Ali Boularbah

Ali Boularbah, PhD, Professor in Environmental Microbiology and Toxicology

Laboratoire Aliments, Environement et Santé, Department of Biology

Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Marrakech (FSTM), Université Cadi-Ayyad

E-mail : a.boularbah@uca.ac.ma / aliboularbah@gmail.com

I am a Professor in Environmental Microbiology and Toxicology at Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Marrakech, Université Cadi-Ayyad, Morocco. I was recruited as Assistant Professor at University Cadi Ayyad in 1993. I was the head of the Laboratoire Aliments, Environnement et Santé from 2006-2015. I have conducted several national and international research programmes. I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for three months in 2005 to carry research at University of Florida, and as Senior Fellowship under CV Raman International Fellowship for African researchers for the year 2012-13. I was a chairman of SUITMA 6 organized at Marrakech, 3-7 October 2011. More about me please see my page on ResearchGate.

My research interests are focused on:

(i) the transfer of metallic micropollutants in soil-plant systems with a particular emphasis on microbial rhizosphere processes, assessment of bioavailability, toxicity and phytoremediation of contaminated soils

(ii) (ii) the urban and suburban soils by focusing on their biological and geochemical characterization in order to assess associated risks for the ecosystem and human health.

Key SUITMA publications:

1. Benidire, L., Pereira, S.I.A., Castro, P.M.L., Boularbah, A., 2016. Assessment of plant growth promoting bacterial populations in the rhizosphere of metallophytes from Kettara mine, Marrakech. ENVIRON. SCI. POLLUT. R. doi:10.1007/s11356-016-7378-6.

2. El Khalil, H., C. Schwartz, O. El Hamiani, C. Sirguey, J. Kubiniok, and A. Boularbah. 2016. How physical alteration of technic materials affects mobility and phytoavailabilty of metals in urban soils? Chemosphere. 152: 407-414.

3. Ouaryi, A., A. Boularbah, H. Sanguin, M. Hafidi, E. Baudoin, L. Ouahmane, C. Le Roux, A. Galiana, Y. Prin & R. Duponnois. 2016. High potential of symbiotic interactions between native mycorrhizal fungi and the exotic tree Eucalyptus camaldulensis for phytostabilization of metal-contaminated arid soils. Int. J. Phytoremediation. 18:1, 41-47.

4. El Hamiani, O., El Khalil, H., Sirgueyb,C., Ouhammou, A., Bitton, B., Schwartz, C., and Boularbah, A. 2015. Metal concentrations in plants from mining areas in South Morocco: Health risks assessment of consumption of edible and aromatic plants. Clean- Soil, Air and Water. 43: 399–407.

5. EL Faiz, A. , R. Duponnois, P. Winterton, A. Ouhammou, A. Meddich, A. Boularbah, M. Hafidi. 2015. Effect of Different Amendments on Growing of Canna indica L. Inoculated with AMF on Mining Substrate. Int. J. Phytoremediation. 17:503–513.

6. Aboudrar W., Schwartz C., Morel J.L., and Boularbah, A. 2013. Effect of nickel-resistant rhizosphere bacteria on the uptake of nickel by the hyperaccumulator Noccea caerulesens under controlled conditions. J. soils and Sediments. 13:501–507.

7. El Khalil, H., Schwartz, C., El Hamiani, O., Kubiniok, J., Morel, JL., Boularbah, A. 2013. Distribution of major elements and trace metals as indicators of technosolisation of urban and suburban soils. J. soils and Sediments. 13:519–530.

8. EL Hamiani O., EL Khalil H., Lounate K., Sirguey C., Hafidi M., Bitton G., Schwartz C., Boularbah A., 2010. Toxicity assessment of garden soils in the vicinity of mining areas in Southern Morocco. J. Hazard. Mater. 177, 755–761.

9. El Khalil H., C. Schwartz, O. Elhamiani, J. Kubiniok, J. L. Morel and A. Boularbah. 2008. Contribution of Technic Materials to the Mobile Fraction of Metals in Urban Soils in Marrakech (Morocco). J. soils and sediment. 1: 17-22.

10. El Khalil, H., O. El Hamiani, G. Bitton, N. Ouazzani, and A. Boularbah. 2008. Heavy metal contamination from mining sites in South Morocco: Monitoring metal content and toxicity of soil runoff and groundwater. ENVIRON MONIT ASSESS. 136:147–160.

11. Aboudrar W., Schwartz C., Benizri E., Morel J.L., and Boularbah A. Soil microbial diversity as affected by the rhizosphere of the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens under natural conditions. 2007. Int. J. Phytoremediation. 9: 41-52.

12. Nan F., G. Bitton, P. Yeager, J.C. Bonzongo, A. Boularbah. 2007. Heavy Metal Removal from Soils Using Magnetic Separation: 1. Laboratory Experiments. Clean- Soil, Air and Water : 2007, 35 (4), 362-369.

13. Boularbah A., C. Schwartz, G. Bitton, and J.L. Morel. 2006. Heavy metal contamination from mining sites in South Morocco: 1. Use of a biotest to assess metal toxicity of tailings and soils. Chemosphere. 63: 802-810.

14. Boularbah A, C. Schwartz, G. Bitton W. Aboudrar, A Ouhammou, and JL Morel. 2006. Heavy metal contamination from mining sites in South Morocco: 2. Assessment of metal accumulation and toxicity in plants. Chemosphere. 63: 811-817.