 10,476, 7566, and 9870 m2, and with monthly average daily traffic (MADT) values of 47,950, 20,919, and 27,064 cars, respectively. The physio-chemical and heavy metal stormwater quality parameters of six water samples were investigated and compared with Egypt’s water criteria and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The water quality index (WQI) and the irrigation water quality indices were used to assess the uses of stormwater. The results showed that the WQI varied from 426 to 929, with an average of (661 ± 168), indicating that the stormwater was contaminated at each location under examination and needed pretreatment in order to be useful. As a result, the allowed stormwater quality standards were exceeded for heavy metals such as Al, Cr, Cd, Fe, and Cu. The indicators of the stormwater quality for irrigation—the total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), permeability index (PI), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), and Kelley’s ratio (KR)—show excellent stormwater for irrigation, while the total hardness (TH) and residual sodium bicarbonate (RSBC) indicate poor irrigation water quality. It is advised to sweep the streets to remove particle-bound pollution before it reaches storm drain water, and to put in place an adequate stormwater sewerage system to catch rainwater.

Physicochemical and Heavy Metal Analyses of Leachate at Dumping Sites of Some Selected Areas in Damaturu Yobe State, Nigeria

Protection of surface and groundwater is a major environmental issue the importance of water to human quality of life is of great interest. This study was conducted to assess the physicochemical and heavy metal of leachate in surface water and soil sediment at dumping sites of Nayinawa and Babban-Tsangaya, Damaturu, Yobe State. Simple random sampling was used for collection of the samples. The physiochemical parameters were analyzed in accordance with standard analytical procedure. Concentration of heavy metals was determined using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Physiochemical analysis results showed significantly high dissolved oxygen (DO) (21.13 mg/L, Total Suspended Solid (TSS) (1115 and Turbidity (138.9 and 856.4 mg/L and sulphate (212.6 and 345 mg/L from both Nayinawa and Babban-Tsangaya, these revealed higher values of above WHO and NSDWQ permissible limit. However TDS was below FAO permissible limit. Heavy metals concentration for arsenic (2.17 mg/L, cadmium (2.27 mg/L) and chromium (1.89 mg/L) were also above WHO, FAO and NSDWQ permissible limit except lead (1.45 mg/L which was below FAO permissible limit. The development and application of integrated leachate treatment process of different physical, biological and chemical technologies could be a suitable option to reduce the contamination levels of the leachate. This study revealed that water from the study areas (Nayinawa and Babban-Tsangaya) has significant levels of heavy metal which poses a serious health risk to the people in the area.

Contribution to the Occurrence of the Blackfly (Diptera:Similiidae) in the Palestinian Territories, West Bank

Aims: The primary objective of the study was to gather evidence regarding the presence of black fly fauna in the Palestinian environment. The research extensively examined breeding sites and habitats, as well as studied the physiochemical parameters of the water in these breeding sites. Furthermore, the study assessed the potential impacts of these insects on both humans and animals
 Study Design: A cross- sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: From January 2023 to August 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in the West Bank-Salfit district to collect larvae and adult blackflies within the Wadi Qana protected area.
 Methodology: In January 2023, a field survey was conducted in the Wadi Qana protected area (32.12582, 34.8952) in the Salfit district to study the freshwater fauna. A total of 220 larvae individual of the Blackfly were collected from the running water in the valley. Forceps used to collect specimens and preserved in 70% ethanol, while adults of this group were examined under a dissecting microscope. The specimens were identified using various identification keys [4,9,12].
 Results: During the study period, a total of 220 larvae were collected from breeding sites in the freshwater habitats of Wadi Qana. Two subgenera of blackflies were identified in the study area: Simulium (Wilhelmia) Enderlein and Simulium (Odgamia) Enderlein. The results indicate that blackflies breed in fast-flowing freshwater habitats covered by annual aquatic plants, with dissolved oxygen levels at 10.1 mg/L, pH average 8.2 and average temperature 21.6°C.
 No significant health effects were recorded or documented in the study area, except for the nuisance caused to humans and animals by the biting of blackflies.
 In conclusion, this study marks the first record and presence of the blackfly in the Palestinian environment. Further much more research is needed to explore their fauna, biology, ecology, habitats, distribution, and medical significance.
 Conclusion: blackfly was recorded for the first time in the Palestinian environment, more study research are needed to discussed the fauna, biology, ecology, habitats, distribution and the medically important.

Estimation of Physicochemical Properties in the Estuarine Water of Mithbav Tidal Mud Flats (Downstream Part), Coastal Maharashtra

Estuarine environments have become crucial in coastal areas nowadays. Mangrove swamps, mudflats and related estuarine environments provide a habitat for animals and encourage plant growth. For the people of coastal areas, estuaries are one of the vital sources of food and other economic activity. The imbalance in the quality and quantity of Estuarine water in terms of its physicochemical parameters causes adverse effects on marine life. In the present study, an attempt has been made to estimate the physicochemical properties of the estuarine water of Mithbav tidal mud flats (downstream part) of coastal Maharashtra. Several methods have been used to evaluate the variations in physical and chemical properties of estuarine water in Mithbav including standard water testing,1 the titration method and Winkler's method. Salinity, turbidity, pH, total hardness, DO, TDS, EC, nitrate, fluoride, phosphate, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, carbonate, chloride, sodium, potassium and sulphate were examined for the seven cross-sectional sites of Mithbav estuarine water. Some parameters show levels of contamination that exceed the maximum limit. For instance, during the post-monsoon season, the average value of dissolved oxygen (DO) was recorded as 11.57mg/L whereas it has been recorded as 8.07mg/L during the summer season. The total dissolved solids (TDS) showed an average increase from 141.54 to 348.57ppt between pre and post-monsoon seasons. The electrical conductivity (EC) also increased from 45558.17μ S/Cm to 31445.85 μ S/Cm respectively from the dry to the wet season. The fluoride levels during the post-monsoon season ranged from 1.07 mg/L at CS-1 to 4.2 mg/L at CS-6. The study shows that the Mithbav coastal ecosystem and nearby areas are at significant risk of contamination from physiochemical parameters that could harm the environment.