Changes in the Invasion Rate of and Its Impact on Depletion of Groundwater in the Northern Part of the United Arab Emirates.

species were introduced to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) region for desert greening. However, the species now pose a great threat to the native plant diversity. This study used high-resolution satellite imagery (1990-2019) to understand the history and current distribution of species and their impact on fresh groundwater.

Preparation of HPO modified Sidr biochar for the enhanced removal of ciprofloxacin from water.

In this study, biochar was prepared from Sidr plant leaves and used for the treatment of ciprofloxacin (CIP)-contaminated water. CIP is important class of emerging water pollutants from pharmaceutical industries. The biochar showed 65% adsorption efficiency and 43.

Assessment of Metals Concentrations in Soils of Abu Dhabi Emirate Using Pollution Indices and Multivariate Statistics.

The aim of this study was twofold. Firstly, we performed a land capability class determination of the agricultural soils from the Abu Dhabi Emirate, the United Arab Emirates, based on the concentrations of 17 chemical elements determined in the soil samples collected from 84 locations. Secondly, we assess the soil pollution with different metals, using several pollution indices.

Contamination Assessment of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil, in the Liwa Area (UAE).

The Liwa area is a primary food production area in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and has intensively been used for agriculture. This study investigates the pollution levels with heavy metals in agricultural soils from the Liwa area. Thirty-two soil samples were analyzed for Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cd, Co, and As.

Efficient removal of phenol compounds from water environment using Ziziphus leaves adsorbent.

Industrial processes generate toxic organic molecules that pollute environment water. Phenol and its derivative are classified among the major pollutant compounds found in water. They are naturally found in some industrial wastewater effluents.

Baseline marine investigation and impact of fish farming on the marine environment in Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Scattered seashells were observed on the seabed with no marine corals. The baseline studies indicate that biodiversity decreased from the northeast to southwest direction. The dominant groups of phytoplankton were diatoms followed by dinoflagellates, with insignificant vertical variations in species composition and population due to shallow water.

Correlation of Blood Oxidative Stress Parameters to Indoor Radiofrequency Radiation: A Cross Sectional Study in Jordan.

: Electromagnetic pollution is a general health concern worldwide, as cell phone towers are ubiquitous and are located adjacent to or on the roof of schools, and hospitals. However, the health risks are still inconclusive. This cross-sectional study evaluated the potential effect of electromagnetic radiation generated from various resources including cell phone towers on blood glutathione S transferase activity (e-GST) and total antioxidant activity of the Jordanian population.

Optimal conditions for olive mill wastewater treatment using ultrasound and advanced oxidation processes.

The treatment of olive mill wastewater (OMW) in Jordan was investigated in this work using ultrasound oxidation (sonolysis) combined with other advanced oxidation processes such as ultraviolet radiation, hydrogen peroxide (HO) and titanium oxide (TiO) catalyst. The efficiency of the combined oxidation process was evaluated based on the changes in the chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results showed that 59% COD removal was achieved within 90 min in the ultrasound /UV/TiO system.

Assessment of nitrate and nitrite levels in treated wastewater, soil, and vegetable crops at the upper reach of Zarqa River in Jordan.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of treated wastewater irrigation on agricultural soils and vegetables along the upper reach of Zarqa River (Jordan). Multiple samples of reclaimed wastewater, soil pits from farms, and vegetables (spinach, parsley, cabbage cauliflower, radish, and onion) were collected and analyzed for pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and/or NO and NO contents. The average levels of NO and NO in treated wastewater samples varied from 167.

Long-term trends in ambient fine particulate matter from 1980 to 2016 in United Arab Emirates.

This paper presents the most comprehensive datasets of ambient fine particulate matter (PM) for the UAE from 1980 to 2016. The long-term distributions of PM showed the annual average PM concentrations constantly exceeded the EPA and WHO guidelines. They varied from 77 to 49 μg/m with an overall average of 61.

Reservoir water quality: a case from Jordan.

Jordan relies heavily on reservoirs building and development to cope with water supply challenges, where monitoring and assessment of reservoir water quality are critically important for the sustainable use of these water supplies. Mujib Dam is an important water supply source in central western Jordan. Evaluation of water quality parameters and their spatial distributions (vertical and horizontal) showed near-neutral pH values with nearly similar values from surface to bottom.

Characteristics and quality of reservoir sediments, Mujib Dam, Central Jordan, as a case study.

This paper focuses on characterizing the current status of physiochemical properties of Mujib Dam sediments. Five types of granulometric textural facies were observed for the bottom sediments of Mujib reservoir bed; these are clayey facies, clayey-silt facies, sand-silt-clay facies, sand facies, and granule facies. This average grain size will likely play a vital role in adsorption-desorption of the majority trace metals to the reservoir lake.

Effects of pollution on the geochemical properties of marine sediments across the fringing reef of Aqaba, Red Sea.

The Gulf of Aqaba is of significant strategic and economic value to all gulf-bordering states, particularly to Jordan, where it provides Jordan with its only marine outlet. The Gulf is subject to a variety of impacts posing imminent ecological risk to its unique marine ecosystem. We attempted to investigate the status of metal pollution in the coastal sediments of the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba.

Spatial distribution and pollution assessment of trace metals in surface sediments of Ziqlab Reservoir, Jordan.

Surface sediment samples were collected from Ziqlab dam in northwestern Jordan to investigate the spatial distribution of selected trace metals and assess their pollution levels. The results showed that the concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn exceeded the environmental background values. Cd, Ni, and Cr contents were higher than the threshold effect level (TEL) in 63, 83, and 60 % of the reservoir sediments, respectively; whereas Pb, Zn, and Cu were less than the TEL limit.

Atmospheric dry deposition of mineral dust to the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea: rate and trace elements.

Atmospheric dry deposition to the Gulf of Aqaba (GoA) is particularly a significant source of trace elements. Amid desert regions, the Gulf receives high fluxes of mineral dust with an average rate of 34.68 g/m(2)/year measured in 2012.

Status of trace metals in surface seawater of the Gulf of Aqaba, Saudi Arabia.

The Gulf of Aqaba (GoA) is of significant ecological value with unique ecosystems that host one of the most diverse coral communities in the world. However, these marine environments and biodiversity have been threatened by growing human activities. We investigated the levels and distributions of trace metals in surface seawater across the eastern coast of the Saudi GoA.

Trend analysis in water quality of Al-Wehda Dam, north of Jordan.

Temporal status and trends in water quality of Al-Wehda Dam, Jordan, from 2006 to 2012 indicate that the dam is subject to a combination of impacts from rainstorm and agricultural runoffs. It also revealed that mineral dissolution, sediment load, rainfall events, evaporation, and water-level fluctuation are the major contributors to variations in water quality. The water chemistry of the impounded Al-Wehda Reservoir showed that Na, Ca, Mg, HCO₃, and Cl are the principal ions, reflecting the dominance of carbonate weathering, with some contribution of silicates.

Investigation of desert subsoil nitrate in Northeastern Badia of Jordan.

High levels of naturally occurring nitrate were observed under desert pavement surfaces in NE Badia of Jordan. The subsoil nitrate inventory varies from about 24,351 to 28,853 kg NO(3)(-)/ha to a depth of 60 cm which is more than two times greater than nitrate in nonpavement soils, although both soils occurred within similar landscape and microclimate conditions. The results indicated that pavement particle size and cover percent are the primary factors contributing to the observed variations in nitrate accumulation.