Analysis of Long-term Energy and Carbon Emission Scenarios for India

In the coming years India faces greatchallenges in energy and environment. Thepath of development chosen by India, uponwhich lies the future growth of energy andemission trajectories, would be greatlyinfluenced by technological developmentsboth within and outside the country,economic cooperation between countries, andglobal cooperation in limiting greenhousegas emissions. This paper discusses theintegrated modeling system used fordeveloping and analyzing the long-termtrajectories and presents results for thescenarios developed. In the context ofongoing market reforms two scenarios –accelerated and decelerated reforms – aredeveloped depicting fast and slow progressin energy sector reforms compared toexpectations in the baseline scenario.Accelerated market reforms would spurimprovements in technological efficiencies.Reforms would lower investment risks inIndia, thereby stimulating increased levelsof foreign direct investment. On the otherhand in decelerated reform scenarioeconomic growth is lower than that in thebase case, there is low access to capital,and technological improvements lag behindthose in the base case. In another scenariowe assume specific policy interventions forpenetration of renewable technologies overthe baseline scenario, for promotion andaccelerated deployment of renewable energytechnologies over and above the baselineassumptions. A scenario with carbon(c) constraints has also been developed and theresults discussed.     

Growth and cadmium uptake in barley under cadmium stress

Effect of various additions of cadmium (5 to 3125 microg g(-1) air dried soil) was studied on growth and Cd uptake in barley grown in pots containing two soil types- a loamy sand and a sandy loam, during different stages of growth. While lower doses (5 to 25 microg g(-1)) led to an increase, the higher doses resulted in a substantial decrease in barley growth. The plant Cd content increased with an increase in soil applied Cd. A decrease in translocation ratio prevailed at higher soil applied Cd, indicating the existence of an exclusion mechanism.     

Gender differences in the metabolism of benzene,toluene and trichloroethylene in rat with special reference to certain biochemical parameters

Metabolites viz. phenol, hippuric acid and total trichloro compounds of benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene respectively were estimated in the urine samples of male and female rats after exposure for a period of 30 days. The results exhibited higher metabolism in female rats than the male rats. Their metabolism might be regulated by cytochrome P450 isozymes in a gender specific manner. However, sex differences in the activity of glutathione-S-transferases of the liver have also been found to determine their toxicity. Results have been discussed with quantitative profiles of other enzymes established in the liver of male and female rats.     

Biomedical waste management in nursing homes and smaller hospitals in Delhi

The management of biomedical waste is a crucial issue in health and environmental management. Rules in India were promulgated in 1998, originally with a deadline of December 2000 and extended to December 2002; however, the actual situation remains far from satisfactory. A study conducted in 2001 by CEE, New Delhi; indicated an implementation deficit. To gauge the present situation, a survey was undertaken during 2005-2006. A systematic analysis of current biomedical waste management practices in smaller nursing homes and hospitals in Delhi was carried out. A total of 53 nursing homes, with bed strengths ranging from 20 to over 200, were included. The survey results show that there is a marked improvement in the segregation practices of biomedical waste in small private hospitals and nursing homes. The majority of nursing homes and hospitals were found to be using a service provider for the collection, management, and disposal of healthcare wastes. Data was collected through a questionnaire and field visits. This paper discusses the relevant data indicative of current practices of healthcare waste management in the nursing homes and small healthcare facilities in Delhi.     

Molecular markers of heavy metal toxicity--a new paradigm for health risk assessment

Last decade has witnessed increased interest in studies dealing with molecular markers of health and disease expression of genes. Specific toxicant "signatures" have been detected using genome base technologies such as microarrays. Further toxins have been classified on the basis of these signatures. Knowledge on these signatures has helped in the identification of novel drug candidates. This review discusses the gene expression studies recently made on arsenic, cadmium, mercury, chromium, lead, copper, nickel, manganese, and other essential elements. Toxicogenomics standards and their organizations have also been briefly described. Although this information can not be considered as complete, recent reports from different laboratories on bacteria, fish, laboratory animals and humans have been summarized. It is expected that toxicogenomics data presented in this review will be helpful in planning and excretion of human health risk assessment programs.     

Influence of testosterone on phase-II enzymes in liver and kidney of benzene-treated rats

Testosterone manifests some protective effects against benzene-induced toxicity in rats. However, mechanism of protection remains to be established. Data showed that testosterone modulates conjugation of reactive metabolites of benzene by influencing phase-II enzymes viz. glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in both liver and kidney. These observations are supported by the opposite results obtained in castrated rats. It is postulated that testosterone decreases the formation of reactive oxygen species resulting into an increase in phase-II enzymes. Enhanced activity of these antioxidant enzymes is responsible for DNA strand repair as demonstrated by short comet tail length in liver and kidney of benzene and testosterone treated rats. Castration alters benzene pharmacokinetics by influencing these enzymes, a response which may be abolished by testosterone supplementation.     

A Study on Benzoylation and Graft Copolymerization of Lignocellulosic Cannabis indica Fiber

Present work deals with the surface modification of Cannabis indica fiber through benzoylation and graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) onto C. indica fibers under the influence of microwave radiations. The Benzoylation of C. indica fiber was carried out by treating raw fiber with varying concentrations of benzoyl chloride solution. Different reaction parameters for graft copolymerization, such as reaction time, initiator concentration, nitric acid concentration, pH and monomer concentration were optimized to get the maximum percentage of grafting (25.54%). A suitable mechanism to explain benzoylation and graft copolymerization has been also proposed. Raw C. indica fiber, graft copolymerized and benzoylated fibers were subjected to evaluation of some of their properties like swelling behavior, moisture absorbance and resistance towards chemicals. Cannabis indica fibers treated with 5% benzoyl chloride solution and AN graft copolymerized fibers have been found to show more resistant towards moisture, water and chemicals when compared with that of untreated fibers. Morphological, structural changes, thermal stability and crystallanity of raw, graft copolymerized and benzoylated fibers have also been studied by SEM, FTIR, TGA and XRD techniques. It has been observed that the crystallinity of fiber decreases but thermal stability increases on surface modification.     

Effect of cybil on reproductive success of wild Drosophila melanogaster

Cybil (a synthetic pyrethroid) was used to assess its impact on the reproductive success in F1 and F2 generations of wild Drosophila melanogaster. The LC50 has been estimated as 0.0267 microl/100 ml food. Reproductive success has been found to be affected in addition to fecundity and pupation following toxicity of cybil.     

Unravelling the molecular mechanism of mutagenic factors impacting human health

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Environmental mutagens are chemical and physical substances in the environment that has a potential to induce a wide range of mutations and generate...