Fatin Samara - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Fatin Samara

Molecules

Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are persistent toxic compounds that are ubiquitous in the e... more Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are persistent toxic compounds that are ubiquitous in the environment. Nanocomposites of titanium(IV) oxide-vanadium(III) oxide (Ti3V2O7) and titanium(IV) oxide-silicon dioxide (Ti2Si7O30) were prepared and spectroscopically analyzed as potential decontaminants for dioxin-like materials. The analysis confirmed a homogeneous morphology with nanoscale particle size. The Ti-Si sample was found to have a high surface area compared to the Ti-V composite. Vanadium(III) oxide (V2O5) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) were chosen as materials for the formation of heterogeneous compounds with titanium(IV) oxide (TiO2) because they possess a suitable band alignment with TiO2, thus forming effective photocatalysts. This study evaluated the photodegradation of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-furan (TCDF) in the presence of Ti-Si and Ti-V oxide composites, which was tested using high- (254 nm) and midenergy (302 nm) UV irradiation sources. While Ti-Si showed success in t...

Livability is a major principle for urban planning and politics makers, and its definition and as... more Livability is a major principle for urban planning and politics makers, and its definition and assessment have become critical concern upon academics. Therefore, creating livable residential communities that enhance safety, comfort, and social relations is one of the main goals among all planners and policy makers. As socioeconomic development increases, the microscale living conditions necessitate more immediate attention. In the context of the Middle East, the UAE specifically in Sharjah, this study will focus on residential land livability assessment. Different dimensions are considered for livability assessment of residential areas based on people preferences such as housing, mobility, urban function, urban form, and sense of belongings. All these dimensions are assessed using survey based descriptive analysis. The aim of the study is to assess urban livability in Sharjah city through classifying the residential areas based on people preferences and spatial analysis. Finally, to propose and develop a livability index for residential area selection in Sharjah city. None of the scholars, however, have addressed the assessment of livability at a finer geographic scale, such as the residential community scale. The finding showed that the Emirate of Sharjah is in dire need of a tool to measure the livability of residential lands.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Aug 1, 2010

This study provides baseline information on the extent of contamination in sediments of the Jobos... more This study provides baseline information on the extent of contamination in sediments of the Jobos Bay estuary and surrounding areas in Puerto Rico. Sediments from Jobos Bay area (n = 14) had higher overall average concentrations than those from La Parguera area (n = 5, used as reference site), in lg/g dw, for As (17 vs 9), Cu (29 vs 14), Pb (11 vs 4), and Zn (64 vs 28); and in %, for Fe (2.6 vs 0.6). Sediments (n = 8) screened for PAHs and PCBs exhibited total concentrations (ng/g dw) that ranged from 40.4 to 1912, and from not detected to 11.21, respectively. The quality of sediments of Jobos Bay could be classified as low to moderate pollution. The proximity to anthropogenic sources of contamination warrants a monitoring program for inorganic and organic pollutants in Jobos Bay area for an effective coastal management program of this tropical ecosystem.

Environmental Pollution, Feb 1, 2006

Sediments from Niagara River, an important waterway connecting two of the Great Lakes (Lake Erie ... more Sediments from Niagara River, an important waterway connecting two of the Great Lakes (Lake Erie to Lake Ontario), were analyzed for 14 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 9 congeners of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) using accelerated solvent extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Total concentrations of PCBs ranged from 1.7 to 124.6 ng/g were PCBs 138 and 153 were found in all samples. All sites but one showed PBDE in sediments with total concentrations as high as 148 ng/g, suggesting that PBDE is becoming an important class of POP. A land-use and coverage map was used to trace potential localized sources of PCB and PBDE contamination. Results indicate that the highest levels of PCBs and PBDEs were found in sediments collected from areas closest to the discharge locations of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and local industries. This is the first study that suggests the importance of WWTP discharges as a potential source of PBDE contamination in the Great Lakes.

Environment International, Apr 1, 2009

Determination of toxic activity requires knowledge of both the concentration and toxicity to eval... more Determination of toxic activity requires knowledge of both the concentration and toxicity to evaluate the risk for adverse human health and environmental effects. A chemically-activated luciferase gene expression cell bioassay system (CALUX) and an antibody-based method enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were used to detect the dioxin-like response of several polybrominated, polychlorinated, and polybrominated/chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDDs/Fs, PCDDs/Fs, and PBCDDs/Fs, respectively). It has been suggested that the biological activity of the brominated and mixed bromo/chloro compounds is similar to their chlorinated analogues (measured by binding to the Ah receptor). PBDD/F, PCDD/F, and PBCDD/F laboratory standards exhibited biological activity ranging over three orders of magnitude. The highest relative potency (REP) values from CALUX analysis, when compared to 2,3,7,8-TCDD, were 2,3,7,8-TBDD at 0.99 (+/-0.07), 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD at 0.69, and 2-Br-3,7,8-TriCDD at 0.72 (+/-0.02). Cross-reactivities were calculated using EIA for several PBDDs/Fs and PBCDDs. The highest percent cross-reactivity was found for 2,3,7,8-TBDD at 138 (+/-34%), and 2,3,7-TriBDD at 84 (+/-36%).

International journal of integrative medical sciences, Jul 31, 2020

Reviews on environmental health, Jun 27, 2018

There is considerable concern on the rise in the incidence of asthma worldwide with statistics in... more There is considerable concern on the rise in the incidence of asthma worldwide with statistics in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) indicating that at least 13% of schoolchildren, particularly of Emirati descent, suffer from asthma. With its high rates of hospital admissions, negative socioeconomic impact and significant morbidity, this is a disease that requires optimal guidelines for control and awareness. In this article, we review the current knowledge of asthma in the UAE and draw on studies, especially from the surrounding region, to identify its contributing factors within this population. The most frequently identified agents pertinent to the UAE include outdoor and indoor environmental causes exacerbated by the country's rapid urbanization, genetic factors aided in transmission by consanguineous marriage, the patient's socioeconomic status and a rise in vitamin D deficiencies. This evidence aims to inform healthcare professionals and governmental agencies in order to best create guidelines for controlling the burden of this debilitating disease.

Environment International, Apr 1, 2010

Limited information is available on the applicability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furan (... more Limited information is available on the applicability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furan (PCDD/F) toxicity assays to their brominated counterparts: polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDDs/Fs). We estimated the toxicity of mixtures of chlorinated, brominated, and mixed bromochloro-dioxins and -furan (PBCDDs/Fs) laboratory standards using a chemically-activated luciferase gene expression cell bioassay (CALUX). The relative effects potency (REP) values obtained were comparable to the World Health Organization (WHO) toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) and in agreement with the concept of additive congener toxicity of mixtures of dioxins and furans. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA)-based toxic equivalents (TEQs), however, showed overestimation for PCDDs/Fs (0-4 orders of magnitudes higher) and underestimation for PBDDs/Fs (0-1 orders of magnitude lower) when compared to high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS)-based TEQ calculation (using WHO TEFs) in samples from an industrial source line. No correlation was found between the EIA and the HRGC/HRMS data, which could be attributed to differences in homologue-specific cross-reactivity responses, sample matrix type, and presence of other compounds competing for antibody binding in the immunoassay.

Water, Jun 6, 2020

In the Arabian Gulf, mangroves play a particularly important role in maintaining biodiversity. Wa... more In the Arabian Gulf, mangroves play a particularly important role in maintaining biodiversity. Water and intertidal sediments were collected from eight sampling locations in April 2017 to assess the environmental status of the mangrove forest in the Khor al Beida, Umm Al Quwain, which is one of the largest natural mangrove forests in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Khor al Beida is also a breeding ground for the largest Gulf colony of a regionally endemic Socotra cormorant. Total metal concentrations of water and sediments were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and ranged between 0.001-2.873 mg/L and 0.08-12683.02 mg/kg, respectively. Most metals were within permissible levels, except for copper, iron, aluminum, zinc, and nickel. Hazard Quotient calculations showed low risk to the ecosystem in relation to the presence of heavy metals, with the exception of zinc. Fifty-three diatom species of pennate benthic forms were identified in the intertidal sediments. For the first time in the UAE, diatom composition and diatom diversity values were quantitatively estimated in the surface sediments and a short sediment core. Overall, the assessment suggests that the mangrove forest is currently undisturbed and shows very little anthropogenic impact; yet, protection and conservation efforts are necessary in order to maintain its current status.

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Sep 1, 2022

Energies, Feb 17, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Sustainability, Sep 21, 2022

Reviews on environmental health, May 11, 2022

Statistics indicate that at least 20–25% of women suffer from PCOS in the Gulf region. Despite it... more Statistics indicate that at least 20–25% of women suffer from PCOS in the Gulf region. Despite its prevalence and negative implications on reproductive, metabolic, and physiological heath the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, in part due to the diversity of symptoms manifested by this disorder. In this review, we investigate causes of PCOS globally and draw on these studies, to determine the potential contributing factors for PCOS pathogenesis in the UAE population. The most frequently identified factors promoting PCOS pathogenesis that may be pertinent to this population include physiological factors such as insulin resistance, vitamin D deficiency, genetic factors, obesity, and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in the body as well as environmental factors such as air pollution, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and pesticide use. This evidence will help inform healthcare workers and government agencies to set up optimal guidelines for control and awareness of PCOS in the UAE.

Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2015

Scientific studies in higher education is becoming an increasing matter of discussion. The Americ... more Scientific studies in higher education is becoming an increasing matter of discussion. The American University of Sharjah (AUS) encourages the scientific literacy of students who are not enrolled in science or engineering majors by including two required science courses in the curriculum. The courses of choice include biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, astronomy and physics. This study investigates the factors that contribute to students' choice when selecting science courses at AUS. A survey comprised of open-ended questions as well as quantitative enquiries was administered to students enrolled in environmental science (ENV 100), aiming to investigate the main reason behind their choice. The results of this two year study showed significantly positive attitudes toward the course contents and the benefit of the course towards their future careers. Furthermore, it reveals that students are highly influenced by previous experiences with subjects, professors' popularity, peer recommendation, their abilities in memorization, and skills in math. The study reveals that the main concern for students is related to the high amount of information and details that the course content covers. In addition, the possibility of obtaining a higher grade was also studied by observing the grade point average (GPA) for science courses over a period of four years. Nonetheless, the main factor for course choice was their genuine interest for the subject matter, which is this case study, was the environmental studies course.

Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Jan 21, 2021

Midwakh, which originated in the Middle East, has started to spread globally with different brand... more Midwakh, which originated in the Middle East, has started to spread globally with different brands commercialized online and in local stores across Europe and the USA. Dokha is the tobacco used in midwakh. To this day, risk of midwakh smoking is poorly understood. Three different types of dokha were evaluated in this study, classified as cold, medium, and hot using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The concentrations of nicotine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in raw and smoked dokha samples were measured, and the results were compared to data in the literature on different types of tobacco products. PAH concentrations were used to estimate the toxic equivalency quotient, daily exposures, incremental lifetime cancer risk, and hazard quotient. The level of nicotine in raw dokha exceeded by far the levels reported in cigarettes, cigar, waterpipe, and chewing tobacco. Although only a portion of the nicotine is released into the smoke, the amount of nicotine in dokha smoke exceeded those reported for cigarettes. Two PAHs were found in raw dokha at trace amounts and 12 PAHs were detected in dokha smoke in amounts that exceeded those reported for cigarette smoke. The PAHs distribution showed a specific pattern in the smoke and a higher risk factor than that obtained for cigarettes and other tobacco products. Dokha products present a potential higher risk and immediate action should be taken to avoid its global consumption.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, May 22, 2023

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Sustainability

Livability indicators and assessments are critical to promoting campus sustainability and livabil... more Livability indicators and assessments are critical to promoting campus sustainability and livability. Despite the various indicator frameworks and local initiatives aimed at attaining sustainability, campus livability assessments in the Middle East are scarce. An extensive literature search was used in this paper to obtain the best livability indicators, and the Delphi method was used to reach consensus using a panel of experts in the fields of sustainability and livability. The determining indicators were identified and categorized according to Environmental Quality, Social and Cultural Elements, Accessibility, Amenities and Services, Safety, Housing, and Other Services. A questionnaire using both qualitative and quantitative questions was used, taking into consideration the perceptions of students, faculty, and staff residing at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) campus in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A score of 87/100 was obtained in this study, indicating that the AUS c...

Environmental Advances, 2022

Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management