Laboratory experiments in wastewater treatment plants

In continuation of the series of lectures of the cultural season of the Environment Research Center at the University of Technology-Iraq, in the presence of the Director of the Center, Professor Dr. Abdul Hameed M. Jawad, and in the presence of a group of academics and researchers, Dr. Rana Riyadh Khaleel, a lecture entitled (Laboratory Experiments in Wastewater Treatment Plants), on Tuesday 7/12/2021 at 11 am...

The lecture began by defining the topic. Sanitary sewage water consists of household waste, which includes remnants of fats, foods, and industrial detergents used in washing and cleaning, organic materials and human waste, as well as industrial waste, which is water left by factories and contains different percentages of organic and chemical substances, in addition to the rinsing water for home yards. Carrying dust and some suspended matter. The main dangers that lie in sewage water are pathogenic germs that are transmitted with wastewater and sludge, which can cause many diseases. The most important of these pathogenic germs found in sewage water, including harmful bacteria that cause typhoid, cholera, dysentery, and other diseases Infectious and protozoa, which are widespread in sewage water, and some of them transmit amoebic dysentery, in addition to fungi.

With regard to the environment, there are serious negative effects of sewage that affect human life and society in a direct way, which are the environmental effects resulting from the drainage of sewage water into the sea or river, which leads to distorting the aesthetic aspect of the beaches and the spread of many germs on the coastal areas, which leads to serious health damage to the visitors. These beaches and the marine and natural environment, in addition to the spread of unpleasant odors represented by H2S gas, affect the nervous system and causes eye diseases and allergies.

Due to the scientific progress in many fields and the growing interest in protecting the environment from pollution, restrictions have increased on the disposal of sewage, especially from industrial areas, where disposal does not allow it to be drained into rivers or buried in open lands. Many industries, especially those that produce waste, have increased restrictions. Highly polluted, these wastes should be adequately treated inside factories through special purification plants before being discharged to sewage networks or disposed of in any other way.

With interest in the global trend to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals, and in order to achieve the third goal (good health and well-being), the Department of Sustainable Development / Environment Research Center at the University of Technology-Iraq, under the supervision of the Director of the Center, carried out a lecture in cooperation with the Nutrition Research Institute / Public Health Department, delivered by the specialist Dr. Abdul Hameed Salem Al-Barrak, on Monday, November 22, 2021 - at 10 am in the workshop hall, Environment Research Center, while adhering to the directives of the National Health and Safety Committee in maintaining social distancing.

The lecture of Dr. Abdul Hameed Salem Al-Barrak was summarized in giving advice on how obesity is affected by a number of factors, which are caused by eating an excessive amount of calories that are usually in excess of the body’s needs. These factors may include physical inactivity, diet, genes, lifestyle, ethnic and social background. It increases the risk of many disorders such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, some types of cancer, and may lead to early death.

In conclusion, the doctor emphasized seizing the opportunity with regard to the nutritional aspect to raise the level of nutritional culture in the university staff and transfer it to the community by correcting the wrong habits and behaviors practiced by some people and the ways to treat them. It is mentioned that all member states of the United Nations (including Iraq) adopted in 2015 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, as a global call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all people are peaceful and prosperous by 2030, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are integrated – that is, they recognize that action in one area will affect results in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability. As follows: (eradication of poverty, total eradication of hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, clean and affordable energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduction of inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life underwater, life on land, peace and justice and strong institutions, partnerships to achieve the goals).

In the presence of the President of the University of Technology-Iraq, Prof. Dr. Ahmed M. H. Al-Ghabban, and under the direct supervision of the Director of the Environment Research Center, Prof. Dr. Abdul Hameed M. J., the center, in coordination with the Al-Araqah Foundation for Culture and Development, and the General Union of Iraqi Trainers at the University of Technology-Iraq, set up a voluntary campaign that included Planting a thousand trees and seedlings of various types of trees and rose seedlings in the gardens and spaces of the University to increase the green space. This activity is an extension of a series of voluntary campaigns carried out by the Environment Research Center in this field to provide a clean and sustainable environment within the university and as a contribution to raising the level of the university in international classifications such as the GreenMetric classification of universities, the British Times classification and others.

Sustaining the capillary system for better health

In continuation of the series of lectures of the cultural season of the Environment Research Center at the University of Technology-Iraq, in the presence of the Director of the Center, Prof. Dr. Abdul Hameed M. J., and in the presence of a group of academics and researchers. Basim Hashem Farag, Head of the Sustainable Development Department at the Center, gave a lecture entitled (Sustainability of the capillary system for better health) on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 11 am..

The lecture began by defining the subject that the cornerstone of human health is the arrival of blood loaded with nutrients and oxygen to all cells of the body and returning them with the products of vital processes for recycling. He showed that the circulatory system consists of arteries, veins, and capillaries, all of which work as one team, but he touched on the capillaries as structure, function, and external and internal factors affecting their progress and decline in efficiency.

The lecturer stated that the important point of the whole subject is that we elevate ourselves through reading and learning so that each of us is a doctor for himself, and when we visit the doctor, we perform the function of a physician’s assistant to help him in diagnosis and accuracy.

In conclusion, this lecture came with a set of recommendations, namely:

Control blood sugar

Adjust weight

Healthy food

Aerobic and anaerobic exercises

Healthy sleep

Regulating the human biological clock