Search

Soil pollution with heavy metals is continuously expanding with the rapid development of industrialisation and agriculture. The current study was aimed to determine the skewed nature and spatial distribution of soil heavy metals pollution in southern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa. Fifty four soil samples were collected from the selected sites in southern districts and analysed for various soil physico-chemical and elemental concentrations. Various metals content, i.e. (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr) was determined after acid digested through atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results of the metals content in soil samples showed maximum values Pb (46.38), Cd(6.74), Ni(45.58), Cr(58.08) mg/kg, bluk density 1.46 g/cm3 and lowest pH value 6.53 for Lakki cement factory (LCF) site. Other parameters like soil electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, percent porosity and soil urease activity also indicated higher values, i.e. 504 µs/cm, 250 mg/lit, 66% and 440.50 respectively. Positive Pearson correlation was found between metals concentration and soil physico-chemical properties except percent porosity and bulk density exhibited negative correlation. The multivariate statistical analysis of the data formed principal component that accounted for a total variance of 71.1%, on the basis of which metal contamination is traced to both geogenic and anthropogenic sources. Spatial distribution of the metals concentration showed higher concentration of Cd, Cr, Ni in Lakki cement factory (LCF) soil except Pb content that was observed maximum in Indus highway Karak (IHK) soil samples. Geoamccumulation index (Igeo) of the samples sites showed moderate contamination for studied metals with some uncontaminated sites showing a value of Igeo> 0. The study concludes a baseline data for metals concentration in the area, which can be used as a beacon for various strategic plannings regarding soil resource management in order to address the metals related health issues and environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow avalanche is considered a critical natural hazard that actively occurs globally in snow-covered mountainous terrain. These physical phenomena have adversely affected the natural system and human lives due to variations and complexness in occurrence. The data and information about its probability are mostly lacking and inaccessible in complex terrains. The present study is an attempt to determine avalanche susceptibility of the selected districts in the northern areas of Pakistan using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach in a GIS environment. The critical topographic factors; elevation, slope, aspect, plan curvature, and profile curvature as avalanche causation parameters are incorporated as local functions in MCDA model. Available high-resolution digital elevation model (SRTM 30 m) was used to generate considered factors. The final spatial index based avalanche susceptibility mapping indicates that the districts in the northwest and southeast areas of the northern zone have the highest avalanche susceptibility. For validation of the final results, Global Hazard Distribution 2.5 minute grid-based developed map of global snow avalanche hazards and landslide was used on spatial based comparison of the resultant cell values, which shows spatial agreement on the distribution of avalanche susceptibility indexes for the assessed susceptible study districts. For better preparedness and planning of avalanche hazard, the present study approach can be applied prospectively by decision-makers on local and regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of impacted molar teeth is a usual practice in dental surgery and dry socket is a known complication of this procedure. The objective of this cohort cross-sectional study was to assess the association of surgical difficulty of impacted mandibular third molar with the post extraction incidence of dry socket. A total of 174 patients who had their impacted mandibular third molar removed at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, KMU Institute of Dental Sciences from January 2018 to October 2018, were included in this study. The difficulty of extraction was assessed using Pederson difficulty index preoperatively, and surgical technique employed and duration post operatively. Proportions were obtained and chi square test was applied for checking on associations. Out of 174 patients 36 (20.7%) returned with dry socket. Moderately difficult cases accounted for 58.3%, those requiring osteotomy with tooth/root sectioning accounted for 69.4% and extractions performed in more than 30 mins accounted for 61.1% of all cases of dry sockets. Pederson difficulty index, surgical technique employed and duration of surgery were significantly associated with dry socket (p<0.05) while age and gender had no statistically significant association with dry socket incidence. Higher the level of difficulty in terms of case presentation and/or surgical technique, higher the chances of dry socket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the frequency of mesioangular impaction in the local population and common pathologies linked with impacted teeth. Information about the number of patients who were presented with impacted mandibular third molars, is highlighted. An evaluation on the angulations and associated pathologies through history, clinical and radiographic examination, is also mentioned.