Sürdürülebilir Yeşil Kampüs Koleksiyonu / Sustainable Green Campus Collection

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11147/7755

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 15
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 2
    Citation - Scopus: 2
    A Deterministic and Stochastic Assessment for Exposure and Risk of Arsenic Via Ingestion of Edible Crops
    (Springer Verlag, 2019) Can Terzi, Begüm; Gündüz, Orhan; Sofuoğlu, Sait Cemil
    Natural arsenic contamination is a critical problem for various places around the world. Simav Plain (Kutahya, Turkey) is one such area that was shown to have natural arsenic contamination in its waters and soils. Arsenic exposure through ingestion of edible crops cultivated in Simav Plain and associated health risks were assessed in this study. To achieve this objective, arsenic levels in 18 crop species were estimated based on measured soil arsenic concentrations. Individual and aggregate non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with ingestion of arsenic-contaminated crops were then assessed with scenario-based deterministic point estimates and stochastic population estimates. Monte Carlo simulation was used for the estimation of population health risks. Accordingly, wheat was found as the highest-ranked crop specie for the both types of health risks, followed by tomato and potato, which are three of the most consumed crops in the region. The risk levels estimated in this study were relatively high, indicating consumption of crops grown in the plain may be posing significant health risks even at lower-bound estimates. Consuming wheat, tomato, potato, and their products from uncontaminated sources was found to reduce the aggregate risks up to 88% implicating the importance of proposing suitable management measures for similar risk-prone areas.
  • Conference Object
    Citation - WoS: 2
    Citation - Scopus: 2
    Arsenic in Groundwater in Western Anatolia, Turkey: a Review
    (University of Silesia Press, 2010) Gündüz, Orhan; Baba, Alper; Elpit, Handan
    Occurrence of arsenic (As) in groundwater has been a major problem worldwide for the last hundred years. Considering its toxic effects on human health, the presence of elevated levels of arsenic in groundwater resources used in drinking water supply has been an active research field throughout the world (Van Halem et al., 2009). In this regard, case studies from Bangla-desh, India, Nepal, El Salvador, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Chile, China, Canada, Argentina, Peru, Taiwan, United States, Bolivia and Turkey have been documented with regards to the detection of natural levels in groundwater, the occurrence and distribution mechanisms, the human health effects and the in-situ and ex-situ treatment techniques (Jean et al., 2010). In many of these locations, arsenic is naturally found in the subsurface strata within volcanic and sedimentary formations as well as in areas of geothermal systems related to tectonic activity. Western Anatolia in Turkey is one such area of complex geology with active tectonics and high geothermal potential. This natural setting serves as a suitable environment for the presence of high levels of arsenic in subsurface waters. Based on these fundamentals, this study presents a general overview of arsenic presence in western Anatolia.
  • Conference Object
    Occurrence of Arsenic and Related Microbial Signature of Hydrothermal Systems in Western Turkey
    (Taylor & Francis, 2012) Chen, Chienyen; Maity, Jyoti Prakash; Bundschuh, Jochen; Bhattacharya, Prosun; Baba, Alper; Gündüz, Orhan
    The naturally occurring aqueous Arsenic (As) and other toxic elements are found around the world. The present study concentrates on arsenic concentrations, speciation and related microbial diversity in a hydrothermal system in Western Turkey. The surface temperatures of hot springs reach up to 90°C and deep well (reservoir) temperatures vary in the range of 40 to 230°C. The elements such as As, B, Br, Ba, Cr, Fe, Mn, V and Zn are found in high concentration in hydrothermal waters. Hydrogeochemically, Seferihisar hot spring exhibited a Na-Cl water type. On the other hand, Karahayit, Pamukkale, Emirfaki, Alaşehir and Sart exhibit a Ca-HCO 3 water type and Çitgöl exhibited a Na-HCO 3-SO 4 water type. The arsenic (As) concentrations in geothermal waters of Western Anatolia have been detected to range from 0.03 mg/L to 1.5 mg/L, including Buharkent (İnalti) (1.50 ± 0.005 mg/L), Kizildere (1.13 ± 0.005 mg/L), Eynal (0.71 ± 0.005 mg/L) and Sarayköy (0.06 ± 0.004 mg/L). Arsenic (III) is the dominant species in geothermal water of Western Anatolia. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of bacterial diversity show that the thermophilic, sulfur/thiosulfate-oxidizing bacterium (Thiobacter subterraneus) is present in Kula geothermal water and mesophilic sulfur- and thiosulfate-oxidizing Sulfurovum lithotrophicum bacterium occurs in Sarayköy geothermal spring. Also, Bacillus fumarioli, (a thermophilic, aerobic endospore forming bacterium growing on (NH 4) 2 SO 4, MgSO 4 and MnSO 4 at 50-55°C), Schlegelella thermodepolymerans and Methylocaldum szegediense are rich in geothermal water.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 18
    Citation - Scopus: 22
    The Health Risk Associated With Chronic Diseases in Villages With High Arsenic Levels in Drinking Water Supplies
    (Springer Verlag, 2017) Gündüz, Orhan; Bakar, Coşkun; Şimşek, Celalettin; Baba, Alper; Elçi, Alper; Gürleyük, Hakan; Mutlu, Merdiye; Çakır, Ayşe
    This study is intended to compare and assess the distribution and possible causes of current chronic diseases in villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water supplies. It is a cross-sectional epidemiological research that analyzes the frequency and underlying risk factors of chronic diseases in villages with varying levels of arsenic exposure through drinking water. Sample space of study included 1003 individuals, 614 of whom were from villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water and remaining 389 were from two control villages with below-limit arsenic levels in drinking water. While nutritional habits and living environments of two groups were similar, cigarette smoking and alcohol use were higher in villages with low arsenic levels. Mini mental state examination test results in 60+ age group were lower in villages with high arsenic levels. Although no statistically significant differences were detected in chronic disease occurrence between the groups, the number of cases was higher in villages with higher percentage of cigarette smoking and alcohol use. Moreover, cases of lung, colon, and stomach cancers were higher in villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water supplies.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 39
    Citation - Scopus: 47
    Quality of Groundwater Resources in Afghanistan
    (Springer Verlag, 2017) Hayat, Ehsanullah; Baba, Alper
    Water is the main source of energy production and economy in Afghanistan where agriculture accounts for more than 50% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Access to safe drinking water is still a problem in the country, which has caused different health issues and even child mortality especially in rural areas. Groundwater is the main source of drinking water in the country. However, little knowledge is available about the quality of groundwater throughout the entire country, and its quality has not been investigated extensively yet like in other countries in the world. While most people think that consuming groundwater is a reliable and safe source of drinking water for health, the United Nations (UN) agencies report various kinds of waterborne diseases and even child mortalities due to drinking water quality in the country. In this article, significant geogenic and anthropogenic factors that play a vital role in groundwater contamination of the country are identified and explained. Different geogenic contaminations such as arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, and boron occur in several areas of Afghanistan that have a direct effect on human health. The water quality mapping for Afghanistan is completed for half of the country, which shows that groundwater is plagued by high levels of fluoride and arsenic in some areas. The water quality mapping of the other half of the country cannot be completed due to security concerns currently. Also, there are different kinds of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and dysentery that can be seen in different parts of the country because of anthropogenic activities which continuously deteriorate groundwater.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 14
    Citation - Scopus: 17
    Blowout Mechanism of Alasehir (turkey) Geothermal Field and Its Effects on Groundwater Chemistry
    (Springer Verlag, 2017) Rabet, Rita Sandrina; Şimşek, Celalettin; Baba, Alper; Murathan, Alim
    Anatolia region is one of the most seismically active regions in the world and has a considerably high level of geothermal energy potential. Some of these geothermal resources have been used for power generation and direct heating. Most of the high enthalpy geothermal systems are located in western part of Turkey. Alasehir is the most important geothermal site in western part of Turkey. Many geothermal wells have been drilled in Alasehir Plain to produce the geothermal fluid from the deep reservoir in the last 10 years. A blowout accident happened during a geothermal well drilling operation in Alasehir Plain, and significant amount of geothermal fluid surfaced out along the fault zone in three locations. When drilling string entered the reservoir rock about 1000 m, blowout occurred. As the well head preventer system was closed because of the blowout, high-pressure fluid surfaced out along the fault zone cutting the Neogene formation. In order to understand the geothermal fluid effects on groundwater chemistry, physical and chemical compositions of local cold groundwater were monitored from May 2012 to September 2014 in the study area. The geothermal fluid was found to be of Na–HCO3 water type, and especially, arsenic and boron concentrations reached levels as high as 3 and 127 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of arsenic and boron in the geothermal fluid and groundwater exceeded the maximum allowable limits given in the national and international standards for drinking water quality. According to temporally monitored results, geothermal fluid has extremely high mineral content which influenced the quality of groundwater resources of the area where water resource is commonly used for agricultural irrigation.
  • Conference Object
    Citation - Scopus: 4
    High Arsenic Levels in Groundwater Resources of Gediz Graben, Western Turkey
    (CRC Press, 2016) Baba, Alper; Gündüz, Orhan; Şimşek, Celalettin; Elçi, Alper; Sözbilir, Hasan; Murathan, Alim
    Gediz Graben situated in western Turkey is an area containing extensional structures with active tectonics and geothermal systems that serves as a suitable environment for the presence of high levels of arsenic (As) in groundwater. The results of a comprehensive monitoring program in the basin revealed that the maximum As concentration detected during the monitoring program was 3086 ppb and the average value was calculated to be 23.63 ppb. In addition, As levels in 28% of the water samples were above the 10 ppb limit value making them unsuitable for drinking water supply. These high As concentrations in the basin was mostly associated with long detention times of water in altered rocks located along detachment faults, strong water–rock interaction processes in the alteration zones and anthropogenic influences made within the geothermal fluid reservoir. © 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, London.
  • Master Thesis
    Elucidation of Molecular Mechanisms Conferring Arsenic Tolerance To Yeast Cells
    (Izmir Institute of Technology, 2016) Işık, Esin; Karakaya, Hüseyin Çağlar
    Arsenic is a highly toxic metalloid available in the environment mainly as arsenite or arsenate. These compounds’ interference with many molecular mechanisms results in several diseases including cancer. Conversely, arsenic is used in therapeutic approaches, however, they are associated with drug resistance. Although some tolerance and toxicity mechanisms of arsenicals in yeast have been enlightened by previous studies, complete understanding, which is important for development of protection and therapy strategies, has not yet been achieved. Comprehensive genome-wide screening is a promising approach for the elucidation of novel genes involved in arsenic-associated mechanisms. The aim in this study was to screen a yeast genome library to characterize novel genes whose overexpression confers resistance to toxic concentrations of arsenate or arsenite in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The plasmids from the colonies confirmed to be highly-resistant against arsenicals were sequenced to determine the genomic regions and seven genes were selected to clone into expression vectors. The overexpression of Pho86p and Vba3p provided yeast cells with the highest arsenate and arsenite resistance, respectively. Arsenate is a phosphate analogue and taken up by phosphate transporters. Pho86p is an ER-resident protein regulating ER-exit of the phosphate transporter. Therefore, it is reasonable that overexpression of Pho86p provides arsenate resistance. Vacuolar sequestration is a common route for the removal of toxic compounds from the cytosol and Vba3p is a vacuole-located transporter of basic amino acids with a likely role in arsenite resistance. Consequently, the screen in the current study revealed two genes with promising roles for tolerance mechanisms against arsenicals.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 27
    Citation - Scopus: 31
    Statistical Analysis of Causes of Death (2005-2010) in Villages of Simav Plain, Turkey, With High Arsenic Levels in Drinking Water Supplie
    (Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2015) Gündüz, Orhan; Bakar, Coşkun; Şimşek, Celalettin; Baba, Alper; Elçi, Alper; Gürleyük, Hakan; Mutlu, Merdiye; Çakır, Ayşe
    The purpose of this research was to compare the causes of death in 5 villages situated in Simav Plain, Turkey, during 2005-2010 where different arsenic levels were detected in drinking water supplies. Since groundwater in Simav Plain had arsenic concentrations that ranged between 7.1 and 833.9 ppb, a two-phase research was formulated. In the first phase, public health surveys were conducted with 1,003 villagers to determine the distribution of diseases. In the second phase, verbal autopsy surveys and official death records were used to investigate the causes of death. In total, 402 death cases were found in the study area where cardiovascular system diseases (44%) and cancers (15.2%) were major causes. Cancers of lung (44.3%), prostate (9.8%), colon (9.8%), and stomach (8.2%) were comparably higher in villages with high arsenic levels in drinking water supplies. Furthermore, the majority of cases of liver, bladder, and stomach cancers were observed in villages with high arsenic levels. © 2015 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 83
    Citation - Scopus: 92
    Source of Arsenic Based on Geological and Hydrogeochemical Properties of Geothermal Systems in Western Turkey
    (Elsevier Ltd., 2012) Baba, Alper; Sözbilir, Hasan
    Turkey is an area of complex geology with active tectonics and high geothermal potential. Especially, the western part of Turkey is a region of abundant geothermal activity. Faults accommodating the deep circulation of hydrothermal fluids of meteoric origin are the primary means by which of geothermal systems are controlled in this region. Many of the thermal activities are related to the improved dilation on the ~E-W-strikes of the graben faults. This situation serves as a suitable environment for the presence of high levels of arsenic in geothermal water resources. The highest concentrations of naturally occurring aqueous arsenic (As) are found in certain types of geothermal waters, generally those related to major graben faults. In this regard, high arsenic concentrations in geothermal resources have been detected in Western Turkey, including but not limited to Biga Peninsulla, Gediz Graben, Kucuk, and Buyuk Menderes Graben with values ranging from 1 to 1419ppb in geothermal fluids. The thermal waters have surface temperatures of up to 100°C and reservoir temperatures range from 150 to 248°C in the Menderes Graben, from 120 to 287°C in the Gediz Graben, and from 153 to 174°C in Biga Peninsula. Hydrogeochemically, the Menderes graben and Gediz Graben thermal waters are of the Na-HCO3, Ca-HCO3, and Na-SO4 types, whereas some geothermal fluids such as those of Tuzla and Kestanbol in the Biga Peninsula, Çeşme, and Urla are of the Na-Cl type.