GENES MEDIATING CARDIAC REMODELING DURING PREGNANCY AND THE EARLY POST-PARTUM-PERIOD IN MICE

The pH of the pit water varied from 7 to 8.5 during the monitoring period (2009 to 2013). ; however, an increase in sulfate levels was observed which may indicates pyrite oxidation which, under low pH conditions, can decrease pH levels and increase metals solubility .The Hatta pit offers a different scenario: evidence from Oman’s Aarja and Lasail West copper mines (20 year old pits) and now from the Hatta main pit show that low pH conditions do not necessarily develop in mine pit water in ophiolite bedrock, or within adjacent groundwater flow systems on cessation of mining. This is due largely to the effect of pH buffering related to the significant carbonate content in both the alluvium and the surrounding ophiolite rocks (Kamel Establishment, 2003). The water table around the Hatta pit rises and falls in response to wet and dry periods, and the water level in the Hatta pit is controlled largely by groundwater inflow and evaporation rate. Meanwhile the chemical concentrations and solubility properties of Zn and Cd suggest oxidizing conditions are present. In addition to the variable concentrations of trace elements, the salinity is steadily increasing in the Hatta pit water and electrical conductivity positively correlates with the cumulative concentration of major ions including SO4, Cl, K, Mg, and Na. Electrical Conductivity and salinity have shown an increase over time. Finally a simple statistical assessment was performed and determined that there is no significant difference between the groundwater quality during mining and during the mine closure period while Cd and SO4 have significantly increased in the Hatta pit during the mine closure period.