International Journal of Environment and Health (2 papers in press)

• Cluster analysis approach to identify heavy metal sourches in sediment at the bottom of Sultan Marsh canals, Turkey
  by Mustafa Gurhan Yalcin 
  Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine heavy metal contents of the sediment in the bottom of Sultan March Water and Drainage Canals and their possible sources. The dendrogram based on cluster analyses of the elements revealed two distinct groups. There was a strong, positive correlation between some elements and their possible sources were the same. Heavy metals found to reach high levels in the canals and thought to come from the Fe mine in the south of the study area and the Fe melting plant in the west of the study area were Fe, Mn, Al, Ti, Cu, Zn and Cd. The heavy metals shown to reach high amounts in the canals were thought to have toxic effects. The sediment of Sultan Marsh was affected by anthropogenic factors. That is, it was polluted by mines and industrial plants, and the ecological balance of Sultan Marsh is threatened.
  Keywords: Heavy metals, Sultan Marsh, Cluster Analysis, pollution, canals, sediment, contamination, Kayseri and Turkey
   
• Hard tissue samples as a markers of occupational exposure in phosphatic fertilizer plant
  by Aleksander Astel, Costel Sarbu, Marek Biziuk 
  Abstract: This paper describes the results of study on testing of hair and nails samples as a possible markers of occupational exposure in phosphatic fertilizer plant. The key objectives were to verify if: (i) elements originating from fertilizer production may accumulate in hard tissue and hence allow preliminary occupational exposure risk assessment; (ii) linear discriminant function analysis (LDA) may be applied as a diversification tool in preliminary assessment of occupational exposure risk based on hard tissue samples analysis; (iii) both hair and nails can be used successfully as an efficient biological sample in biomonitoring studies and as markers of occupational exposure in various types of plants. The complex data matrix (2025 observations) obtained by the determination of 25 elements by Neutron Activation Analysis in hard tissue samples was treated by LDA. The obtained results indicate presence of two discriminant functions (DFs). The data variance explained by 1st DF is 78%, while by 2nd DF 22%. 1st DF is highly related to S, W, Cu, K and Mg concentration and separates hair from nails samples, while 2nd DF being related to phosphatic fertilizers precursors separates control group from employees. Sm, Al, Mo and As accumulate in nails and hair of fertilizer plant employees while Cl and Ti are removed from hard tissues. Na, In, I, Au, Dy, Ca, La, U, Sb, V, Zn, Mn and Co mean concentration in hard tissue samples do not discriminate employees and control group members and hence proves their ineffectiveness in occupational exposure assessment in phosphatic fertilizer plant.
  Keywords: hair, nails, neutron activation analysis, phosphatic fertilizer plant, occupational exposure, discriminant function analysis