High levels of molybdenum in Qatar's groundwater and potential impacts

Kuiper, Nora; Rowell, Candace; Shomar, Basem

doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2014.12.009

Cited by 33 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Sodium (Na + ) and chloride (Cl -) had the highest concentrations in both waters. The relative abundance of major ions in groundwater followed the same pattern presented in Kuiper et al [38], where the concentrations of cations were as sodium ðNa + Þ > calcium ðCa 2+ Þ > magnesium ðMg 2+ Þ > potassium ðK + Þ and for anions as chloride ðCl − Þ > sulfate ðSO 4 2− Þ > bromide (Br -). For seawater, the relative abundance was the same as in groundwater for anions but different for cations (Na + > Mg 2+ > K + > Ca 2+ ).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 71%

“…For seawater, the relative abundance was the same as in groundwater for anions but different for cations (Na + > Mg 2+ > K + > Ca 2+ ). The origin of major ions in groundwater was linked to the limestone and gypsum composition of the native rock and soil as well as sea salt aerosols [38]. Shomar [22] also stated that dissolved ions could precipitate as calcite and gypsum in the vadose zone after the evaporation of groundwater.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biodegradation Kinetics of Benzene and Naphthalene in the Vadose and Saturated Zones of a (Semi)-arid Saline Coastal Soil Environment

et al. 2019

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Biodegradation is a key process for the remediation of sites contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), but this process is not well known for the (semi)-arid coastal environments where saline conditions and continuous water level fluctuations are common. This study differs from the limited previous studies on the biodegradation of PHCs in Qatari coastal soils mainly by its findings on the biodegradation kinetics of the selected PHCs of benzene and naphthalene by indigenous bacteria. Soil samples were collected above, across, and below the groundwater table at the eastern coast of Qatar within a depth of 0 to -40 cm. Environmental conditions combining low oxygen and high sulfate concentrations were considered in this study which could favor either or both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria including sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). The consideration of SRB was motivated by previously reported high sulfate concentrations in Qatari soil and groundwater. Low- and high-salinity conditions were applied in the experiments, and the results showed the sorption of the two PHCs on the soil samples. Sorption was dominant for naphthalene whereas the biodegradation process contributed the most for the removal of benzene from water. Losses of nitrate observed in the biodegradation experiments were attributed to the activity of nitrate-reducing bacteria (NRB). The results suggested that aerobic, NRB, and most likely SRB biodegraded the two PHCs, where the combined contribution of sorption and biodegradation in biotic microcosms led to considerable concentration losses of the two PHCs in the aqueous phase (31 to 58% after 21 to 35 days). Although benzene was degraded faster than naphthalene, the biodegradation of these two PHCs was in general very slow with rate coefficients in the order of 10-3 to 10-2 day-1 and the applied kinetic models fitted the experimental results very well. It is relevant to mention that these rate coefficients are the contribution from all the microbial groups in the soil and not from just one.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodegradation Kinetics of Benzene and Naphthalene in the Vadose and Saturated Zones of a (Semi)-arid Saline Coastal Soil Environment

et al. 2019

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“…Please, note that the Scenario 1 is the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario and that the 100% organic (scenario 2) is the baseline for the calculation of the difference in the emissions Currently agriculture in Qatar relies mainly on groundwater sources [82], extracting around 250 Mm 3 per year, when the sustainable rate would be around only 60 Mm 3 [34,37], and leading to an impoverishment of the groundwater quality (e.g. increase in the salinity) [82,83]. Therefore, additional regional production should be based on the use of non-groundwater sources (i.e.…”

Section: Table 6 Total Emissions and Difference In The Emissions Frommentioning

confidence: 99%

Can a shift to regional and organic diets reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the food system? A case study from Qatar

Vicente-Vicente

Piorr

2021

Carbon Balance Manage

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Background Qatar is one of the countries with the highest carbon (C) footprints per capita in the world with an increasing population and food demand. Furthermore, the international blockade by some countries that is affecting Qatar—which has been traditionally a highly-dependent country on food imports—since 2017 has led the authorities to take the decision of increasing food self-sufficiency. In this study we have assessed the effect on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of shifting diets from conventional to organic products and from import-based diets to more regionalized diets for the first time in a Gulf country. Results We found that considering the production system, the majority of the emissions come from the animal products, but the differences between conventional and organic diets are very small (738 and 722 kg CO2-eq capita−1 year−1, of total emissions, respectively). Conversely, total emissions from plant-based products consumption might be around one order of magnitude smaller, but the differences in the emissions between the organic and conventional systems were higher than those estimated for animal products, leading to a decrease in 44 kg CO2-eq capita−1 year−1 when changing from 100% conventional to 50% of organic consumption of plant-based products. Regarding the shift to regionalized diets, we found that packaging has a small influence on the total amount of GHG emissions, whereas emissions from transportation would be reduced in around 450 kg CO2 capita−1 year−1 when reducing imports from 100 to 50%. Conclusions However, these results must be read carefully. Due to the extreme adverse pedoclimatic conditions of the country, commercial organic regional livestock would not be possible without emitting very high GHG emissions and just only some traditional livestock species may be farmed in a climate-friendly way. On the other hand, organic and regional low-CO2 emission systems of plant-based products would be possible by implementing innovations in irrigation or other innovations whose GHG emissions must be further studied in the future. Therefore, we conclude that shifting towards more plant-based organic regional consumption by using climate-friendly irrigation is a suitable solution to both increasing self-sufficiency and reducing C footprint. We encourage national authorities to including these outcomes into their environmental and food security policies.

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“…Qatar has arid desert climate that is characterized by high temperatures during summer ([40°C), scanty rainfall with an annual average of about 82 mm over the period 1999-2008 and, a high evaporation rates with an annual average of 2200 mm (UN-Qatar 2009), a very strong winds, and high relative humidity. Qatar is a water resources stressed country and groundwater forms the main natural internal water resource (Shomar et al 2014;Kuiper et al 2015;FAO 2015;Baalousha 2016a, b).…”

Section: Hydrogeology Description Of Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater flow modeling for impact assessment of port dredging works on coastal hydrogeology in the area of Al-Wakrah (Qatar)

Lachaal

Gana

2016

Model. Earth Syst. Environ.

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This paper presents the impact assessment of the port dredging works on aquifer's hydrogeology in the area of Al-Wakrah Economic Port Zone 3 in Qatar (QEZ3) project using groundwater numerical model (MODFLOW-3D). The QEZ3 model is used to estimate the groundwater flow system and the groundwater levels in the study area, during the dredging and dewatering period. Specially, we focused on the impact of dredged and dewatering water stored in two programmed stilling basins. The modeling period is about 6 years from August 2010 to May 2015 according to the available data and the project phasing. Three scenarios are chosen according to the time schedule of QEZ3 project. The model gives a high piezometric level of more than 2.5 m CD (chart datum) located in stilling basins area, which can will cause water resurgence and groundwater flooding. As solution, using the model results we proposed to change the programmed discharge areas.

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High levels of molybdenum in Qatar's groundwater and potential impacts

Cited by 33 publications

References 36 publications

Biodegradation Kinetics of Benzene and Naphthalene in the Vadose and Saturated Zones of a (Semi)-arid Saline Coastal Soil Environment

Biodegradation Kinetics of Benzene and Naphthalene in the Vadose and Saturated Zones of a (Semi)-arid Saline Coastal Soil Environment

Can a shift to regional and organic diets reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the food system? A case study from Qatar

Groundwater flow modeling for impact assessment of port dredging works on coastal hydrogeology in the area of Al-Wakrah (Qatar)

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