Evaluation of dissolved heavy metals in water of the Sungai Semenyih (Peninsular Malaysia) using environmetric methods

The study to determine the concentrations of dissolved heavy metals in the Sungai Semenyih and to use the environmetric methods to evaluate the influence of different pollution sources on heavy metals concentrations was carried out. Cluster analysis (CA) classified 8 sampling stations into two clusters based on the similarity of sampling stations characteristics, cluster 1 included stations 1, 2, 3 and 4 (low pollution area), whereas cluster 2 comprised of stations 5, 6, 7 and 8 (high pollution area). Principal component analysis (PCA) of the two datasets yield two factors for low pollution area and three factors for the high pollution area at Eigenvalues >1, representing 92.544% and 100% of the total variance in each heavy metals data sets and allowed to gather selected heavy metals based on the anthropogenic and lithologic sources of contamination

Prevalence, Risk Factors and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Urinary Tract Infections among Pregnant Women: A Study in Damt District Yemen

Urinary tract infections are the most common illnesses that impact pregnant women. This study aimed to investigate bacterial urinary tract infections and antibiotic susceptibility profiles in pregnant women. This study was conducted on pregnant women between April and October 2021 in clinics and hospitals in the Damt district. Midstream urine samples were collected, cultured, identified and tested for antibiotic susceptibility. The prevalence of UTI in pregnant women was 210/350 (60%). Escherichia coli accounted for 90/210 (42.9%), Staphylococcus aureus 50/210 (23.8%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae 25/210 (11.9%). Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis exhibited 15/210 (7.1%) of each with the moderately identified bacterial species. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing showed that bacterial isolates were resistant to amoxicillin (80-100%), ceftriaxone (40-70%), gentamycin (0-60%), amikacin (0-50%), tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, and amoxiclav (0-40%), and azithromycin (0-30%). Significant bacteriuria was associated with age (p = 0.01), pregnancy trimesters (p = 0.00), gestation (p = 0.00), and residence (p = 0.03), whereas there was no association with education (p = 0.05). Most isolates have become resistant toward antibiotic used in the study treatments, especially ceftriaxone and amoxicillin. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women undergo health education on the prevalence and causes of urinary tract infections

Performance of wild-serbian ganoderma lucidum mycelium in treating synthetic sewage loading using batch bioreactor

The fluctuation of domestic wastewater characteristic inhibits the current conventional microbial-based treatment. The bioremediation fungi has received attention and reported to be an effective alternative to treat industrial wastewater. Similar efficient performance is envisaged for domestic wastewater whereby assessed performance of fungi for varying carbon-to-nitrogen ratios in domestic wastewater is crucial. Thus, the performance of pre-grown wild-Serbian Ganoderma lucidum mycelial pellets (GLMPs) was evaluated on four different synthetic domestic wastewaters under different conditions of initial pH (pH 4, 5, and 7) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) to nitrogen (COD/N) ratio of 3.6:1, 7.1:1, 14.2:1, and 17.8:1 (C3.6N1, C7.1N1, C14.2N1, and C17.8N1). The COD/N ratios with a constant concentration of ammonia–nitrogen (NH3–N) were chosen on the basis of the urban domestic wastewater characteristics sampled at the inlet basin of a sewage treatment plant (STP). The parameters of pH, COD, and NH3–N were measured periodically during the experiment. The wild-Serbian GLMPs efficiently removed the pollutants from the synthetic sewage. The COD/N ratio of C17.8N1 wastewater had the best COD and NH3–N removal, as compared to the lower COD/N ratio, and the shortest treatment time was obtained in an acidic environment at pH 4. The highest percentage for COD and NH3–N removal achieved was 96.0% and 93.2%, respectively. The results proved that the mycelium of GLMP has high potential in treating domestic wastewater, particularly at high organic content as a naturally sustainable bioremediation system

Water Quality Assessment of the Semenyih River, Selangor, Malaysia

This study was carried out to determine the Semenyih River water quality based on the physicochemical and biological parameters. The sampling was conducted in dry and rainy seasons during 2012. Water samples were collected from 8 stations along the river and analyzed using standard methods. The results showed that temperature, pH, conductivity, TDS, SO4, and TH were classified as class I, while DO, turbidity, and BOD were categorized under class II, and NH3-N, TSS, COD, and OG were categorized as class III based on NWQS, Malaysia. Moreover, NO3 was classified under class IV, while PO4 and FC were categorized as class V and exceeded the allowable threshold levels. Therefore, the river was slightly polluted with NH3-N, TSS, COD, and NO3, whereas it is extremely contaminated with PO4 and FC. Furthermore, cluster analysis classified 8 sampling stations into three clusters based on similarities of water quality features. Furthermore, factor analysis of the water quality datasets generated three factors with total variance of 94.05% and pointed out that water quality deterioration in the river was associated with industrial and agricultural activities, livestock farming, and erosion. Therefore, the river water can be used for irrigation with precaution but extensive treatment needed before using for domestic purposes