Atmospheric CO2 consumption by rock weathering over a five year period in a large non-perennial tropical river basin of southern India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Rivers engage in carbon cycle by transporting the dissolved products of weathering of rocks to the oceans, and this process is sensitive to the global...     

Synthetic organic chemicals (flame retardants and pesticides) with neurotoxic potential induced behavioral impairment on zebrafish (Danio rerio): a non-invasive approach for neurotoxicology

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Behavior responses of organisms can be used as a non-invasive method for neurotoxicology studies since it directly links the nervous system’s...     

Dry aerial fallout of organochlorine insecticide residues in Delhi, India

Monitoring of airborne dust in Delhi during May to July 1985 revealed residues of DDT varying from 1.3 to 7.14 ng mg(-1) (4.06-22.31 ng m(-2) day(-1)) with an average of 3.32 ng mg(-1) (10.38 ng m(-2) day(-1)), and HCH which ranged from 0.46 to 2.35 ng mg(-1) (1.44-7.34 ng m(-2) day(-1)) with a mean of 1.16 ng mg(-1) (3.63 ng m(-2) day(-1)). The concentration of total DDT was almost 3 times greater than that of HCH.     

Impact of long-term exposure to mosquito coils: residual deposition and dissipation of D-trans-allethrin in a room

A D-trans-allethrin-based mosquito repellent coil formulation was used continuously in a room for 30 d. Two different experiments were conducted and the deposition of residues on different surfaces of the room was determined. Studies were conducted continuously for a period of 30 d in a fully closed room and in another room kept open for 14 h per day. The residues deposited on different surfaces, ceiling, side walls and floor, were measured. The results showed the accumulation of high concentrations of allethrin on all the surfaces of the room when the room was in a fully closed condition. Samples collected from the ceiling showed residues of D-trans-allethrin of 6.34-148.63 microg m(-2) during the 30 d study, the side walls 4.68-170.72 microg m(-2) and the floor 20.00-184.52 microg m(-2) Maximum residues were observed in 30 d samples collected from the ceiling and floor. The residual concentrations were nearly 10 times higher in samples collected from the closed room. Discontinuation of the use of the mosquito repellent after 30 d led to a gradual decrease in the concentrations of residues on all the surfaces. The influence of environmental parameters on the dissipation of residues was also studied.     

Adsorptive removal of Cd2+ ions using dolochar at an industrial-scale process optimization by response surface methodology

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this work, performance of laboratory-synthesized dolochar has been investigated for adsorption of Cd2+ ions in a large-scale process with the...     

Mitigation of yield-scaled greenhouse gas emissions from irrigated rice through Azolla,Blue-green algae,and plant growth–promoting bacteria

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Irrigated transplanted flooded rice is a major source of methane (CH4) emission. We carried out experiments for 2 years in irrigated flooded rice to...     

Fate of parathion in soil under sub‐tropical field conditions

Abstract

Persistence, metabolism and binding of ¹⁴C‐parathion in alkaline sandy loam soil under sub‐tropical conditions of Delhi were studied for 545 days. After 3 days of treatment, ¹⁴C‐residues declined to 41% of the amount applied. The dissipation curve was biphasic; an initial rapid phase (up to 7 days) followed by slow dissipation. The half life of dissipation was only 3.36 days for the first phase and 84 days for the slow phase. The overall half life was 64.5 days. The total residues at zero‐time were 10.65 μg/g dry soil and were almost totally extractable. The extracts consisted of parathion, 4‐aminophenol, 4‐nitrophenol and paraoxon. The bound residues gradually increased and accounted for the total residue at the end of one year (0.7 μg/g).     

Vermiculture and waste management: study of action of earthworms Elsinia foetida, Eudrilus euginae and Perionyx excavatus on biodegradation of some community wastes in India and Australia

The practice of vermiculture is at least a century old but it is now being revived worldwide with diverse ecological objectives such as waste management, soil detoxification and regeneration and sustainable agriculture. Earthworms act in the soil as aerators, grinders, crushers, chemical degraders and biological stimulators. They secrete enzymes, proteases, lipases, amylases, cellulases and chitinases which bring about rapid biochemical conversion of the cellulosic and the proteinaceous materials in the variety of organic wastes which originate from homes, gardens, dairies and farms. The process is odour free because earthworms release coelomic fluids in the decaying waste biomass which has anti-bacterial properties which kills pathogens. The species used in India were Indian blue (Perionyx excavatus), African night crawler (Eudrilus euginae) and the Tiger worm (Elsinia foetida). E. foetida was used in Australia. E. euginae was found to have higher feeding, growth and biodegradation capacity compared to other two species.Earthworm action was shown to enhance natural biodegradation and decomposition of wastes (60–80 percent under optimum conditions), thus significantly reducing the composting time by several weeks. Within 5 to 6 weeks, 95–100 percent degradation of all cellulosic materials was achieved. Even hard fruit and egg shells and bones can be degraded, although these may take longer.