Chapter two: methodologies for characterisation of combustion sources and for quantification of their emissions

Emissions from the combustion of biomass and fossil fuels result in generation of a large number of particle and gaseous products in outdoor and/or indoor air, which create health and environmental risks. Of particular importance are the very small particles that are emitted in large quantities from all the combustion sources, and that could be potentially more significant in terms of their impact on health and the environment than larger particles. It is important to quantify particle emissions from combustion sources for regulatory and control purposes in relation to air quality. This paper is a review of particle characteristics that are used as source signatures, their general advantages and limitations, as well as a review of source signatures of the most common combustion pollution sources including road transport, industrial facilities, small household combustion devices, environmental tobacco smoke, and vegetation burning. The current methods for measuring particle physical characteristics (mass and number concentrations) and principles of methodologies for measuring emission factors are discussed in the paper as well. Finally, the paper presents the recommendations for the future techniques for measurements of combustion products.     

Hepato and nephrotoxicity in rat exposed to endosulfan

The indiscriminate and injudicious use of pesticides particularly endosulfan in agriculture and animal husbandry practices has considerably increased the risk of human health hazard. The present work was therefore undertaken to evaluate the toxic effect of endosulfan on the vital organs viz. liver and kidney of rat. Oral administration of endosulfan at the dose level of 10 mg/kg b.wt./day for two and four weeks showed toxic interference with the biochemistry and histology of rat liver and kidney. The biochemical parameters viz. Aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin urea and creatinine were increased which clearly showed the hepato and nephrotoxic effect of endosulfan. Histopathologically the size of liver was increased, sinusoidal dilation, pyknotic nuclei, cytoplasmic degranulation and various nuclear aberrations were observed. Similarly pathological alterations viz. chronic glomerulonephritis, glomerulosclerosis, odenoma and glomerulus deposits were observed in the kidney.     

Effect of trypanosomes infection on blood ascorbic acid and serum aldolase levels on the fresh water fishes, Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustus fossilis

The trypanosomes presence has been found to decrease blood ascorbic acid levels in fishes, Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustus fossilis by 55.7% and 54.70% respectively. The infection also showed significant increase in serum aldolase level of three fishes by 50.19% and 48.06% respectively.     

Deficit Irrigation Management of Maize in the High Plains Aquifer Region: A Review

Irrigated agriculture is a major economic contributor of the High Plains Region and it primarily relies on the High Plains Aquifer as a source of water. Over time, areas of the High Plains Aquifer have experienced drawdowns limiting its ability to supply sufficient water to sustain fully irrigated crop production. This among other reasons, including variable climatic factors and differences in state water policy, has resulted in some areas adopting and practicing deficit irrigation management. Considerable research has been conducted across the High Plains Aquifer region to identify locally appropriate deficit irrigation strategies. This review summarizes and discusses research conducted in Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, and Texas, as well as highlights areas for future research. Editor's note : This paper is part of the featured series on Optimizing Ogallala Aquifer Water Use to Sustain Food Systems. See the February 2019 issue for the introduction and background to the series.     

A comparative analysis of wind resource parameters using WAsP and windPRO

This paper investigates the accuracy of the wind resource estimation for a site in a central India region using a latest licensed version of WAsP 11 and windPRO 3.1. Whole one year measured met mast wind data has been taken using anemometer and wind vane at 10 m and 25 m height, respectively above ground level. The digitized elevation and roughness model of the corresponding site shows the roughness class 4 (roughness length 1.2525 m). The wind data has been extrapolated up to 80 m height by using power and log law models which provide the power density near about 120 W/m². As per the micro sitting guidelines for the virtual wind farm installation 5D X 7D mapping has been selected which Indicates the total power output by installing 8 Vestas V-90 1.8 MW wind turbine from WAsP is 31.561 GWh and from windPRO is 28.083 GWh.     

Pier scour within long contraction in cohesive sediment bed

In the present study, an attempt has been made to study the bridge pier scour embedded long contraction for the bed sediment prepared by a mixture of clay and fine sand with varying proportions having a specific range of antecedent moisture content. Results particularly focused on the clay–sand mixed cohesive bed at varying clay fractions of the sediment bed, approach flow velocity, contraction ratio and different pier shapes, on maximum equilibrium scour depth for pier scour within long contraction. Further, regression based equations for the estimation of non-dimensional maximum scour depth for piers within long contraction in clay–sand mixed cohesive bed embedded were proposed.     

Assessment of radon concentration and heavy metal contamination in groundwater of Udhampur district,Jammu & Kashmir,India

Radon concentration was measured in water samples of 41 different locations from Udhampur district of Jammu & Kashmir, India, by using RAD7 and Smart RnDuo monitor. The variation of radon concentration in water ranged from 1.44 ± 0.31 to 63.64 ± 2.88 Bq L^?1, with a mean value of 28.73 Bq L^?1 using RAD7 and 0.64 ± 0.28 to 52.65 ± 2.50 Bq L^?1, with a mean value of 20.30 Bq L^?1 using Smart RnDuo monitor, respectively. About 17.07% of the studied water samples recorded to display elevated radon concentration above the reference range suggested by United Nation Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiations (UNSCEAR). The mean annual effective dose of these samples was determined, and 78.95% samples were found to be within the safe limits set by World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Council (EU). The study revealed good agreement between the values obtained with two methods. Heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Ni, As, Hg, Co, Pb and Cr) were determined in water samples by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer, and their correlation with radon content was also analysed.     

Distribution and fate of persistent organochlorine pesticides in coastal marine environment of Mumbai

Multi-compartment monitoring of residue levels of OCPs in coastal marine environment of Mumbai has been studied. The concentration of total HCHs in seawater varied from 0.16 to 15.92 ng/L and concentrations of total DDT varied from 3.01 to 33.21 ng/L. The total HCH concentration in the sediment samples was in the range of 3.8 to 16.2 ng/g. Gamma-HCH contributed almost 55% to the total HCH. In sediment samples the DDT has higher mean concentration in comparison to its metabolite DDE and DDD. The concentration of total HCHs in different marine species varied from 0.87 to 33.73 ng/g and concentrations of total DDT varied from 0.38 to 34.1 ng/g. The variation in the beta-HCH in different compartments is not significant and this could be due to the high persistence and metabolically inactive nature of this isomer. The alpha-HCH is found to be more dominant in fish samples whereas the gamma-HCH is major contributor in the sediment samples.     

Assessment of bio-medical waste management in three apex government hospitals of Agra

Waste management practices in three apex government hospitals of Agra viz., Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Lady Lyall Maternity Hospital and District Hospital were studied during January 2004-January 2005. Data were collected with the help of (i) personal observations of the waste treatment and disposal practices and (ii) assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices of working personnel with the help of questionnaires. The results obtained indicated lack of knowledge and awareness regarding legislations on bio-medical waste management even among qualified hospital personnel. None of these hospitals were equipped with higher technological options e.g. incinerator autoclave, microwave and had no facilities to treat the liquid waste generated inside the hospital. It is concluded that generation and implementation of a waste management policy institutiona/organizational set up, training and motivation must be given paramount importance to meet the current needs and standards of bio-medical waste management in these hospitals.