US-Morocco Cooperative Research: Environmental Contamination and Toxicity Caused by Heavy Metals Released from a Closed Mine in Marrakech, Morocco

0096819 Bitton描述：该奖项旨在支持佛罗里达盖恩斯维尔市佛罗里达大学环境工程科学系的Gabriel Bitton博士和摩洛哥马拉喀什市Cadi Ayyad大学的Ali Boularbah博士的合作项目。 两人计划研究位于摩洛哥马拉喀什市附近的一个矿山附近环境介质中的重金属浓度和毒性。 将通过化学分析和毒性测试，使用专门针对重金属毒性的MetPlate或MetPad，对土壤、地表径流、地表水和沉积物进行重金属污染测试。 两人还建议调查这些地点的金属超积累植物。 该研究旨在评估采矿作业对金属污染的影响。该提案活动应用最近开发的技术来解决生态影响评估中的问题，并为摩洛哥一个新的地理环境增加生态知识，这是以前没有研究过的。范围：产生的数据将对摩洛哥监管机构非常有用，并将为更好的环境控制提供催化剂，可能对当地人民的健康产生深远的有益影响。 这一点尤其适用于该地区的情况，该地区一年中大部分时间都是干旱的，但在雨季可能会突然产生广泛的健康问题。 拟议的工作将有助于培训一名摩洛哥科学家，以适当评估陆地金属污染。拟议的研究应用了Bitton博士开发的金属毒性测试技术。 比顿博士以前曾在摩洛哥工作，并与摩洛哥调查人员合作。 美国和摩洛哥科学家有着良好的研究和出版记录，预计这项研究将在国际科学期刊上发表。 该项目还将使一名来自佛罗里达大学的研究生能够参加国外实地研究，从而获得国际合作的经验。 该提案符合INT的目标，即支持在共同科学感兴趣的领域进行合作研究。 该项目得到国际方案司和生物与环境系统司的支助。

0096819BittonDescription: This award is to support a collaborative project by Dr. Gabriel Bitton, Department of Environmental Engineering Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida and Dr. Ali Boularbah, of Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, Morocco. The two plan to study heavy metal concentrations and toxicity in environmental media near a mine located in the vicinity of the city of Marrakech, Morocco. Soil, surface runoffs, surface water, and sediments will be tested for heavy metal contamination via chemical analyses and toxicity tests, using MetPlate or MetPad which are specific for heavy metal toxicity. The two also propose to investigate metal hyperaccumulating plants in the sites. The research is aimed at evaluating the impact of mining operations on metals contamination. The proposal activity applies recently developed techniques to addressing problems in ecological impact assessments, and adds ecological knowledge to a new geographic environment, in Morocco, that has not been studied before.Scope: The data generated will be most useful to Moroccan regulatory agencies, and will provide a catalyst for better environmental control, with possible profound beneficial effects on the health of the local people. This applies particularly to the conditions of this area, which is dry for most of the year, but during the rainy season could produce sudden widespread health problems. The proposed work will help in the training of a Moroccan scientist to properly assess terrestrial metals contamination. The proposed research applies techniques for metals toxicity testing developed by Dr. Bitton. Dr. Bitton has worked before in Morocco and collaborated with Moroccan investigators. The US and Moroccan scientists have good research and publication records, and it is expected that this research will result in publications in international scientific journals. The project will also allow a graduate student from the University of Florida to participate in field research at a foreign site, and thus gain experience in international collaboration. This proposal meets the INT objective of supporting collaborative research in areas of mutual scientific interest. This project is being supported by the Division of International Programs and the Division of Biological and Environmental Systems.