Evaluation of Drinking Water Quality in Erbil City Kurdistan, Region-Iraq

This study is based on an analysis of drinking water characteristics in Erbil in Kurdistan. For water quality analysis Erbil is divided into four parts (Ifraz l, Ifraz ll, Ifraz lll and Bakhtari and Ainkawa wells). Several samples were collected which include three samples from source, five samples from wells, and 32 samples from houses. The physiochemical parameters of  , turbidity, conductivity, total hardness, and total alkalinity were analyzed. Cations potassium, calcium and sodium were also analyzed. In addition, anions chloride, nitrate and sulphate were analyzed. Further, the biological parameters of total coliform (thermo tolerant (faecal) coliform and faecal (streptococci)) were analyzed. There was no bacteria in the drinking water. All the parameters were in permissible limits. The range of pH (7.1-7.9), conductivity (282-850µ/s), turbidity (0.2-9.9mg/L), total hardness (188-407mg/L), total dissolved solids (141-360mg/L), and alkalinity was (121-378mg/L). Cations concentration range of calcium (50-102ppm), sodium (4.5-79ppm), potassium (1-5.2ppm). Anions concentration range of chloride (2.1-50ppm), sulphate (5-112ppm), nitrate 1.2-84ppm. While in ground water samples biological contamination has been found. The results indicate that the drinking water quality of Erbil is suitable. Keywords Evaluation, drinking water, physiochemical, biological, Erbil

Oil Recovery from Petroleum Sludge by Solvent Extraction Method

Industries developed during the last decades and the importance of oil is increasing. Petroleum is one of the most valuable non-renewable sources and it also, has the biggest effects on the environments after coal. Crude oil became the goal of many countries in order to increase their economies income, despite the outcome that has towards the environment. The crude oil that passes through the refinery process produces a large amount of waste, which is call petroleum sludge. The sludge has countless disadvantage that cause environmental hazards due to its remediation effects. In addition, it is very valuable energy and it can be recovered. So the companies used several methods in order to use this source and get benefit from it. One of the methods is the solvent extraction method and overall, this method can decrease the effect of the petroleum sludge on the environment but not that much. However, it can recover the waste and turn it to useful energy. The recovery can be done by different steps. The first step is making chemical compositions before using the instruments. Second step is to use the centrifuge machine which will separate the sludge and recover it into oil, sludge sediment and water. The third part is to use the residual carbon machine which will measure the solidcontent inside the sludge and it will help us to find the violate and non-violate hydrocarbons. Finally using the GC which is gas chromatography that checks the quality of the petrol and also the composition substance.

Effects of Crude Oil Spillage on the Physico-chemical Properties of Soil, Tarjan, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Kurdistan is a new oil producing region in the Middle East, and the oil wells are located in or near farm-lands. Crude oil spillage is a big threat to the soil fertility, which is especially important for farming. Spillage occurs due to the pipeline rupture, and traffic accidents involving tankers which are very common in Kurdistan. The physico-chemical properties of soil are susceptible to alteration when polluted with crude oil, and this issue is not been studied well in Kurdistan. The intent of this paper is to study the effects of crude oil spillage on the physico-chemical properties of soil in Tarjan village, Kurdistan region-Iraq. For this purpose soil samples were collected in the Tarjan area, tested in a laboratory, and compared to non-polluted soil sample. The pH values of the soil samples remained almost the same. The electrical conductivity, and salinity increased. The amount of sulfate increased, the amount of potassium decreased. The amount of lead increased. The changes in these parameters in the soil affected plant growth in the spillage area, as there was no sign of vegetation on the affected soils. There was a positive correlation between salinity and lead and negative correlation between pH, electrical conductivity, potassium ions and sulphate ions. Keywords: Crude oil, Soil, pH, EC, Salinity, Sulfate, Potassium, Lea

Separation of Sediment Contents and Water from Crude Oil of Khurmala and Guwayer Oil Fields in Kurdistan Region by using Centrifuge Method

The present research paper is aimed at determining water and sediment contents in crude oil by using centrifuge method in laboratory in which ASTM D 4007-02 is used to analyze the samples. Furthermore, water and sediment contents in crude oil should be removed because for custody transfer process purchasers prefer to pay only for crude oil and want to minimize the quantity of water and sediment contents in crude oil. Presence of water and sediment contents in crude oil creates problems such as corrosion of equipment when dealt in oil industry along with the problem of oil viscosity. We examined sixteen samples. Four samples were taken from Guwayer oil site area and remaining four from Khurmalla oil site area. These samples were analyzed properly at MNR laboratory in Kurdistan Region-Iraq. The crude oils is considered as the best if it contains less water and sediment content and the vice versa is for the worst quality of crude oil .The method is easy and sharp to check the quantity of sediments and water in crude oil samples in lab and this quantity helps to tell the quality of crude oil

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Fodder Crops Leaves Being Raised with Hudiara Drain Water (Punjab-Pakistan)

The present study was designed with the objectives to assess heavy metals' concentration in Hudiara drain water and investigation of the concentration of heavy metals in different fodder crops grown with this drain water and the determination of heavy metals in milk of cattles grazing these contaminated fodder crops. A survey was conducted and ten different sites were selected along Hudiara drain after entering Lahore. Five water samples and three samples of crops from a each site. The samples were processed, stored and then analyzed for heavy metals like Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, Zinc, Iron, Copper and manganese. Lead pollution was not found, whereas, Cadmium, Chromium and Nickel contamination was shown in Hudiara drain water. Similarly, Zinc pollution was not found in Hudiara drain water regarding irrigation and Iron, Copper and Manganese contamination was present in Water samples. Most of the fodder crops samples were contaminated with all heavy metals having levels of heavy metals above the Recommended Concentrations. It is noted that Pb+2 of Hudiara drain and irrigated Pb+2 of fodder crop were in positive correlation and negative correlation between Pb+2 and Cr+2, Ni+2, Cu+2. There is positive correlation between Cd+2 and Cr+2, Fe+2 and also negative correlation between Cd+2 and Pb+2, Cd+2, Ni+2, Zn+2, Cu+2, Mn+2 of fodder crop irrigated with Hudiara drain

Parents Attitude Towards Enrollments in Public and Private Schools

Education not only enables us to become acceptable members of social sphere but also enable us to take right decision at right time. Parents’ decision play important role in the lives of their children. The major aim of the present study was to find out the major causes of enrolling students in public schools by parents. Data for the study were collected from 280 respondents belonging to three selected villages in Tehsil Oghi, District Mansehra. The study found significant association between perception about enrollment in public schools and children’s education was major priority of the educated parents, they understand their educational problems, teach them at home, give importance to sports, provides them latest technologies and facilities, provide tuition to children if needed, believed in hard work of parents and good grades of children in exams and ultimately educated parents’ children obtain good grades. The study recommends that government should initiate mobilization campaign for illiterate parents, which will enhance the enrollment of children in public school

Changing Attitude Towards Women Education, An Outcome of Benefits of Women Education in Rural Area

Female constitute half of country population but still facing problem in almost all sectors of life in the male dominating Pakistani society. The major aim of the present study was to find out the benefits of female education as factor affecting their parent’s attitude towards education. Data for the study were collected from two hundred and fourteen (N=214) respondents belonging to two selected villages of district Bannu. A significant association was found among attitude about female education and by getting education females would become good housewives, good mothers, would be able to get better life partners, would bring up their children in a better way and could help their children in educational and social problems. Furthermore they would have job opportunities, would be socio- economically empowered, would make sensible decisions in important matters and they would be less likely to marry early. On the basis of encouraging findings of the study about expected benefits of female educations it is recommended that government and non-government organizations should keep people aware by highlighting these benefits which will ultimately motivate parents to provide education to their female children

Determination of the Total Sulphur Content in Khurmala and Guwayar Oil Fields of Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Five different samples of crude oil were evaluated. Three samples are from Khurmala crude oil field, and two samples are from the Guwayer crude oil field. All samples were evaluated to distinguish between qualities of both fields which are important sources of crude oil in the Kurdish Region. The specific gravity, API gravity, and the sulphur content were measured for all samples. Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to determine total sulfur content, a hydrometer was used to measure specific gravity and by using a mathematical equation we can find API gravity. By estimating these three parameters, crude oil of both fields were evaluated. In the samples of Guwayar oil field that measured the total sulfur in one of the well is 0.607 %(mean) wt and in second well was 0.6905 % wt(mean), while the total sulphur content in samples of three wells in Khurmala oil field were 2.3324% wt(mean), 2.1016% wt(mean), and 0.7362% wt(mean). We are 95% confident that there is no significant difference and we rejected the null hypothesis. There is strong relationship between sulphur content wt. % and specific gravity of the samples

Determination of Trace Metals in Crude Oils by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry in Khurmala and Guwayar Oil Fields of Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Fifteen crude oil samples were collected from different oil fields of the Kurdistan region, Northern Iraq to determine four trace metals, Fe, Ni, Cr and Pb. The analytical technique is applied mainly by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (ASS). Samples of these areas has not been previously examined for trace elements contents. API value of crude oils are inversely proportional to specific gravities and might be considered as a primary estimation for hydrocarbon contents. The relationship between trace metals and American Petroleum Institute (API) values of the samples are inversely proportional where the increasing API value of crude oil samples means a decrease in the metal contents of the samples. The method of dry ashing- acid dissolution (DA) was implemented.  The results concluded that crude oil samples of the Kurdistan region have a low metal content. Nevertheless, they could be seen as an essential health hazard for humans and the environment. In t-Test ˂  for iron, chromium and lead, there is no relationship between these three heavy metals.   

Synergistic Effects of Toxic Elements on Heat Shock Proteins

Heat shock proteins show remarkable variations in their expression levels under a variety of toxic conditions. A research span expanded over five decades has revealed their molecular characterization, gene regulation, expression patterns, vast similarity in diverse groups, and broad range of functional capabilities. Their functions include protection and tolerance against cytotoxic conditions through their molecular chaperoning activity, maintaining cytoskeleton stability, and assisting in cell signaling. However, their role as biomarkers for monitoring the environmental risk assessment is controversial due to a number of conflicting, validating, and nonvalidating reports. The current knowledge regarding the interpretation of HSPs expression levels has been discussed in the present review. The candidature of heat shock proteins as biomarkers of toxicity is thus far unreliable due to synergistic effects of toxicants and other environmental factors. The adoption of heat shock proteins as “suit of biomarkers in a set of organisms” requires further investigation