Antioxidant responses of the earthworm Lampito mauritii exposed to Pb and Zn contaminated soil

The aim of this study was to provide fundamental data on the biochemical analysis of antioxidant defences in the earthworm exposed to low levels (75, 150, 300 mg kg(-1) soil) of Pb and Zn. In order to attain this objective, adult Lampito mauritii were exposed to different doses of Pb and Zn separately for 28 days and the concentrations of oxidized and reduced glutathione, activities of glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were assessed. Dose-dependent perturbations were observed in the glutathione-glutathione-S-transferase system and other antioxidant enzymes during the early phase of the exposure to Pb. In the Zn exposed earthworm, the glutathione-glutathione-S-transferase system remained stable and the stimulation of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities occurred significantly only on day 14 at 300 mg Zn kg(-1). It is concluded that the antioxidants are directly involved in the adaptive response of Lampito mauritii for survival in metal contaminated soil.     

Treatment of hazardous waste incineration wastewater

This article outlines the general design concepts and new chemistry necessary to achieve truly cost-effective management of an important part of the hazardous waste incineration system—i.e., the unit operations needed to treat wastewater generated by rotary kiln incinerators burning wastes containing halogens and heavy metals.     

Predicting fly ash resistivity—an evaluation

Recently a technique for predicting fly ash resistivity from an as-received, ultimate coal analysis and the chemical composition of the coal ash produced by simple laboratory ignition was published. This paper evaluates this technique by comparing predicted resistivity data with laboratory measured values, in situ resistivity data, and precipitator performance information acquired from 12 field test programs. Considering the precision of measurement generally encountered in precipitator technology and the limited amount of certain laboratory data available, the results are encouraging and the evaluation is favorable.     

Sustaining Asia's groundwater boom: An overview of issues and evidence

This article suggests that Asia’s groundwater socio‐ecology is at an impasse. Rapid growth in groundwater irrigation in South Asia and the North China plains during the period 1970–95 has been the main driver of the agrarian boom in these regions. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China account for the bulk of the world’s use of groundwater in agriculture. On the plus side, groundwater development has provided sustenance to agrarian economies and millions of rural livelihoods. On the downside, it has created chronic problems of resource depletion and quality deterioration. While problems of groundwater depletion, pollution and quality deterioration are indeed serious, so are the consequences of the degradation of the resource for those that have come to precariously depend upon groundwater irrigation. Three problems currently afflict groundwater use: depletion due to overdraft; water logging and salinization; and pollution due to agricultural, industrial and other human activity. The pathology of the decline in groundwater socio‐ecology reflects a remarkably similar pattern across regions. The critical issue for Asia now is: what might be done to sustain and revive these groundwater socio‐ecologies vital to the region’s economy? This article reviews a variety of techno‐institutional approaches. However, transposing lessons from the industrialized world uncritically in the Asian context may not work. A more nuanced understanding of the peculiarities of Asia’s groundwater socio‐ecology is needed.     

Grasshopper spermatocyte chromosomal changes induced by pH alterations

The Science of Nature -     

Amelioration of mercurial toxicity by manganese. I. A case study in mung bean seedling

Mercury, a non essential element renders inhibitory effect on many physiological activities of plants even at a low concentration. Plants absorb "Hg" from soil through root system. Manganese, an essential element has been found to counter the inhibitory effect of mercury mostly by preventing it's uptake from soil. Mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) cv. Pusa Baisakhi grown in individual (1, 10, 100 and 1000 ppm) solution of Hg and Mn showed varied uptake of these heavy metals. However, in combined solutions (1 : 1, 10 : 1 and 1 : 10 ppm Hg : Mn), mercury uptake was mostly prevented in presence of 10 ppm Mn, indicating it's ameliorating effect.