Heavy Metal Contamination of Roadside Topsoil in North East Jordan

Environmental pollution of heavy metals from automobiles has attained much attention in the recent past, a study of heavy metals in roadside soils is critical in assessing the potential environmental impacts of automobile emission on soil. The present research was conducted to study heavy metals contamination in roadside soils of Mafraq-Zarqa highway in Jordan. The soil samples were collected and analyzed for the levels of Mn, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn using flam atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that all heavy metals except Mn are lower than other studies. Results indicate the decreasing order of the average total metals content for the studied metals: Mn> Zn > Cu > Ni> Pb> Cd, higher levels of heavy metals east of the roadside were due to the westerly prevailing wind at the sampling site. The contamination decreased with distance from off the edge of the roadside and dropped to background level at about 60m west, also the contamination of the top soil was higher than the lower soil, finally the levels of heavy metals increased with increasing traffic densities and furthermore, they reached elevated levels in urban areas. Keywords: Roadside, Soil, Heavy Metal, Mafraq,Zarqa, Jordan

The Effect of Utilizing Microbiological Parameters on Water Quality Index Values Implemented at Wadi Al-Arab Dam Reservoir, North-Jordan.

The aims of this study are to investigate the effect of using microbiological parameters, particularly Escherichia coli on water quality index values that has been implemented at Wadi Al-Arab Dam Reservoir (WADR) in Northern Jordan and to evaluate its water suitability for domestic purposes. For these purposes, the study period from January 2009 through December 2014, one sample on a monthly basis was used in the calculation of WQI. Firstly, computed the WQI for the seventy two samples that were analyzed for different physico-chemical parameters such as pH, Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Suspended Solids, ions of Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, Sulfate, Bicarbonate, Ammonium, Nitrite and Nitrate in various  seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn). Secondly, performing the previous calculations taking into account the Escherichia coli (species of bacteria) counts. The analyzed results (by WQI method) have been used to depicting water quality for the two approaches. Based on physico-chemical parameters, the calculated values for WQI over the 6-year study period from 2009 to 2014 were 83.4, 80.6, 59.33, 78.0, 89.3, and 85.4, respectively. On the other hand, the WQI values were 41.7, 40.1, 43.5, 44.2, 51.0 and 44.7, respectively, as a result of incorporated microbiological parameters in WQI calculations that significantly contribute to decrease the WQI values over the 6-year study period. The analysis shows that the water quality rank of the (WADR) is varies from good to marginal based on physico-chemical parameters only, and from poor to marginal based on physico-chemical and microbiological parameters. In comparison with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Jordanian Standards (JS 286:2008). The results signify that the (WADR) is not polluted based on the physical and chemical characteristics of water. However, from microbiological perspective the water is not safe for domestic use and needs further treatment. Keywords: reservoir, seasonality, Irbid, Wadi Al-Arab Dam, Water Quality Index, microbiology, Jordan

The use of DRASTIC Index and Simple Matrix Techniques to Assess the Environmental Impact of Akaider Dumpsite Area

Abstract: EIA are needed to avoid adverse impacts and to ensure long term benefits which lead to sustainable development. There are several techniques to conduct an EIA. Among these techniques include checklists, Matrices and overlay. DRASTIC index is considered an important methodology for studying groundwater vulnerability. In this research study, a simple matrix technique was adopted to investigate the Environmental Impacts of Akaider dumpsite on the surrounding environment. Nine environmental parameters (Groundwater, surface water, air, soil, land use, industry, public health, heritage and historical sites and socio-economic situation) were studies to see the impact of the dumpsite on their quality. It was found that the dumpsite might pose a major threat to these parameters. Also, DRASTIC index was used to investigate groundwater vulnerability to contamination in the area. It was found that the dumpsite is located within a moderate vulnerability zone. This means that groundwater in the underlying groundwater basins in not completely save and might be contaminated in the future

Phosphate removal from aqueous solutions by using natural Jordanian zeolitic tuff

In this study, a naturally occurring zeolitic tuff located in Jordan was investigated as a potential adsorbent for phosphate removal from aqueous solution. Adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics of phosphate adsorption under different temperatures were studied. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model adequately fitted the collected experimental data under different initial ion concentrations. The Langmuir model is found to be successfully fitting the experimental data. Thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs's free energy change, standard enthalpy change, and entropy change were evaluated and the results indicated that the sorption process is spontaneous, exothermic with small degree of randomness during the sorption process