A pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) technique was evaluated in this study and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their nitro derivatives from diesel particulate matter. A central composite design (CCD) was applied for the study of three parameters (temperature, nature of solvent and static time) and the optimal conditions were determined for a time of 9 min and a temperature of 145 °C and dichloromethane as extraction solvent. With the GC/MS analytical technique, the limits of detection (LOD) obtained range from 0.3 to 1.5 µg.L-1 for PAHs and from 4.6 to 8 µg.L-1 for nitrated PAHs. Also, this method allowed excellent recoveries of NPAH adsorbed on diesel soot particles (R ≥ 90%) using a mixture of solvents (1% acetic acid in pyridine). The PLE process developed in this research is quantitative and reproducible while using much less solvent than conventional extraction methods.

Contamination of soils by trace elements is a worldwide concern and has negative effects on environmental sustainability. Geochemical assessment of soils using appropriate indicators and pollution indices has received much attention in recent years in efforts to rehabilitate this resource. This study quantified pollution of soils by trace elements at the Roundhill landfill, South Africa using indices and multivariate statistics. Soils were collected and assayed for trace metals using x-ray fluorescence. Pollution indices classified soil contamination levels while multivariate statistical analysis was conducted using principal component and cluster analyses. Findings showed that concentrations of all elements decreased with increasing distance from the landfill. Low to extremely high pollution was evident in all soils and Cr had the highest values compared to other elements. Negative correlation and weak clustering of Cr and Cd was associated with different wastes disposed at the landfill. Reported pollution in soils was associated with the influence of landfill leachate in the investigated area.

This study aims to investigate the awareness level of Biomedical waste managements in healthcare facilities, and their perception among hospital waste management team, doctors, nurses, lab technicians and waste handlers in Northwest Delhi region in India. The study has been conducted through a questionnaire survey followed by the descriptive statistical analysis method. Questionnaire contains of 38 questions, where the first section deals with the hospital waste management team, the second section is for doctors, nurses and lab technicians, and the third section is for the waste handlers. Out of 311 respondents, there were 16 hospital waste management teams, 81 doc-tors, 92 nurses, 49 lab technicians and 73 waste handlers. It was surprising that only 40% (n=10) hospitals had any kind of waste treatment & disposal facility onsite, only 10% hospitals were using the latest technology and 60% hospitals shred the Biomedical waste before disposal. It was good to see that none of the hospital waste managements disposed the waste with general waste, and 40% of them were exhausting through government agencies and the remaining 60% were using private agencies to dispose the waste. Finally, all the hospitals maintained the record of waste generated. It is concluded that there was a lack of awareness about the biomedical waste generation, legislation and management among healthcare personnel, and they all needed regular audits and training pro-grams at all levels, and a proper management starting from waste generation to its disposal at sites.