Assessment of the status of municipal solid waste management in metro cities, state capitals, class I cities, and class II towns in India: an insight

Solid waste management is one of the most challenging issues in urban cities, which are facing a serious pollution problem due to the generation of huge quantities of solid waste. This paper presents an assessment of the existing situation of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) in major cities in India. The quantity and composition of MSW vary from place to place, and bear a rather consistent correlation with the average standard of living. Extensive field investigations were carried out for quantification, analysis of physical composition, and characterization of MSW in each of the identified cities. The MSW management status (per the MSW Rules, 2000) has also been assessed, and an action plan for better management has been formulated; both are presented in this paper. Studies carried out in 59 selected cities in India have revealed that there are many shortcomings in the existing practices used in managing the MSW. These shortcomings pertain mainly to inadequate manpower, financial resources, implements, and machinery required for effectively carrying out various activities for MSWM. To overcome the deficiencies in the existing MSWM systems, an indicative action plan has been presented incorporating strategies and guidelines. Based on this plan, municipal agencies can prepare specific action plans for their respective cities.     

Aortic isthmus Doppler velocimetry: role in assessment of preterm fetal growth restriction

Intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) is an important pregnancy complication associated with significant adverse clinical outcome, stillbirth, perinatal morbidity and cerebral palsy. To date, no uniformly accepted management protocol of Doppler surveillance that reduces mortality and cognitive morbidity has emerged. Aortic isthmus (AoI) evaluation has been proposed as a potential monitoring tool for IUGR fetuses. In this review, the current knowledge of the relationship between AoI Doppler velocimetry and preterm fetal growth restriction is reviewed. Relevant technical aspects and reproducibility data are reviewed as we discuss AoI Doppler and its place within the existing repertoire of Doppler assessments in placental insufficiency. The AoI is a link between the right and left ventricles which perfuse the lower and upper body, respectively. The clinical use of AoI waveforms for monitoring fetal deterioration in IUGR has been limited, but preliminary work suggests that abnormal AoI impedance indices are an intermediate step between placental insufficiency-hypoxemia and cardiac decompensation. Further prospective studies correlating AoI indices with arterial and venous Doppler indices and perinatal outcome are required before encorporating this index into clinical practice. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temporal variation of lysosomal capacities in relation to susceptibility of mussels, Mytilus edulis, to summer mortality

We examined the temporal variation of lysosomal enzyme activities and lysosomal membrane stability in two stocks of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L., 1758) from the Magdalen Islands which differ in their susceptibility to summer mass-mortality. The activity of lysosomal enzymes reflects the autolytic capacity which could be used during the transfer of reserves between storage and reproductive tissues or for mobilisation of reserves for energy requirements. The peak of lysosomal enzyme activities in mantle tissue in June 1992 probably was related with autolysis of storage cells to support maturation of the developing gametes. A second peak of lysosomal enzyme activity which occurred in mid- August of 1992 and 1993 may help to cover energetic requirements of maintenance metabolism during this period of high temperatures and reduced food quality. Measures of the destabilization of lysosomal membranes in the digestive gland confirmed that mussels showed a significant stress response in mid-August. Mussels from the stock with a higher susceptibility to summer mortality underwent a longer period of stress and accumulated less glycogen between spawning and the stressful period in mid-August than mussels from the more resistant stock. In conclusion, our field observations demonstrate high activities of lysosomes not only in spawning periods but also during stressful periods of high temperatures and reduced food quality. Received: 23 September 1997 / Accepted: 11 June 1998     

Cellular alterations in different organs of European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) exposed to cadmium

Specimens of farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L., 1758) were exposed to different cadmium (Cd) concentrations (4.47, 5.63, 7.08 and 8.91 mg l(-1)) for 24 and 48 h. The effects of Cd on numbers of some cell types and structures (i.e., chloride cells, CCs; macrophage aggregates, MAs; rodlet cells, RCs) and on structure and ultrastructure of the main organs (gill, liver, intestine, kidney) were studied with routine process for light and transmission electron microscopy. Following cadmium exposure, the numbers of branchial CCs as well as intestinal and renal RCs increased significantly within 24h. Increase in metal concentration did not affect the magnitude of the numerical increment of the aforementioned cells. Moreover, in treated fish (24 and 48 h) the numbers of MAs in both head kidney and spleen were significantly higher than in control conspecifics, whilst the global area of MAs was less influenced by the acute treatment. In exposed sea bass, all the examined organs exhibited cellular modifications which appeared time- and dose-dependent. The gills showed telangectasia, lamellar fusion, oedema, epithelial lifting and leukocyte infiltration. In the liver, kidney and intestine acute cell swelling and vacuolization were common. Ultrastructurally the alterations observed frequently in hepatocytes, tubular epithelial cells and enterocytes included presence of numerous myelinoid bodies, damaged mitochondria, dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, high number of lysosomes and autophagolysosomes. In intestinal and kidney tubular epithelia of treated fish, rodlet cells displayed some anomalies like dilatation of nuclear envelope, cytoplasmic vacuolization, presence of myelinoid bodies, rodlets degeneration and extensive discharge activity.     

Anticipated Performance Index of some tree species considered for green belt development in and around an urban area: a case study of Varanasi city, India

It is well established that trees help to reduce air pollution, and there is a growing impetus for green belt expansion in urban areas. Identification of suitable plant species for green belts is very important. In the present study, the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of many plant species has been evaluated by analyzing important biochemical parameters. The Anticipated Performance Index (API) of these plant species was also calculated by considering their APTI values together with other socio-economic and biological parameters. Based on these two indices, the most suitable plant species for green belt development in urban areas were identified and recommended for long-term air pollution management.