Seasonal air quality profile of inorganic ionic composition of PM10 near Taj Mahal in Agra, India

Atmospheric aerosols and their impacts on the environment particularly on human health is an issue of significant public and governmental concern. Though studies on air quality related to total suspended particulate matter have done by various authors in India, yet respirable suspended particulate matter (PM₁₀) is not characterized so far particularly in a historical and world heritage city like Agra. This study presents seasonal variation in mass levels of PM₁₀ and its ionic composition. PM₁₀ samples were collected in the proximity of Taj Mahal and subjected to chemical analysis using ion chromatography technique. The preliminary findings reveal that the 24-h average of PM₁₀ mass level varies from 115 to 233, 155 to 321, and 33 to 178 μg/m³, respectively, in summer, winter, and rainy seasons indicating critical pollution situation. These values are very much higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of 75 μg/m³ (prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board, India) in both of summer and winter seasons whereas quite near the permissible limits in rainy season. The equivalent ratios of NH₄ ⁺ to nonsea salt SO₄ ^2? and NO₃ ^? and ∑Cations to ∑Anios were found to be greater than unity indicating high source strength of ammonia and alkaline nature of aerosols. The study suggests the need for continuous and long-term systematical sampling and detailed physiochemical analysis of PM₁₀ and also to know the characteristics of PM in background areas for better understanding of the emission sources.     

Screening and identification of early warning algal species for metal contamination in fresh water bodies polluted from point and non-point sources

The water bodies of Lucknow, Unnao and Kanpur (U.P.), India polluted through various point and non point sources were found to be either eutrophic or oligotrophic in nature. These water bodies supported a great number of algal diversity, which varied seasonally depending upon the physico-chemical properties of water. Further, the water bodies polluted through non point sources supports diverse algal species, while the water bodies polluted through point sources supports growth of tolerant blue green algae. High biomass producing algal species growing in these water bodies have accumulated significant amount of metals in their tissues. Maximum amount of Fe was found accumulated by species of Oedogonium sp. II (20,523.00 mug g(-1) dw) and Spirogyra sp. I (4,520.00 mug g(-1) dw), while maximum Chromium (Cr) was found accumulated in Phormedium bohneri (2,109.00 mug g(-1) dw) followed by Oscillatoria nigra (1,957.88 mug g(-1) dw) and Oedogonium sp. I (156.00 mug g(-1) dw) and Ni in Ulothrix sp. (495.00 mug g(-1) dw). Results showed that some of these forms growing in polluted environment and accumulating high amounts of toxic metals may be used as bioindicator species, however, their performance in metal contaminated water under different ecological niche is to be ascertained.     

Assessment of multifaceted environmental issues and model development of an Indo-Burma hotspot region

The present article provides a multifaceted critical research review on environmental issues intimately related with the socio-economy of North East India (NE), a part of Indo-Burma hotspot. Further, the article addresses the issue of sustainable development of NE India through diverse ecological practices inextricably linked with traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). The biodiversity of NE India comprises endemic floral diversity, particularly medicinal plants of importance to pharmaceutical industry, and unique faunal diversity. Nevertheless, it is very unfortunate that this great land of biodiversity is least explored taxonomically as well as biotechnologically, probably due to geographical and political constraints. Different anthropogenic and socio-economic factors have perturbed the pristine ecology of this region, leading to environmental degradation. Also, the practice of unregulated shifting cultivation (jhooming), bamboo flowering, biological invasions and anthropogenic perturbations to biodiversity exacerbate the gloomy situation. Instead of a plethora of policies, the TEK of NE people may be integrated with modern scientific knowledge in order to conserve the environment which is the strong pillar for socio-economic sector here. The aforesaid approach can be practiced in NE India through the broad implementation and extension of agroforestry practices. Further, case studies on Apatanis, ethnomedicinal plants use by indigenous tribal groups and sacred forests are particularly relevant in the context of conservation of environmental health in totality while addressing the socioeconomic impact as well. In context with the prevailing scenarios in this region, we developed an eco-sustainable model for natural resource management through agroforestry practices in order to uplift the social as well as environmental framework.     

The use of multiple tracers for tracking wastewater discharges in freshwater systems

The assessment of potential impacts of wastewater effluent discharges in freshwater systems requires an understanding of the likely degrees of dilution and potential zones of influence. In this study, four tracers commonly present in wastewater effluents were monitored to compare their relative effectiveness in determining areas in freshwater systems that are likely to be impacted by effluent discharges. The four tracers selected were the human pharmaceutical carbamazepine, anthropogenic gadolinium, fluorescent-dissolved organic matter (fDOM), and electrical conductivity (EC). The four tracers were monitored longitudinally in two distinct freshwater systems receiving wastewater effluents, where one site had a high level of effluent dilution (effluent <1 % of total flow) and the other site had a low level of effluent dilution (effluent ～50 % of total flow). At both sites, the selected tracers exhibited a similar pattern of response intensity downstream of discharge points relative to undiluted wastewater effluent, although a number of anomalies were noted between the tracers. Both EC and fDOM are non-specific to human influences, and both had a high background response, relative to the highly sensitive carbamazepine and anthropogenic gadolinium responses, although the ease of measuring EC and fDOM would make them more adaptable in highly variable systems. However, the greater sensitivity and selectivity of carbamazepine and gadolinium would make their combination with EC and fDOM as tracers of wastewater effluent discharges highly desirable to overcome potential limitations of individual tracers.     

Analysis of some heavy metals in the riverine water, sediments and fish from river Ganges at Allahabad

The river Ganges has been one of the major recipients of industrial effluents in India. The present paper deals with the study related to occurrence and bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn) in the riverine water, sediment, and the muscles of two cat fish species, Channa punctatus (C. punctatus) and Aorichthys aor (A. aor) procured from the river Ganges at Allahabad. The data obtained after water analysis reflected the order of occurrence of heavy metals to be Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd, respectively. The analysis of heavy metals in sediment indicated that among the five heavy metals tested; Zn was maximally accumulated followed by Pb, Cr, Cu and Cd. The trend of heavy metals accumulation in fish muscles was found to be similar to that observed in sediment and water such as Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd. Data indicated that Zn accumulated maximally in the sediment as well as muscles of both of the fish species in comparison to other metals.     

CADMIUM ACCUMULATION AND TOXICITY IN SUBMERGED PLANT HYDRILLA VERTICILLATA (l.f.) ROYLE

Cadmium accumulation and its toxicity in relation tochlorophyll, protein, cysteine contents and in vivo nitrate reductaseactivity were studied under controlled conditions in Hydrillaverticillata, a submerged commonly occurring macrophyte. Plants weresubjected to six different concentrations of Cd ranging from 1.0 to 25.0 µM for 24, 48, 72 and 168 h. Tissue Cd concentration was maximum (13.71 µmoles/g dw) at 25 µM background concentration. At this concentration, a decrease of approximately 79 and 72% was found in chlorophyll and protein content. In vivo nitrate reductase activity was stimulated at 1.0 µM; however, the activity gradually declined beyond this concentration. Exposure to various cadmium concentrations resulted in an increase in cysteine content of the plant.     

Can aquatic distribution of human pharmaceuticals be related to pharmacological data?

The recognition of pharmaceuticals as significant environmental contaminants has only been a recent phenomenon. Therefore there is a paucity of data relating to the fate and effects of pharmaceuticals once they enter an aquatic receiving system. The amount of work that needs to be done in terms of risk assessment for pharmaceuticals required by regulatory agencies is substantial. This paper has determined the environmental partitioning coefficient (K_d) of 13 diverse human pharmaceuticals in three model systems of differing combinations of solid phases and solutions. The K_d values were then compared with distribution values of the pharmaceuticals in the human body determined from pharmacological studies. This was done to assess the functional relationship between K_d and distribution values in the human body (V_D). K_d values ranged from 3 to 2450 L kg⁻¹. Regression coefficients ranged from r² = 0.62–0.72, indicating that V_D values are a useful indicator for the K_d values of the tested pharmaceuticals within the batch sorption systems. The relationship between K_d and V_D should therefore be further explored to determine whether this relationship can be applied to a broader range of pharmaceuticals in more diverse environmental systems. Exploiting available human pharmacological data in such a way would be of great benefit in prioritising human pharmaceuticals as environmental contaminants in the risk assessment process.