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The fate of agriculture in Pakistan is predominantly concerned with excessive water mining threats to the subsurface water resources. The current study integrates the Visual MODFLOW-2000 application to estimate the water balance of an aquifer bounded by the Chenab River in the West and the Ravi River in the East, which covers an area of about 2.98 million hectares. An assimilated method of groundwater flow is employed to characterize the flow dynamics of the Rechna Doab aquifer. The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) produced by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and a mesh of discretized cell size (2500 m) were incorporated into the model design. The conceptual model of the alluvial aquifer involves trifold vertical boundaries (an initial fold thickness set up to 150 m). The model input parameters are precipitation, seepage through irrigation, return flow, recharge, hydraulic conductivity and evapotranspiration. Empirical relations are established (at the basin scale) for the discharge input of irrigation canals. Model results confirm that groundwater flow follows the topographic configuration of the study area (i.e., northeast to southwest), and the seepage from irrigating canals and rainfall appeared to be the main source of groundwater recharge among various resources. The zone budget study under steady state simulation showed that the total direct recharge to the aquifer is calculated as 522,910 acre foot. The simulated water balance of the studied aquifer reflects more fluctuations in river leakage. The predictive optimized model reflects an adaptation of canal lining and installation of additional tube wells that will minimize canal seepage by 70% and lead to the reclamation of 37,000 acres of water-logged land for normal cropping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted to assure quality of biscuits, cakes and noodles by determining aflatoxin B1 and proximate composition of the selected food products. A total of 60 samples (20 each of biscuits, cakes and noodles) were collected from diverse areas of Lahore. Aflatoxins were determined using thin layer chromatography by adopting standard method of the association of official analytical chemists (AOAC). The proximate composition was also determined for selective products. Different parameters like moisture, ash content, crude fiber, crude protein and crude fat in percentages were determined in selected food products. The correlation of aflatoxins was calculated with each factor at significant level (P<0.05). Total 19 samples (32.0%) showed presence of aflatoxins. Aflatoxins contamination was observed in 10%, 8.3% and 13.3% contamination in biscuit, cakes and noodles respectively and 89.4% of the total contaminated samples were within permissible limits, while 10.6% (2 samples) were contaminated beyond permissible limits. In cakes, highest moisture content (9.54-19.47%) was observed. Moisture content was 2.23-6.71% in biscuits and 1.21-3.79% in noodles. The minimum and maximum value of ash, crude fiber, crude fat and crude protein were 1.09-2.37%, 0-1.21%, 0.53-9.92% and 2.01-3.91% correspondingly in noodles. The range of ash contents, fiber contents, fat contents, protein contents in cakes 1.12-1.68%, 0-0.97%, 19.76-27.21%, 4.10-5.81%, respectively. In biscuits ash content, crude fibre, fat contents and protein contents range is 0.87-2.98%, 0-1.31%, 19.12-27.45%, 7.02-9.49%, respectively. Positive correlation (r=0.459) was found between aflatoxin contamination and moisture contents in cakes. It is needed to monitor aflatoxins levels in processed food due to increase in its occurrence day by day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical waste management based on knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) analysis, this paper evaluates healthcare of employees. A tertiary care hospital located in Lahore was selected for this purpose. The present studys consisted of doctors, nurses and paramedical and janitorial staff. Self administered assessments were used in this statistical cross-sectional investigation. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe the results of sample of employee. A sample of 248 healthcare workers was drawn and analyzed by using descriptive statistics to check the respondents quantity and the proportion of responses about understanding, mindset and practice regarding managing biological waste. The Chi-square test and ANOVA test were applied to the data. For discovering, an independent sample t-test was used for the attitude of hospital employees and concluded that P (0.000) is far less than the degree of evidence (0.05) and a P-value compared with fewer than 0.05 and it is statistically significant. It indicates substantial evidence against the null hypothesis since there is a 5% chance that the null hypothesis is incorrect (and the outcomes are random). As a result, we reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis. It concludes that there is a difference between gender and attitude toward healthcare workers perception of medical waste management. Females have a better and more positive attitude toward medical waste management than male employees. The Chi-square method was conducted to test the association between respondents education and knowledge about medical waste management. The P (0.000) value is less than the significance level of significance a (0.05), which mean there is no association between education and understanding of medical waste management. One way ANOVA test was applied to find out the significant difference between respondents experience and healthcare sewage treatment in theory and practice as the P > a value of (0.230) is greater than just the significant level (0.05), indicating a substantial discrepancy experience and practice of workers about the handling of medical waste. One-way ANOVA to discover, testing was conducted on the significant difference between respondents experience and an exercise about medical waste management. The P (0.230) value is more significant than just the significance level a (0.05), meaning employees with a profession like doctors and nurses have better attitudes toward medical waste management than other hospital staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evolved around the synthesis of trimetallic composite, manganese-zinc-cobalt hydrous oxides nanoparticles anchored biochar (MZCB) nanocomposite (NC) for decontamination of water and wastewater polluted with Cu(II) ions. The MZCB NC (27 nm) was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. Batch adsorption studies were performed and the influence of different adsorption parameters (contact time, reaction temperature, solution pH, adsorbent dose and initial adsorbate concentration) were examined. MZCB was found effective in removing (~98%) of Cu(II) in 50 min at pH 5.0 while employing initial dose of 0.1 g and 300 mg·Cu(II)·L-1. The adsorption experimental data was fitted to different adsorption isotherms and kinetic models which exhibited best-fit models to be the general order kinetic model and Redlich--Peterson adsorption model, respectively. The maximum uptake capacity of MZCB with respect to Cu(II) ions was found to be 312.58 mg·g-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study area is a part of the Salt Range, where water quality is being deteriorated by natural and anthropogenic sources. This research integrates water quality assessment, arsenic enrichment, hydrogeochemical processes, groundwater recharge and carbon sources in aquifer. Total dissolved solid (TDS) contents in springs water, lake water and groundwater are in range of 681–847 mg/L, 2460–5051 mg/L and 513–7491 mg/L, respectively. The higher concentrations of magnesium and calcium in water bodies next to sodium are because of carbonates, sulfates, halite and silicates dissolution. The average concentrations of ions in groundwater are in order of HCO3− > SO42− > Cl− > Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+ > NO3−, virtually analogous to springs water, but different from lake water, categorized as poor quality and unfit for drinking purposes. Based on major ions hydrochemistry, NaCl and mixed Ca–Mg–Cl type hydrochemical facies are associated with concentration of arsenic (4.2–39.5 µg/L) in groundwater. Groundwater samples (70%) having arsenic concentration (11 ≤ As ≤ 39.5 µg/L) exceeded from World Health Organization (WHO) guideline (As ≤ 10 µg/L) in near neutral to slightly alkaline (6.7 ≤ pH ≤ 8.3), positive Eh(6 ≤ Eh ≤ 204 mV), signifying its oxic condition. Eh–pH diagrams for arsenic and iron indicate that 80% of groundwater for arsenic and iron were in compartments of HAsO42− and Fe(OH)3, unveil oxic environment. Arsenic is moderately positive correlated with TDS, sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, nitrate, sulfate and weak negative with δ13CDIC in surface and groundwater, forecasting multiple sources of arsenic to aquifer. Stable isotopes of waters show recharge of groundwater from local rain and lake water. The lower δ13CDIC values of groundwater are modified by influx of CO2 produced during biological oxidation of soil natural organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]