ENVS-414 Research Methods in Env Sci 3(3-0)
Topic: Research Proposal-Conti
Dr. Nisar Muhammad
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Science
Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan 1
Research proposal
• Steps of a model research proposal
1. Introduction
2. Problem statement
3. Justification
4. Significance/outcomes/benefits of the study
5. Aim and objectives
6. Hypotheses
7. Materials and methods
8. Quality control and data interpretation
9. Research plan 2
7. Materials and methods
• Materials and methods OR Methodology:
How will you achieve your objectives?
Lab based, Questionnaires, FGDs, Interviews
Depends on the type of research/objectives
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7. Materials and methods-Conti
• Preliminary survey
• Selection of sampling points (Water and Fish)
• Objective 1: To analyze the water quality of river Indus at D.I. Khan
region for physicochemical parameters and toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr,
Pb, Hg) concentrations.
• Method: Physicochemical analysis and toxic elements Conc.
Do only significant parameters (Which physico & elements)
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7. Materials and methods-Conti
• Water quality analysis (objective 1)
The water samples will be analysed for different physicochemical
parameters such as, flow rate by float method, temperature
by Thermometer, pH by pH meter, EC by conductivity meter, TSS and
TDS by gravimetric method (APHA, 1989; Peavy et al., 1985). The
ICP-OES will be used for determination of toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr,
Pb and Hg) concentrations.
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7. Materials and methods-Conti
• Objective 2: To identify fish species in river Indus at D.I. Khan region
• Method: Collection of fish species
• Fish species will be collected from the pre-defined sampling points
through _______ method. All the collected species will be classified
for their parental group/classes.
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7. Materials and methods-Conti
• Objective 3: To determine concentrations of the toxic elements in fish
species.
• Method: Analysis of fish for toxic elements concentration
• Fish samples will be digested through acid (Aqua-Regia) digestion
method, and the processed samples will be analysed for toxic elements
concentrations through ICP-OES.
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7. Materials and methods-Conti
• Objective 4: To assess health risks associated with the contaminated
fish species. Cn = Concentration of toxic element
Dfi= Daily intake of fish species
• Method: Statistical analysis
(A=0.345, C=0.232 kg person-1day-1 )
BW= Body weight (A=72, C=32.7 kg)
Cn × Dfi
• ADD =
BW
RfD is the reference dose defined as “the maximum
permissible risks to human population by conserving a
ADD sensitive group during a lifetime”. The HRI >1 is
• HRI =
RfD considered as significant non-carcinogenic health risk. 8
8. Quality assurance and data interpretation
Use of standard reagents, chemicals, sampling bottles, equipments
Washing of glassware's with acidified water (10-30%)
Follow SOPs for each equipment/analysis
Ensure 95% confidence rate (Precision and Accuracy)
Use of standard solutions (GBW standards)
Triplicate analysis of each sample
Recalibration of ICP-OES after of 10 samples 9
8. Quality assurance and data interpretation- Conti
Maintain lab log book
No hurry and over loading
Ask for help in case of problem(s)
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8. Quality assurance and data interpretation- Conti
Data plotting programs (Origin Lab, Arc-GIS, Grapher, etc)
Data analyses softwares (MS Excel, Statistix, R, etc)
Graph OR Table- Why?
Which type of graph?
Which design of table?
SD values
Equation and Formula presentation 11
9. Research plan
Duration 1st Month 2nd & 3rd 4th Month 5th Month 6th Month
Month
Activities
Field visit & samples collection
Lab analysis
Data interpretation
Thesis writing & checking by the
supervisor
Submission of final thesis
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1. Introduction
General to specific
Paragraph wise
Only relevant info
Coherence
Relate to the order of objectives
Input of citations
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1. Introduction-Conti
Para 1: Water is essential for human life, but it is also a limited and vulnerable
resource. Therefore, safeguarding the availability of sufficient amount of water with
acceptable quality is an important technical and societal challenge to be addressed
(Khalid et al., 2018). Growing water stress worldwide is alarming, and it is worth
noticing that the agricultural sector itself consumed approximately 70% of the
entire water resource (Winpenny et al., 2010). Due to the excessive use of water,
around 60% of the world’s population may face water shortages in daily lives by
2025 (Khalid et al., 2018). With the rapid industrialization, urbanization, economic
growth, and population expansion, the generation of wastewater has also increased
drastically (Alobaidy et al., 2010). ………….. Till end of the para. 14
1. Introduction-Conti
Para 2: Wastewater consists of the excessive concentrations of potentially toxic
elements (PTEs) and pathogens, which can cause significant environmental and
human health problems. Therefore, both short-term (pathogenic problems) and long-
term (PTEs availability to soil and plants and risks to human health) risks can be
caused by the reuse of wastewater for irrigation purposes (Shakir et al., 2017). The
direct contact to wastewater could occur through dermal contact, injection, and
inhalation, which can happen during the handling and irrigation of
wastewater, dishes and cloths washing, working inside the industries generating the
wastewater, and when engaging the sanitization services.…….Till end of the para.
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1. Introduction-Conti
Para 3: In Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the use of
industrial wastewater without proper treatment for irrigation purposes is a growing
concern (Muhammad et al., 2018). This action might deteriorate the agricultural soil,
surface and ground water and pose a threat to the living biota (Ahmaruzzaman,
2011). The wastewater irrigation severely affected the surface and ground water
quality (Weldeslassie et al., 2017), caused significant increase in the soil acidity and
the accumulation of PTEs (Muhammad and Nafees, 2018), which ultimately led to
food chain contamination (Muhammad et al., 2020). .…….Till end of the para.
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1. Introduction-Conti
Para 4: The current study focused on Indus river at D.I. Khan region, where toxic
elements are released from both natural and anthropogenic activities. These toxic
elements are accumulated in fish species which is one of the main food source of
local people. The intake of the contaminated fish may cause potential health risks to
the local population. Therefore, the present study was designed to (i) analyze the
water quality of river Indus for physicochemical parameters and toxic elements (As,
Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg) concentrations, (ii) identify fish species in river Indus at D.I. Khan
region, (iii) determine concentrations of the toxic elements in fish species, and (iv)
assess health risks associated with the contaminated fish species.
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Preliminaries
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References
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Assignment of the course
• Prepare a complete Research Proposal on the topic of your
choice.
• Present in the class during class hours.
• This will be the course assignment for this semester.
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