An ethnobotanical study was conducted in the Qalqilia district, a semicoastal area in the northern West Bank, Palestine from January 2006 to April 2007. The study aimed at evaluating the current status of the Traditional Arabic Palestinian Herbal Medicine (TAPHM) in the Qalqilia District, determining medicinal plants still in use, their primary health care importance at the household level, economic value, conservation status, and their healing potentials. The work also aimed at documenting and preserving the traditional knowledge associated with the use of medicinal plants before its disappearance. Information was collected from 200 people: 174 women and 26 men, using specially designed questionnaires. The participants included 3 local healers, and 197 well known informants. One hundred and sixteen medicinal plants were reported to be used as a cure for 62 ailments. The studied plants belong to 46 families and 103 genera. The fidelity level (FL), relative popularity level (RPL), and rank order priority (ROP) of the medicinal plants were determined. Based on their FL values, the following plants were the most frequently utilized plants: Dianthus strictus Banks & Sol., Ficus sycomorus L., Pyrus communis L., Abelmoschus esculantus L., Oryza sativa L., Corylus avellana L., Cupressus sempervirens L., Salvadora persica L., Arachis hypogea L., Lepidium sativum L., Spinacia oleraceae L., and Opuntia ficus- indica (L.) Mill. Based on their RPL values, the following plants can be considered popular plants: Allium cepa L., Allium sativum L., Anisum vulgare L., Camellia thea Link., Ceratonia siliqua L., Citrus limon (L.) Burm. Fil, Coffea arabica L., Majorana syriaca (L.) Rafin., Matricaria aurea (L.) Sch. Bip., Mentha spicata L., Olea europaea L., Petroselinum sativum Hoffm., Ricinus communis L., Salvia fruticosa Mill., Sesamum indicum L., and Trigonella foenum- graecum L. The remaining plants were considered less popular. Based on ROP values, and primary use, the following medicinal plants were considered to be the most effective: Ceratonia siliqua L. (ROP= 92.9), Sesamum indicum L. (92), Cucumis sativus L. (85.6), Salvia fruticosa Mill. (86.2), Camellia thea Link. (81.6), Anisum vulgare L. (79.6), Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (75.7), Teucrium polium L. (75.2), Crataegus aronia (L.) Bosc. ex DC. (74.3), Allium cepa L. (73.8), Majorana syriaca (L.) Rafin. (73.3), and Coffea arabica L. (70.3). The most frequently utilized plant parts were leaves 38.8 %, followed by fruits 25%, and seeds 24.1 %. The majority of remedies were used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, 97 plants (83.6 %) followed by skin related health problems, 77 plants (66.4%), and reproductive system, 68 plants (58.6%). This probably indicates a high incidence of these types of ailments in the region due to poor socio-economic and sanitary conditions of these people. Fifteen animal or mineral materials were also found to be used in the TAPHM for the treatment of human ailments.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Medical Waste Management in Primary HealthCare Centers and Private Clinics: Jenin District as a Case Study
This study was carried out during the period from March to October 2007 in Jenin district, aimed to review the current situation of the management of the medical wastes (M.W.) that is generated in the primary health care centers (PHCs) and private clinics (Pr.C.). The study showed in Jenin district lack of administration of medical waste capabilities, technical and financial ability for a good and strong management of medical wastes, and lack of joint cooperation between the governmental organizations responsible for the health sector in Jenin district as Ministry of Heath, Ministry of Local Governance, Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority and other organizations. The study showed also that most workers in the public services sector do not follow the proper methods of transferring of medical waste, indicating urgent need for the education and training on a right basis and safe methods for the dealing process with medical wastes. The second part of this study shows that PHCs generate an average 0.830 kg. Of medical waste per primary health care center per day, where was the average of generated medical waste of private clinic about 0.350 kg. per private clinics per day . Therefore, the annual generation rate of MW in Jenin district from primary health care centers and private clinics could reach more than 61 tons / year of hazardous materials generated in the district. These results indicate a clear evidence for the need for a good management of medical wastes in Jenin district that can preserve the human health and the clean environment.
The exposure of Farmers and their families to pesticides in an agricultural community
Continuous use of chemicals such as pesticides has resulted in harmful effects to the environment, caused human illness, and impacted negatively the agricultural production and its sustainability. Farmers and their families are likely to be exposed to agricultural chemicals, even if they are not involved in farm activities. They have higher chances for exposure, directly or indirectly, to pesticides. Analysis were conducted on fourty three of soil samples collected from several places such as open fields, inside the greenhouses, and nine dust samples collected from the houses, the pesticides stores, and the vehicles of the farmers in the area. Soil and dust samples were collected from three agricultural areas in eastern Nablus district i.e. Al-Fara'a, Al-Bathan, and An-Nassariyya. The samples were analyzed for the presence of the most widely used pesticides by the farmers in the study area. The samples were analyzed using gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry GC/MS. The detected pesticides were methamidophos, chlorpyrifos, penconazol, endosulfan, and triademanol. Most of the analyzed samples showed considerable residues of the five pesticides. A questionnaire was developed to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice and toxicity symptoms related to pesticide practice among fifty farmers in the area. Analysis of the returned completed questionnaire revealed that there was a relation between answers of it and the pesticide residues in the soil and dust of the study area. It was concluded that most of the farmers and their families reported suffering from toxicity symptoms due to the exposure to extensive amounts of pesticides. Additionally, farmers reported that they have misused and mishandled these pesticides despite their knowledge about the adverse impact that could result. The highest percentage of self-reported toxicity symptoms was found among the farmers who do not wear protective clothes during the pesticides applications. Prevention and intervention programmes would include health education regarding the use of protective gear and monitoring the health status of farmers exposed to pesticides.
Determination of Nitrate and Nitrite Content in Several Vegetables in Tulkarm District
A study of the content of nitrate and nitrite in few different vegetables in Tulkarm district was conducted. This district is part of the West Bank land (Palestine). A total of 75 samples of five different types of vegetables (tomato, cucumber, onion, potato, and cabbage) were collected from randomly selected farms in three different areas in Tulkarm district (Thenabe, Al-Sha'raweya, and Al-Kafriyat). The nitrate content in the samples was analyzed using HANNA spectrophotometer (HI93728-0), while the nitrite content was analyzed using the AOAC Official Method 973.31. The results showed that the type of the vegetable has a great effect on the nitrate content, the highest nitrate content was found in potato with an average of 253.13mg/Kg, while the lowest nitrate content was found in tomato with an average of 16.95mg/Kg. The nitrate content was affected by fruit size; the small cucumber size shows a higher nitrate content than the large size fruits; It was found that the peels of the cucumber fruits contain higher nitrate content than the essence. Cabbage as a leafy vegetable shows a high nitrate content. The nitrite concentrations were low (less than 1mg/Kg) in all test crops. These levels of nitrite are considered acceptable. The different locations show no significant effect on the nitrate and nitrite contents in vegetables tested in this study. This study high lights an important issue which was not investigated before. Under the conditions of the study, the results indicated acceptable levels of both nitrate and nitrite content. However more work is needed to elaborate these results with more samples and different crops.
Evaluation Of Solid Waste Management In Qalqilia District
This study describes the problems, issues and challenges of MSWM faced by local authorities in Qalqilia district. Approaches of possible solutions that can be undertaken to improve MSW services are discussed. The study consists of a public survey, survey and discussions with local authorities staff involved in waste management, determination of waste composition by segregation of 30 samples from 5 sites, review of documents and field observation. The study provides information on MSW collection services availability and waste disposal practices in Qalqilia district. It was found that little or no consideration of environmental impacts was paid in the selection of dumpsites. Inspection and monitoring of the dumpsites was not consistent, 46.2% of local authorities dispose waste in open random dumps without any further treatment and 15.4% of local authorities disposes waste in open random dumps and then burn it. 100% of local authorities employ workers in the MSW services without any training and they do not train them later to do their work but they obtain the experience from experiment and from their companion, so they are usually exposed to danger. The collection workers and the vehicle are divided between small localities. Little numbers of waste containers is available in most localities. MSW collection frequency in several villages is around or below 2 times per week. The overall average MSW generation rate per capita for 26 localities in Qalqilia district is 1.46 kg per person per day. The results obtained indicate that more than 83% of MSW could potentially be either recycled or composted. It was noticed that MSWM budget ranges between (3% to 9%) of the total budget and about 42.3% of localities has a MSWM budget less than 3% of the total budget, 34.6% between 3% and 6% and 15.4 between 6% and 9%. Involvement of public is important to achieve any meaningful and sustainable MSWM also explored. Results also show that 97.3% of residents are willing to pay more for better service and 60.6% of residents are willing to separate wastes into organic and inorganic without money but 18.6% are willing with little money. 71.6% of residents are ready to transform organic wastes to natural fertilizer if they were trained.
Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Contamination in the West Bank, Palestine
This study assesses the groundwater pollution risk in the West Bank, Palestine. The combined use of DRASTIC model and geographic information system (GIS) was adopted for this purpose. Seven thematic maps of the DRASTIC model were developed in order to asses the vulnerability of groundwater to contamination and these include the depth to water table, recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone and hydraulic conductivity. The GIS technology was used to create an integrated vulnerability map of the West Bank to demarcate vulnerable zones. The result shows that 90% of the study area is at low risk of pollution while 10% is at moderate risk. This indicates that our groundwater resources are safe. The study demonstrated that GIS technology is an efficient environment for analyses and precise processing of spatial data. The thesis also included a comprehensive literature review regarding the different concepts and approaches for assessing groundwater vulnerability to contamination.
Biological Control of Gray Mold, Blue Mold & Rhizopus Soft Rot on Grape, Pear, Kiwi, Strawberry by Trichoderma harzianum
This research aimed at evaluation of biological effectiveness of Trichoderma harzianum against the gray mold, blue mold and rhizopus soft rot caused by B. cinerea, P. expansum and R. stolonifer, respectively, on four types of fruits (Grape, Pear, Kiwi, and strawberry). Also, it aimed at determination of the minimum protection period from infection with gray mold, blue mold and Rhizopus soft rot on the same types of fruits. T. harzianum was applied in form of invert emulsion (water- in- oil formulation) after being introduced into the emulsion in form of conidia, in addition to using non-formulated form of the fungus. The experiments of evaluation of efficacy was carried out under laboratory conditions
(18± 2 °C) and 16 hours of illumination per day under humid conditions (100٪). Results obtained have demonstrated that the treatment with the fungus ( T. harzianum) formulated in invert emulsion reduced significantly gray mold, blue mold and Rhizopus soft rot lesion diameter compared to other treatments. Significant differences (P<>