Natural and anthropogenic hazards in karst areas of Albania

Assessment of areas vulnerable to natural hazards (Case study: Rural areas CountyAzna)

BACKGROUND: Rural areas, usually when compared to other natural events, have the greatest vulnerability of human settlements. The aim of this study was to evaluate natural hazards as earthquakes, landslides, floods and identify high-risk zone in relation to the rural areas of the central township of Azna County, Iran. METHODS: Topographic and geology maps, elevation digital model, and seismic ...

Investigation on anthropogenic and natural share of heavy metals in surface sediments of Shadegan wetland

Accumulation of trace metals in sediment can cause severe ecological impacts. The present study determines the elemental concentrations and chemical partitioning of heavy metals in surface sediment of Shadegan wetland. Shadegan wetland is one of the most important wetlands in southwest of Iran and it is in Ramsar-listed wetlands. For this purpose, 7 sampling stations were selected for sediment ...

Natural radioactivity in ceramic tiles and associated radiological hazards

Background: The natural radioactivity levels in ceramic tiles produced in Turkey were determined and the related radiological hazards were assessed. Materials and Methods: The natural radioactivity levels (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in the ceramic tiles were measured using high-purity germanium detector system (HPGe) and the related radiological hazards were assessed by radium equivalent activity (R...

Electrical resistivity surveys of anthropogenic karst phenomena, southeastern New Mexico

A small but significant number of sinkholes and other karst phenomena in southeastern New Mexico are of human origin and are often associated with solution mining of salt beds in the shallow subsurface. In 2008 two brine wells in a sparsely populated area of northern Eddy County, New Mexico, abruptly collapsed as a result of solution mining operations. The well operators had been injecting fres...

Effect of Source Areas Anthropogenic Activities on Dust Storm Occurrences in the Western Parts of Iran