Characterization of Contamination Around the Largest Lead Smelter in Egypt Carried Out Through a Cooperation Program between USA and Egypt

The Government of Egypt together USAID aimed to reduce the impact of lead smelters on the environment. The major site was in Shoubra El-Kheima, where the Awadulla Secondary Lead Smelter is situated.  The Awadulla Family Company owns about 70% of the lead smelters in Egypt. This work presents the results and conclusions of a detailed on-site and off-site contaminant characterization of the Awadulla Secondary Lead Smelter.    As part of the characterization of the smelter site, soil and dust samples were collected within and near the smelter using two methods. The first consisted of collecting bulk dust and soil samples from the floor and ground in the direct vicinity of the smelter. The second involved using wet wipes to collect dust samples from walls, smooth floors, duct work, window and ledges.  The results indicate that the most contaminated soils can be found in industrial areas and on public streets in Shoubra El-Kheima. The highest lead concentrations of more than 780,000 mg.kg-1 were found inside the smelter site. Concentrations at the El-Mahy Smelter nearby reached 302,275 mg.kg-1. Residential areas had considerably lower lead levels in soil and dust.  Samples of surface water and groundwater were collected and tested for lead contamination.  Only three samples had lead concentrations above detection limits, indicating water contamination is not a problem. The maximum area affected by deposition of lead from the Awadulla smelter appears to be no more than 500 m all around the smelter. The plan calls for moving the smelters to a new industrial area called Abu Zaabal.  This move will leave behind existing structures that are highly contaminated with lead dust.  El Gobierno egipcio, junto con USAID (Agencia Estadounidense Para el Desarrollo Internacional), pretendía reducir el impacto de los hornos de fundición de plomo sobre el medio ambiente. El emplazamiento principal está en Shoubra El-Kheima, donde se encuentra el horno de fundición de plomo secundario de Awadulla. La empresa de la familia Awadulla posee aproximadamente el 70% de los hornos de fundición de plomo en Egipto. Este trabajo presenta los resultados y las conclusiones de un detallado estudio de caracterización de contaminantes en el emplazamiento y fuera del emplazamiento del horno de fundición de plomo secundario de Awadulla. Como parte de la caracterización del emplazamiento del horno de fundición, se recogieron muestras de terreno y de polvo dentro de y cerca del horno de fundición usando dos métodos. Por una parte, se recogieron muestras de polvo y de terreno a granel del suelo y la tierra en las inmediaciones directas del horno de fundición y por otra, se recogieron muestras de polvo de paredes, suelos lisos, canalizaciones, ventanas y repisas utilizando toallitas húmedas. Los resultados indican que los terrenos más contaminados se encuentran en zonas industriales y en calles públicas en Shoubra El-Kheima. Las concentraciones más elevadas, de más de 780.000 mg/kg, están dentro del emplazamiento del horno de fundición. Las concentraciones en el cercano horno de fundición de El-Mahy eran de 302.275 mg/kg. Las zonas residenciales mostraron niveles de plomo considerablemente inferiores en terreno y polvo. Se recogieron muestras de agua superficial y agua subterránea y se les realizaron pruebas para detectar contaminación por plomo. Solamente tres muestras presentaban concentraciones de plomo por encima de los límites de detección, indicando que la contaminación del agua no supone un problema. El área máxima afectada por deposición de plomo procedente del horno de fundición de Awadulla parece no ser superior a 500 metros alrededor del horno de fundición. El plan requiere trasladar los hornos de fundición a una nueva zona industrial llamada Abu Zaabal. Este traslado dejará atrás estructuras existentes que están altamente contaminadas con polvo de plomo.En collaboration avec l'USAID, le Gouvernement égyptien a élaboré un projet visant à réduire l'impact des fonderies de plomb sur l'environnement. La principale fonderie concernée était l'Awadulla Secondary Lead Smelter située à Shoubra El-Kheima. L'Awadulla Family Company détient environ 70 % des fonderies de plomb en Egypte. Cet article présente les résultats et les conclusions d'une étude de caractérisation de contaminants sur site et hors site menée sur le site de l'Awadulla Secondary Lead Smelter. Dans le cadre de cette étude, des échantillons de terre et de poussière ont été recueillis dans et à proximité de la fonderie selon deux méthodes. La première méthode a consisté à recueillir des échantillons en vrac de poussière et de terre sur le sol de la fonderie et à proximité immédiate de celle-ci. La seconde méthode a consisté à recueillir des échantillons de poussière sur les murs, les sols lisses, les conduites, les fenêtres et les rebords de celles-ci, à l'aide de chiffons humides. Les résultats ont indiqué que les sols les plus contaminés étaient localisés dans les zones industrielles et les rues de Shoubra El-Kheima. Les plus fortes concentrations, supérieures à 780 000 mg/kg, ont été relevées sur le site même de la fonderie. Des concentrations de 302 275 mg/kg ont été constatées à la fonderie voisine d'El-Mahy. Les zones résidentielles ont affiché des taux de plomb nettement plus faibles dans le sol et la poussière. Des échantillons des eaux de surface et des eaux souterraines ont été recueillis et analysés afin de déterminer la contamination au plomb. Seuls trois échantillons ont présenté des concentrations en plomb supérieures aux limites de détection, indiquant que la contamination de l'eau n'était pas inquiétante. Le périmètre touché par des dépôts de plomb de la fonderie Awadulla semble être de 500 mètres autour de la fonderie maximum. Le programme préconise le déplacement des fonderies dans une nouvelle zone industrielle dénommée Abu Zaabal. Cela implique l'abandon des structures existantes fortement contaminées par de la poussière de plomb

Evaluation of the Level of Knowledge of Typ1 Diabetic Patients About the Complications of Obesity Attending in Primary Health Care Center at Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia 2022

Background: Obesity affects large numbers of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) across their lifetime, with rates ranging between 2.8% and 37.1%. Patients with T1D and obesity are characterized by the presence of insulin resistance, of high insulin requirements, have a greater cardio metabolic risk and an enhanced risk of developing chronic complications when compared to normal-weight persons with T1D, obesity in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is now prevalent and accounts for significant health consequences, including obesity complications and dual diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Physical activity and lifestyle are modifiable and play an important role in the prevention and management of obesity ,  but it is unclear how these factors relate to obese in patients with T1D. Prevalence of obesity ranged from 12.5% to 33.3%. Obesity in patients with T1D was associated with infrequent napping, increased screen time, and skipping breakfast and dinner.  The study aimed: To evaluation of the level of knowledge of typ1 diabetic patients about the complications of obesity attending in primary health care center at Ministry of health in Riyadh, makkah, Jeddah, Taif Saudi Arabia 2022.  Method: cross sectional study conducted about evaluation of the level of knowledge of typ1 diabetic patients about the complications of obesity attending in primary health care center at Ministry of health at Saudi Arabia Riyadh, makkah , Jeddah, Taif . Our total participants were (500) patients with Type 1 Diabetes about complications of obesity (aged from <25 to >45years), questionnaire sheet was used to evaluation of the level of knowledge of typ1 diabetic at Saudi Arabia 2022. Result: shows that most of the participants (41.0%) were in the age group >45 years the majority of them were males (69.0%) the education most of participants Primary were(42.0%), the Social states most of participants married were(67.0%), regarding occupation the majority of participant are working  were(78.0%) the Occupation most of participant answer Yes were (81.0%)  Conclusion: The coexistence of obesity as complications of T1D is a growing problem and poses a challenge for effective glycemic and weight management. All patients should be offered a lifestyle intervention by a multidisciplinary team including a balanced hypo caloric diet, physical activity and cognitive behavioral therapy. In the ―roadmap‖ of the treatment of obesity in T1D, with a high obesity prevalence in patients attending in primary health care center.&nbsp

Prion protein in the cerebrospinal fluid of healthy and naturally scrapie-affected sheep

The aim of this study was to characterize the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) prion protein (PrP) of healthy and naturally scrapie-affected sheep. The soluble form of CSF PrPC immunoblotted with an anti-octarepeat and an anti-C terminus mAb showed two isoforms of approximately 33 and 26 kDa, corresponding to the biglycosylated and unglycosylated isoforms of brain PrPC. Neither the mean concentration nor the electrophoretic profile of CSF PrP differed between healthy and scrapieaffected sheep, whereas a slightly increased resistance of CSF PrP to mild proteolysis by proteinase K was evident in the CSF of scrapie-affected sheep. No difference in susceptibility to proteolysis was observed between the two ARR and VRQ genetic variants of the purified prokaryote recombinant PrP. It was concluded that the physicochemical properties of PrPC in the CSF could be altered during scrapie and that these changes might reflect the physiopathological process of prion disease

Microbiological Contamination of Mobile Phones of Clinicians in Intensive Care Units and Neonatal Care Units in Public Hospitals in Kuwait

Background: The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of microbiological contamination of mobile phones that belong to clinicians in intensive care units (ICUs), pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), and neonatal care units (NCUs) in all public secondary care hospitals in Kuwait. The study also aimed to describe mobile phones disinfection practices as well as factors associated with mobile phone contamination. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that included all clinicians with mobile phones in ICUs, PICUs, and NCUs in all secondary care hospitals in Kuwait. Samples for culture were collected from mobile phones and transported for microbiological identification using standard laboratory methods. Self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data on mobile phones disinfection practices. Results: Out of 213 mobile phones, 157 (73.7 %, 95 % CI [67.2-79.5 %]) were colonized. Coagulase-negative staphylococci followed by Micrococcus were predominantly isolated from the mobile phones; 62.9 % and 28.6 % of all mobile phones, respectively. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Gram-negative bacteria were identified in 1.4 % and 7.0 % of the mobile phones, respectively. Sixty-eight clinicians (33.5 %) reported that they disinfected their mobile phones, with the majority disinfecting their mobile phones only when they get dirty. The only factor that was significantly associated with mobile phone contamination was whether a clinician has ever disinfected his/her mobile phone; adjusted odds ratio 2.42 (95 % CI [1.08-5.41], p-value = 0.031). Conclusion: The prevalence of mobile phone contamination is high in ICUs, PICUs, and NCUs in public secondary care hospitals in Kuwait. Although some of the isolated organisms can be considered non-pathogenic, various reports described their potential harm particularly among patients in ICU and NCU settings. Isolation of MRSA and Gram-negative bacteria from mobile phones of clinicians treating patients in high-risk healthcare settings is of a major concern, and calls for efforts to consider guidelines for mobile phone disinfection

Pharmacokinetics of Nicotine Absorption from Vaping Devices

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), also sometimes known as "e-cigarettes," or electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, are battery-operated electronic gadgets that aerosolize a solution, sometimes known as an e-liquid, that is either nicotine-containing or free from nicotine. It is believed that smokers are more likely to embrace electronic cigarettes as satisfying substitutes for traditional cigarettes if the pharmacokinetic profile is similar to that of cigarettes. The present investigation\u27s objective was to get more information about how experienced users of their own device distribute nicotine from e-cigarettes. This study specifically sought to evaluate the nicotine delivery of various first-generation and advanced e-cigarette devices with that of classic cigarettes. This research also aimed to assess the subjective impact of using various kinds of electronic cigarettes and cigarettes

Multiple soaking with different solution concentration in doped silica preform fabrication using modified chemical vapor deposition and solution doping

Incorporation of alumina (Al2O3) into a silica matrix by modified chemical vapor deposition and a solution doping technique is investigated in this study. Multiple soaking cycles were used to increase the aluminum content in the core layer. The effect of alumina retention in silica matrix soot is focused by multiple cycles of soaking with different solution concentrations, while the effect of the adsorption mechanism is fixed by maintaining the soot deposition process (such as temperature [1,800°C], precursor, total gas flow, and soaking time). The deposited soot is examined for porosity characteristics and effective surface area by a gas adsorption technique with Brunauer-Emett-Teller surface area analysis and the surface and cross-section morphology using scanning electron microscopy. Three different concentrations are used in this work (0.3, 0.7, and 1.2 M) with multiple cycles of soaking. Sintering and the collapsing process is controlled for each preform. The result shows that the alumina content is increased substantially as the number of soaking processes is increased, which may be due to the retention effect as only a small amount of adsorption process takes place as indicated by the slight decrease in the surface area of soot. The collapsed preforms are analyzed using a preform analyzer. Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry is used to check aluminum content and distribution into the core layer

Aluminum doped silica preform fabrication using MCVD and solution doping technique: effects of various aluminum solution concentrations

This work is described for solution doping in Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD) used for silica optical fiber fabrication. This paper will concentrate on aluminum solution doping and the effect of different solution concentrations. The effect of three different concentrations of aluminum (O.3M, O.7M and 1.2M) with the soot undergo heat treatment are studied while the other parameters of MCVD and solution doping are fixed such as deposition temperature, SiCI4 flow, and soaking time. The refractive index profile (RIP) of each doped preform is measured using preform analyzer to investigate aluminum distribution in the core region. Further investigation about Al distribution across the core sintered layer is also examined by EDX techniques