Water quality improvement through macrophytes—a review

Increasing urbanization, industrialization and over population is leading to the degradation of the environment. The main hazardous contents of the water pollution are heavy metals etc. Water bodies are the main targets for disposing the pollutants directly or indirectly. They are again at the receiving end as the storm water, residential and commercial waste is disposed into it. The prevailing purification technologies used to remove the contaminants are too costly and sometimes non-eco friendly also. Therefore, the research is oriented towards low cost and eco friendly technology for water purification, which will be beneficial for community. The present paper is a comprehensive review of approximately 38 literature sources. The paper discusses the potential of different aquatic plants (macrophytes) in purifying water and wastewater. Experimental work was developed to test the hypothesis that nutrient enrichment enhances metal tolerance of relative macrophyte.     

Concentration of heavy metals in Karanja reservoir, Bidar district, Karnataka, India

In this study, some heavy metals concentrations (Zn, Pb, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni) and other physico-chemical parameters were studied during October 2001 to September 2003 in Karanja reservoir, Bidar district. Water quality parameters were collected monthly basis whereas heavy metals were analyzed by Atomic Adsorption Spectrometer (AAS). Heavy metals have shown within the permissible limits, except Fe and Ni were recorded higher values in southwest monsoon, where as Mn has showed higher concentration in northeast monsoon in and summer. All other physico-chemical parameters are with in the permissible limit. Water is moderately hard and reservoir is productive.     

Impact of changed trophic status on the zooplankton composition in six water bodies of Dharwad district, Karnataka state (South India)

Morgan Island, located within the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve in South Carolina, is home to the only free-ranging colony of rhesus monkeys (Macca mulatta) in the continental United States. The purpose of this study was to assess environmental impacts of the monkey colony on water quality in adjacent tidal creeks and on island vegetation. Three tidal creeks were sampled: Morgan Creek, adjacent to the monkey colony; Back Creek, on Morgan Island not adjacent to the colony; and Rock Creek, on a nearby island unoccupied by monkeys. Temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and fecal coliform bacteria were measured six times at three sites in each of these creeks, and vegetation change analysis was conducted in a geographic information system using satellite imagery. Results showed elevated fecal coliform concentrations in the Morgan Creek site immediately adjacent to the colony, though no samples exceeded the standard set for recreational water use. Ribotyping reconnaissance matched four Escherichia coli isolates from Morgan and Back Creeks to the monkeys, identifying the colony as one source of fecal coliform bacteria, though relative source loadings could not be quantified. Significant differences were not observed between ammonia or orthophosphate levels in Morgan Creek relative to the other creeks tested; and vegetation change analysis showed a 35% increase in canopy cover between 1979 and 1999. Overall, these results suggest that the rhesus colony’s environmental impacts are localized and minimal. Results from this study provide baseline data on Morgan Island and may be useful in management decisions regarding the future of the monkey colony.     

An Effective Means of Biofiltration of Heavy Metal Contaminated Water Bodies Using Aquatic Weed Eichhornia crassipes

Various aquatic plant species are known to accumulate heavy metals through the process of bioaccumulation. World’s most troublesome aquatic weed water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has been studied for its tendency to bio-accumulate and bio-magnify the heavy metal contaminants present in water bodies. The chemical investigation of plant parts has shown that it accumulates heavy metals like lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) to a large extent. Of all the heavy metals studied Pb, Zn and Mn tend to show greater affinity towards bioaccumulation. The higher concentration of metal in the aquatic weed signifies the biomagnification that lead to filtration of metallic ions from polluted water. The concept that E. crassipes can be used as a natural aquatic treatment system in the uptake of heavy metals is explored.     

Effect of dust load on the leaf attributes of the tree species growing along the roadside

Dust is considered as one of the most widespread air pollutants. The objective of the study was to analyse the effect of dust load (DL) on the leaf attributes of the four tree species planted along the roadside at a low pollution Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus and a highly polluted industrial area (Chunar, Mirzapur) of India. The studied leaf attributes were: leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), relative water content (RWC), leaf nitrogen content (LNC), leaf phosphorus content (LPC), chlorophyll content (Chl), maximum stomatal conductance (Gs_max), maximum photosynthetic rate (A _max) and intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi). Results showed significant effect of sites and species for DL and the leaf attributes. Average DL across the four tree species was greater at Chunar, whereas, the average values of leaf attributes were greater at the BHU campus. Maximum DL was observed for Tectona grandis at Chunar site and minimum for Syzygium cumini at BHU campus. Across the two sites, maximum value of SLA, Chl and Gs_max were exhibited by S. cumini, whereas, the greatest value of RWC, LNC, LPC, A _max and WUEi were observed in Anthocephalus cadamba. A. cadamba and S. cumini exhibited 28 and 27 times more dust accumulation, respectively, at the most polluted Chunar site as compared to the BHU campus. They also exhibited less reduction in A _max due to dust deposition as compared to the other two species. Therefore, both these species may be promoted for plantation along the roadside of the sites having greater dust deposition.     

An innovative technique for lake management with reference to aeration unit installed at lower lake, Bhopal, India

Water is key element in human life. All forms of life upon the earth depend upon water for their mere existence. Life & water may be aptly said to be two facets of the same coin. Most of the water bodies are getting polluted due to domestic waste, sewage, industrial waste and agricultural effluent. The present study is designed to ascertain the effectiveness of artificial aeration cum Ozonizer unit installed at Lower Lake, Bhopal for assessment of water quality. Various physico- chemical parameters like pH, Dissolved oxygen, Biochemical Oxygen demand, Chemical oxygen demand, nitrate, phosphate and bacteriological status were studied to assess the extent of deterioration in water quality of Lower lake and at the same time to assess the performance of the dual aeration system in improvement of water quality.     

Presence of scapular dysfunction in dominant shoulder of professional guitar players

Background. Playing guitar can cause adoption of asymmetric postures and affect the shoulder's stability. Objective. To assess the presence of scapular dysfunction in professional guitar players. Method. A lateral scapular slide test was performed at the level of the spine of the scapula and at the inferior angle of the scapula in 20 professional guitar players (age: 18–40 years) and was compared with 20 age-matched non-players at angles of 0°, 45° and 90° of shoulder abduction with both limbs loaded with 0.5-kg weights. Analysis was done by unpaired t test. Results. Scapular dysfunction in guitar players was seen in the form of asymmetric scapula at rest in 25% and dyskinetic scapula in 20% of players. 100% of non-players had normal scapular positioning. Comparison at the level of the spine of the scapula showed no significant difference (p?>?0.05), but the inferior angle showed a significant difference at 0° (1.37?cm), 45° (1.93?cm) and 90° (2.15?cm) which was more in the player's category (p?Conclusion. There exists a marked dysfunction of scapular stabilizers in professional guitar players at the level of the inferior angle of the scapula.     

Pet Waste Management by Chemical Recycling: A Review

The paper reviews the problem due to the use and disposal of synthetic polymers to the environment and its solutions; in particular poly (ethylene terphthalate). Wide spread application and non-biodegradability of the PET creates huge amounts of waste and disposal, tend to a serious problem. The most important cause for recycling and reprocessing the waste PET has arisen from the awareness and concern for environmental pollution. To manage this various methods of polymer recycling has been proposed. Among them chemical recycling, i.e. hydrolysis, methanolysis, glycolysis and aminolysis are reviewed in detail. Appropriate technology and waste disposal procedures based on the socio-economic aspect to solve this problem are suggested.     

Multivariate analysis of drinking water quality parameters in Bhopal, India

Pollution of water bodies is one of the areas of major concern to environmentalists. Water quality is an index of health and well being of a society. Industrialization, urbanization and modern agriculture practices have direct impact on the water resources. These factors influence the water resources quantitatively and qualitatively. The study area selected were the Upper lake and Kolar reservoir of Bhopal, the state capital of Madhya Pradesh, India. The Upper lake and Kolar reservoir both are the important sources of potable water supply for the Bhopal city. The physico–chemical parameters like temperature, pH, turbidity, total hardness, alkalinity, BOD, COD, Chloride, nitrate and phosphate were studied to ascertain the drinking water quality.