JBAS Articles
JBASV8N2A34- Lead Pollution Measurement Along National Highway and Motorway in Punjab, Pakistan
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2
Lead Pollution Measurement Along National Highway and Motorway in Punjab, Pakistan
Hashim Farooq, Yasir Jamil, Muhammad Raza Ahmad, Muhammad Afzal Ahmad Khan, Tahir Mahmood, Zeeshan Mahmood, Zia-ul-Haq and Shakeel Ahmad Khan
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.34
Abstract: A study was conducted to determine qualitative and quantitative lead contamination in soil and vegetation along two major roadsides of Pakistan using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. There has been a rapid increase in vehicles on the highways using petroleum products, which has caused considerable raised the quantity of lead in the atmosphere increasing the risk to health. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) was used as multi elemental analysis technique to cross confirm the lead contamination in the samples. The samples of soil and grass were collected from each location 100m away from the edge of roads at every 25m. The levels of lead were found to be 125mg/kg to 87mg/kg respectively in soil and grass. Hence there is high accumulation of lead in roadside soil and vegetation of linking roads of highly populated cities of Pakistan, Faisalabad and Lahore.
Keywords: LIBS, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, vehicular emission, lead contamination
JBASV8N2A29- The Effect of Grain Size on Radon Exhalation Rate in Soil Samples of Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2
The Effect of Grain Size on Radon Exhalation Rate in Soil Samples of Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan
Tabassum Nasir and Nisar Ahmad
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.29
Abstract: Radon concentration and its exhalation rate has been measured from twenty five soil samples collected from seven different locations of Dera Ismail Khan, in the north west of Pakistan. These samples were crushed after drying and passed through sieves with different sizes of pores to get three grain sizes, £0.595 mm, 0.595-2.00 mm and 2.00-4.00 mm of soil. CR-39 based NRPB (National Radiological Protection Board) radon dosimeters have been used to measure the radon concentration and exhalation rates. The maximum average value of radon exhalation rate has found to be: (3.57±0.38) Bq m-2 hr-1 in the samples having grain size 2.00-4.00 mm and the minimum as: (2.21±0.26) Bq m-2 hr-1, in the samples with grain size £ 0.0595 mm. This indicates that the radon exhalation rate increases with the grain size. The maximum average value of radon exhalation rate has been found in samples collected from river side where soil texture is silty clay loam. The obtained values of radon exhalation rate for all the samples are well below the world average value of 57.60 Bq m-2 hr-1.
Keywords: Radon concentration, Radon exhalation rate, grain size, soil texture.
JBASV8N2A30- Dosimetric Characteristics of Aqueous Solutions of Sandalfix Red Dye for Gamma Dosimetry
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2
Dosimetric Characteristics of Aqueous Solutions of Sandalfix Red Dye for Gamma Dosimetry
Taqmeem Hussain, Muhammad Shahbaz, Inam-ul-Haq, Hashim Farooq, Nasir Amin and Yasir Jamil
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.30
Abstract: Gamma dosimetric behavior of the aqueous solutions of the Sandalfix Red (C.I. Reactive Red 195A) dye was studied. The sample solutions of two chemical natures i.e., Acidic and Alkaline; were irradiated by Co60 γ-source in the range 0-100kGy. The "Control samples" were kept un-irradiated and also chemically neutral. The dosimetry was done in three phases i.e., Low, Intermediate and High, ranging from 100-1000Gy, 1-10kGy and 10-100kGy respectively. The found values of the "λmax" and the molar extinction coefficient "ε" of the dye were 565nm and 0.19×104 dm3 mol-1cm-1 respectively. The absorbance (A) of the aqueous solutions was studied at the absorption band maxima (λmax). It was hence found that the aqueous solutions of the Sandalfix Red C4BLN dye were able to be used as passive dosimeters in the range 10-100 kGy i.e., the sample solutions have shown radioactive exponential behavior of response in the "Intermediate and High dosimetry". However, a linear response was shown by the sample solutions in the "Low dosimetry".
Keywords: Chemical dosimeters, Sandalfix Red C4BLN dye, dosimetry, optical density (OD), radiolytic bleaching.
JBASV8N2A31- Effect of Pesticide Residues on Health and Different Enzyme Levels in the Milk of Women from Karachi-Pakistan
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2
Effect of Pesticide Residues on Health and Different Enzyme Levels in the Milk of Women from Karachi-Pakistan
Uzma Mehboob, Mohammad Ahmed Azmi, Mohammad Arshad Azmi and Syed Naeem ul Hasan Naqvi
http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.31
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of pesticide residues in human milk and their effects on the enzyme levels (cholinesterase and lactate dehydrogenase) as well as the health status of the pesticide exposed women. Total 135 milk samples from 45 women were collected from nine different divisions of Karachi, Pakistan. In addition ten milk samples were also collected from normal subjects. The milk samples were taken at day 1, day 15 and day 30 from the same women and from the same divisions. The data indicated that only cypermethrin, deltamethrin, malathion and match were identified. The highest concentration 34.86 µg/10 µl of deltamethrin and the lowest concentration 0.336 µg/10 µl of cypermethrin was found in the milk sample. It may be concluded that exposed women showed significant increased and decreased enzyme levels at different division and also complained about the disturbance in the normal functioning of different organ system and possibly produced various ailments and clinically suffered with skin diseases, backache, disturbance in micturition, difficulty in breathing, asthma and hepatitis.
Keywords: Pesticide residues, Human milk, Enzymes, Health.
