The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is one of the most successful birds in the urban environment, and has a global distribution. The present study aims to provide baseline data about metals in sparrows from urban environments in the West Bank and to investigate the possibility of using the House Sparrow to monitor metal pollution in urban environments. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn were measured in different tissues and organs of male and female juvenile (1-4 weeks old) and adult House Sparrows from the West Bank. Tissues and organs had the following order of metal richness: liver > stomach > bone > lung, feathers > muscles > egg contents, brain > heart > egg shell. Significant correlation coefficients were observed for the concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the egg shell and for the egg contents. Male and female Sparrows showed no significant differences in their metal concentrations. Adult Sparrows collected from rural areas were found to have significantly less Cu, Pb, and Zn (but not Cd) concentrations than those from urban environments. In order to investigate metal accumulation with age, metal concentrations were plotted against age stage (egg, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-week-old juveniles and adults). Significant relationships were observed between age stage and Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations. The results provide some evidence for the potential of the House Sparrow as a biomonitor for urban heavy metal pollution. However, further issues regarding metal physiological regulation and the correlations between metals in the environment and those in tissues of the House Sparrows have to be addressed before recommending this bird as a biomonitor for urban metal pollution.

Concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Cr) were investigated in roadside surface soil and the common perennial herb inula (Inula viscosa L., Compositae). Samples were collected at different distances (0-200 m) perpendicular to a main road that connects two main cities in the West Bank. Average concentrations of metals in soil samples were: Pb, 87.4; Cd, 0.27; Cu, 60.4; Zn, 82.2; Fe, 15,700; Mn, 224; Ni, 18.9; and Cr, 42.4 microg x g(-1). In plant leaves, concentrations were: Pb, 7.25; Cd, 0.10; Cu, 10.6; Zn, 47.6; Fe, 730; Mn, 140; Ni, 4.87; and Cr, 7.03 microg x g(-1). Roadside contamination was obvious by the significant negative correlations between concentrations of metals in soil and plant samples and distance from road edge. Only cadmium concentrations in soil and plant samples were not associated with roadside pollution. Roadside contamination in plants and soil did not extend much beyond a 20 m distance from road. I. viscosa reflected roadside contamination better than soil and their metal concentrations showed much less fluctuations than those in soil samples. Washing plant leaves decreased Pb and Fe concentrations significantly, indicating a significant aerial deposition of both. I. viscosa can be considered as a good biomonitor for roadside metal pollution.

Honey is a nutritious product that is produced by honey bees. Its nutritional value and genuine quality is of great importance to consumers. The present study aimed at evaluating the physico-chemical properties of Palestinian multi-floral honey from the West Bank. For this purpose, a total of 33 honey samples were collected directly from honey beekeepers in different geographic regions of the West Bank and analyzed for pH, moisture, relative density, total sugars, reducing sugars, sucrose, fructose, proteins, ash, hydroxymethylfurfural, and mineral content. The mean physico-chemical contents were: pH = 3.44, moisture = 16.53%, relative density = 1.424, reducing sugars = 78.86%, sucrose = 4.10%, fructose = 38.29%, proteins = 0.33%, ash = 0.14%, and hydroxymethylfurfural = 12.32 mg/ kg. Cd and Pb were below detection limits in all samples analyzed. Honey samples were rich in K, Na, Ca, Pb, and Mg with concentrations ranging between 183.86 mg/kg (K) and 22.74 mg/kg (Mg). Other trace elements (Fe, Li, B, Mn, Ba, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ni) were found in much smaller concentrations between 5.21 mg/ kg (Fe) and 0.08 mg/kg (Ni). In conclusion, the results of physico-chemical analysis of Palestinian multi-floral honey indicated purity and good quality that meet the international honey standards.

Rain harvesting is becoming more common in the Palestinian Territories as a result of drinking water scarcity. Although it might pose serious human health risk, this water is being consumed without treatment in many areas of the West Bank. The present study evaluates the physicochemical and microbial quality of harvested rainwater that is used as potable water in the West Bank. Samples from roof-harvested rainwater storage tanks (n ¼ 42) were collected in summer (SS) 2006/winter (WS) 2007. Physicochemical parameters measured were: temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, nitrate, copper and lead. With few exceptions, all these parameters were within WHO guideline values. All samples (100%) were found to contain coliforms and to be heavily contaminated with heterotrophic bacteria. About 67% of all samples were contaminated with fecal coliforms. Specific PCR technique confirmed the presence of five pathogenic microorganisms that can be ordered according to their prevalence as: Citrobacter (83%) > Acinetobacter (78%) > Aeromonas (52%) > Pseudomonas and Campylobacter (7%).Prevalence of microorganisms in SS was higher than in WS. Although the physicochemical quality of most harvested rainwater samples was in accordance with WHO guidelines for drinking water, stored rainwater was significantly contaminated with bacteria resulting in significant human health risk from infectious diseases.

Wastewater often contains genotoxic substances that can resist different stages of the treatment process. In the present study, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA technology was applied to evaluate the genotoxic effects of wastewater (treated and raw) irrigation on oat plants (Avena sativa). RAPD profiles obtained showed that both treated and raw wastewater (RWW) were having genotoxic effects on oat plants. This was apparent by the appearance/disappearance of bands in the treatments compared with the control plants.

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All honey samples contained aflatoxins, mostly in health-threatening concentrations. Caffeine and nicotine were recorded in 80 and 67% of honey samples respectively. Heavy metal levels were generally low.

Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn were determined in roadside soil, plant and landsnail samples along Nablus-Ramallah main road in the West Bank. Average concentrations (microgram.g-1, dry weight) of the four metals in soil samples were, Cu: 23.8, Zn: 128.3, Cd: 0.45 and Pb: 149.9. These values were higher than those found in soil samples collected from control sites. Metals in roadside plant samples were within normal levels although plants from control sites were found to have slightly less metals. Different parts of a plant (roots, stem & leaves) were found to accumulate metals in different concentrations. The average concentration (microgram.g-1) of metals in different plant parts were: Cu: < 5.2, Cd: < 1.0, Pb: < 2.19 and Zn: < 5.18. Average concentrations (microgram.g-1) of metals in the three roadside snails were ranging between 121-132 for Cu, 18-27 for Cd, 21-24 for Pb and 43-69 for Zn. Snails were found to magnify Cd to serious levels (> 30-50 times higher than in plants and soils). Lead in snails was about 10 times higher than that in plant leaves and much less than that in roadside soils. Other metals in snails did not show abnormal concentrations.