Comparison of in-house-developed ELISA with HPLC techniques for the analysis of atrazine residues

In-house developed ELISA was standardized to monitor atrazine residues in different environmental samples. The standard curve was linear, indicating an increase in log concentration with decrease in absorbance (%B/B₀ = 1.075–0.042 Log C; r = ?0.966). The middle of the test was at 75 ng/L and the lowest detection limit at 4 ng/L. ELISA significantly correlated with the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (r = 0.990). Internal validation showed good accuracy and precision. Maximum atrazine residues were present in Jehlum River water/sediments and maize/sugarcane plant roots. Most of the food samples were found to be contaminated. ELISA required less clean-up steps than HPLC, but showed matrix effect in soil/colored extracts.     

Sorption-desorption of atrazine and diuron in soils from southern Brazil

The objective of this study was to investigate the behavior of sorption and desorption of the herbicides atrazine (6-chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) and diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyleurea] in soil samples from a typical lithosequence located in the municipality of Mamborê (PR), southern Brazil. Five concentrations of 14C-atrazine and 14C-diuron were used for both herbicides (0.48, 0.96, 1.92, 3.84, and 7.69 mg L(-1)). Sorption of both herbicides correlated positively with the organic carbon and clay content of the soil samples. Sorption isotherms were well described by the Freundlich model. The slope values of the isotherm (N) ranged from 0.84 to 0.90 (atrazine) and from 0.75 to 0.79 (diuron) for the lithosequence samples. Sorption of diuron was high regardless of the soil texture or the concentration added. The desorption isotherms for atrazine and diuron showed good fit to the Freundlich equation (R2 >or= 0,87). Atrazine slope values for the desorption isotherms were similar for the different concentrations and were much lower than those observed for the sorption isotherms. Significant hysteresis was observed in the herbicide desorption. When the two herbicides were compared, it was found that diuron (N = 0.06-0.22) presented more pronounced hysteresis than atrazine. The results showed that, quantitatively, a greater atrazine fraction applied to these soils remains available to be leached in the soil profile, as compared to diuron.     

Wind power planning in three Swedish municipalities

The aim of the paper is to compare the planning for wind power in three municipalities and analyze how it has influenced three important aspects of the wind power development: the siting of turbines, the ownership of turbines and citizen participation. The paper shows that the planning strategies of the municipalities differed considerably and that this in turn has led to differences in the development of wind power. A general conclusion is that there seems to be a dilemma in municipal planning between, on the one hand, the promotion of wind power and, on the other hand, the organization of a planning that effectively regulates the siting of turbines and allows for citizen participation. The results show that there is a need to support and strengthen municipal planning capacities, and efforts in that direction are being undertaken by state and regional authorities in Sweden. The results, however, also imply the need for stronger policy measures in order to avoid large differences between the way wind power is handled at the municipal level.     

Dynamic interactive links among sustainable energy investment,air pollution,and sustainable development in regional China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This research investigates the dynamic interactive associations among sustainable investment in the energy sector, air pollution, and sustainable...     

A review on detection of heavy metals from aqueous media using nanomaterial-based sensors

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The extensive release of heavy metals into the natural water bodies has become globally prevalent from past few decades. Heavy metal toxicity is...     

Asymmetric nexus between urban agglomerations and environmental pollution in top ten urban agglomerated countries using quantile methods

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The rapid urbanization growth has not only improved the living standards of people but also raised concerns for environmental sustainability over the...     

Nitrogen and plant population change radiation capture and utilization capacity of sunflower in semi-arid environment

The combination of nitrogen and plant population expresses the spatial distribution of crop plants. The spatial distribution influences canopy structure and development, radiation capture, accumulated intercepted radiation (Sa), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and subsequently dry matter production. We hypothesized that the sunflower crop at higher plant populations and nitrogen (N) rates would achieve early canopy cover, capture more radiant energy, utilize radiation energy more efficiently, and ultimately increase economic yield. To investigate the above hypothesis, we examined the influences of leaf area index (LAI) at different plant populations (83,333, 66,666, and 55,555 plants ha^?1) and N rates (90, 120, and 150 kg ha^?1) on radiation interception (Fi), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) accumulation (Sa), total dry matter (TDM), achene yield (AY), and RUE of sunflower. The experimental work was conducted during 2012 and 2013 on sandy loam soil in Punjab, Pakistan. The sunflower crop captured more than 96% of incident radiant energy (mean of all treatments), 98% with a higher plant population (83,333 plants ha^?1), and 97% with higher N application (150 kg ha^?1) at the fifth harvest (60 days after sowing) during both study years. The plant population of 83,333 plants ha^?1 with 150 kg N ha^?1 ominously promoted crop, RUE, and finally productivity of sunflower (AY and TDM). Sunflower canopy (LAI) showed a very close and strong association with Fi (R ² = 0.99 in both years), PAR (R ² = 0.74 and 0.79 in 2012 and 2013, respectively), TDM (R ² = 0.97 in 2012 and 0.91 in 2013), AY (R ² = 0.95 in both years), RUE for TDM (RUE_TDM) (R ² = 0.63 and 0.71 in 2012 and 2013, respectively), and RUE for AY (RUE_AY) (R ² = 0.88 and 0.87 in 2012 and 2013, respectively). Similarly, AY (R ² = 0.73 in 2012 and 0.79 in 2013) and TDM (R ² = 0.75 in 2012 and 0.84 in 2013) indicated significant dependence on PAR accumulation of sunflower. High temperature during the flowering stage in 2013 shortened the crop maturity duration, which reduced the LAI, leaf area duration (LAD), crop growth rate (CGR), TDM, AY, Fi, Sa, and RUE of sunflower. Our results clearly revealed that RUE was enhanced as plant population and N application rates were increased and biomass assimilation in semi-arid environments varied with radiation capture capacity of sunflower.     

An assessment of the concentrations of particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the aftermath of a chemical store fire incident

PM10 airborne particles and soot deposit collected after a fire incident at a chemical store were analyzed in order to determine the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs). The samples were extracted with 1 : 1 hexane-dichloromethane by ultrasonic agitation. The extracts were then subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometric(GC-MS) analysis. The total PAHs concentrations in airborne particles and soot deposit were found to be 3.27 1.55 ng/m^3 and 12.81 24.37 μg/g, respectively. Based on the molecular distributions of PAHs and the interpretation of their diagnostic ratios such as PHEN/(PHEN ANTH), FLT/(FLT PYR) and BeP/(BeP BaP), PAHs in both airborne particles and soot deposit may be inferred to be from the same source. The difference in the value of IP/(IP BgP) for these samples indicated that benzo[ g, h, i] perylene and coronene tend to be attached to finer particles and reside in the air for longer periods. Comparison between the molecular distributions of PAHs and their diagnostic ratios observed in the current study with those reported for urban atmospheric and roadside soil particles revealed that they are of different sources.     

Effects of dam on temperature,humidity and precipitation of surrounding area: a case study of Gomal Zam Dam in Pakistan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dams are studied not only for potential advantages but also for possible environmental repercussions. The objective of this case study is to see the...     

Do governance indicators interact with technological innovation and income inequality in mitigating CO2 emissions in Belt and Road Initiative countries?

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Environmental degradation is being studied by linking with various factors depending upon the interest of researchers. Our interest is in...