Mohammad Al-hwaiti

The radiological risk from building stone interfaces in Jordanian houses was determined depending on gamma ray spectrometric techniques. Building stone samples collected from seven types mostly used in Jordanian houses have been analyzed for the naturally occurring radioactive radionuclides. The mean specific activities of U, Th and K were lower than 7.63±0.08, 2.77±0.12, 32.7±2.96 Bq/kg, respectively. The estimated radium equivalent activity (Raeq) in the stones was lower than 24.84±0.470 Bq/kg and the external and indoor hazard indices were also lower than unity. Moreover, different radiological hazardous parameters (the absorbed dose, the annual effective dose equivalent, the annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE), Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk ELCR and activity utilization index (AUI)) were calculated. The results were lower than those of published world average values. Also, the obtained values were comparable with the reported data of other building materials used in Jordan.

Phosphate production is one of the major industries in Jordan. Phosphate beneficiation processing consume large quantities of its limited fresh water resources for processes such as washing and flotation. The process of mine water effluents have long been contained with remarkably high levels of heavy metals (e.g., Cd, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, U, V, and Zn), making them toxic for human health and surrounding environemnt. The main objective of this study was to determine the heavy metal contamination in washing mine water of phosphate bed-A1 (WMW-A1) and flotation mine water of phosphate bed-A3 (FMW-A3) of a Jordan phosphate mine (Eshidiya), to assess the health risks associated with oral daily intake and dermal absorption of mine water effluents from phosphate mining process. The results indicated accumulations of Cd, Cr, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, U, V, and Zn in the mine water, with lower concentrations than the Jordan standards for discharge of water bodies into streams. In particular, Mn and Cr exhibited high levels of pollution in mine water due to their slightly higher contamination index values (CI). This can be interpreted to variation in geochemical behavior of these metal contents naturally present in francolite mineral phase. Varimax rotated factor analysis, cluster analysis, and correlation analysis revealed that Cd, Cr, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, U, V, and Zn in mine water were mainly related to geochemical behavior for francolite mineral phase and clay mineral phase represents the main source of mine water contamination. The hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) values were assessed to determine health risk (e.g., non-carcinogenic risk and cancer risk) in case of daily intake and dermal exposure pathways in mine water. The health risk assessment showed that As, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn are < 1, indicating non-carcinogenic risk tends to become significant for daily intake and dermal exposure pathways by the mine water. The cancer risk of being exposed to lead through WMW-A1 and FMW-A3 from these sources did not exceed the acceptable risk limits of 1:10,000 for regulatory purposes. Overall, this study provides comparative research on the accumulation, potential health risks and sources of heavy metals in mine water (washing and flotation) beneficiation process in Eshidiya mines, and our findings suggest that, Mn and Cr in both mine water could potentially represent environmental problems.

1Water and Environmental Study Center, PO Box 2, Mu'tah Univ, Al-Karak-Jordan; 2Faculty of Science, Mu'tah Univ, 61710 PO Box 7, Al-Karak – Jordan; 3Jordanian Phosphate Mining Co, Amman-Jordan 4GSF, National Research Center for Environment and Health-D ...

Adsorption techniques for industrial wastewater treatment rich in heavy metals and aqueous solutions of water-soluble such as Cl−, F−, HCO3−, NO3−, SO2−4, and PO3−, often include technologies for toxicity removals. The recent advancement and technical applicability in the treatment of chlorine and chlorinated compounds from industrial wastewater are reviewed in this article. Chlorine and chlorinated compounds are among the common discharged constituents from numerous industries. They can be carcinogenic or naturally toxic and can pose issues to aquatic ecosystems and human beings. Thus, elimination of chlorides and chlorinated compounds from water or wastewater is inevitable to get rid of the problem. Several techniques are being applied for the reduction of chlorine and chlorinated compounds in water. These include biodegradation, photochemical, adsorption, chemical, electrochemical, photo-electrochemical, membrane, supercritical extraction and catalytic method. Chlorine can react ...

Abstract Background The chemical composition of Handal (Citrullus colocynthis L.) seed oil cultivated in Jordan deserts was characterized, and its bioactivity was evaluated. Methods The oil was extracted from the grinded seeds in 500 ml Soxhlet extractor for 24 hr using n‐hexane, and the recovered fatty acids were methylated with methanolic‐HCL. The fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) composition was analyzed using GC‐MS and GC‐FID. The anticancer activity associated with the oil was assessed against colon cancer cell lines (Caco‐2 and HCT‐116) and compared to its cytotoxicity on the human skin fibroblast. Multivariate analysis was used to determine relationship of the fatty acid composition with that of the anticancer activity. Results The results demonstrated that fatty acid composition of Citrullus colocynthis seed oil chiefly contains Linoleic acid, denoted as C18:2n6 (75%), followed by Palmitic acid C16:0 (8%), Stearic acid C18:0 (5%), and Oleic acid C18:1n9 (9%). It is demonstrated as an excellent source of essential fatty acids omega‐6 (e.g., Linoleic acid), whereas omega‐3 (e.g., α‐Linolenic acid) and hydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acids are found at small level. Interestingly, the oil exhibited reasonable anticancer effects against colorectal cancer cell lines with IC50 values varying between 4 and 7 mg/ml. The correlation test revealed a relationship between the fatty acid composition and the effectiveness on treatments. Conclusions Handal plant from Jordan appears to have very high level of Linoleic acid compared to other oils measured in different geographic locations and that there appears to be some anticancer activities associated with the fatty acid content of Handal seed oil.

The aim of this study was the determination of Po-210 in cigarettes consumed in different parts of Jordan and determination of Po-210 in the four most frequently smoked brands (mixed brand cigarettes, cigarette brand - Gold Star, tobacco wrapped paper - Hishi and tobacco moassel). Po-210 in tobacco displays concentrations ranging from 4 to 29 mBq/g, depending upon the cigarette brand. The average percentages of Po-210 content in mixed brand cigarettes, cigarette brand (Gold Star), tobacco Hishi and tobacco moassel that were recovered by post-smoking filters, ash and smoke were 8.70%, 8.32%, 22.51% and 28.92%, respectively. Smokers, who are smoking cigarettes (mixed and gold coast) and tobacco (Hishi and moassel) per day, are inhaling on average ranged from 127 to 157 mBq/d and from 108 to 156 mBq/d, respectively, of Po-210 and Pb-210 each. The average annual effective doses due to Po-210 and Pb-210 intake by smoking one pack of cigarettes per day, during one year were 317 (0.37 mSv) and 480 (0.48 mSv), 257 (0.26 mSv) and 389 (0.39 mSv), 315 (0.32 mSv) and 469 (0.47 mSv), and 220 (0.22 mSv) and 332 (0.33 mSv), respectively.

The present study investigated the chemical composition of Petra Wastewater Treatment Plant effluent in southern Jordan. Twenty four Samples were collected over one year period from June 2008 to June 2009. The samples were analyzed for temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+), major anions (Cl-, NO3-, HCO3-, SO42- and PO43-) and trace metals (B, Fe2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Cr2+, Pb2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+). The pH value ranged from 6.52 to 8.14 with a median value of 7.51±0.50. The water quality was characterized by its high salinity hazard (C3) and low Sodium Hazard (S1) which can be considered as marginal for human consumption. The hydrogeochemical behavior is rather complicated and is affected by anthropogenic and natural sources. The positive correlation values between various parameters indicate that most of ions were resulted from the same lithological sources. The abundance of the major ions in water samples is in the following order: HCO3->Ca...

DESCRIPTION The objective of the present study was to assess the distribution of metals concentration among the physical grain size fractions in dust, street dust and soil in the Aqaba Industrial Estate (AIE). Samples of dust, street dust and soil were analyzed for their contents of metals (Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mn and Cr) after digestion with nitric acid. The results of the analysis were used to determine major sources and magnitude of trace metals pollution. The mean concentrations of the metals were as follows: CFe > CPb > CZn > CMn > CCu > CNi and CCr where C stands for concentration. Fe, Pb and Zn were in high levels in the area close to the workplace, while the cadmium level was low. In general, the trend of increasing metals levels with decreasing particle size in street dust and soil were observed. In the soil sample study indicates that all of the metals are concentrated on the surface soil, and decreased in the lower part of the soil, this due to reflect their...

ABSTRACT Phosphogypsum (PG) was treated to reduce activity concentrations of 226Ra, which was found to exceed that permitted by international regulations. Treatment methods using hybrid water treatment, sulphuric acid treatment, mixed acid (H2SO4 and HNO3) treatment, household water treatment and calcium carbonate powder treatment were applied. Reduction of 226Ra content in phosphogypsum by 80-85 % can be achieved using these treatment processes. The radium equivalent activity (Raeq), gamma index (I γ ), alpha index (I α ), absorbed gamma dose rate (D in), and corresponding annual effective dose (E in) were evaluated for public exposure due to the use of treated phosphogypsum in building materials and for other purposes. The calculated values of the (Raeq), (I γ ), and (I α ) for all the treated phosphogypsum samples are significantly below the recommended upper level of unity used as an index of radiological hazard. The measured mean value of the (D in) is about 20 % lower than the population-weighted average value of 84 nGy h−1 for the indoor absorbed dose rate. The estimated values of the indoor annual effective dose for all the treated phosphogypsum samples are significantly below the recommended upper level of 1 mSv. The mean value of the (E in) is about 70 % lower than upper level of 1 mSv. In the overall assessment, it can be concluded that using treated PG in proportions up to 100 % of building materials and other applications will be safe from the radiation protection perspective.

As, Cd, Cr, Cu, U, and Zn in Aqaba and Eshidiya phosphogypsum showed relative uniformity in particle size presented by coarse (>0.212mm); medium (0.212–0.053mm); and fine (<0.053mm) in the stacks by age of deposition. Jordan phosphogypsum contains low concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, U, and Zn compared to those reported worldwide. The bioavailability and mobility of trace metals were