Background: Nitrate due to its high water solubility, poor absorption and having stable composition in the water, has been studied as the best index to indicate groundwater contamination. Borazjan, located in the north of Bushehr province, is one of fertile plains which nitrate contamination of groundwater has occurred in the most parts of it. Detecting the source of POLLUTION and the most vulnerable areas were the aims of this study.Material and Methods: In this study, hydroCHEMICAL quality, especially in terms of nitrate, sulfate, chloride sodium, spatial and temporal variations and the origin of them in the groundwater of Borazjan plain, are studied. Groundwater samples from 12 wells were collected in April and August 2012 and assessed to determine the parameters of hydrochemistry and POLLUTION.Results: Based on these results, severe nitrate contamination of groundwater, especially in the southern part of the plain, by agricultural activities, cesspool wells, domestic sewage and livestock and poultry wastewater the influence of the effluent from the aviculture, were occurred. Also, the quality of groundwater resources showed that concentration of Cl- , Na+, SO42- , and NO3- are more than standard limit and only in some areas of plain, concentration of ions such as NO3- and Na+ is less than the standard limit.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, using CHEMICAL fertilizers in terms of time period and amount of consumption should be properly managed. Furthermore, domestic wastewater, livestock and poultry wastewater should be controlled and the monitoring system for measuring the exact quantity and quality of groundwater resources must be completed.

In the recent years, sediments are used for the assessment of POLLUTION. Since sediments have been in contact for a long time with over lying water, therefore they have been able to absorb POLLUTION on to their surface. In the present investigation, the surficial sediments of Siahrud River have been analyzed. Grab samples were taken from ten samplings sites. The samples were immediately sealed and stored at 4°c until their arrival at the laboratory. Grain size fraction less than 63mm was chosen for CHEMICAL analysis. The total metal content was determined by digesting the samples with a mixture of HNO3 & HClO4. The CHEMICAL partitioning of metals was determined by means of the sequential extraction scheme proposed by the European Union's Standards, Measurements and Testing Program (SM and T, formerly BCR).This scheme consists of three successive extractions that make it possible to determine the association of the metals in three phases: acid-soluble, reducible and oxidizable. The most resistant bonds were digested by hot 50% HCl (phase 4). Furthermore, a fourth fifth phase, within lattice was determined as the difference between the total metal content and the sum of the contents in the four previous phases. The analysis of metals in the solutions was carried out by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPAES). The accuracy of the analytical procedures for total metal determinations was checked using CRM 320 (sediment reference material). Replicate analysis of this CRM showed good accuracy, with recovery rates for metals between 97 and 101%. A standard reference material (CRM-601) was used to verify the accuracy of the sequential extraction method. Similarities between the behavior and origin of the metals studied were established by cluster analysis using the weighted pair group method. The loose, sulphide and organic bonds of metals with various sedimentary phases has been assessed by CHEMICAL partitioning technique.

Study the quality of groundwater in karstic areas is highly important. In this research, the hazards of karstic water CHEMICAL POLLUTION in Quri-Qala cave are assessed. Rigorous tests have been conducted using samples, field works and interview with professionals to identify the role of human and natural factors contributing to the POLLUTION of water in the cave. Samples have been taken from the cave entrance and the end part of the cave during the six-month period. And the density of heavy metals and major cations have been measured in the laboratory. Apart from these, electrical conductivity, acidity or alkalinity, rate of oxygen consumption by organisms in water and nitrate has also been measured. In tests, arsenic and lead have been measured by atomic absorption spectrometry, Iron, magnesium and manganese by flame and lithium, sodium, calcium and potassium by Photometry methods. PH with PH meters, EC with EC meters, BOD with BOD meters have been measured and nitrate by ion chromatography IC. Drinking water density obtained from the laboratory results were compared with standard criteria. Based on the results, the density of some elements such as lead and arsenic within the water is higher than the permissible limit of drinking water. This is a serious risk to human health. Also the results show that the origin of this type of POLLUTION is in relation to geological factor of mineral streaks, fuel emission of lime kilns and sewages. High density of iron, magnesium and manganese is in relation to the water crossing on the soils and rocks and then penetrating into the cave. Recent elements changed the color, turbidity and flavor of water. The high BOD can be linked to the sewage and waste by visitors. Considering the above points, the following actions are required for elimination of risks threatening groundwater of Quri-Qala cave: continuous monitoring, use of international standards and practices in management, increasing public awareness of visitors and limiting their number, removal of waste and polluting elements inside and outside of the cave particularly across the catchment area of the cave.

Background and Aim: Groundwater POLLUTION due to leakage and penetration of leachate containing variety of compounds and contaminants is a problem in landfill sites that leads to diverse healthy and environmental problems. The purpose of this study was to assess groundwater CHEMICAL POLLUTION in downstream regions of Sanandaj landfill.Materials and Methods: In this study, 5 wells near the landfill were selected. Water samples were obtained 6 times in spring and summer, and different parameters such as hardness, alkalinity, turbidity, COD, PO4, NO3, TDS, pH and EC were measured by standard methods and the results were compared with those of control wells and standards of drinking and agricultural water.Results: Results of this investigation showed the CHEMICAL parameters in water of surveyed wells, compared with those in water of control wells and standards of drinking water, were higher and showed significant differences (p<0.05). But, most of these parameters in surveyed wells were lower than those of standards of agricultural water.Conclusion: The water of the wells of the study area due to the high values of most of the CHEMICAL parameters measured is not potable, but can not be used in agriculture. Therefore fundamental and continuous monitoring of groundwater resources in this area is necessary to prevent contamination of water and soil resources.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using portulaca oleracea as a source of plant antioxidants for feeding fattening male lambs, on carcass traits, meat quality, and oxidative stability. Twenty-one male lambs with an average weight of 24±1.5 kg and 150±15 days old were fed with one of the experimental rations included a diet without portulaca oleracea as control, a diet containing 7.5%, and a diet containing 15% portulaca oleracea, for 84 days. The muscle (Longissimus dorsi) samplewas used to determine pH, CHEMICAL composition, colorimetric properties, and oxidative stability of meat. Meat lipid oxidation was determined after 1, 7, and 30 days of refrigerated storage using thiobarbituric acid (TBARS). The use of portulaca oleracea in diets improved meat color characteristics such as L, chroma, and Hue. The highest ash concentration and the lowest meat moisture were observed in the treatment of 15% portulaca oleracea (P<0.05). Meat pH was the lowest in the first hour after slaughter but did not differ at 24 h. Compared to the control, in both treatment groups feeding the lambs with portulaca significantly reduced the concentration of Malondialdehyde in the meat of the lambs and increased the meat oxidative stability (P<0.05). The results of this experiment showed that feeding portulaca oleracea by improving properties such as color and increasing the meat oxidative stability improves meat quality, which may have lead to an increase in its nutritional value in terms of human health.