Distribution of suspended particulate matter with trace element composition and apportionment of possible sources in the Raniganj coalfield,India

Ambient air monitoring for suspended particulate matter was carried over a period of one year in some coal mining areas of the Raniganj coalfield. Concentrations of seven elements in suspended particulate matter were determined. The set of data obtained was analysed to determine the sources of trace elements by factor analysis. The data could be interpreted on the basis of five factors. These factors are attributed to various sources of particulate matter by noting the dependence of factors on the elements.     

Metals concentration associated with respirable particulate matter (PM10) in industrial area of Eastern U.P. India

The present study deals with the assessment of ambient air quality with respect to respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM or PM10 < or = 10 microm) and trace metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr Ni, Cd, Mn and Pb) concentrations in RSPM at five locations of Renukoot, an industrial area of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The 24 hr mean concentrations of PM10 ranged between 69.3 to 118.9 microg m(-3), which is well within the permissible limit (150 microg m(-3)) of national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) but found higher than the prescribed annual daily limit of US EPA (50 microg m(-3)). The ambient air was mostly dominated by the Fe and least by the Cd among the metal analysed. Murdhawa, a commercial place influenced by vehicular population, is found to be the most polluted area of Renukoot and Dongia nalla (forest area) the least. The ambient air of Murdhawa is rich in Cu and Ni, indicating contribution of mobile sources. The Rammandir a residential place near the industry, is rich in Cd and Cr suggesting contribution of point sources. The Ni concentration is found to be alarmingly high in the air at all the locations except Dongia nallah, when compared with the EC (European Commission) limit (20 ng m(-3)). The Cd concentration is found to be higher only at Rammandir as compared with the EC limit (5 ng m(-3)). Mean concentrations of Zn, Pb and Mn are found to be almost equal in the ambient air of all the locations, suggesting the significance of sources contributing to presence of these metals. Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni having a significant correlation with PM10 indicate the same source contributing these metals as well as PM10. The present study has focused on the quantitative variation in different metals in the PM10, which is extremely harmful due to their toxic and carcinogenic nature.     

Effect of photoperiod and temperature on testicular regression in Channa punctatus

In Channa punctatus testicular regression commonly observed during spawning and postspawing phases of reproductive cycle. In the present study testicular regression was frequently noticed in fish maintained under both long photoperiod-warm temperature (LD 16 : 8-30 degrees C) and short photoperiod-warm temperature (LD 8 : 16-30 degrees C) regimes. Testicular regression was characterized by distortion of cellular boundary of lobules and formation of collagenous capsules containing degenerating germ cells, blood cells and colloidal mass within the lobules. The magnitude of testicular regression was more in fish exposed to short photoperiod regime (R-73.33%, SP-41.67%) than long photoperiod regime (R-50.83%, SP-19.16%) and control group (R-20.83%, SP-16.67%) in both resting (R) and spawning (SP) phases. Further the frequency of testicular regression during resting phase was 73.33% (short photoperiod), 50.83% (long photoperiod) and 20.83% (control) whereas during spawning phase was 41.67% (short photoperiod) 19.16% (long photoperiod) and 16.67% (control). In the present study occurrence of more testicular regression during resting phase than spawning phase may be due to change in the endogenous condition of the fish.     

Removal of melanoidin present in distillery effluent as a major colorant: a review

Effluent originating from distilleries contain large amount of dark brown coloured wastewater called molasses spent wash (MSW). This MSW is the unwanted residual liquid waste to dispose because of low pH, high temperature, dark brown colour, high ash content, unpleasant odour and high percentage of organic and inorganic matter. Dark brown colour of MSW is due to the presence of melanoidin pigment. It reduces sunlight penetration in rivers and lakes which in turn decrease both photosynthetic activity and dissolved oxygen concentration affecting aquatic life. So the disposal of this effluent is one of the critical environmental issues. A number of treatment processes have been employed for the distillery waste management. This review paper present an overview of the pollution problems caused by melanoidin and the technologies employed globally for its removal.     

Assessment of urban air pollution and it's probable health impact

The present study deals with the quantitative effect of vehicular emission on ambient air quality during May 2006 in urban area of Lucknow city. In this study SPM, RSPM, SO2, NOx and 7 trace metals associated with RSPM were estimated at 10 representative locations in urban area and one village area for control. Beside this, air quality index (AQI), health effects of different metals and mortality were assessed. The 24 hr average concentration of SPM, RSPM, SO2 and NOx was found to be 382.3, 171.5, 24.3 and 33.8 microg m(-3) respectively in urban area and these concentrations were found to be significantly (p < 0.01) higher by 94.8, 134.8, 107.4 and 129.6% than control site respectively The 24 hr mean of SPM and RSPM at each location of urban area were found to be higher than prescribed limit of National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) except SPM for industrial area. The 24 hr mean concentration of metals associated with RSPM was found to be higher than the control site by 52.3, 271.8, 408.9, 75.81, 62.7, 487.54 and 189.5% for Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Mn and Cr respectively. The inter correlation of metals Pb with Mn, Fe and Cr; Zn with Ni and Cr; Ni with Cr; Mn with Fe and Cu with Cr showed significant positive relation either at p < 0.05 or p < 0.01 level. Metals Pb, Mn and Cr (p < 0.01) and Cu (p < 0.05) showed significant positive correlation with RSPM. These results indicate that ambient air quality in the urban area is affected adversely due to emission and accumulation of SPM, RSPM, SO2, NOx and trace metals. These pollutants may pose detrimental effect on human health, as exposure of these are associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, neurological impairments, increased risk of preterm birth and even mortality and morbidity.     

Environmental radon studies using solid state nuclear track detectors

The results of radon activity recorded in 70 dwellings of Nurpur area, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh, India are reported. LR-115 Type 2 films in the bare mode were exposed for four seasons of three months each covering a period of one year for the measurement of indoor radon levels. The calibration constant of 0.020 tracks cm(-2) d(-1) per Bq m(-3) has been used to express radon activity in Bq m(-3). The annual average indoor radon concentrations in 17 different villages of the area are found to vary from 168+/-46 to 429+/-71. Most of the indoor radon values lie in the range of action levels (200-600 Bq m(-3)) recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection.     

Desertification Control and Management of Land Degradation in the Thar Desert of India

India has 2.34 million km² of hot desert called Thar located in the north-western part of Rajasthan between latitudes 23°3 and 30°12 North and longitudes 63°30 and 70°18 East. The Indian desert is spreading annually over 12000 ha of productive land degrading it and slowly advancing towards the national capital New Delhi at the rate of 0.5 km per year. The Indian desert is characterised by huge shifting sand dunes; high wind speed; scarce rainfall; and intense solar radiation. Tremendous efforts have been made since the 1960s to arrest desertification and for ecological restoration of the Thar desert. An Ambitious afforestation programme including stabilisation of shifting sand dunes and creation of micro-climates through tree-screens and shelter-belt plantation was launched by the forest department of Rajasthan. A huge canal, 649 km long was also introduced to the Thar desert for ecological restoration.     

Plant uptake of cadmium-109 and zinc-65 at different temperature and organic matter levels

The uptake of 109Cd and 65Zn and their stable isotopes by ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), grown on two different soil types, was investigated in climatically controlled growth chambers at 9 and 21 degrees C. The soils were treated with 0 and 4% organic matter (pig [Sus scrofa] manure) and spiked with 109Cd and 65Zn before sowing. The organic matter addition resulted in increased uptake of the 109Cd, Cd, and Zn by ryegrass, but the uptake of 65Zn was decreased. The latter effect was ascribed to isotopic dilution of 65Zn as the amount of stable Zn in the plant tissues increased with the organic matter addition. The effect of temperature was more pronounced than that of organic matter addition, and the uptake of both 109Cd and 65Zn and their stable isotopes was higher in ryegrass grown at 21 degrees C than that grown at 9 degrees C. Results from fractionation and speciation analysis of soil cadmium and zinc were correlated with plant uptake, and there was a good consistency between observed plant uptake and the physico-chemical forms of cadmium and zinc in soil and soil solution presumed to be plant available.     

Spectrophotometric determination of sulphur dioxide

Sulphur dioxide, an important industrial gas and air pollutant, is usually estimated using mercury salts. The authors have developed a method in which hazardous mercury salts are avoided. Sulphur dioxide is trapped in aqueous morpholine and mixed with the excess of dichromate solution in acidic medium. The hexavalent chromium in dichromate is reduced to trivalent chromium by sulphur dioxide and the excess of hexavalent chromium is determined with diphenylcarbazide which yields a soluble red-violet complex with an absorption maximum at 540 nm. The decrease in the absorbance values of the red-violet complex formed after reduction, when compared to that of a reagent control, is proportional to the concentration of sulphur dioxide used for reduction. Beer's law operates between 0.4 and 4 microg ml(-1) concentration of sulphur dioxide in solution.