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

0096819Bitton描述：该奖项旨在支持佛罗里达州盖恩斯维尔市佛罗里达大学环境工程科学系Gabriel Bitton博士和摩洛哥马拉喀什Cadi Ayyad大学Ali Boularbah博士的合作项目。这两家公司计划研究位于摩洛哥马拉喀什市附近的一个矿山附近的环境介质中的重金属浓度和毒性。土壤、地表径流、地表水和沉积物将通过化学分析和毒性测试进行重金属污染测试，使用专门用于重金属毒性的MetPlate或MetPad。两人还建议调查这些地点的金属超积累植物。这项研究的目的是评价采矿作业对金属污染的影响。提案活动应用最近发展的技术来解决生态影响评估方面的问题，并为摩洛哥一个新的地理环境增加了以前没有研究过的生态知识。范围：所产生的数据将对摩洛哥管理机构最有用，并将促进更好的环境控制，可能对当地人民的健康产生深远的有益影响。这尤其适用于该地区的条件，该地区一年大部分时间都很干燥，但在雨季可能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正确评估陆地金属污染。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过。美国和摩洛哥的科学家有很好的研究和发表记录，预计这项研究将在国际科学期刊上发表。该项目还将允许佛罗里达大学的一名研究生在国外参与实地研究，从而获得国际合作的经验。该提案符合INT在共同科学兴趣领域支持合作研究的目标。该项目得到了国际项目司和生物与环境系统司的支持。

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.