Coastal vulnerability assessment of the predicted sea level rise in the coastal zone of Krishna–Godavari delta region,Andhra Pradesh,east coast of India

The Krishna–Godavari coastal region in east coast of India has a 525.15-km-long coastline with low-lying tidal mudflats, beaches, mangrove swamp, creek and tidal channels. Recently, the increasing frequency of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal, i.e., Phylin and Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh coast, and the devastating impact of the 2004 tsunami in India increased the significance in assessing the vulnerability of the coastal lands to inundation and flooding, notably in the context of climate change-induced sea level rise. This study aims to estimate a coastal vulnerability index (CVI) for the coastal subregion of Krishna–Godavari delta and to use the calculated index to evaluate the vulnerability of 14 coastal talukas of the Krishna–Godavari delta region. This CVI is calculated by using four geological and three physical parameters characterizing the vulnerability of the study coastal region, including regional slope, coastal elevation, geomorphology, significant wave height, mean tidal range and relative sea level using different conventional and remotely sensed data. Using a composite coastal vulnerability index based on the relative risk rating of those parameters, each of the 14 coastal talukas was classified according to their vulnerability. The CVI results depict that coasts are least and most vulnerable to inundation, flooding and erosion of coastal lands where geological parameters are more efficient to CVI. The paper alerts to decision makers and planners to mitigate the natural disaster and manage the coastal zone and is a primary step toward prioritizing coastal lands for climate change adaptation strategies in the view of increased storminess and projected sea level rise.     

Human health risk assessment due to dietary intake of heavy metals through rice in the mining areas of Singhbhum Copper Belt,India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The study was intended to investigate heavy metal contamination levels in the rice grown in the vicinity of the mining areas of Singhbhum Copper Belt,...     

Development of nanoemulsion from Vitex negundo L. essential oil and their efficacy of antioxidant,antimicrobial and larvicidal activities (Aedes aegypti L.)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - It is believed that nanoemulsions were emerged as a promising candidate to improve the qualities of natural essential oil towards antimicrobial and...     

Characteristics of columnar aerosol optical and microphysical properties retrieved from the sun photometer and its impact on radiative forcing over Skukuza (South Africa) during 1999–2010

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The detailed analysis of columnar optical and microphysical properties of aerosols obtained from the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) Cimel sun...     

Loss of crop yields in India due to surface ozone: an estimation based on a network of observations

Surface ozone is mainly produced by photochemical reactions involving various anthropogenic pollutants, whose emissions are increasing rapidly in India due to fast-growing anthropogenic activities. This study estimates the losses of wheat and rice crop yields using surface ozone observations from a group of 17 sites, for the first time, covering different parts of India. We used the mean ozone for 7 h during the day (M7) and accumulated ozone over a threshold of 40 ppbv (AOT40) metrics for the calculation of crop losses for the northern, eastern, western and southern regions of India. Our estimates show the highest annual loss of wheat (about 9 million ton) in the northern India, one of the most polluted regions in India, and that of rice (about 2.6 million ton) in the eastern region. The total all India annual loss of 4.0–14.2 million ton (4.2–15.0%) for wheat and 0.3–6.7 million ton (0.3–6.3%) for rice are estimated. The results show lower crop loss for rice than that of wheat mainly due to lower surface ozone levels during the cropping season after the Indian summer monsoon. These estimates based on a network of observation sites show lower losses than earlier estimates based on limited observations and much lower losses compared to global model estimates. However, these losses are slightly higher compared to a regional model estimate. Further, the results show large differences in the loss rates of both the two crops using the M7 and AOT40 metrics. This study also confirms that AOT40 cannot be fit with a linear relation over the Indian region and suggests for the need of new metrics that are based on factors suitable for this region.     

Ggum-poly(Itaconic Acid) Based Superabsorbents Via Two-Step Free-Radical Aqueous Polymerization for Environmental and Antibacterial Applications

Ggum-based conducting hydrogels possessing dye removal and antibacterial property were developed by two-step free-radical aqueous polymerization method. Conductivity was introduced with polyaniline (PANI) chains incorporated within the crosslinked network of Ggum-poly(itaconic acid) superabsorbent. The material properties of the synthesized samples were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Results showed that synthesized samples exhibited the best antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Synthesized samples were found to be effective in removal of toxic methylene blue (MB) dye from the waste water. The adsorption kinetics of superabsorbents has been described by using pseudo first and pseudo second order kinetics models. Furthermore, application of hydrogels to improve the water retention properties of different soils was also studied for agricultural purpose.     

Biodegradation of Natural Rubber and Natural Rubber Products by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> sp. Strain CFMR 7

The rubber degrading activity of Streptomyces sp. CFMR 7 whose whole genome sequence was recently determined was tested with non-vulcanized fresh latex and common vulcanized rubber products such as latex glove, latex condom and latex car tyre. The degradation activity was unequivocally demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy with respect to microbial colonization efficiency, disintegration of rubber material and biofilm formation after 3, 6 and 9 months of inoculation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy comprising the attenuated total reflectance analysis on these inoculated products revealed insights into the biodegradation mechanism of this strain whereby, a decrease in the number of cis -1,4 double bonds in the polyisoprene chain, the appearance of ketone and aldehyde groups formation indicating an oxidative attack at the double bond of rubber hydrocarbon. In the presence of strain Streptomyces sp. CFMR 7, gel permeation chromatography analysis revealed a significant shift of the molecular weight distribution to lower values. Clear decrease in the molecular weight was observed over 3, 6 and 9 months of cultivation on fresh latex samples compared to other vulcanized products. No shift in the molecular weight distribution was observed for non-inoculated control. These results clearly showed that Streptomyces sp. CFMR 7 was able to cleave the carbon backbone of poly (cis -1,4-isoprene). Although this strain was able to degrade both non-vulcanized and vulcanized rubber products, faster degradation was obtained with natural rubber and rubber products with low complexity.     

Short-term leaching study of heavy metals from LD slag of important steel industries in Eastern India

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Considering Linz-Donawitz (LD) slag as a waste material for its bulk utilisation, there is a possibility that heavy metals will leach to...