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Disinfection by-products (DBPs) can be controlled by using alternative disinfectants to chlorine, removing DBPs precursors prior to chlorination and removing DBPs after formed. Chloramine is widely used as an alternative disinfectant to chlorine usage. In this study to evaluate trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) formation and speciation for Altinapa and Omerli dam water isolates after chlorination and choramination procedures at different pH values was aimed. Compared with chlorination, the formation of THMs was reduced by approximately 4-fold in chloramination for Omerli dam water. Total THM concentrations remained below detection limits in Altinapa isolate after chloramination. The dominant species were CF and followed by BDCM and CDBM in case of chlorination, and almost no BF formed. BF is the dominant specie together with CF in case of chloramination, and no BDCM and CDBM formed at all pHs for Omerli dam water. HAA concentrations resulting from the use of chlorine were obtained 4.8-5.1 times higher from resulting from the use of chloramines at different pH values for Omerli Dam water; but this value was 5.5-8.7 for Altinapa Dam water. MCAA, DCAA and BCAA concentrations were a large part of the total HAA concentrations which obtained from chloramines usage for both isolates.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of solar Photo-Fenton’s technique (H2O2/Fe2+/Solar) to treat the refinery wastewater. The experimental data were analyzed using the first and second-order kinetic models. The results clearly indicated that the pseudo-second-order models gave better prediction than the pseudo-first-order models for IC and COD removals, as indicated by the higher regression coefficients (R2). The degradation rate by this treatment could be expressed as a pseudo-second-order reaction with respect to IC and COD removals. The best operating conditions, as elucidated by kapp values, were pH (2), Fe+2 (0.08 g/L), H2O2 (1 g/L), H2O2/Fe2+ ratio (12.5), and reaction time (300 minutes). The solar Photo-Fenton reaction was very fast and reached a maximum IC and COD removals to 62% and 84%, respectively. This study demonstrated that solar Photo-Fenton oxidation process could be used effectively as a post-treatment to enhance the treatment efficiency of petroleum wastewater.

This research examined the genotoxic activity in the seawater of Asin Bay (Gulf of Gulluk) located in Mugla, Turkey, Aegean coast of Turkey. Genotoxic activities of 66 raw samples, taken from 17 different stations in the spring and summer seasons of the year 2013, were determined by using in vitro mutagenicity assay SOS chromotest with Escherichia coli PQ37 strain bacteria activities. In the applied procedure, β-galactosidase (β-gal) activity, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, and different solvent controls were taken into account to generate reliable results in terms of the corrected induction factors (CIF) used as a quantitative measure of genotoxic activity level. The SOS chromotest procedure was simply and rapidly performed as an early assay to explore for whether a potential genotoxic activity was presence in the in the seawater of Asin Bay (Gulf of Gulluk) with no special measuring devices except a microplate reader. The implemented assay was successfully completed within only 24 h including the revival of the bacteria. The results showed that 11 samples (%17 of total) were close to the threshold value of 1.5. The findings of this study clearly revealed that the seawater of Asin Bay (Gulf of Gulluk) had no potential genotoxic risks in terms of the organisms in marine ecosystem, since all of the calculated CIF values were determined to be below the threshold level. It was concluded that according to the SOS chromotest results, the levels of potential genotoxic agents were found to be under the limits for the offshore fishery.

The aim of this study is to achieve a greater insight regarding quiet areas in agglomerations and contribute to their identification. The small urban setting of Mytilene located in the island of Lesvos (North Aegean, Greece), was the case study of this research. Based on citizen contribution, a number of “places” derived that are perceived as “quieter” than others, by the permanent residents of Mytilene. The “places” mentioned from this procedure were checked by means of acoustic measurements, concerning the noise levels that occurred within the 24h period. A novel method regarding the duration, repetition, check spot and the positioning of measurement was used, in order to calculate the day, evening and night period’s noise levels (Lden). A performance matrix was then created in order to compare the results, in relation to acoustical, functional and visual criteria. Furthermore, by incorporating perceptual criteria we assisted the quiet area selection procedure. The provision of quietness, as a direct ecosystem service, is a major indicator of environmental quality. Nevertheless, the way that city inhabitants perceive their acoustic surroundings could determine the character of the landscape along with the quality of the soundscape and define the meaning of quietness that still remains vague.